Broken Innocence

8. "We protect eachother"

3 days. 3 days that door stayed locked. Luckily Autumn was blessed with her own bathroom connecting to her bedroom, but of course there was no kitchen.

The door was unlocked once by Roger. The night of the second day he had brought his daughter a store bought salad. And a bottle of water. That's it. She wasn't even awake at the time to see it.

Autumn didn't even get to leave her room for school. Instead her father had called her in sick. Once he had managed to deal with seeing his daughter's face, and believing she had been kept away long enough to learn her lesson, he unlocked the door.

Autumn was awake when she heard the click of the key, yet she didn't move from her bed. She wasn't sure if he was going to come in and finish his punishment to her, or leave her be. In this case, she was lucky enough for him not to be in the mood to further his abuse on the girl.

Autumn had been so alone. Her father had came in to take her electronics and things she cherished the most while she was sleeping the first night. She was left by herself. And her thoughts.

This wasn't the first time Autumn had been locked in her room for days on end, in fact, being stuck inside the same four walls was the least of awful things she had to endure. Despite the deafening silence and lack of basic human rights, she didn't have to be out there. With her father. That, she could deal with happily. Unless he decided on taking her punishment further, of course.

...

Hours had passed now, Autumn had not left her room despite knowing she was now aloud too. It was still school time, and wanted to wait until her brother got home.

She walked down to the basement where Roger had invested in a gym, lord knows why as he didn't plan on training. It was just the pride as he could show off his money and wealth to others.

Autumn leaned against the door frame as she watched her brother punch the punching bag hard. Reece turned to look at her,
"Hey. Are you okay? Dad let you out? Did he hurt you?"
"No, no, I'm fine. Are you?"
"Yeah. Yeah I'm good" Reece smiled through his deep breaths.
"Can you teach me?"
"What?"
"To punch. To fight. Will you help me?" Autumn asked.

"I don't do it to fight Autumn. I do it to protect myself. And protect you. I'm sorry I didn't the other day"
"It's my fault. And I want to protect myself Reece. Besides we're family. We protect each other, right?" The blond nods,
"Okay"

Autumn and Reece spent the rest of the afternoon in the gym, trying to gain their strength. Reece hated himself for allowing his dad to get to Autumn. He needed to be stronger. He needed to protect the ones he loved. Autumn wanted to learn how to protect herself, and she would. Secretly, as if Roger found out she was training to gain muscle and not loose weight, he'd be furious.

But the siblings worked together. And one day, Autumn would learn how to protect herself and the ones she loved. She wouldn't be afraid. Not of her father, not of any man. That's what she wanted and she will get it. And despite being slightly envy of his sister for being stronger, Reece would always just be proud of her. She will always be his baby sister. Even when they're old.