TW: ALCOHOL ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

November 13th, 2000

trauma - nf

Rebel and Sky, are two young siblings who face the harsh realities of life at a very tender age. Rebel, a seven-year-old girl with a rebellious spirit, always stands up for what she believes in. Sky, on the other hand, is a quiet and thoughtful five-year-old boy with a heart of gold.

Their mother, Amelia, is a kind and gentle woman who does her best to shield her children from the harshness of the world outside their doorstep. But fails to shield them from the terrors of their home. She works long hours as a waitress in a local bar to make ends meet, while their father, Carter, has long since succumbed to the temptations of alcohol and is often seen stumbling home in a drunken haze.

On this particular evening, as the wind howls outside and the rain beats against the windows, Rebel and Sky huddle together in front of the crackling fireplace, the warmth of the flames providing some solace from the cold reality of their lives. Their mother sits beside them, a tired but loving presence, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea.

The front door bursts open, and in stumbles Carter, his eyes glazed over with intoxication and his words slurred. He stumbles towards the fireplace, his movements erratic and unsteady, before he turns to face Amelia with a look of pure malice in his eyes.

"You worthless woman," he slurs, his voice filled with venom. "Can't even keep a damn house clean."

Amelia's eyes fill with tears, but she remains silent, her body tense with fear. Rebel feels a surge of anger rising within her, a protective instinct kicking in as she stands up to face her father. "You leave her alone!" she shouts, her voice filled with defiance. "You have no right to speak to her like that!"

Carter's drunken gaze turns towards Rebel, his face contorting with rage. Before anyone can react, he lashes out, his hand connecting with Rebel's cheek in a stinging slap. The room falls silent, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the suffocating atmosphere.

Sky's eyes widen in shock as he watches his sister cradle her cheek in pain, tears streaming down her face. Without a word, he stands up and runs towards his father, his small fists raised in a futile attempt to protect his sister.

"You leave her alone!" he cries, his voice trembling with emotion.

Carter's drunken laughter fills the room, his eyes cold and cruel as he looks down at his children. "Ah, the boy finally speaks. You're too pathetic to be my son. I'm sure your whore mother slept with someone else."

Carter loses his temper and raises his fist to strike Sky, but before he can land the blow, Rebel jumps in front of her brother, bravely shielding him from their father's wrath. Carter's fist connects with Rebel's head instead, causing her to stumble back in pain. But she stands her ground, determined to protect her younger sibling at all costs.

Enraged by Rebel's intervention, Carter ignores her plea for mercy and begins to kick her repeatedly, his face contorted in a mixture of anger and frustration. Rebel bites her lip to stifle her cries, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break down. Sky watches in horror, tears streaming down his face as he witnesses his sister being hurt in his place.

Amelia rushes to her children, her heart sinking at the sight before her. She tries to pull Carter off Rebel, pleading with him to stop the violence, but her words fall on deaf ears. In a fit of rage, Carter shoves Amelia aside, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground, hitting her head on the hard floor.

Rebel's body aches with every blow, but she refuses to back down. She knows that if she doesn't protect Sky, no one else will. Through gritted teeth, she manages to push Carter away, giving her mother enough time to pull herself to her feet and shield her children from further harm. Carter's eyes flash with fury at his own family.

Amelia holds her children close, tears streaming down her face as she whispers words of comfort and reassurance. Rebel's head throbs with pain, but she feels a sense of pride in knowing that she has stood up for her brother when he needed her most. Sky clings to his sister, grateful for her sacrifice and unwavering love.

With a growl, Carter turns his attention to their mother, Amelia. He grabs her roughly and drags her into another room, leaving Rebel and Sky alone in the chaos of their living room. Rebel can hear her mother's screams echoing through the house, and tears well up in her eyes. She knows that she has to be strong for Sky, that she has to protect him from the horrors of their father's wrath.

She pulls her brother close to her, wrapping her arms around him in a protective embrace. She can feel his small body shaking with fear, and she whispers words of comfort and reassurance in his ear. She promises him that she will always be there for him and that she will never let anyone hurt him again. As the night wears on, Rebel holds Sky close, listening to the sounds of their mother's cries in the distance.

November 14th, 2000

TW: ALCOHOL ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & Death

Amelia is exhausted, both mentally and physically. She has endured years of emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her husband, and she knows she has to get herself and her children out of this toxic environment before it is too late. As she kneels down to her children, Rebel and Sky, she can see the fear in their eyes. They have witnessed too much already, and she knows she has to act fast to protect them.

murder song (5, 4, 3, 1) - acoustic - aurora

"We're leaving tonight. I've contacted your Aunty Andrea, and they're coming to get us," she whispers, trying to keep her voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside her.

Amelia takes a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I won't let your father hurt you anymore."

Sky with bright brown eyes and a contagious smile, wraps his arms around his mother's neck. "I love you, Mommy. I don't want Daddy to hurt us anymore."

Amelia feels a pang of guilt in her chest as she stares at her children in front of her. She has stayed with her husband for far too long, hoping that things would get better. But after last night's violent outburst, she knows she has to put her children's safety above all else. As she looks at the bruises on her daughter's arm and the fear in her son's eyes, Amelia knows that she can't continue to live like this.

As the evening approaches, the tension in the house becomes almost unbearable. Every sound makes Amelia jump, fearing that her husband will discover their plan and lash out in anger. She glances around the room, taking in the cluttered countertops and the cracked walls. This is not the life she wants for her children. They deserve better.

The time has come for them to leave. Amelia takes her children's hands in their worn and tattered winter coats, she feels a sense of determination wash over her. Sky clings tightly to his favourite teddy bear, a source of comfort in the midst of chaos. Rebel wraps an arm protectively around her brother, her eyes filled with defiance and strength.

