I Will Fight For You [TOTICF Book 2] (Killua X OC)

Departure!

The cobblestone walls were bleak as though they had been smothered in gloom instead of blood. Instruments of torture were strewn across the floor like puzzle pieces, crackling torches lined the walls as they produced a somber glow, a solitary girl crouched on the floor, coral-pink hair cascading down her shoulders as though to separate her from the world as she clutched a wire brush in her hands. Aside from the popping embers, the only sound was the rhythmic scrub of the brush against the stones, scraping off blood from previous beatings.

Her hands riddled with calluses grasped the wooden end of the brush,  blood drying on her torn fingertips; her knees were covered in bruises standing out in bright blue and purple hues. There was a noticeable gash on her stomach; still fresh, a knife wound.

Head lowered, the girl stared blankly at the back and forth motion of the brush as she cleaned the solitary of her blood.

There was a clank behind her, and her head shot upright as she ceased scrubbing, hands trembling. Footsteps resounded outside the metal doors before the gradual click of the locks gave way and they opened, revealing a man standing in the doorway.

She didn't have to turn around to know who it was; his presence was such a dead giveaway, even if you couldn't see the greasy shoulder-length hair and stocky build you would instantly know who it was.

"Father..." Usagi let out under her breath to hide the note of fear in her voice.

"Have you finished cleaning?" his deep voice resounded off the walls.

"N-no, sir," she started, cursing herself for stuttering so easily. "But I–"

"But you what, Tsuki?!" her father exploded, tone boisterous as though he were speaking to a crowd.

Usagi stiffened at the use of that name as she lifted the brush to her chest. Did she dare talk back to him? It'd likely mean spending even more time in solitary, longer than the three days she already had; her stomach rumbled at the reminder that she hadn't eaten in that time, either.

"... don't call me that," Usagi began, voice lowered as she looked at the ground. "Please... don't call me by Mother's name."

Glaring at her, he continued, "how dare you talk back to me. You belong to me, therefore I will call you by whatever I like."

Usagi's lip quivered as her shoulders rolled forward, eyes widening with terror. "Y-yes, sir."

"Why aren't you finished cleaning?" he asked her, tone anything but friendly.

"I-I was just–"

"You were what?!"

"Please, liste–"

"Were you playing around?!"

"No."

"Were you resting?!"

"No!"

"Then you just love cleaning then, don't you!" he continued to shout as he strode over towards her until he was standing directly behind the girl. "In fact, since you just adore cleaning up your own blood, why don't you do it even more!!" Usagi's father exploded with rage as he grabbed her by the back of the head before slamming her face into the cobblestone floor, the cold stones colliding with her forehead.

"Stop treating yourself like you're equal to everyone else; you're hardly even considered human anymore!" her father raged on as he walked towards the double doors. "I will be beyond ecstatic the day you finally die!"

Slamming the doors shut, he left Usagi in the darkened room. She lifted a hand to her head, feeling the gash on her forehead with her numbing fingers; blood trickled down her face before falling to the floor in droplets.