Silently Screaming

Chapter 8: The secret is out

(Hi. Please don't kill me. Again. I have just been SUPER busy with work, and I had to do the next chapter of RTSL. Hopefully, this one will be out in a few days. It is 11:32 am, Tuesday 28 January. Hope you enjoy this chapter because in this one, the populars find out!!! Enjoy!)

Annabeth POV

I'm not going to school for the next three days.

Yeah, I'm skipping. I just can't take it anymore. Don't think anyone will miss me. I'll leave the house for 'school' as usual, but instead of going to school, I'll go to the treehouse. I'll come back at the same time school's dismissed. It's the perfect plan. I went to sleep satisfied with what I've planned.

I felt my cheek burning and my eyes fluttered open. My father's face was looking down on me. "WAKE UP YOU URCHIN!" I scrambled out my bed and stood in front of the bathroom door. "S-sorry sir." I mumbled. He hit me again and I bit my lip. Helen came in and smiled. I closed my eyes and waited for the pain.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox-le-line-break-xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

I coughed and opened my eyes. I was on the floor and covered in my own blood. I heaved myself up and trudged to the bathroom. I cleaned up the blood and put on some bandages. I ran to the treehouse and climbed the ladder after pulling it down. I grabbed an apple from the pantry and a book from the library then sat down on the bed and began to read.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox-le-line-break-xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

I woke up quickly and jumped out of bed before dad or Helen could come in and hit me. I had had a pleasant three days and was hoping to have a fourth. I changed into a grey shirt and some black trousers and was about to go out the house when I heard, "ANNABETH CHASE!" I jumped and turned around to see Helen and dad coming at me.
"Y-yes?"
"YOUR TEACHERS CALLED TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE SKIPPED SCHOOL. FOR THREE DAYS!"
I gulped and reached for the door handle. I opened it and Helen screamed. "WE'LL SETTLE THIS WHEN YOU GET BACK!" I ran out the house and started sprinting, ignoring the pain of yesterday night. I bumped in to someone and fell on the floor. It was Bianca. "S-sorry." She helped me up.
"Annabeth? What are you doing?" Thalia asked.
"N-nothing. I need to go." And with that, I started running again. I didn't stop until I reached school.

I took a deep breath and was about to open the doors when Thalia and Bianca came beside me. "Where have you been? We were so worried!" Bianca shouted.
"I skipped school." I said quietly.
My friends hugged me and didn't ask more questions which I was grateful for.
I made it through the day without bumping into the populars. As the last bell rang, I quickly grabbed my bag and ran out. I stopped when I heard Thalia shout my name.

I turned around to see her with the populars. "Yeah Thals?"
"Sorry, Annabeth but today me and Bee are gonna be hanging out with our cousins. Is that fine? Will you be okay?"
"She'll be fine! She's always alone anyway, won't be different for this brat." Nico jeered.
I nod my head and then realize something. "W-what time is it?"
"Quarter past two," Reyna replied.
My eyes grew wide. I was late. "I have to go!" I turned back around and started sprinting until I reached my house.
I reached for the handle with a shaking hand and as soon as I opened it, a beer bottle hit the wall beside me.

I dropped my bag and Helen screamed. "YOU DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING!" She slapped me and I flinched. My dad came and hit me. I fell on the floor clutching my face. Helen kicked me and tears made their way down my face. I felt someone punch my face and I cried out. Another kick to my side.
Punch to my stomach.
Slap on my face.
Hit to my leg.

My dad took off his belt and Helen told me to take off my shirt. I shivered and she slapped me. I quickly took off my shirt and she used the belt on me. I felt a searing pain on my back and I screamed. This happened twenty times. I was on the floor and losing a lot of blood. "P-please." I pleaded. "S-s-stop."
They laughed and hit me again. And again. And again.
More punches and kicks came my way. Helen went into the kitchen and came back with a sharp knife. My eyes widened and I sat up and yelled at the pain. Helen advanced on me and I scrambled back until I hit the wall.