Clockwork | MHAxOC

Chapter 1・When Time Stops

WARNING: there is abuse in this chapter as well as strong language.

Annabelle's POV

The bleary blue-gray sky seemed to reflect my feelings perfectly as I walked home from school. It had been a particularly bad day starting with several pop quizzes, followed by an indoor recess, and a grand finale of getting beat up by Katsuki for being a quirkless loser. Izuku, his typical target and my best friend, was home sick, so I filled in as a punching bag. I suppose I deserved it. He always took the beatings for me. He always got back up to help me. And he did it all with a smile on his face.

I was so deep within my thoughts that I hadn't realized I was on my doorstep till I heard shouting. I couldn't make out what they were saying but it wasn't like it mattered. It wasn't anything new or special. The only real question was whether to step inside or wait, and I didn't want them to get any more mad. The sky looked ready to burst. A sigh escaped my lips as I slowly reached for the doorknob. My fingertips touched its cold familiar metal. A creek echoed through the house revealing two tall figures standing in the kitchen screaming at each other. "You bitch!" I heard the taller, more masculine figure yell. "You can't say I'm slacking off when you don't even have a job!" His bellowing voice flooded my brain with anxiety, and my body tensed in anticipation.

"I do have a job!" The shorter, more feminine but equally menacing figure screeched.

"Oh? And what is it?! Flirting with the neighbors?! Inviting random people to our bed?!"

The intensity in his voice rattled through my brain. Stop...

"You know what my job is! You just don't want to admit that I actually provide for this family!"

The figures hands started to thrash around intensifying the already heated argument.

"Oh fuck you! I would've gotten out of this dump if it weren't for you and your little bitch!" The figure swerved to the side and picked up an empty bottle of beer among the heaping pile of cheap booze. 

The feminine figure seemed to flinch at his actions and she backed up to the counter before reaching over to grab the knife upholstered to the wall by a magnet.

I felt my heart bang against my chest.

No... Stop... I've seen them fight before. They do it every day. But why... Why was it so intense this time?.. What changed?..

"You know what! I've had enough of dealing with you and all of you're dumb shit!" 

The feminine figure charged in a fit of fiery rage. Her eyes seemed to glow with anger. Even though it wasn't directed at me I felt myself start to quiver.

Stop...no...I don't love them... I know that... but I don't want to be alone... please... just stop...

The masculine figure brought up the bottle in a swift motion readying to attack when she got near.

No...No...Stop...Please...Stop..I don't want to be alone... I'll be good to you... I'll be perfect so you don't have to argue anymore... I'll be perfect just please... please...STOP!

Adrenaline washed through me as I watched the two figures get closer to one another. The feminine one seemed to be running extremely fast toward the male but right as she was about to reach him, time slowed... My eyes were covered in what looked like a deep fog but tears streamed down my face. They felt like hot lava pouring over my skin making my emotions double in intensity. Time stopped completely.

I waited... I didn't want to look up and see what had happened. I didn't want to know the truth.

That there was no stopping them.

I waited, but there was nothing. No cries of pain, no thumps from bodies hitting the floor. Just silence.

Pure silence.

I peered up shaking as my vision cleared.

・🀀・

Kathryn here hope you enjoyed the first chapter!