She's been staring at the ceiling in her lonesome bedroom for half an hour now. Her once sparkling emerald eyes were full of deep thoughts and unsurprising sadness, hating yet another day. The only movement coming from her stiff body underneath the covers was her calm breathing, her chest rising up and down slowly. Despite it being 12:30am, she was unable to sleep. How could she anyway? The unhappiness she has to endure prevents her from doing so. It prevents her to dream a world of her own, a world where everything was right and peacemaking like how it used to be. If she was to close her eyes and dream forever, she would never wake up to another day in the real world.

Especially since she knew that he still exists.

Life didn't use to be this cruel for fifteen-year-old Midori Watanabe. She used to be a happy person. In the past, life itself was something that an innocent child didn't need to worry about, especially when she had all the love and comfort to make her feel complete. Life wasn't such a battle to fight with physically, mentally, and emotionally. Being the carefree, optimistic little girl she once was, the only thing Midori needed to worry about was to feel the warm welcoming arms of her loving parents. And she certainly had all of that since the day she was born.

Oh how she cherished them. The thought of her mother's soft chocolate brown eyes, gentle touch, and angelic smile brought Midori to awe. Her mother, Yasashii, was the perfect example of a strong and humble woman to grow up to be. No other woman was capable of providing the same type of nurture as she did, yet alone being entitled as a 'saint'. At least, that's what Midori always thought of her to be. As for her father, Kosuke, she couldn't be any prouder to have a strong, devoted man as a father. He showed nothing but pure protectiveness and admiration in his eyes for the woman he loved and his precious daughter. It was no question on whether he would kill anyone who dares to threaten his family. He showed such guidance behind his sky blue eyes and handsome features. Her father was the ideal man that Midori would want to marry and spend the rest of her days. A king that would protect and love his queen.

But alas, all good things had to come to an end after all. When Midori was ten, her parents suffered a brutal car accident one fateful rainy night. They were just coming from their date at the movies for some quality time together. As soon as Midori heard the news from her babysitter and police, her entire world shattered. Everything that she had loved, everything that was important to her, vanished in a blink of an eye. She never imagined how the weight of the world would crash down on her shoulders in such an early, tender age. Without her parents, she couldn't survive alone. On that unforgettable night, a part of her died from the car accident as well. In fact, she even stopped talking to anyone, being lost in a trance of grief. Midori knew she was alone forever, no matter who took her in and loved her their own way. Until her aunt from her father's side came along….but only for a short while.

Shino was a wise and compassionate woman, always helping her family the best way she could without regrets. This was why she welcomed Midori with open and reassuring arms at the funeral. Although Shino knew that Midori loved and adored her as her aunt, she also understood that the girl would still act isolated towards her. The poor child was in a loss for words, after all. But that didn't stop Shino to take her in not only as her niece, but a daughter. For five good years, Shino had earned Midori's love and trust. People would say that she was second place when it came to comparing her and Midori's mother as a 'saint'. Nonetheless, Shino was an amazing woman in her own way. Because of this, Midori believed a single light came back in her life again.

But there was just one problem; despite Shino being a 'miracle aunt', it was a shame how she ended up marrying someone that was a 'not so miracle uncle'. In other words, Midori had to also put up with a horrific man that she'd grown to despise by the day.

Ryuji Moeruhi was a spiteful and cold-hearted human being. The middle aged man obviously hated everyone, including his own wife, and especially children. That made Midori his strong disliking from the moment she stepped foot into their home. He didn't want Shino to go along with the adoption process in the first place, for she was no kin to him. However, Shino stood her own ground through and through. Many people questioned on how a strong woman like her ended up with an ungrateful bastard like him. In many ways, Shino actually saved Midori from her abusive and crazed uncle, whether or not she saw it that way. As long as she had some kind of warm comfort from the arms of a good person, Midori had high spirits left to be the bright and lively person she could be. As long as she survived junior and high school, she had some hope of a future that would make her happy again.

