Fracture

CHAPTER FOURTY TWO

*TW: MENTIONS OF SELF HARM AND SEXUAL ASSAULT*

Song of the chapter
WOULD'VE, COULD'VE, SHOULD'VE; Taylor Swift

"And if I was a child, did it matter, if you got to wash your hands?"

"And now that I'm grown, I'm scared of ghosts.
Memories feel like weapons."

"Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first."

❊-♡︎Scarlett♡︎-❊

I honestly felt like locking myself in my room all day, after the drama of last night.

Everyone now knew that Mark had returned and I didn't want to face the wrath of everyone.

Claire had texted me late in the night to inform me that Gerard had shown up in her room. I thanked God that he was safe.

I was currently curled up in bed watching Gossip Girl in a pair of sweatpants and one of Patrick's hoodies I still had.

Knocking on my bedroom door made me sigh in annoyance. The last thing I wanted was to talk to anyone.

"What?" I called out, pausing my show.

The door swung open and in came Mark.

I was immediately on edge, my stomach swirling with anxiety.

I did not want him anywhere near me, especially in my room. He'd done unspeakable things to me in this room and I couldn't handle him in here for another second.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hissed, trying to mask my fear with anger.

"Thought I'd come say hi," He hummed, closing the door behind him, "We've yet to talk since I've been back."

"I was hoping to keep it that way," I sneered, pulling my blankets further up my body.

I didn't want him to look at me. He had me trapped in my room, frozen in fear and I felt like I was six years old again.

"What's with the attitude, sis?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm not your fucking sister," I hissed, "I'm not your anything, you disgusting creature."

"That's no way to talk to family," He frowned, picking up my maths textbook from my desk.

"Family?" I let out a strangled laugh, "You rape your family?"

"What'd you just say to me?" He froze.

"I said do you rape your family?" My voice wavered, daring to break at any moment, "Because that's what you did to me."

"You're so dramatic," He scoffed, taking a step towards my bed.

"Don't you dare get closer," I shot out, "Or I swear to god I'll call the Gards faster than you can blink."

"And say what?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"That you raped me," I forced out, "For years."

"No one would believe that," He snickered, "I've got a lot more credibility around here than Little Miss cuts her wrists."

"Get out of my room," I hissed, "And my life."

"Our parents are in love," Mark sneered, "I'm not going anywhere, Scarlett."

"You should go to hell," I spat, "It's where you belong! Because you've ruined my entire life. You stole my childhood from me."

"Why are you bringing this up now?" He demanded, "This shit is long over with."

"It's not!" I nearly screamed, "You ruined my life! You actually destroyed me."

He rolled his eyes.

Like this wasn't something that weighed me down everyday.
Like I didn't struggle to stay alive.

"Get out of here!" I cried, "Leave this house. Leave town. Leave my life! Just stay away."

"Or what?" He shrugged.

"Or I'll tell someone."

"Tell? You've got no proof," He snorted, seeming amused by my pain.

He was right.
I had no proof.
In the end it was my word against his, and I had no idea who would take my side.

Gerard would.
I knew he would, he was always on my side.
And Claire.
And Patrick.

My mind held on my mom.
Would she believe me?
Would she let me ruin her marriage over this?

"You've a lot of nerve talking to me like this," Mark scoffed.

"I can talk to you however I want," I hissed.

"Like hell you can!" He roared.

"Get the fuck out!" I was screaming now, "Get out of my god damn room before I murder you."

Marks expression turned to rage, making me sink into my mattress, my fear taking over.

When my bedroom door swung open again, I felt relieved to see Gerard in the doorway.

"I think she asked you to leave," Gerard glared at Mark.

"I was," Mark threw his hands up and walked to the door.

"I suggest you be nicer to me," Mark gave me a look of warning before leaving my bedroom.

Gerard closed the door behind Mark and crawled into bed beside me.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yup," I swallowed hard, "I just really hate that guy."

"You and me both," He sighed, looking up at my ceiling.

"Our family is so fucked up," I mumbled, "Sometimes I wish Mam was the one that drowned."

The words sounded horrible leaving my mouth, but I knew Gerard would understand.
It wasn't that we didn't love her, because we did. But it was because if dad were still here, we wouldn't be living with Mark.

"At least we've got each other," He wrapped an around me, "We can count on that."

I nodded.
Taking in his words.

At least we've got each other.

If everything in my life went to shit.
Gerard would be there to help me fix it all.

Resting my head on his shoulder, I tried to forget about my interaction with Mark and focus on Gerard.

Because if it wasn't for him, I'd have been dead years ago.