Danny stood in their bedroom's doorway, watching her like a hawk as she moved around the room, picking her pyjamas up from their bed. Softly, Madeline hummed a sweet tune and swayed gently as she moved about the bedroom. "Little blue bird, flying in the clouds of crystal. Fly high, little blue bird, I love you, so." Madeline looked up and glanced at Danny. "Can I go get changed?" 

Danny nodded stiffly, the sound of the song still in his head. "Why do you always sing that damned song?" Danny said suddenly. Madeline, who was halfway to the bathroom ensuite, stopped in her tracks. "I mean, it's lovely," Danny continued, rolling his eyes- the sarcasm obvious in his words, "but you only ever sing that one verse. It gets irritating." 

Turning around to face him, Madeline shrugged. "I guess I've always known it. It's one of the only things I remember from when I was young. It's peaceful. I like it." 

Danny frowned and began walking to the bed in the middle of the room. "Stop singing it," he demanded harshly. "It makes my head hurt. You make my head hurt." Danny swiftly pulled his dress shirt out from his pants and started unbuttoning it. When Madeline emerged from the bathroom in the pyjamas, Danny was lying on his side of the bed in his briefs, scrolling through his phone. 

While he was occupied by his work, Madeline allowed herself a moment to breathe deeply and prepare herself for sleeping next to him. It didn't matter how many times she had already slept next to the man, it still drained her of energy and made her feel worthless and plain disgusting. Madeline did have no parents and was brought up in an unhealthy environment at the orphanage, but she knew what Danny was doing was wrong. But if she left him, he could do something horrible- he always told her he would. Besides, without him, she had nothing. Madeline supposed living like this was better than not living at all. 

Danny was twenty four this year and already ran an incredibly successful corporation. His business, Secure Liberation, was one of the top law firms in the city. Danny was a lawyer himself, but when his father passed away, the company passed straight to Danny and so running the business took priority over law. 

"Get into bed, Madeline," Danny said, putting his phone down. "You have work early tomorrow. I told Steven you would open up for him, he has an app-" 

"Appointment, yeah I know," Madeline muttered, the fatigue catching up to her. Quick as a flash, Danny had reared up and grabbed the back of Madeline's neck. Roughly, he yanked her down onto the bed. She fell with a yelp onto the mattress, her feet pulled out from underneath her. "Danny, please!" 

Danny pulled her face down to his until their noses were touching. Madeline could feel his cold fingers pressing deep into her skin, she would have to cover more bruises tomorrow. "Don't you dare interrupt me again," Danny hissed, spittle spraying Madeline's chin.  

Tears rolled down her cheeks as Madeline clawed at Danny's fingers around her neck. "Danny!" she gasped, "Danny stop!" 

But he didn't let go. Madeline sobbed, still trying to pries his hands off her. She kicked and flailed uselessly, but Danny was too strong- his grip was iron. Forcefully, he leant up and put his mouth on Madeline's lips sloppily. The kiss was wet and slimy and Madeline fought the urge to push at Danny's chest and pull away. Instead, she fell limp and choked back sobs. 

Danny smiled into her lips, happy she didn't continue to fight. He reached up and gathered a lock of her brown hair in his hand and pulled roughly. Madeline cried out but the sound was muffled by the kiss. 

"Go to sleep, Mad," Danny gasped when he finally pulled away. He turned over onto his back and closed his eyes. Any conversation was over. 

Silently, Madeline faced away from Danny and curled into a ball as close to the edge of the bed as she could get. She shook with silent sobs, and felt the sheets beneath her become damp from her tears. Madeline didn't even know when she stopped crying, she was trembling too much. Coldness wrapped around her like a giant, clawed hand, ready to steal her away. 

But she had to stay strong. 

One day, one day, Madeline would escape this life. She would make a better one for herself where no one told her what do do or how to live. 

But now, she had to try to survive Danny White. He was the only thing that kept her from living and dying on the streets. 

Eventually, the light of the moon shone through the curtains and Danny's chest was rising and falling evenly. Looking at his peaceful, slumbering face, Madeline could almost see who she first fell in love with. Danny looked calm and serene in that state, so different to his demeanour when awake. Sighing deeply, careful not to wake the sleeping serpent, Madeline pushed the covers off and swung her legs out of bed. Quietly, she padded along to the window. A warm breeze blew gently through the open window and kissed Madeline's cheeks. The warm air seemed to hold Madeline softly in an embrace and she leant into the air, eyes closed. She clambered onto the seat below the window and curled her legs underneath her. The stars twinkled and smiled down on New York, it's bright lights and buzz of night life seemed to vanish. Madeline was in her own world. Looking up at the stars above the vast buildings and streets of Brooklyn, Madeline's thoughts finally ventured to the places in her dreams. 

She knew, that when she fell asleep later, the dreams would come, as they always did. The most common dream, Madeline remembered in great clarity. 

There was a young girl- maybe about five or six, and she ran through passages and hallways that glinted and gleamed. The castle seemed to be made of pure gold and marble. Turrets disappeared into the clouds where strange humanoid creatures with kind faces flew. Their skin was light blue, and they wore clothes of fantastical colours. Capes of magentas and greens, gowns with bodices sewn with silver shells. These beings zoomed in and out of the turrets, using the wind beneath their feet to push them through the air. 

"Papa!" The little girl would yell ecstatically. Giggling as she ran, the sound echoed through the castle like music. Never far behind her, a tall man with a golden crown atop his ebony hair jogged gently. 

"Madi!" He called out after her, "I'm going to catch you!" 

Servants and other various castle staff watched the King chase his little Princess, smiles would form on their faces. 

This place was a happy one. No one was ever sombre or selfish. 

The young girl, hoisted her skirt up and sprinted as hard as she could. As she rounded a corner, she slammed into a body. Both people slammed to the ground. The young princess stared up in shock before scrambling to her feet. "Levin!" She gasped, and tugged on his hand and pulled him up. 

The boy, Levin was much taller than the girl and smiled down at her with warm familiarity. "Careful beautiful," he said, and checked her small hands for injuries. 

Madi laughed and pulled her hands away, eyes shining up at Levin brightly. "I'm fine!" Then, around the corner, the King would appear and he would sweep his daughter off her feet. He swirled her around, Madi laughed loudly and joyously. "Papa!" 

This was the happiest family in the land and they lived in the most beautiful castle with the most beautiful possessions. 

This dream family was so much happier than Madeline had ever been in her entire life. She often wished it were real, and that someday someone like the Levin boy would arrive and sweep her off her feet like the king did with his daughter. 

The stars outside soon vanished behind clouds and Madeline felt reality set back in. Taking one last look outside, she fondled the pendant that hung around her neck. Her name, Madeline Ambrose was engraved onto the silver sun delicately. 

It was something that connected her to the dream.

The young princess from her dreams wore the same pendant. 

Gently, Madeline pulled the window and latched it. She walked back to the bed where Danny had shifted and was now taking up half of the bed. Madeline's lips trembled but she took a deep breath and summoned courage from deep within her and crawled back into bed. 

She lay on her side, with her back to Danny and on the edge of the mattress. 

She closed her eyes. Wishing for the dreams to show her something beautiful. Something unlike she'd ever seen before. 

Just until she had to wake up again, and go back to her little job and her life, where she couldn't help but be so afraid, every second of everyday.