Broken Crayons Still Colour

Chapter 6

~Mark's POV~

When I got out of class I waited for Emma, to go to Kielder. I was so excited to spend time with her. When came out of class I asked her, "When are you going to be here until?"
"About 7pm."
"Really? Where do your parents work?" I ask. I was really curious.

~Emma's POV~

I sighed. I knew I needed to tell him, so I said. "I am scared to tell you this, but..."
"What's wrong Emma?"
"I'm adopted..."
"I know, you've told me... But why were you scared to tell me that?"
"My legal guardian is... Master Henderson..."
"Really?! But it looks as if he doesn't like you in... Oh... I see... I'm so sorry..."
"It's fine. That's the least of it..."
"Do you want to talk about it, or should we just leave it..."
"Well, you're probably going to find out anyway, so I may as well personally tell you... When I first came into the school, I was the perfect student. All of the teachers loved me, I got perfect grades. I was every teachers favourite. Master Henderson used to say to me that everyone has to have something wrong to understand the happiness in your life. So whenever I did well in school, he would punish me for it."

~Mark's POV~

Emma stopped talking and rolled her sleeves up, to show her scar covered arms. "He avoids my face and neck so nobody suspects anything." I was speechless. When I said that it looked like she was hiding something, I didn't think it could be anything this bad.
"I... I'm sorry Emma... I shouldn't have asked..." I tell her.
"No. It's fine. I fell better now I don't have to hide this from you. These scars are from months ago, anyway. He has just been kicking and punching me recently..."
"I'm sorry... Do you still want to go to Kielder?" I had a feeling she wouldn't want to talk to me after that.
"Yeah. I would love to. Come on."

When we reached Kielder, Emma went straight to the instrument cupboard and grabbed her violin, and another violin.
"The violin is Hannah's. She said I could borrow it. You can use either one."
"I'm not bothered. Whichever works."
"You should probably use mine for now. Hannah's is worth about £2,000."
"Yeah. I don't want to break a violin that's that expensive." We both laughed. We went into one of the practice rooms and Emma got some sheets of music out of her case.
"Here. That note is a G, that one is an D, that one is an A and that one is an E." She pointed at certain notes on the music and the corresponding strings on the violin. Within 2 hours, I had learned how to hold the violin and bow, where to put my fingers and how to play 2 simple Grade 1 songs. I realised that it was 5:30pm and I really needed to be home so I told Emma, "I really don't want to, but I have to go. I have rock climbing and my Mum doesn't like me rushing around."
"Yeah. It's okay."
"If you ever need me, no matter what time of day it is, I'm just a phone call away, okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks." Emma smiled.
"Okay. Bye Emma."
"Bye Mark." I was smiling from ear to ear and and so was Emma. I loved her smile.

~Time Skip to Mark's Mum's House~

"Mum!"
"Yes dear?" My Mum says as she walks into the living room.
"I think I'm in love."
"Really dear? That's great! I would love to meet the lucky girl."
"I'm not sure if she would be too nervous to come over, but I can ask her tomorrow."
"That would be great! Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes."
"Okay, Mum."

~Emma's POV~

After Mark left, I spent about an hour practicing my violin, and then I went to Master Henderson's office because he hates it when I'm late. At 7pm, Master Henderson opened his office door, and found me standing to the left of the door. He was ready to leave because he had his coat and briefcase with him. We went to his car and drove to his house. When Master Henderson is punishing me, the process is slow to make it more painful for me. Usually he will talk to me about things to do with the subjects he teaches for the drive, but when I am going to be punished, he doesn't talk to me at all.

When we got to his house, he told me to change out of my school uniform. I went into my room and changed into a black t-shirt and black jeans. I went back into the kitchen and he softly said to me, "Come here..." He was sitting on a barstool. As soon as I got close enough, he slapped me across the face. "That was for trying to avoid me at break." He then stood up and slowly came towards me, punching me in the stomach, which caused me to stumble backwards. "That was for not standing straight with your hands behind your back when I was talking to you earlier." Master Henderson then went towards the cupboard under the sink, and grabbed a metal pole. He slowly walked towards me raising the metal pole and then struck me in the side, knocking me over. He then knelt down to the left of me and struck my side 3 more times with the pole. "That was for doing well in RE. Now stand up." His tone was sharp and menacing, but I did what I was told.