Dangerous smiles

Broken voices

*Ash's POV*
The door clicked softly behind me. I could hear the tv roaring an old football game, likely with my father in front of it, passed out. I crept over to the stairs and slowly made my way up, trying to not make any noise. I turned left when I got to the top, into Daniel's room.
"Ash!" Daniel whisper yelled. "He used an empty bottle this time. She could only cry. She... she was trying to protect me..." he signed.
I felt the heat rush to my face. Once again I had failed, and Kara was the one who got hurt because of it.
"Any scarring? Did the bottle break?" I asked him.
He shook his head slowly.
"I don't like it Ash... he is getting angrier and angrier... what if he hurts one of you enough to put you in the hospital?! Or- or what if he..." Daniel slowed his signing as his eyes shimmered and his breathing became labored. I dropped my stuff and rushed over to him holding him close to my chest as he sobbed quietly.
"You can't hear me... but I love you. I will never stop loving you. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Even if all you ever have is me, I will make myself be enough. You are my beautiful little brother, and you will not be harmed..." I whispered. A tear rolled down my face but I wiped it away. What point is it to cry when you need to comfort another person?

I woke up on Dani's bed, in between him and the door, still as if placing myself between him and my father.

Sani was shivering despite the heat of the room. He was curled up in a ball as if trying to become as small as possible. His hair was short but messy.

I realized I hadn't had time to really check up on him in the past week. His hair was still messy, one of the things I loved about him; he only was bothered by important things. His hoodie was the one I had given him- one of his favorite music artist Alec Benjamin. His shirt was rumpled, but seemed to be his pi shirt. I smiled. I loved how nerdy he was, even if he didn't admit it.

I had known he was keeping up with everything with hygiene and food. I had to get the food since Kara and Preston couldn't cook.

I scrunched my face and frowned. What- what was that?
I pulled up his shirt and looked at his back. My eyes blurred when I saw deep marks along the length of his back. He flipped over instantly and pulled his shirt back down.
"Are those what I think those are?!" I signed frantically.
"I was just being clumsy..."
"If you were, it was near dad I bet. You need to get out of here."
"I'm not leaving you Ash!!!"
"I don't care! You aren't safe!"

"Whats with all the running around up here?" I heard. My blood turned to ice.
"Get to the bridge. Now. I'll meet you there." I signed behind my back. He tapped my finger to say he understood.

I twisted on my foot but only managed to graze his chin. Dani bolted and narrowly missed his hand.
"RRRRRRR" Preston grumbled. "You're gonna pay for him running."
A blow struck my stomach again and again. I shrieked.
"SHUT IT."
My jaw jarred against the punch, not expecting it. He forced me up against the wall with my hands above my head. I squirmed trying to break his grasp as he worked my shirt off. He had a bit of trouble holding me but he still continued to hold me against the wall as his belt released.

Exposed. He left me completely exposed, just for the fun of it. To humiliate me, in front of myself. My pants lay on the floor. I was stark naked in front of my abuser. He twisted me around and brought his arm up.

I bit my lip. First blow to my back.
I only wanted to scream. Second blow to my exposed humiliation.
Blood seeped as the skin of my lip broke at the same time as I could feel a hot liquid spill down my back concurrently with a third blow.
My mouth flooded with blood as more unhealed wounds opened again on my back.
I felt like I was going to pass out. Blow eight. Nine. Ten. My back was hot and sticky as the terrifying red liquid dripped down to my legs.

Stark naked. Four fifty seven in the morning was set on the clock. My back burned like it was lit on fire. I picked up old dark clothing and threw it on. I snuck down the stairs and ran out the front door.

I had told Dani to go to the bridge. I had no idea how long ago that was. I rushed to the park taking many shortcuts. The bridge went over a small creek in the middle of the park.

It took me five minutes to get there. That was five minutes too late. I rushed to under the bridge where I had already shown Dani a nook he could hide in.

My eyes adjusted to the even darker lighting under the bridge. Dani!!! But-
Daniel didn't look back at me. His eyes were riveted on something else.

"Who are you?!" I screamed at the dark figure. The dark figure beside my brother looked up. And smiled.