Re-Raising Ellie

Three

ELLIE

A few hours had passed by now and it was beginning to lose light outside. I didn't care though, I was hungry for real food and could feel a bit of a headache building behind my left eyebrow. That and with the lack of my meds was a recipe for disaster.

Since bringing me my food and then taking my dish to the kitchen and returning with a child's cup, Andres took the spot to my right with Fabio was off somewhere behind me. I was boxed in, so making a run for it was definitely out of the question.

"Ellie, drink your milk for me please." I didn't move my attention from the television in front of me, because there was no way in hell that I was going to drink from a child's cup because I am not a child. These people didn't get to just take me and force me into being one again.

"No thank you," I said politely, causing the man who was trying to hand me the cup to scoff incredulously.

"So, you do know what manners are. I'm shocked," Fabio teased. I just cut my eyes at him and continued trying to see around the mountain of dude that  is him. "Just take the damn cup, little girl," he demanded again, jutting the cup in my direction. I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time, pushing it back and shifting to my left away from the demanding man.

"Principessa, you need to drink your milk so we can get you ready for your bath. Your mommy and daddy will be back soon." This time it was Andres who spoke, from his side of the couch.

"I don't want milk, and i do not want a bath." I was standing my ground. They changed me, brushed my hair and my teeth, and have coddled me the entire time, but i am done giving in to these nutjobs and their ways of life. I put my feet down at drinking from a fucking sippy cup.

"Okay you little shit, this is your last warning. Drink the goddamn milk--" Andres quickly cut the man off for his language. "Fabio." "...before I hold you down and force feed it to you. Do you understand?" He was in front of the couch now, jerking the cup back into my chest.

"Do you understand that i don't want to drink that shit? Or are you too damn dumb to understand basic English?" My rebuttal was childish, yes, I get that, but it seemed just in the moment. He however didn't fine it amusing in any way as he grabbed me by my biceps and hoisted me up into the air like i weighed nothing, but judging by the way they all manhandle me, to them I guess I don't. As quickly as he did that, I began kicking and flailing my body as much as I could, screaming obscenities and demanding to be put down. I didn't like being in the same room as him, much less face to face.

"Fabio, be careful with her. Don't you dare drop her," Andres said exasperated as he walked away due to his phone ringing. Fabio paid the man no mind as he roughly grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him in his eyes.

"Cut it out!" He bellowed, causing me to jump in surprise at the hardness in tone. "Eliana, you've been good up until a few minutes ago, do you really think your mommy and daddy will be happy with you if they were to hear of your less than desirable behaviors these last 15 minutes?" Fabio admonished, sitting me on his hip like I'm some damn child, reaching to grab the sippy cup that fell down in the struggle.

"I don't fucking care! I don't want any fucking milk or to take a dumbass bath, I just want to watch tv and be left the fuck alone!"

"ELIANA LUCCHESE!" A voice I was becoming all too familiar with barked.

My blood ran cold. I didn't even hear them come in, but yet there they stood in the archway of the foyer. No no no! Fabio did this on purpose! He goaded me into getting in trouble, this isn't fair!

I gulped as I turned to stare up at the two scowling faces of Vincenzo and Alessandra.

"Mettila lei giù" Vincenzo said to Fabio in that foreign tongue of theirs before turning his glare onto me the second my feet touched the ground. "Come here, little girl."