Dark Arrow

Chapter Twenty Eight

TRIGGER WARNING - ABUSE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL

Steve and I carried on our score keeping as the fight raged on. I was aching everywhere and the damn robots would not stop coming. It was starting to frustrate me and I was running low on arrows.

Steve managed to catch Pietro off guard, a small bash to his chest and he fell to the ground with a thud before moving to sit up against a crate behind him.

"Stay down. She won't be so forgiving." He warned, knowing if I found him he would end up with more injuries than what he currently had. I chuckled as I heard him over comms.

Before I could respond there was an intense pain in my head as Wanda appeared beside me, a sinister smile on her face as her eyes glowed red. I tried to shoot at her, but before I could my vision blurred. All of a sudden I was five years old again.

"It's all your fault!" My mother screamed at me, her hand striking me across the face. I couldn't understand what I'd done. The sting brought tears to my eyes as I looked up at her from the floor. My small hand clutched at my cheek where she'd struck me. I loved her, why didn't she love me back?

"Mommy I'm sorry!" I cried out, looking at Clint who didn't know what to do. My tears seemed to break through to him as he ran to me, pulling me into a hug. Effectively shielding me from her. I sobbed behind him, knowing he couldn't stop her if she wanted to hurt me again. Which she did. She always wanted to hurt me

"Mommy stop!" Clint pleaded with her.

"I don't know why you protect her. Your father left because she was born. She's a waste of space."

"I don't care!" Clint howled back. "She's my sister and I love her!"

The scene changed, taking me to the first time I shot an arrow.

The arrow sailed through the air, hitting its target dead centre. Clint pulled me into his arms, spinning me round in the air.
"I told you you could do it!" He praised a toothy grin on his face.

He set me down gently on the ground. "You think Mom will be happy? She might let us go to school if we do this, can you imagine that? Staying in one place, not having to move every few weeks. We could make friends, join archery club, we'd be amazing!" I rattled off, my hyperactive energy buzzing through me.

Clint retrieved the arrow before walking back to me. "Don't get your hopes up Rain, you know what she's like. One day I'll take you away from all of this, find us a nice house in the woods. I'll keep you safe, always." He promised. He was less than a year older than me and yet he acted older, always protecting me.

Again the scene switched.

"Happy birthday." Clint grinned, passing me a single cupcake with a single candle sat in the top. "Make a wish he encouraged."

There was only one thing I wanted, one thing I always wanted.

I wish I was good enough. I thought to myself as I blew out the small flame.

Mom appeared out of the bathroom of the motel we were hiding in. Her eyes sunken into her head, she was high again. Clint moved in front of me, knowing what she got like when she was drunk or high.

"Mom, don't." At thirteen he was beginning to fill out, almost big enough to stop her.

Almost.

She pulled him out of the way by the scruff of his neck, pushing him behind her. Her gaze fixed upon me as she pulled a blade out from behind her. I whimpered, she'd cut me before but never with the look she currently had in her eyes.