The Unknown Hand

019 - TW

Margaret
(TW: ABUSE)

It was the following Wednesday when it happened. Margaret got home from school a little late because she and Lance had an assignment to work on. When she got home, her stomach dropped like a stone. There was a car in the driveway. Her parents were home. She entered the house as quietly as she could, hoping and wishing with all she had that her parents hadn't heard her come in. Before she could even close the door all the way, she heard her father's voice booming down the hall.

"Margaret, you better get your useless self in here and explain why you're late!" he yelled, voice deep and intimidating. Shivering beyond belief, she walked into the kitchen where her parents were sitting, staring at her with disappointed and unimpressed expressions.

"Hi, Daddy," she said, voice high pitched and weak. He didn't deserve such a title, but she knew the consequences if she didn't call him that.

"Margaret," her mother said, gesturing to the chair next to her. "Please, take a seat." She followed her orders, not daring to hesitate. "School was dismissed over an hour ago. Where have you been?" she asked, cool voice unforgiving.

"I'm sorry, Mom," she said quietly, voice wavering, eyes glued to the table. "I had to stay after today to finish an assignment for one of my classes."

Her father scoffed. "Which class?" he asked. Before she could answer, however, he continued. "Not that that matters. If you were my daughter, you wouldn't be so vacuous as to need extra time." He abruptly stood up, his wife following suit. Margaret flinched, knowing what was coming.

A slapping sound filled the deathly silent room, a tingling sensation filling her cheek. She let out a shuddered breath, eyes closing as she took all her self control to hold back any tears. Another hand connected to her face. She knew the second was her mother from the ring that cut her cheek. Her mother was left handed and the only ring either of them wore was their wedding ring.

A hand wrapped tightly around her wrist, yanking her off of the chair. Her leg hit the table on the way up, and she was certain it would bruise later. She looked up to her father's eyes, regretting it the second she did it. She was tossed to the ground, both her parents standing in front of her.

"You had better not disgrace us, Margaret," her mother said, disgusted. With that, both of them turned and exited the house.

Margaret sat on the ground, quaking in fear for who knows how long. She didn't dare breathe until she was certain her parents were gone. She broke down, tears streaking down her face. The salty liquid burned her cut, but she couldn't stop. She sobbed on the floor, aching in a way that was beyond her physical pain. She never felt worth anything, so it never came as a shock to her when her parents would do this to her. She just felt like she might actually be worth something ever since she met Lance, but that all slipped down the drain just now. Taking shuttering, shallow breaths, she pulled out her phone. Through her tears, she began to type.

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Chapter Summary: Margaret's parents gave a surprise visit, and it didn't end well.

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