𝘾𝙊𝘿𝙀𝙋𝙀𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙀 - Rio x Reader

•Chapter 27•

"Mom?"

The word hung heavily in the air, earning no response. It's no surprise that she's in this state or in this hellhole. But it still hurt you— the image of her in this room permanently stained into your mind forever. Your thoughts were a maelstrom of emotions, ranging from hurt to anger to fear and back again.

"Mom.", you attempted to make your voice as stern and demanding as you felt, but it came out shaky.

The closest it brought her to stirring was the twitch of her scabbed index finger. It hadn't been long since the last time you'd laid eyes on her- but so much damage had already been done. You blinked away tears and crossed the floor, the dirty floor creaked beneath your feet. As your hand closed in on her shoulder, an all too familiar clicking sound filled your ears as well as something cold and unforgiving pressed into the back of your head.

Your heart drummed within your chest, eyes widened as your hands slowly raised. "You got about two seconds to tell me what the fuck you're doing or I'm gonna blow your fucking brains all over this room.", the male voice demanded, shoving the barrel further into the back of your skull.

Your body trembled, ice froze within your veins as you stared down at your, still unconscious, mother. Your lips parted to speak, but his patience wore much too thin before you got the chance. "Bitch, I'm not asking again. Turn around."

You did exactly as commanded, turning slowly, feet inching to a complete 180. Your eyes met a man, not much taller than you. His hair had been buzzed off, unfamiliar yellows stains covered his white wife beater. Scabs littered a good amount of his skin just as they did your mother's. He kept the gun pointed to your temple. You did your best to avoid looking at the barrel.

"I'm her daughter.", you answered meekly, keeping your hands raised as the man seemed to be unable to keep still.

The floor creaked under his feet as he sort of paced in place. His wide eyes flickered between both you and your mother. "Yeah? Then what's her name?"

"Julie Moreno.", you breathed.

His head tilted slightly. It seemed as though he couldn't quite retain the information right away. He kicked the edge of the bed where your mother laid, keeping his attention- as well as the gun onto you.

"Julie!", he hollered, earning a moan.

You couldn't help but to jolt as he kicked the bed again and yelled her name a bit louder. This time she stirred.

"What?", she groaned, sounding as if she buried her face into the pillow.

Relief washed over you in buckets— well, as much relief as you could imagine still being held at gunpoint. "This your daughter?", the wiry man asked.

The sheets rustled behind you followed by a couple footfalls before she walked into your line of sight. You didn't really know what to expect from her but it wasn't what happened next.
Her dead, brown eyes scanned your face. Her brain seemed to be operating at the same capacity the man beside her had been— like she was trying to figure out who you were— who her own daughter was. Your eyes were almost pleading.

After a moment, she nodded, her voice was scratchy, "yeah, my oldest."

You looked between her and the gunman, hands still raised. "Okay, now can you please stop pointing that thing at me?"

He didn't offer to budge. Neither had your mother. And just like that, your heart dropped to the pit of your stomach. "Mom. Tell him to stop.", you pleaded, hoping it was just her brain struggling to compute the inflow of information.