Trigger warning: Abuse

          "Please stop!" Maria's voice cried.
Slap.
"You're my tramp. A tramp that can't me any money!"
Kick.
She had just told James that she had let Alexander get away and the Reynolds Pamphlet had just been published. Maria knew she was messed up. She knew she wasn't a victim in some situations. But every time she tried to leave, he would tell her that he loved her, that he wouldn't hurt her, that he was going to get better. He would hit a sweet spot in her that made her stay. That's all he had to say. "Stay?"
Maria felt blood trickle from her nose and pain sear through her skin. Her vision was blurry and a fuzzy vision of a bruise was forming on her arm. She squeaked as James grabbed her face and punched her again and again. Finally it all came to a halt and she heard the front door slam.
This was it. She had enough of this. Maria shakily stood up and went to her room. She pulled out her makeup and patted it on, covering up the cuts and bruises. She pulled out her suitcase and put her clothes in it. She wrote a note and put it where James could find. Maria went to the hidden floor board and got money out of the jar that was hidden under it.
A terrified Maria walked out with her face hidden under her wide-brimmed hat and her suitcase handle in her gloved hand. She made her way to nearby boarding house and that's when she knew that there were many demons that she would have to face.

~ten years earlier~

Gilbert walked into the house and froze when he saw his father, Michel, red in the face. He frowned at the black he and his father wore.
"Where were you today?" His father slurred. Nine year old Gilbert froze in fear. "Answer me!" He shook Gilbert and yelled at him. He could smell the whiskey off of him.
"Out in the park today." Gilbert whimpered.
"You were supposed to be home hours ago!" Michel yelled. Gilbert was out picking roses for an elderly woman that couldn't do much anymore. "You're the reason your mother is dead! She couldn't hold on because she had you in this life!"
Now, this didn't make any sense, but it was as true as the gospel to Gilbert. He limped away and sobbed in his room. Amelia Todd, or Mrs. Todd, heard the sobbing coming from the other room. She sighed and frowned.
Even if the walls were thick, they couldn't hide what happened behind them.