The Secret - Camren

Part 18

A/N Trigger warning. This chapter contains material that can be unsettling and cause strong emotional reactions. Reader discretion is advised.

"It started when I was 14 years old, but to really understand what happened I should start when I was a little younger okay?" she asked me nervously.

"Start where you think is best Camz" I said running my hand through her hair before resting it on her lower back.

"Alright... When I was about 11 years old my mom and dad were having a hard time. They were thinking of getting a divorce but instead they decided to stay together for my sake. They even had Sofia as a way to try and fix their marriage. That was the worst decision they had ever made because since the day Sofia was born the fighting only got worse. I was the one to take care of her most of the time. I often had to take her from my mom's arms and go hide in my room because they would scream at each other for hours. The day after Sofia's first birthday my dad announced that he had been posted somewhere in the Middle East. He's in the military by the way. I think I forgot to mention that, anyways" She said trying to force a smile before continuing.

"My mom said that he was going to go but we weren't going to be following. A week later the lawyers were being called and the divorce papers were being signed. A few months after my dad left my mom met Jack. I never liked him and he never really liked me or Sofia. I think he thought we were taking my mom's time away from him, like he deserved it more than we did. I was twelve at this point. Six months after we met my mom had completely changed. She went from being a caring mom to one that barely noticed if we were home at night. I was now the only one who took care of Sofia. Sure she changed her diaper and fed her when I was at school but I think it was only so she wouldn't have to hear the crying. Jack had completely brainwashed her. He treated her so badly, I don't even know why she stayed with him but she acted as if he was a God. She did everything for him. He could do no wrong, even when he hit her a few times. My mom didn't care though, she still stayed." She paused and looked at me.

"It starts to get bad after this, so yeah... be prepared... I guess" she said looking in her lap. "When I turned 13 my mom told me that they were getting married. i had never cried so much in my short life. I called my dad and begged him to come take us wherever he was, but he said it was too dangerous for little girls and that having a step-dad wouldn't be too bad. That even if he was far, he would still be our dad. He didn't seem to understand how bad it was getting. I don't think he believed me actually. How could Jack, the high class business man be such a bad guy right?" She whispered as a tear fell down her cheek.

"Anyways, they got married; it was probably the worst day of my life. Things were the same for a while after that. We moved into a new house and he bought my mom expensive gifts, they usually came after he would hit her for "not being a good wife". It didn't happen that often at first but about a year into the marriage they happened at least once a week. He hadn't touched me or Sofia but it was starting to affect her. She was only three at the time it started getting bad." Camila shook her head and closed her eyes. She seemed to be trying to calm herself for what she was going to say next.

"A few months before my fifteenth birthday I had a sleepover with Alison, one of my best friends of the time and Dinah. It was getting late and Sofia was in bed, my mom and Jack were out at a movie or something like that. We were playing truth or dare and Dinah dared Alison to kiss me. I had known I liked girls for a little while now but I never told anyone because I knew Jack was extremely against it. Alison hesitated, looked at me with red cheeks and an expression I couldn't read in her eyes. She shook her head and just laughed and said Dinah was stupid and to give her a new one, which she did. We all went to bed soon after but I couldn't fall asleep. Dinah was snoring on the floor next to my bed and Alison was quiet beside me. 'Hey Al? are you asleep?' I had asked her and she turned towards me with that same look from earlier in her eyes. 'Mila?' she asked me 'Yeah?' I tried to say confused but before the whole word was out of my mouth Alison's lips were on mine. It was my first kiss and I thought it was amazing; I was getting completely lost in the feeling of her lips on mine when I heard it. The door had been open and Jack was standing in the doorframe. He had come to check on us. I had never been so scared in my life. He looked completely mental. If he was a cartoon smoke would have been coming out of his ears. His face was completely red and he was showing his teeth like an animal. 'THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING CAMILA! ALL OF YOU GET OUT, GO HOME NOW!' He screamed at the girls. Dinah had been woken by the screaming and was confused, but Alison grabbed her arm and they ran from my room and out the front door, Alison only lived a few houses down. And that was the first time he hit me."