~The lost one~

Chapter 1

Simi sat quietly in her room, trying to block out the noise. She could hear Nyx, her stepfather, yelling from downstairs. His voice was filled with anger, and it echoed through the walls like a storm. "Get down here, now!" he roared, his temper flaring.

She hesitated for a moment, knowing what was coming. Nyx was furious—again. He claimed the dinner was disgusting, as he often did, and that was enough to set him off. Simi's heart pounded as she descended the stairs, each step heavier than the last.

As soon as she reached the bottom, Nyx's hand was on her. The blows came fast, fueled by his rage. Simi clenched her teeth, trying desperately not to scream. She knew it would only make things worse.

Carolina, her mother, stood nearby, adjusting her makeup in the hallway mirror. She didn't even flinch. Watching her daughter get beaten didn't seem to bother her at all. In fact, she seemed more concerned about getting ready for the party they were attending that night, a fancy event hosted by one of Nyx's business partners.

When Nyx finally tired of hitting her, he ordered Simi back to her room with a sneer. "And don't do anything stupid," he spat.

Simi obeyed, retreating to her small sanctuary upstairs.
She collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her thoughts were swirling, a mix of pain and frustration. She let out a shaky breath, her voice barely a whisper as she began to speak, not really to anyone but just to make sense of it all.

"Okay, so... I'm Simi. I'm 14, and my life is...well, kind of a mess. It wasn't always like this. Eleven years ago, my mom and I moved to New York City. She didn't talk much about why, just that my dad left us. I guess he gave her some money and told her to start over here. I think I have brothers somewhere, but I don't really know them.

"Things were okay for a while. Then Mom met Nyx. He ignored me at first, which I thought was normal. But then he started getting mad at me—really mad. It felt like everything I said or did set him off. And that's when he started hitting me. He'd use whatever was closest—belts, cables, his fists. Now I've got these scars all over me, and they're not just on the outside.

"Mom used to be different. She used to care. At least, I think she did. But that changed too. Now, she's always drunk or high. Every time I look at her, I don't even recognize her anymore.

"And...I guess I'm starting to hate them. Nyx, Mom...even my dad, for leaving us in the first place. If he hadn't, maybe none of this would've happened. Maybe my life wouldn't be such a nightmare."