As they come to the door, it swings open with a harsh gust of winter wind. The bitter cold seeps through their coats, causing them to shiver. But Amelia feels a different kind of chill as she sees Carter standing before them, his eyes glazed over with anger and alcohol.

"Where do you think you're going?" he slurs, his voice thick with hostility.

Amelia's heart races as she tries to shield her children from Carter's wrath. She knows that the time has come for them to leave, but she had hoped to do so without confrontation. Carter's violent tendencies are well-known to her, and she fears what he might do if she crosses him.

But before she can react, Carter lashes out, his foot connecting with Amelia's side. She cries out in pain as she tumbles to the ground, her children's screams echoing in her ears. Through tear-filled eyes, she sees Carter looming over her, his face contorted with rage.

"You think you can just walk out on me? I own you, Amelia. You'll never escape," he snarls, his voice dripping with malice.

Sky, seeing his mother in distress, clings to his beloved teddy bear for comfort. Enraged by his son's perceived weakness, Carter grabs Sky by the hair and slams him against the wall, causing the teddy bear to fall to the ground. Rebel rushes to her brother's aid.

"Leave him alone!" Rebel cries, trying to push her father away.

Carter turns his rage towards Rebel, his eyes filled with a dangerous glint. He begins to pummel her with his fists, his blows raining down on her defenceless body. Sky, still reeling from the impact against the wall, can only watch in horror as his sister is brutally attacked.

Just as Carter's assault on Rebel is reaching a fever pitch, a voice rings out from the corner of the room. It is their mother, Amelia, who has been cowering on the floor, fear and helplessness written across her face.

"Stop it, Carter!" she screams, her voice filled with desperation. "Stop hurting them!"

Carter's eyes flicker towards his wife, his expression twisted into a sneer. Ignoring her pleas, he continues to rain down blows on Rebel, his anger driving him to inflict as much pain as possible. But then, something unexpected happens. In a moment of sheer desperation, Amelia lunges forward with a knife and plunges it into Carter's leg. The pain is excruciating, causing him to cry out in shock and anger.

"Run!" Amelia gasps, her eyes wide with terror. "Take your brother and run!"

Rebel, bloodied and bruised, manages to muster up the last of her strength. She grabs Sky and bolts out the door. Their escape is frantic, the adrenaline pumping through Rebel's veins drowning out the pain. As they run down the street, Rebel feels a surge of protectiveness towards her younger brother. She can see the fear in his eyes, the trauma of what had just happened reflected in his innocent face.

Despite her own injuries, Rebel pushes onwards, her determination unwavering. She can feel the warmth of Sky's body in her arms, a reminder of the bond they share as siblings. Together, they will face whatever challenges lie ahead, united in their fight against the darkness that has engulfed their family.

hate me - eurielle

She comes to a halt, she feels as if she has just been hit by a brick wall. Her heart pounds in her chest as she looks up to see a lady with tears streaming down her face. As the lady leans closer, Rebel notices a striking resemblance between her and her own mother. The tears in the lady's eyes mirror the anguish in Rebel's own heart.

"I'm your Aunty Andrea," the lady expresses softly, her voice filled with emotion. "You're safe now."

Before Rebel can utter a word, Andrea sweeps her and Sky up in a warm embrace, holding them tightly as if to shield them from the harsh realities of their world. With tears streaming down her face, Andrea gently places them in the backseat of her sleek black car. The leather seats feel cool against their skin, providing a comforting contrast to the tension that fills the air.

You see those men over there?" she asks, pointing towards a group of figures approaching the house.  "The one in front is your Uncle Lucio," Andrea explains, her voice tinged with both sadness and determination. "They're going to go get your mummy."

Rebel feels a surge of emotions as she processes Andrea's words. The thought of her mother in danger sparks a fire within her, driving her to want to leap out of the car and run to her rescue. But Sky's presence beside her reminds her of the need to stay strong, to trust in their Uncle Lucio and  Aunty Andrea to bring their mother back safely.

As Rebel and Sky watch in silence, Lucio and his companions march towards the house, their faces set in grim determination. Rebel holds her breath, her heart pounding in her chest, praying for a miracle. But as she looks towards the house, she hears a sudden, deafening gunshot that echoes through the air. The sound chills her to the bone, sending shivers down her spine.

Tears well up in her eyes as she awaits the outcome, her heart heavy with dread. Moments later, Lucio emerges from the house alone, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He makes his way towards the car where Andrea and they sit, his expression pained and sorrowful. As he approaches, he mouthes a single sentence to Andrea, "I'm sorry."

Rebel's world comes crashing down around her as she realises the truth. Her mother is gone, taken from her by the cruel hands of her father. The weight of grief and loss settles over her like a suffocating blanket, threatening to engulf her in its darkness. Sky clings to her arm, his wide eyes filled with confusion and fear. He doesn't fully understand what is happening, but he can sense the overwhelming sadness that fills the air.

Rebel gently wraps her arms around him, trying to shield him from the harsh reality that has just dawned upon them. Andrea sits beside them, her own eyes brimming with tears. She reaches out and pulls Rebel and Sky into a tight embrace, offering them the only solace she can muster at that moment. Her soft whispers of comfort are like a soothing balm to their wounded souls, a gentle reminder that they are not alone in their pain.

The reality of their mother's absence begins to sink in, and Sky's cries grow louder and more desperate. Rebel holds him close, feeling the weight of responsibility for his fragile heart weighing heavily on her own. She has promised to protect him, to shield him from harm, and yet here they are, both broken and lost without their mother's guiding light.

As the car pulls away from the house, Rebel glances back one last time, her heart heavy with sorrow. But amidst the pain and anguish, a spark of determination ignites within her. She vows to honour her mother's memory, to live her life with courage and resilience, and to never forget the sacrifices that have been made on her behalf.