The Wilted Rose

Chapter 2: Forehand or Backhand?

Island of Patch

6:33 pm

11 years before the fall

Y/n Pov

Its been four months.... four months of endless torture. Ruby and Yang have been living in terror this whole time, and I have been defiant all throughout that time. Tai, thankfully, forgot they existed about a month in. I made it my mission in life to ensure that his focus was entirely on me, just as he's made it his mission to break me. In the time that's passed, Qrow sent word that the search for mom was called off and that she was officially being pronounced diseased. Tai was furious about that, for entirely different reasons than us. I had lost any hope of Qrow coming back anytime soon. Qrow had lost all respect from me, the more I thought about his absence, the angrier I got. Eventually, I got to a point where I didn't even regard him as my father. He left us here.... locked up with a man made monster. I no longer had a room to sleep in. After a particularly harsh ass-kicking, the son of a bitch tossed me into the basement and locked the door. I got the message pretty clear that I wasn't even allowed the reprieve of a decent nights sleep, not that I had that anyway. Ruby and Yang were fine physically but they got more docile as time went on. They never stopped helping me, whether it was slipping me food, or patching me up after a "training session" as Tai called it.

The "training" would consist of a one-sided beatdown. Only good thing that has came of it was my aura has gotten much stronger, It no longer shatters after one solid punch. In fact, it takes quite a bit now. I'd pride myself on being able to take a ass beating like a champ if it didn't still end with me bloodied and aching. Yang would come down into the basement when Tai left the house and we'd talk as she patched me up, Provided I was in a state to talk. Ruby came down a few times, but she had to leave quickly. I couldn't blame her, he smell alone could scare off a deathstalker.... at least Tai was kind enough to give me a bucket. Ruby was devastated after mom was pronounced dead, but Yang stepped up and took care of her. The two had even been training together to become huntresses and to ensure that what's happening now isn't repeated elsewhere. I didn't have it in me to argue, but I had no faith in huntsmen. Tai was a huntsman and he's an abuser, and Qrow is a deadbeat alcoholic. Real great people to have toting weapons around and protecting the masses. 

I heard footsteps above me and knew he was coming. I wondered what hell he'd put me through this time. I silently prayed to whoever was listening that if it was anything, it wasn't the crowbar again. That thing was brutal, and always left me on the brink of death. It was almost as if he knew just how far he could push someone with it before they expired. The lock unlatched and the door swung open, letting in a stream of light into the darkened room. It blinded me for a moment but I quickly recovered. I was used to this song and dance by now.

Tai: Aw, what's wrong, normally you have something smart to say before we begin~

I simply glared defiantly at him. Truth be told, I was running on empty. I couldn't keep going like this much longer. The constant beatings, the starving, the lack of sleep. It was waring me down. I had promised to myself and the girls that so long as I was around, his focus would be on me exclusively. But the one tiny problem with that promise was that everyone has a breaking point.... and I was rapidly approaching mine. 

Y/n: *Cough*  Will you take a swan dive out of a bullhead if I give you one?

Tai: Hmm~  Maybe, what do you got today?

'Might as well get a little enjoyment out of this'

I leveled my gaze at him with a shit eating grin on my face.

Y/n: Maybe if you were man enough to be a actual huntsman and hunted grimm instead of children, Raven would still be around. Hahahaha!

Raven has always been a particularly sore spot for Tai so I made sure to hit him where it hurts. The beatings are worse when he's mad, but the look on his face when Raven gets brought up is priceless.