This chapter is a bit on the shorter side, so sorry about that. Let's goooo.

{TRIGGER WARNING: chapter contains mentions and descriptions of domestic abuse and an implied mention of suicide. If you are currently in an abusive household or relationship, please seek help. Nobody deserves the physical and emotional pain that comes with it. Please also find something if you're feeling depressed. I'm always available to talk if someone needs it. There are also numerous hotlines you can call. I promise you that death isn't the answer. Abuse and suicide are serious topic and are not meant to be romanticized in the contents of this book. Stay safe, and thank you for reading.}

He smiled at the hand before finally driving back home.
*****

Percy heard the door slam and seriously considered pretending he was dead before realizing he'd already tried that. There wasn't much else he could do, though. He had tried everything the Internet and his brain could conjure up throughout the years. It got to the point where Percy was offering whatever his stepfather wanted if he'd just leave him alone for one night.

Obviously, though, that didn't work. He'd received a brutal beatdown before being ordered rather unkindly to get out. Percy figured Gabe would forget about it by the next morning and simply retreated to Jason's home.

But here he was. Locked in the bathroom for about fifteen seconds of silence before the banging on the door began.

"I know you're in here, kid!" Gabe shouted from the other side of the door. Percy stared at the knob, shakily reaching his hand towards it. Before he got the chance to open it, though, he gulped and took two large steps backwards. He mentally refused to go out there, searching his brain for solutions.

This a bathroom. There's razors and a bathtub and- no. Not today. You have to stay alive until he's gone.

Just a little longer.

That's when Percy noticed that the banging had stopped. He took a solid five seconds to simply stare at the doorknob. A shaky exhale escaped his mouth as he walked up the door and gently tapped it to see if there was a response. The boy gulped before slowly turning the silver knob and stepping into the hallway.

Bad decision.

He was instantly greeted with a violent shove into the wall, his head taking most of the damage. Instinctively, Percy slid down the wall to the beer-stained carpet.

Also a bad decision.

Gabe took that as an opportunity to send a barrage of brutal kicks into Percy's side, sending his body towards the floor. He attempted to shield his face with a feeble hand, but his efforts turned out to be futile after feeling a harsh yank on his shirt's neckline as Gabe pulled the boy off the ground. He couldn't help but release a small cough at the sudden reduction of air.

"Bit weak, are we?" Gabe slurred at the boy, looking like he was enjoying himself. Percy simply looked him in the eyes before stepping on the man's foot, scrambling towards the kitchen after the older male released him in surprise.

Percy was just full of bad decisions, wasn't he?

However, as Gabe began angrily stumbling in Percy's direction, he heard the all-too-familiar sound of the apartment door opening before quickly limping over in an unsuccessful attempt to block the door.

His mother walked through the door and immediately recognized the situation. She ran over to the drunken male to stop him from hurting her obviously injured son anymore, but was stopped after he simply threw her aside like a rag doll. His fury was locked on Percy as he finally reached the slightly terrified teenager, grabbing his shirt collar again and sending a hard punch at his cheek before dropping him to the ground and storming out the door.

Percy instantaneously crawled over to his mother, who sat up in a slight daze. Her eyes traveled to Percy before a worried look overcame her face.

"Percy, honey, I'm so sorry," she apologized, pulling her son into a hug. He winced a bit at his new (and old) injuries but returned the hug anyways. "I should've stayed here and spent time with you," she continued rambling, "We really don't get to do that much lately, do we? I should've stopped him, too. Percy, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. I'll get us out of this mess soon, alright?"

Percy pulled back slightly to give his mom a sad smile and a nod before re-entering the hug. He tried to forget the rest of what she said. While Percy did wish the two of them had more time to spend together, he knew she had reasons, and he knew what they were. He was also fully aware that there was no way she could've stopped her violent husband.

As the hug ended, Percy felt himself start to get dizzy. He used the wall for support to stand as his head began to pound. The rest of the lights were turned on and nearly blinded the boy. He stumbled down the hall to his room, flopping down on his bed and reaching out to see what time it was on his phone. However, he was greeted with a rather pleasant surprise.

(123) 987-6543: Hey, it's Jason.

Percy smiled at the text, adding his number as a contact and setting his phone back down. He knew he probably shouldn't be tired in the middle of the day after just waking up a few hours ago, but his body told him otherwise. He yawned, pulling a blanket over his body and closing his eyes. He didn't even bother trying to figure out how to conceal everything for school tomorrow because, frankly, he didn't care. That was another problem for another day. "Another day" would have to be tomorrow, but it still counts, okay? Trying to clear his brain of the very recent events of the Ugliano-Jackson household, he eventually drifted off into sleep yet again.

Note to self: text Jason when you wake up.

Guys, I suck at this???