Chapter 1

Rachel woke up with a startle. She forgot that she set an alarm for her first day at a new school. She got dressed after turning her alarm off then headed downstairs for breakfast.

“Morning sis” said her brother Johnny.

“Morning John, where's dad?” Rachel asked in a concerning way.

“You know where he is sis. He's drunk out of his mind and passed out in the living room.” Said Johnny.

“Oh right...I just hope he doesn't wake up like last time.” Rachel said. She sat down on a chair and ate the little breakfast her brother made. Johnny grabbed his and his sister's empty plate and put them in the sink.

“You ready to go?” He asked in a concerning but hopeful voice.

“Yeah, let's go before dad wakes up.”

“Ok, hop in the truck I'll be there in a minute. You can start it if you want, it's a bit chilly out.” Rachel grabbed her bag and put her hair up before fixing her uniform. Then she walked out the door and hopped up into her brother's truck. Her brother came out and into the truck a few minutes later.

“What did you need to grab John?” Rachel asked her brother.

“Just something I bought...for you” John said a little flushed.

“Aww, thanks big bro, what is it?”

“It's a heart shaped locket so you can always have a picture of mom and I with you.” Johnny handed the little box with the necklace inside it to Rachel; who was trying not to cry. She looked at the pictures inside the locket then slowly put the necklace on. She reached over and gave her brother a hug.

“Thanks Johnny, this is the best gift ever.” They drove the truck for about fifteen minutes. Johnny parked the truck and got out to help his sister.

“Now remember no one can see this locket, it's a very rare one. So people will try to steal it from you. Tuck it into your shirt.” John said.

“Ok John” Said Rachel in a mocking tone.

“I'm serious Rachel. I want you to hide it in your shirt.” John said.

“Ok John, I will. See you after school.” Rachel said in a comforting way. The day felt long and boring. All Rachel could do was try not to fall asleep in class. The one thing she can remember without it being a blur was meeting the school bully and her sidekicks. They teased her and called her names. Everytime she entered a room they were in, the girls would say

“Eww look it's the ugly cow with two different eye colors!” By lunchtime Rachel wanted to leave the school and bullies behind and hide in her room or hangout with her brother. On her way to her next class she ran into a boy. The boy looked down at Rachel; who was on the floor, and glared at her. In his glare the corner of his mouth went up into a grin.

“Are you ok, shrimp?” He asked

“I'm not a shrimp you...you overgrown beanstalk!...And yes, I'm fine,” Rachel said in a flustered way.

“What's your name, little girl?” The boy asked.

“I'm Rachel. What's your name?” Rachel asked, as the boy helped her off the ground.

“I'm Sebastian. Sebastian Adler.” Sebastian said. Rachel looked at Sebastian with surprise and awe.

“You're The Sebastian Adler? The m-most popular b-boy in school??”

“Yup. That's me, but you can call me Ian for short.”

“O-Ok.” Rachel stuttered. After that, Rachel went home with mixed emotions. When she entered the house she called for John but he didn't seem to be home yet. Instead she was met with a drunk and grumpy father.

“Where were you, brat?” Her father slurred.

“I was...was at school… Sir...sir.” Rachel said hesitant.

“Were you now?” her father said questioning. He looked her over, head to toe and smirked a perverted smirk.

“You’re coming with me.” He slurred while yelling.

“No! I don't want too!” She screamed as he dragged her to the basement. She fought back with all her might but her father overpowered her easily.

“You're not so tough without Johnny now are you?” He laughed. He then threw her down onto the bed and tied her hands and feet to the corners of the bed. Rachel screamed for Johnny, but he never came.

“You're not going anywhere girly. You're mine right now.” Her father said. He ripped off her shirt and began leaving marks over her neck and breasts. She was crying and screaming for him to stop, but he didn't. After a couple of hours Rachel's dad left her in the basement silently crying and curled up in the fetal position. Her father raped her. Rachel stayed in the basement until Johnny came home. When he couldn’t find her in her room, he knew immediately what had happened. He was worried about her. He came down to the basement with her robe and carefully wrapped her in it. She didn't go to school for the next couple of days and Johnny watched over and protected her from their dad.

“Rachel…?” Johnny asked softly.

“What?” Rachel asked sleepily.

“Do you want to live with me in an apartment? You can still go to the same school if you want.” Johnny said.

