Sedulous | pjo - a. chase x fem o.c

| Chpt 1:1 |

TW - Abuse, Minor mention of alcohol, Blood, Death

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" I ran quickly, sprinting and jumping over neighborhood fences and winding through alleyways. It would be an understatement to say my lungs were okay. They were in fact dying, well at least it felt like it to me. I took quick sharp, deep, breaths trying to continue to run as fast as I could. My legs quite literally felt like they were burning off.

How'd I even get in this situation you ask? Good question, because I don't even really know. I was just minding my own business pick pocketing anything I could find from vendors and people walking by. I know, I know, that might sound terrible. A eight year old stealing! How shocking! But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

My family was never the most fortunate financially wise. My mom worked four jobs trying to support me, but in this economy, especially in South side Chicago, it's a little difficult. Even with all of that, it was never enough. It didn't help either that I was involved with "bad" people.

Being associated with those type of people isn't the best, especially when I'm basically known as the bosses kid. It creates an enormous large red arrow pointing at me saying, hey! Kidnap me and use me as ransom!

But alas, it does have its perks. For one, I quickly picked up how to steal without getting caught, how to jumpstart cars, break in and out quickly, protection from all the goonies and pedos, and all that good stuff. The others were always impressed with my skills of being able to slink into the shadows and stay hidden. So much so, that they used me quite often to steal things in the background.

Unlucky for me, I stole from the wrong guy today. He's currently chasing me and unfortunately from a gang called The Pig Kings. I'm sorry, but who calls themselves the pig kings? They were even branded like pigs with matching tattoos on their necks. I snorted while running just thinking of that.

He was starting to gain on me, and quickly. Fuck being short with my short legs.

Maybe I shouldn't have stolen from him. I don't get the big deal! It was just a couple of bucks...and a diamond watch.

I whipped my head back and forth trying to figure out something I could do. The pressure was starting to get to me after realizing that I might die if I didn't figure something out asap.

I noticed a dark green, very smelly dumpster a blocks worth ahead to my right.

I groaned inwardly, I had just gotten this new brown leather jacket from the boss. I didn't want to ruin it already with the stench, but I didn't have much of a choice. I made eye contact and gave him the bird, smiling and sticking my tongue out almost comically.

Using all the energy I had left, I sprinted towards the dumpster. Weaving through the crowd of people, using my vertically challenged abilities to get ahead. Taking a sharp sudden turn towards the alley, I leaped into the dumpster and closed the top and waited it out.

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I came out of the jewels grocery store bathroom with a black eye and four new bruises. I got caught red-handed. Fortunately, the fucker didn't recognize me, but he did leave me bruised and injured.

I winced in pain from all the new and old injuries I have. Luckily, I still had some extra bucks from today for food. As I approached my apartment, the door was left ajar. I heard yelling and a familiar voice in pain.

I ran inside as quickly as I could in hopes it wasn't the worse case scenario.

I couldn't breathe. Sharp inhale, sharp exhale. My breathing quickind at a rapid rate at the scene I saw before me. Blood was everywhere. On the kitchen floor, the walls, on my mother's body. I froze.

A man was hovering over my Mother with a sick look in his face, he was smiling wide with bloodshot eyes that had a crazed look. He wasn't steady on his feet, he was swaying just standing there. He reeked of alcohol and smoke. The smell filled my lungs, making me sick to the stomach.

He hit her over and over again. One kick I heard a crack, another with a sickening crunch, but with every single hit, blood erupted from my mom spilling onto the floor. All I could do was watch.

I knew this man, he was the one that took care of me. He always put me to sleep with gentle words and a soft touch despite his burly and tough looking exterior. He was the one who promised me many nights that he loved me and my Mother more than himself. That he would kill for us, die for us, do anything to keep us safe. He called me his little girl. He taught me how to ride a bike, spell my own name, how to fight. He was my role model, a constant pillar in my life that was always there without question.

Everything came crumbling down.

"Mami!" I yelled in desperation with tears flowing nonstop down my face, to the point where everything in sight was blurred. I tried to rush to my mother where she lay, before I was thrown aside by him.

"n-no hija, aléjate, no es seguro." My mother exclaimed.

I could hear the pain in her voice.

I ignored her pleas and charged towards him. I was angry. Angrier than ever before.

I don't remember much after that. No matter how hard I try, only bits and pieces are what remain in that memory.

The last thing I remember is my mother pushing me out the door, telling me to run and to keep running until I reach New York; where I'll find my Father.

A/N

That's the end of the first chapter, you get to see some of Mari's trauma and background here.

I'm just writing as I go, I don't exactly have a plan is that a bad or good thing? 😭 Tell me what y'all think.