Home is not always better

Chapter 2

next day

When I wake up I'm greeted by the pain of the whip marks from yesterday. Carefully I put my clothes on, I don't want to reopen any of the the wounds. I pack my bag and make sure i'm gone before my parents wake up. I can always eat breakfast at school or something. Before I walk through the gates I check if all the whip marks are covered. When I'm sure everything is covered , I walk inside to the soccer building. Most of the guys are usually already inside and today is no exception. "Kurama, there you are! We already thought something happened, normally your one of the first to arrive" Hamano says when he sees me, of course I'm later, I can hardly walk because of the whip marks on my legs. "Why would you immediately think that something happened?" "Sorry, I let myself get dragged along with Hayami".

The day goes by well, until soccer practice. I can't take off my shirt everyone will see the marks then and even if I managed to slip that past them, they will still see the marks on my legs which I can't hide from them. What am i gonna do? I can't tell them my parents abuse me, if they find out about that who knows what they'll do. "Kurama are you okay? You look tired" I look up at Shindou "I didn't sleep well last night" i answer "Maybe you should go home and rest up" " Do you think they will allow that?" "I can tell Tenma, I'm sure he doesn't mind" "If you really want to do that for me" "Why wouldn't I? We're friends, now go home and rest up" with that he walks to Tenma, who's now standing in the doorframe.

When I arrive home to my misfortune, my dad is home. "Norihito, you're home early" he states "Yes, the guys let me go earlier" "Do you have anything to do for school?" "No, I already made it" "In that case, go clean the basement, there is still some blood on the ground". "But..." I can't even finish my sentence 'cause I got slapped in the face "Haven't you learned your lesson? Go clean the basement and don't you dare to contradict me again" he whispers dangerously low. My heart races in fear, I obey him afraid that if I don't something worse will happen.

Quickly i begin to scrub away the crimson stains on the floor. When I'm done it's 9 o'clock, I get rid of the dirty water. I want to go to my room to change my wet clothes, but I'm stopped by my father who blocks the way out of the basement. "No, you're not coming out of here, that's what you get for contradicting again" "But my clothes are wet, I'll catch a cold if I stay here" I try to reason out of the situation, but I get a slap in the face again. "First of all, do I look like I care? And second you're contradicting again" then he slams the door in my face and locks it. I start to slam against the door and scream "PLEASE LET ME OUT!!!" tears begin to roll down my cheeks. My hands start bleeding from constantly banging on the door, when I hear nobody I set myself down in one of the corners. I look at my bleeding hands, the tears don't stop coming. I can't keep this up any longer. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep myself a bit warm. It doesn't help that much, I can feel my body beginning to shiver and as much as I try to keep warm, the temperature in here is way to cold and my wet clothes aren't helping either.