“I would love to, John. I could finally be free of that terrible man.” Rachel said as she hugged her brother. Over the next few days they secretly packed their things into boxes and crates. John was looking for a place to rent and just as he hoped a apartment room was for rent. It has two rooms, a single bath, a small kitchen and a living room. The building was close to the school and Rachel could walk to school if she wanted too. The two siblings moved in and chose which room would be whose. Johnny chose the room closer to the entryway, that way if someone came in he could protect his sister. Rachel had the room farther down the hall. She liked her space and was able to lock her door. Rachel felt safer living with her brother. She didn’t have to worry about their father coming in and doing something to her.

One day Johnny was unpacking things and found an old picture of their mom. She had beautiful cherry blonde curls and big blue eyes. He thought of his sister and how closely they looked alike. While he was looking at the picture and thinking of Rachel he heard the front door slam shut and the sound of someone sniffling. John poked his head out his door and saw Rachel crying against the front door. He set everything he had in his hands down and went to comfort his sister. He crouched down next to her.

“What’s wrong sis? Why are you crying?” John asked trying to be comforting. Rachel was startled at first then tried to hide her face within her brother’s chest.

“I...I don’t want…*sniff* to go back...to school.” She said through sobs.

“It’s ok, just calm down. How about you go take a nice relaxing bath then tell me what happened when you get done. Does that sound alright?” John said concerned.

“O-ok…Y-yeah.” Rachel answered after a little. John helped his sister to her feet and walked with her to the bathroom. He closed the door and left her take her bath. He went to the door and grabbed her bag and set it on the table. Then went back to his room to unpack more of his things. In the bathroom Rachel looked at the marks over her body. There were old and new bruises, her lip was split and and had a black eye. She went to the tub and filled it with warm water and a few drops of bubble solution. Her long cherry blonde hair flowed around her head, shoulders and waist. Looking at her hair she decided to get it cut later. She looked at her thighs and saw scars and old cuts that scabbed over. She kept her scars a secret from her brother. She didn’t want him worrying about what she hid under her clothes. After about a hour or so she got out and started to dry off. She wrapped up in a towel and put her hair up in a long braid down her back. She walked out of the bathroom and down the hall. She heard someone coming up behind her. She quickly turned around and was about to throw a punch but her arm was caught in mid air. She looked up shocked and saw an unknown person. He was taller than her brother and looked scary. He had black hair, almond shaped eyes that held piercing green color, and broad shoulders. He was wearing a Skillet shirt and black-blue jeans and steel toe boots. Rachel was scared stiff. John came around the corner and saw Rachel scared and the guy towering over her.

“Dude stop it, your scaring Rachel.” He said.

“This is Rachel?” The tall guy asked.

“Let go of her arm James. Your gonna give her a bruise.” John said irritably. James let go of Rachel’s arm and looked her over. Rachel’s face turned red as a tomato, then she fast walked to her room. She closed the door behind herself and held her head next to the door to hear the conversation the two boys were having. All she could hear was mumbling and then she heard her name being said and her condition being told to this stranger her brother invited over. The next thing she heard was footsteps coming down the hall to her room. She quickly locked the door and stood away from the door. A couple of knocks were heard.

“Who is it?” Rachel asked.

“It’s James, I wanted to say sorry about grabbing your arm. And that I had no idea that you had gone through so much. I wanted to say how sorry I am for what life has dealt you.” James said a little bit muffled through the door.

“It’s...Fine.” Rachel said quietly. She heard James shuffling outside her door for a bit and then he walked back down the hall. She got dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and some blue jeans, she then unlocked her door and walked down the hall to the living room where she thought the boys were at. She stopped and looked around the corner and saw the two boys sitting next to each other and they were watching TV. Rachel snuck up behind the couch and tried to scare the boys but failed. She ended up scaring herself and when the boys turned their heads to look at her, she froze with a gasp. She saw them holding hands. Her brother stood up so fast and his face was red as a freshly ripened tomato and yelled, “It’s not what it looks like Rachel!”

Rachel grinned widely then hopped up and down squealing like a child. James just looked at the two siblings and was beginning to chuckle when John started to chase his sister around the apartment.

“Ok. Ok. That’s enough you two. Johnny come sit next to me and let’s continue our show.” James said.

“Fine…” John huffed and plopped his butt next to James. Rachel sat at the other end of the couch and started asking James questions. John started to laugh at how many questions his sister had for James.