Through The Dark

Chapter 5

Little rant about the song. This song is so emotional and fits Emerald's situation so perfectly. I cried when I listened to it. Again... the lyrics mostly sold it for me throughout. Do listen to it while reading the chapter. Hope you enjoy!!

Emerald's POV:

We were sitting in the lunch room, we being Liv and myself. I was hurting badly today. Apparently somehow, dad had got to know that I had gone to visit my mum. How he got to know? Don't ask me. Maybe he as well went there. I don't know and I don't want to know as well. But as soon as I got home and locked the door, I was confronted by a very angry looking dad. As soon as he told me that he knew where I had gone, I knew that I was in trouble, deep deep trouble. I could still feel the lashes on my back, could still hear the sound of my ribs cracking, could still feel the taste of the blood I later coughed up and could still feel the saltiness of the tears I shed after he went away. I feel it all, and wanna know the worst part? They will now come back to haunt me in the night.

Why am I so unlucky? Why couldn't it be me instead of Mum that had died that day? Dad atleast loved her. He doesn't love me nor does he show any sort of emotion with me, other than all the negative ones of course. Why don't I have enough courage to run away like Liam did? I don't have anything to loose anyways. Then why can't I? I know that Liam may not be leading a very comfortable life right now, but atleast it would be better than the one he led with dad. Guess I just wasn't as lucky as either mom or Liam. I miss them, a lot, but I don't wish for them to be here. I don't want them to suffer as well. Mummy...I don't know but Liam, he has already been through enough. I wouldn't want him to go through more.

I am happy for Liam to be frank. Do I miss him? Of course. But then again he has done enough for me. When we were kids he would always protect me from Dad. He would always bear the brunt of any mistake we did, which were very less. He would always push me into my room and lock it or hide me in the closet and whenever dad would shout at him to open the door to where I was, he would always refuse. Dad would get very angry at him for refusing but no matter what he would never open the door.

I could still hear the sound of all those slaps and punches and shoves that dad would inflict upon him. I could still hear the harsh sound of the belt on Liam's back where dad would whip him. I could still hear Liam's cries, screams and pleads for dad to stop and him shouting at Liam to shut up. I could still see the way Liam would smile and try to be strong in front of me. I could still hear his voice gently telling me to stop crying and that he was fine, even though his tears and the bruises and scars would tell a different story. I could still feel his fingers swiping the tears under my eyes. I could still hear the way he would flinch whenever I would try to clean his wounds,which wasn't much help because back then I didn't know how to do things like that. Those memories were still fresh in my mind and they always will remain so.

I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard shouting. I looked in the direction from which all the ruckus was being heard and saw that it was Nathan and Jack. They both were fighting. Nathan had his fist raised,  ready to punch Jack, but then he was holding Nathan's hand. He slightly winced when Jack tightened his grip on his hand. At first I couldn't understand as to why it was so. But then I remembered. The cuts and scars. I immediately got up from my seat, with Liv giving me a strange look, and went towards them. I held Jack's hand and tried to push him away from Nathan, but he was too strong for me. Suddenly before I even had the time to register what was happening, I was on the floor and a searing pain shot right throughout my back and my chest. I yelped out and a whimper escaped my lips. I closed my eyes for a few seconds trying to regain my composure and then opened them again. Nathan immediately stopped fighting with Jack and looked down at me.

And by the look in his eyes, I think he knew exactly what had happened.

Nathan's POV :

I was fighting with Jack, almost about to hit him when suddenly I heard a yelp and a whimper from my right. I looked in that direction and saw that it came from Emerald. She had her eyes closed and was trying to take deep breathes. I first felt confused but then I remembered what I saw yesterday at the park. The bruises. I immediately let go of Jack. She was way more important than the fight. She opened her eyes and looked at me. She then tried to get up, but winced a bit which didn't go unnoticed. I immediately went by her side and helped her stand up, and then proceeded to take her out with me. At first she was confused but then gave in and came along with me.

I went to the tree in the grounds and took her with me. I gently made her sit down and she laughed at it and told me not to worry and that she wasn't seriously hurt. At this I felt anger burst right through me, but also guilt which was mixed with the anger. Why did she feel the need to hide this? She is being abused for crying out loud. And the only thing that I could see was just the physical abuse's scars and bruises. I don't know if she was... No she couldn't be right. Because if she was, then I wouldn't be able to handle not knowing it. No, stop it Nathan. But..it is a possibility.

Before I could stop the words from slipping from my mouth I said, "I know what is happening in your life Emerald." And this time she didn't hesitate at all to let her emotions to be shown on her face. Her face paled drastically, lips parted and her eyes widened. She whipped her head in my direction and her eyes which usually held happiness, now held fear. After the few seconds of initial shocked, she went into the denial stage where she started protesting that she didn't know what I was talking about. But she stopped all of that when I told her about the day before at the park when I had seen her bruises. Her brows furrowed. Then she sighed deeply.

She then bit her lip as though she was thinking something and then asked me the one question that I prayed she wouldn't ask. She asked me how I knew and when I told her that I would recognize the signs from anywhere she became confused and asked me to explain. I mean, it was only fair that I tell her what my story was. I expected her to tell me hers so it is only fair that I tell her. This way I could even gain her trust. But I made her promise me to not tell about this to anyone. And then I took a deep breath and started.

"It all started as a normal day."

(A/N) :Hey guys. So this is the fifth chapter. I don't know what is the problem if Em visits her mum. Like what is her dad's problem? What do you think? Was it fair of him to be angry at her for that. Also...Was Liam a good brother to Em? Tell me your views about Liam's description. I really need to know all your feelings. And...Nathan. We will finally know what is the whole backstory to both their lives. What do you think about all these? Do tell me.

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Happy reading!!! :)