She's broken

Eight

"I didn't like Infinity war; Thanos was so easy to beat but they kept fucking up." Tori said.

"I know right. Especially Star Lord. Who the fuck invited him?" Jay agreed.

"Thank you! He literally slapped Thanos just cause he killed Gamora like bitch wait for them to remove the glove! But noooo, his pathetic love life is way more important than saving the universe." she rolled her eyes then added "That's why I hate romance, it ruins everything."

He didn't know if she was speaking out of experience and wanted to ask, but just decided to let it go. Their conversation then changed to basketball.

"The Rockets are dumb though, giving away all their tall players." Jayden commented.

"Exactly! Have you seen their game against the Lakers? They were short red mushrooms against big yellow giants!"

"But they won though." he laughed.

Tori checked her phone and it was soon to be five. "I'm heading out, I have a bus to catch."

"I can give you a ride." Jayden suggested.

"Um... okay, sure."

They both left the library and others started to do the same. Once they got in, Jayden drove off.

"I live just a neighbourhood before your cousin's." she indicated.

"Okay."

Tori felt a sense of peace. She felt so relaxed and comfortable with Jayden, even more than with Zack. She then remembered that she was going home to her mother, and was contemplating on asking to be dropped off at Zack's house.

"You going to the ball tryouts next week?" Jayden asked and glanced at her.

He noticed her sudden change in mood and frowned. Did she have issues at home?

"Nah."

He was so surprised he slightly swerved.

"Bruh!" Tori exclaimed, clutching the door handle.

"Sorry. But why not? You're so good!"

"It's before school hours. No one can drive me and I'd have to wake up too early if I wanted to catch a bus." she explained.

"Oh."

They stayed quiet the rest of the ride. Tori simply looked out the window, staring at nothing in particular. She really didn't want to go home.

Sooner than expected, houses started to get familiar. She gave Jayden the directions but requested that he dropped her off a few blocks away. He didn't question it although he did get curious.

"Thanks." she muttered and removed her seatbelt when he stopped.

"You're welcome."

"I still don't like you though."

"Same here, get out."

She exited the vehicle, ignoring the harshness of his tone. She slowly walked towards her house, dragging her feet in the snow. She was secretly wishing she'd get shot by a robber or run over by a car, all to avoid her mother. 

With her heart beating in her throat, she stepped inside the house. She took her outdoors stuff off after locking the door and walked in deeper.

"I'm back." she announced monotonously.

"Tori!" her little brother jumped off from his seat and ran up to her.

She got crouched a little and welcomed him. "Hey Zay, how was your day?"

"It was great! Why are you coming home so late?"

"Isiah, go to your room." their mother ordered.

The atmosphere went cold. Her back was facing the siblings but Tori felt like she was being watched.

"But I'm not done eat—"

"Now! Go to bed!"

He looked up at his sister with his big brown eyes.

"It's okay." she whispered to him and forced a smile.

"Good night mommy, good night Tori."

The little boy ran off and disappeared up the stairs. Tori stood there with her eyes closed, preparing for the worst. Her mother got up and stopped in front of her, glaring into her skin. The wait was long but, they finally heard his bedroom door close.

She immediately smashed the plate down on Tori's head, breaking it in the process. Tori fell to the ground with a cry, having bones and some sauce in her hair.

"So you think you're going to be a bad girl don't you Victoria?!" her mother asked and grabbed her.

"Stop!" Tori pleaded but only to receive the most painful slap.

Her mother then pushed her onto a wall where she hit her back on the corner. Her vision blurred as tears started to form. She received a really hard hit on the side of the head, making it hit against the ground. She got another hit and tried to block it but it hurt her arm instead. She managed to see through her tears that she was being beaten with a rolling pan.

"I'll show you how we treat bad girls in this household!"

"Stop!" Whack "I'm!" Whack "I'm s-sorry!"

Her mother didn't listen and kept beating. Tori tried to crawl away but her mother was faster. She was crying, screaming and bleeding but it didn't stop the punishment.

"Stupid worthless child! I send you to school to get an education and you decided to cause trouble?!" Whack "You'll see trouble tonight! Next time you'll think twice before starting havoc!"

She had broken pieces of the plate stabbing her limbs as the rolling pan attempted to break all her bones. She was sure she had a dent somewhere on her forehead and that she'd have trouble walking for a while. It went on for an extra while.

"I'm wasting my time putting your ass in place because you can't act like I raised you!"

Tori was met with a burning pang now instead. It burnt her skin causing her to scream louder. Her mother had hit her with a hot frying pan which left a big red mark on her arm.

"Stupid piece of shit!"

She received more hot pans all over her body. The pain was starting to disappear and the new hits just felt like temporary stings and burns. Her mother shouted and insulted her more.

Then, it all suddenly stopped.

Tori dared to take a peak, and saw a pair of legs walking away. Her vision was darkening a bit, probably due to her massive headache. The legs came back and stopped in front of her.

"Clean all of this up. I better find this kitchen spotless when I'm back from my shower."

Her mother then went up the stairs, leaving her on the ground and in pain. Tori groaned sitting up; all her muscles were sore. She cried some more, cursing herself and her life. It was moments like these that made her want to end her life, and up til now, she still didn't know why she hasn't.

Tori forced herself up, trying to ignore the pain. She then knew what was keeping her alive at the moment and he was going to help her. She limped her way to the stairs, wincing at each step she took. She forced herself to make it to the top as quickly and quietly as she could. She got tired and decided to crawl all the way to her room.

She hurried to fill her backpack, duffel bag and gym bag with as much of her clothes and supplies as she could. She took all her money too, but not her phone as her mother had confiscated it. She rushed down as fast as she could, grabbed three pairs of shoes and ran out... not bothering to even close the door.

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