Saving Isabella

Chapter 8: Nightmares

*present time*

POV: ISABELLA JENKINS/ROSSI

Arthur opens up the portfolio and stares at it. "I've got your grades here, they aren't bad at all, and you're really good at sport, but there's a big big problem with your attendance, you can't keep skipping!" I can hear him get annoyed, I haven't been here one day and I'm already messing everything up, soon they'll send me away, I can't for no reason let them know about my past.

"I'll do my best to stay in school, I swear!" This is such an empty promise, I'll probably skip more then attend, but they don't need to know that. I'm realizing there are many things my brothers don't need to know.

"Ok, you will be attending highschool with Dominic, Dylan and Elijah, I believe you already met Dominic, but you will have to wait until lunch to meet Elijah, Dylan and Nick." I nod my head quickly, I just want to go to my room, I'm scared to do or say something wrong and make them mad. Honestly, I can't wait to go to my room and curl up in a ball under my covers, it's just so tiring, life. Life is so tiring.

"May I go to my room?" My voice barely a whisper. Arthur nods and I quickly get up and exit the room before bolting down the stairs. Fat crocodile tears run down my face, from the pain in my body, why aren't the pills working?! I need something stronger but I'll only get that at school once I find a dealer unless they send me to an uptight posh, rich school, which I wouldn't put it past my brothers. Usually rich kids are more stressed out though because of all the pressure put on them by their overthinking rich parents so following that logic it would make more sense for there to be a drug dealer, other then rich parents have rich kids, which of course have money to spend. Shit the pills are going to cost! I don't have much money but anything more than 20 bucks is so overpriced or total shit, because almost no kid can get their hands on the expensive stuff, people don't trust you that much.

I reach my bedroom and crawl onto the bed letting my tired body drift into a much needed sleep.

**Possibly triggering flashback**

"Again, you useless slut?" Jack's voice booms, the venom in his words sinking deep into my bones. "You mean to tell me you can't manage something as simple as cooking a couple of fucking eggs? How goddamn hard is it?" His face twists with rage, eyes burning with contempt as he stands over me, his towering figure casting a menacing shadow that swallows the room. My heart is pounding in my chest, my legs quivering so violently that I can barely hold myself upright. Every muscle in my body is screaming for me to run, but I'm frozen—trapped in place by terror.

He sneers, his lip curling. "I'll make sure you fucking learn this time. You worthless little bitch."

Before I can react, his hand shoots out, grabbing his coffee mug—still steaming. I flinch, a pitiful whimper escaping my throat, but I can't move fast enough. The scorching liquid hits my skin like a thousand needles, burning through the thin fabric of my clothes and searing my flesh. I scream, sobbing as the agony takes over, but Jack just laughs.

"Pathetic," Jack spits out.

My vision blurs with tears as he storms toward me, his heavy footsteps echoing in my ears. And then, before I can even register what is happening, his fist collides with my face. Pain explodes through my skull, my nose crunching under the blow. I gasp, choking on blood that pours from my nose, my body swaying as he kicks me in the stomach over and over. Each strike is like a battering ram, knocking the wind from my lungs until I can barely breathe, let alone cry. I can feel my ribs screaming in protest, and the sharp sting of impending bruises blossoming under my skin.