Huntress Luna

Chapter 1: Sybil

12 years ago

"Sybil Alexandira Drake, you come down here and pick up all of these books right now!" her mother yelled. Sybil rushed down the stairs quickly, not wanting to upset her mother anymore. She had just gotten back from work and didn't sound happy, but then again, she never sounded happy.

"I work all day at the diner, and you can't pick up a simple broom and clean this house. Why are you so useless?"

"I'm sorry, mother, I didn't mean to. I just forgot." Sybil said as she picks up the books.

"You never mean to do anything, do you? That's your excuse for everything. You didn't mean to get in trouble at school, nor break the plates, nor forget to clean up, but you did it anyway. I should have given you up for adoption when I had the chance. Instead, I'm stuck with you." Tears streamed down Sybil's face at her mother's words. She was used to her mother saying this to her.

"I- I-I'm sorry," Sybil said.

"Stop apologizing and get this all cleaned up before your father gets home." Wiping away her tears, Sybil picked up the rest of the books and cleaned up. She helped her mother prepare dinner and set the table. Her father came home as he always did, halfway drunk and holding a six-pack of beer. He was always dirty from his construction job and always came home angry. He sat down at the dinner table and opened up a beer. Sybil and her mother joined him after placing all of the dishes down. They ate silently.

"What's this I hear about you getting suspended from school?" Sybil's father asked her. She kept her head down, not answering. " I'm talking to you!" He smacked the table, causing her to jump out of her seat. "Now, you are not mute, so you better speak, little girl! Why were you suspended, huh!"

"I-It wasn't my f-fault. Julie kept teasing Kaylee a-and a-all I did was t-try to help Kaylee. Julie grabbed my hair, and I tried to make her let go. S-she tripped and fell and hit her head. I tried to tell the teacher, but everyone said I was fighting, and I pushed her on purpose."

"If you hadn't put your head in something that had nothing to do with you, maybe you wouldn't have gotten in trouble. You're not a hero; look at you. You're a stupid skinny kid. I want you to understand something in this world. When a little black girl stands over an unconscious little white girl with a head wound, it never looks good. Now that little girls' parents are filing a lawsuit against us. Do you think we have money for that! Do you! You are such a stupid, stupid girl." He said; tears fell down her face, she tried to wipe them as quickly as she could.

"I'm sorry, Daddy, I didn't mean to cause trouble."

"You sleep in the shed for causing trouble."

"No. No daddy, please no!" She pleaded. He slapped her across the face drawing blood from her lip, causing her to fall, and kicked her in the ribs multiple times. He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her outside. It was raining, and the mud had accumulated over the grass. Sybil's clothes got dirty as she tried her best to get out of his grip. He threw her inside the shed.

"Daddy, Please! I promise I'll be good! Mom! Mom, help me please!" She gave pleading eyes to her mother but only got a cold stare back. Her father kicked her again and repeated until she had no more fight in her. She laid there sobbing.

"You will stay here until your suspension is over. Take this as a lesson to never cause trouble again." He closed the door and locked the shed, walking away. Sybil lay in the dark, close to the door, clawing at the only light from below the door. She hated the dark, and it terrified her. She cried herself to sleep and hoped that someone would come to save her from her torture.