It was loud around her, but silent in her room. Liliana sat in a dark, and disgustingly damp corner of a 5 x 5 room. If you can even call that a room. Tiny hands hid underneath her two, pastel pink braids. Slurred yelling, a high pitched scream, then silence. Liliana knew better. It wasn't quiet, she had learned to listen hard enough to hear the sobs of her mother and the rummaging around of her drunken father. It was a small apartment, 1 bed room. Liliana was given the closet, because she was so small. Some would think it was because she was 4, but she was malnourished. 

   That's what life had been like. Early life, that is. That night, after everything had gone quiet, Liliana eased her way onto her wobbly, fawn like legs. She silently toed her way to the closet door, and creaked it ever so anxiously open. Liliana held her breath, closing her eyes as the door creaked open. Dad was asleep on the couch, a bottle of jack in his calloused hand. Locks of his chestnut brown hair were matted on his face, as if his rage had broken him into a sweat. He rustled a bit, switching over on his side. Liliana let out a slow breath and made her away across the room, careful to not step on the areas that squeaked. 

   Ahead of her lay a wooden door, with about 3 fist sized holes in it. The door knob didn't even turn anymore. Liliana reached up on her tip toes to gaze through one of the holes, trying to see in the dark room for her mother. There on the moldy, dusty mattress, sat a rather thin and pale woman. Her head lay in her arms, her knees brought to her chin. Waves of pastel pink hair fell past her shoulders, her mid back. If things had been different, she would've been almost angelic. 

   Liliana heart pounded at the sight of the bruises on her mother, and went to go open the door. Another creak. Louder this time. Her mother's head snapped up, revealing a gaunt face with shallow, light blue eyes. If there was anything in there for years, it was fear. Liliana knew that. Liliana froze as she heard annoyed grumbling, and a heavy thud. Father. He was awake. Liliana's baby blue eyes flicked to her mother's in a frantic, rapid movement. Pleading. Her mother shook her head, and let out a silent sob. 

   Then, as if only a second passed, a large, burly hand made it's way to one of her braids. Liliana let out a sob, and looked back up at her father. His face was unkempt, his breath reeked of alcohol. "Dad, please. I was just getting something to eat-" She began, her voice tiny. He pulled on her braid almost hard enough to rip it out of her scalp. She screamed, and he covered her mouth. "Shut up," He growled, lifting her by her braids and tossing her on the bed next to her mother. Her mother pretended she wasn't there. That's how this always went. 

   "I know what you two are up too, fucking females. Trying to "stick together", rise up against me, eh?" He rambled, his voice raising. He ran a hand through his greasy, disgusting dark hair. His dark red eyes flicked towards Liliana and her mother. "You two are lucky. This Reckoning has FUCKED everyone. No one can even access their powers," He steamed on, looking down at his bottle he still had in his hand. "And SINCE you two like to conspire against me," He continued, beginning to pace, wobbling a bit. "You're gonna learn. Both of you." He grinned. It wasn't a happy grin. Besides her, Liliana could feel her mother tense up. She started. "No, no Lance, please. She didn't know. She's just a kid, just punish me. Please-" He was in front of her in two long stride and back handed her. She cried out in pain, and quickly silenced her sobs. 

   "Elaine. You don't have the power to stop me. I'm SICK OF IT. You think you're amazing, because you were one of the very few to have the ability to heal? Hm? You're a STUCK UP bitch. You're below me. And it seems like the apple doesn't fall far from the fucking tree!" He roared, laughing for a while. Once he calmed down, he glanced at Liliana, who was attempting to hide behind her mother.

   He cracked his neck, and rolled his shoulders back. "She's gonna learn some day. Might as well start her early, right, dear?" He cackled, cracking the knuckles on his hand he just hit her with. Elaine closed her eyes. He grabbed her chin firmly and forced her to look at him. Liliana could smell his breath from here. "Do you think if I beat her enough, she'll show her powers? I bet she has powers like you. She's gonna learn, like you, what happens if you say a word."