VIOLETTA'S POV (A few years ago)

"Violetta!!" My father's voice roared. I hid in my small closet, scared of what he would do to me this time as the audible crickets sang, reducing the noise from the loud bangs on my bedroom door.

My father is not much of a father to me; simply put, I despise him with everything I have. He was always drunk, gambling in some casinos. He beat up my siblings and me for absolutely no reason, and occasionally, he would even beat up my mum and still dare to cheat on her with the whores at the club.

He was the worst.

"You scandalous bitch, where the fuck are you!" he growled. Really? I'm the scandalous one? Says the person who's wearing his pants backward.

I could hear footsteps moving toward the closet, and I felt like my heart was going to pop out of my chest at the rate at which it was pounding. My dad opened the closet and dragged me out by my hair before I could even blink. My head was throbbing, and I really wouldn't be amazed if I became bald.

"Aaargh," I screamed with all my effort hoping someone would save me, and as usual, my mum rushed into the room. When I looked up at her, my heart dropped to my stomach. Her elegant, brown curly hair was sloppy and dry, bruises all over her beautiful, tanned skin from head to toe, her honey-brown eyes held sorrow, and her thin nose was bleeding.

She was barely able to stand up straight. Who would believe this was the work of my father who once used to be caring and adoring?

She began to beg my father to let go of me, but he didn't listen, instead, he jabbed me across the face. It hurt like hell, but I've been through worse, so it wasn't unbearable. The thing is, after a while of continuous pain, it eventually reduces although never stops.

My body, soul, and mind were in pain. I began to pray for some blessing to happen so that I would be saved, and the miracle came. My older brother Jayden hit my paled-skin dad on the head with the beer bottle he had been drinking. My so-called father fell to the floor, his wet black dirty hair draping his grey eyes.

Jayden looked a lot like my dad with his dark grey eyes, thin nose, and black hair that suited his slim face and big stature.

The perfect second born.

He is the younger version of my father, but nothing like him. He is sweet and kind and can also be very overprotective like the rest of my brothers who aren't usually around. They are either they are at work or in school. I still go to school but it's stressful because I have to put makeup on to cover up the bruises and act as if nothing happened.

All my teachers know what's going on at home but don't make any effort to help me because as usual, everyone sees and judges but no one ever helps, so, I drown in my tears at night telling myself it will be okay, knowing fully well that the cycle will repeat.

My mum helped me to my room and locked the door in case my dad woke up. She treated my bruises, addressed them, then gave me a kiss on my cheek trying to stop me from sobbing which worked, and right after, she gave me $20 and instructed me to get some groceries.

I knew her motives. My dad might have been a drunkard and a gambling addict, but he was strong, and he would wake up any time soon and come back for me. She was just using groceries to try to get me out of the house. I suggested we could go together but she declined and rushed me out quickly.

As I walked down the street, I noticed the air was as cool as ever, and the birds enjoyed the breeze it brought. I arrived at the front of the grocery shop to see it was closed. I didn't even check the time before I left the house. My energy was wasted.

I commenced walking back home on the street with dark alleys and no road lights. I noticed a male figure walking towards me with a knife and my reflex action was to launch, running the other way, not looking back. I saw an alley and ran to it then he started running straight which means the man was either drunk or just very stupid.

Another male figure was in the alley with a bottle and cigarette in his hands. A small bright torch lay beside him, letting me see his straight, black silky hair and bright coloured eyes that slightly shined in the night. But compared to the other man, he was young as he had a less manly body and much lighter features.

I got out of my thoughts when he galloped towards me but before I could turn around to run, he held me down. The boy put a wet handkerchief on my nose, and I became unsteady. Whatever I inhaled made my vision hazy. I was very well-conscious, but it made me immobilized. Everything was blurry and the boy's face was not noticeable to me anymore.

He began to remove my clothes and my underwear. I was scared but I couldn't scream or move, instead, I lay there feeling as helpless as ever, remembering I lived in a lonely environment, and no one would be out at this time.

He stripped me naked and started to unbuckle his belt, but I still couldn't move in any way. He then put his bulging, long penis into me, thrusting in and out numerous times. I felt pain surge through my body and soon, a knot began to form in my stomach.

It was a strange feeling... It was a painful one.

I was still attempting to move but all my effort went to waste as he kept on going, kissing and sucking on my neck, lips, shoulders, and anywhere his mouth was in reach, while noticeably listening to the small whimpers and moans I made and staring at my bare body.

He shifted from his position, and got up, leaving me covered in sweat, with subtle blood oozing from my vagina— right after covering me with his shirt.

It made me happy to know I would live another day, yet I wanted to die.

I was left alone in the dark dirty alley, naked and cold, still unable to move, and before I knew it everything went blank with one thought in my head. I was raped. I was just raped! But I couldn't forget the blurred-out facial expression of some kind of guilt that was shot at me before the mysterious boy left.

The same boy that changed my life forever.

Hi guys. It's Ruby. This is the first chapter of 'Hidden Truths'. Please help me get this book to 1000 reads. It would mean a lot and will give me the motivation to keep writing. I hope you liked this chapter. Feel free to comment. I know the chapters may seem too small but there will be several chapters so please bear with me. I'll try to update 3 times a week. Hope that is ok. Please don't forget to vote and share. Thanks, and bye👋

Q and A
1. What do you think about the situation?

2. Any ideas on coping mechanisms for Violetta?