The Forgotten One

Chapter 3 - The New Girl

River's P.O.V:

I yawn widely as I wake up from bed.

Rubbing sleep out of my eyes, I fling my legs over the side of the mattress and stand up, hoping to avoid stepping on anything that had been left on the floor as I make my way through the darkness.

Fortunately, I don't, and I reach my destination: the closet. I pull out a black t-shirt, which I see has a Green Day print on the front as my eyes adjust in the dark, my black skinny jeans and black high-tops. Once I put everything on, I walk to the wall of the room and flick on the light.

Milla and Caro groan in unison as they shield their eyes from the gleam.

"Ugh... turn the light off, Riv." Milla complains from the bottom of her and Caro's bunk bed.

"Yep, same here." Caro calls from the top bunk.

I roll my eyes.

"Guys, we need to go to school; we'll be late otherwise. So, get up." I say.

Milla groans again, rolls off of her bed and plonks down onto the floor unceremoniously.

Caro groggily sits up and crawls to the ladder, making her way down the rungs.

I nod satisfactorily and head to the kitchen to make breakfast, ensuring the girls won't have to do too much before our father and mother wake up.

I cook up pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast and a few hash browns by the time my sisters come down the stairs. They look much more freshened up; their hair brushed and gleaming, and they even wore a little makeup.

It was hot out, but my sisters wore matching long-sleeve shirts and jeans. I clenched my fists tightly. I knew they had to. Or else everyone would see the bruises. But, it still made me angry to think they couldn't even act normal because of the bastard in our house.

The bruises under my sisters' clothes weren't fresh, but they were still visible.

I knew I had none on my arms, but there were plenty on my torso and legs. And, I had a nice new one on my face.

Our father always made sure to hit us in places no one would notice, with the exception of last night, when I took my Milla's beating. I was in for it yesterday; he beat the shit out of me for that.

Milla and Caro walk into the kitchen and arrange all of the food on some plates, then I place them on the dining table along with cutlery and glasses.

I gesture to the fridge and they understand, grabbing out orange juice and water. They place the drinks on the table as well, and we sit in out chairs until our poor excuses for parents wake up.

I glance at the clock and see that it's 7:30 in the morning.

We have to leave in half an hour.

When we eventually hear footsteps thudding down the stairs, its 7:35.

Our father takes his place at the table, and our mother silently takes hers. Once our father has his plate full, we serve ourselves.

Nobody says a word at this breakfast.

I chew and swallow my food without speaking and once I finish, I gather up my plate and cutlery and place them in the sink.

Once everyone else finishes, I take theirs as well, tensing slightly when I take my father's. Just when I think all is well, he grabs my arm tightly before I can move away.

"I hope you learnt your fucking lesson yesterday, boy." He spits in my ear. "When I give out a punishment meant for your sisters, you do not take it for them. You hear me, boy?"