Ghosts of War | CoD - MW

Chapter 1.

<< Kimberly hid under her bed, hugging her stuffed pink bunny tightly. Her body was trembling with fear, the knowing of what was coming unbearable. She had heard the bottles smash downstairs, aware that it would only be a matter of time until he came. He had shouted her name, but she refused to go downstairs when he was drunk. She wouldn't be his slave anymore. She had decided that on her own. A tough decision she would have to make if she wanted to follow her dreams. She would have to stand up for herself. Especially against him.

The young girl shut her eyes tightly, feeling the warm tears roll down her cheeks as she exhaled shakily. As she heard the third step from the staircase creak, which it always did, she forced her eyes open again. Kimberly turned her head towards the door, hesitant. She forced her sobs down, frightened. She didn't want to make noise. She didn't want him to find her.

Why am I hiding? He knows I'm here, Kimberly thought to herself. No one from the military hides when they're scared. They stand up for themselves and fight. That's what Price told me. That's what my daddy would do.

Kimberly inhaled deeply, composing herself. She moved her hands and dragged herself from out under the bed, standing up. Her clothes were dirty. Her floors hadn't been cleaned in months and her clothes hadn't been washed in weeks. She held the bunny tightly by its long ears, letting its feet drag along the wooden floor. She used her free hand to dry away her tears, standing tall - just as her father once used to do.

The door was forced open, and Kimberly stared at her unbelievably drunk father. She flinched as the door hit the wall, creating a loud thud, the handle breaking the wallpaper. Kimberly looked at her father, or what had once been her father. His beard was overgrown, his once tidy hair now too long and greasy.
Bruce glared at his little girl that tried to seem big, but the room was swallowing her and her entire body was trembling. She looked like a scared little girl. Which she was. He grinned for a second before frowning again, his eyes full of hate.

-"Drop the act. Why don't you answer me when I call your name?" Bruce snapped, stepping further into the room. He hated when she ignored him. He hated the disrespect.
-"A soldier doesn't hide. You can go fetch your own stupid beer," Kimberly answered in a harsh tone, in which she immediately regretted it. Her eyes widened with fear and regret. The man in front of her scoffed, leaning onto the wall as he uncrossed his arms. It took maybe two, three seconds, and then he charged at her.

-"The mouth on you, you little shit!"
The man threw his fist down at the girl in pure anger, making her fall flat on her bum with a pained cry. She lost grip of her pink bunny as she landed on her back trying to secure herself and lessen the damage from the fall. She was shocked by the burning pain spreading across her face. This wasn't the first time he had hit her. Far from it, but he had never hit this hard.

Kimberly bit the inside of her cheek, pushing herself back up on her feet. She kept her stare on her father, refusing to let him see her tears. She was stronger than he thought. She would prove that to him. She stood there with clenched fists, her chin trembling.
-"Tough little shit, ain't ya?! I've told you you're not going to be a soldier, so stop acting like one. You're not worth shit just because my friend Price likes you!" Bruce shouted, bringing his fist down on the girl once more. She shut her eyes, prepared for the pain.

Kimberly lost her footing once again as her father's fist hit her face, making her fall over yet again. The words reached her, and she remained still on the floor, accepting the defeat. The tears fell freely now, and so did the blood from her split lip. She felt so worthless when she was here.

-"Don't you see what all the training and war has done to me? It'll do the exact same to you! War kills you on the inside, and I don't want you to go through the same shit as me!"
-"I will never become the monster that you are! I am going to serve my country, no matter how much you'll punish me for it. I am going to be like Price," Kimberly snapped back angrily, her eyes stuck on her pink bunny. She knew what was coming now, given her defiance. Bruce looked at her with resentment and hate.