𝙴𝚕𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚗 ~ 𝙴𝚕𝚖𝚊𝚡

《𝟹》

August 22, 1985
11:00 AM

An hour and two Eggo extravaganzas later, Max was getting ready to leave the cabin.
She slid her bag over her shoulder and was about to step out of the door. She didn't really want to go home but...there was no other choice. She didn't show up for 3 days and knew that as soon as she steps into the house, Neil is probably going to lash out at her again, but she sure as hell didn't want to bother El with her own family shit.

~ "Well...I'll better go now. I had fun, thanks." Max smiled at the other girl and stepped forward to give her a hug.

~"Yeah. Me too." El answered, pulling the girl closer while smiling lightly until she remembered what happened at night.

~"Um...Max?"

~"Oh...sorry." Max said nervously, thinking that El wants her to let go from the hug and quickly unwrapping her arms from around her.

~"No, no that's okay. Not that." She assured her, one side of her lips quirking up into a light smile.

~"I...I just wanted to thank you for...waking me up from...you know. I'm sorry for that." The brunette started fiddling with the hem of her shirt then.

~"Oh...that's okay! No need to apologise. Just...if you wanted to talk about it, know that I'm here okay?"

~"I know."

The two girls smiled at each other before Max turned around with a simple wave of her hand and started walking home. The forest around Hopper's cabin was quiet, only the cold breeze roaring around from time to time. It felt pretty melancholic.

Once Max reached the road, she dropped her skateboard on the ground and stepped on it, slowly pushing her way towards her house. She was trying to just think of something else...to distract her mind from what she knew was going to come. She was hoping that she would just walk into an empty house but this thought was quickly gone the moment she saw Neil's car parked in the driveway. She took a shaky breath, her legs not being able to stand still on the board so she quickly stepped off of it, taking it in her hand and slowly starting to walk towards the house. Her body was shaking as she went up the steps, her fingers now wrapped around the door knob and just waiting for a little bit of courage to turn it. Her mind was screaming at her to just do it already. So she did. She turned the knob and the door opened with a little click. She winced a bit at the sound, silently praying that the man inside is asleep. She let out a quiet sigh of relief when she heard nothing. She opened the door just so she can quietly squeeze through the gap before closing it behind her. The house was quiet, but something was telling her that she's being watched right now. The feeling gave her shivers. She looked around, seeing noone so she started walking forward, trying to not make any noise. As soon as she stepped on the first stair to walk up to her room, she heard steps behind her and her eyes widened. She just froze as she was, not able to move. She was too scared to turn even though she knew exactly who it was. She knew the sound of his steps all too well...

~"Maxine..."

She heard him whisper, but in her head the word was so loud...so clear. She didn't dare to move. That's when she heard the steps again. Closer this time. Her heart was beating so fast. She could hear her pulse in her ears.

~"Maxine." The man repeated, his voice dangerously low.

~"Turn around." He added.

Max gulped and could feel tears begin to form in her eyes. She knew that not obeying would make everything worse for her. So she did as he told her. She slowly turned around, her eyes looking down to the floor.

~"Look at me."

Her palms were starting to feel clammy as he said that. She knew she had to do it...but she just couldn't bring herself to. When she didn't move, she heard the steps again. They were going faster and faster. She tried to flinch away but it was too late. She was harshly grabbed by her hair and thrown to the floor. She cried out in pain when her forehead hit it.

~"Where were you!?" The man yelled at her, standing above her with anger flashing in his eyes.

~"Please...no- I'm sorry..." The redhead said in a pained voice, her hand going up to her forehead and touching the spot that was hurting.

~"No! I'm tired of your apologies! You need to learn how to behave Maxine!" He shouted, grabbing her forearm and dragging her in the direction of the kitchen as she was screaming in fear. She knew what it meant.

~"No! NO! Let go of me!" She yelled, trying to bite the hand that was holding her in defense but he was quick to react and shoved her against a cabinet, pulling a lighter out of his pocket.

~"This is gonna teach you..." He stated, kneeling down and stradlling her to keep her down, trying to make her stay still. When Max kept trying to flee, he slapped her. Her head hit the floor again and she yelped, holding her cheek. Neil took advantage of it and grabbed her wrists firmly, holding them out of the way before taking the hem of her shirt and pulling it up to her chest while she just closed her eyes shut and clenched her jaw, her body shaking. She heard a snap, opening her eyes at the sound and seeing a little flame coming out of the lighter now. She squirmed around in panic, but the man was stronger. He moved the lighter down to her stomach, letting the flame linger on her pale skin and burning it. Max started screaming, trying to pull her belly in to lessen the pain. The man didn't stop there though. He started moving the lighter across her stomach, leaving red marks behind.

~"Ten, nine, eight, seven-" He started slowly counting.

Max cried out, her cheeks stained with tears as he continued.

~"Three, two, one and a half-" he said, adding to the pain when he stopped moving the flame and let it burn one spot for a longer amount of time before he finally stopped.

~"Now, Maxine. Will you be a good girl?" He growled in her face, his breath smelling of alcohol.

Max couldn't bring herself to say anything at the moment. The pain was too overhelming. So she just nodded, desperate to get out of his grip.

~"Say it!" He shouted and firmed the grip on her wrists.

~"I will...I will!" She sobbed, squirming again.

~"Good. Now, like the good girl you are, you are going to keep your mouth shut and go into your room until your mother calls you for dinner. Understood?" He leaned down, his face right in front of her's as he spoke. The redhead closed her eyes firmly and nodded.

~"If you tell anyone, I will find out. And you don't want to make me angry Maxine, do you..." He said, squeezing her wrists even more before finally letting go of her and getting up.

As soon as his hands were gone, Max quickly pulled her shirt down with another sob and clumsily got up before quickly walking out of the kitchen, Neil watching her the entire time. She walked up the stairs and opened the door to her room, closing it behind her. Once she was inside, she couldn't hold in another wave of tears anymore. The burning pain was too much. She sat on her bed, rolling up her shirt again, only to see five big blisters on her stomach area. She didn't have the energy to patch herself up right now. Her temples were pulsating from the crying. She just laid down on her side, crossing her arms on her stomach and falling asleep few minutes later.