But fate decided to play games with her again. Just last year, her poor Aunt Shino had passed away from an inevitable flu, growing extremely weak and helpless. Once again, Midori's world had crumbled. Oh why death loved mocking her, she didn't know. But having Aunt Shino vanquished from the world officially made her life a real living hell. This leads her to where she is now.

The constant screams… the physical and verbal abuse… the fear and disgust of coming home from a long day of school…the vigor and perverted behavior…this was life Midori was forced to live in now, all in one year. And she doesn't know how much she could take. The thought of living with the despicable man makes her blood boil with rage if not reaping in tears. Midori ask herself everyday why she was being punished so. Was it really punishment? Was she meant to be a magnet of despair and loneliness whatever life brings her?

Whatever the answers to her miserable life, Midori just wanted it all to go away. She wanted to be free from the pain, the cruelty of reality. She wanted to go back in time and relive the magical moments with her parents and aunt—and stop time right then and there so it can repeat itself before the nightmares could begin. Unfortunately, she knew that wasn't possible. Life isn't a fairy tale. She might as well be a part of the harsh truth too.

Suddenly, the unpleasant sounds of heavy footsteps erupt up the stairs, coming closer to her room. It was the footsteps of a frightening and raging man. She closed her eyes and sighed sadly, mentally shedding a tear. But she refused to let the tears fall for real, for crying was always expected out of fear. Instead, she bravely prepared herself for one of her uncle's 'greetings' when coming home from a long day of work. That was one reason why she stayed up. It was always like this.

The bedroom door swung open fiercely. There stood Ryuji, a tall grim man wearing a glaring and monstrous expression. His winkled face was filled with years of scowling marks, signifying him as an angry person. His grey-black eyes stared hideously at Midori, who stared back with sad but composed green eyes. As she continued staring at him, she immediately noticed the awkward stance he had while standing by the doorway. A visible white bottle of sake was placed in his right shaky hand, being half- empty. Aside from his uncoordinated mannerisms, Ryuji even reeked strongly of hard sake. There was no mistake about it; he was drunk. Being out the whole day and night until 12:30 drinking was one of his best traits. He only did this on Friday nights, since he was off work for the rest of the weekend. If only the bastard would lose his way home and never show his face again. But Midori knew that would never happen, and she definitely knew not to say that out loud if she didn't want more than just red bruises from smacks across the face.

Slowly, Ryuji stumbled clumsily in her room, still glaring at her. Midori remained still and composed in her bed, her emerald orbs following every move as he walked toward her. As much as Ryuji hated to admit it, her bravery towards him infuriated him more. He wanted to see the young girl crumble in shame and despair, maker her curl into a ball of disgrace in a corner. He was pissed off enough that he had to carry the responsibilities for her ever since Shino died. The very thought just made him hate his wife even more. Every time he glanced at the teen girl, his mind was full of devious hatefulness. If he couldn't have a life of his own satisfaction, he sure as hell wasn't about to let Midori have one.

When Ryuji stood in front of Midori, he leaned forward, making her have a good look of his disgusting and mean face. He then lifted his hand and yanked the ends of her medium length light brown hair. Midori almost winched but kept her cool, since she was also used to this. The next part was the usual drunken speeches of her worthlessness. "Everywhere I look, every time I step foot into my own home, I know you are here…..", Ryuji slurred slowly, his breath wreaking a foul odor of alcohol and cigarettes. Midori stared straight at the room, her head tilted to the side. She didn't bother to shift her eyes at his direction. She could still sense the mad man glaring right through her. Still holding onto her hair and holding the sake bottle with the other, Ryuji took another quick sip and swallowed greedily. His uneasy breathing was loud and rash, struggling to keep his balance by the bed.

"It just never ends, does it? The working, the worrying, the caring….it just never ends…. DOES IT!", Ryuji raised his voice louder this time, now gripping Midori's cheeks and turning her head around to face him. Midori still remained calm, not daring to say a word. It would all be over in a few minutes. He would give her a smacking or two, then retire to his own bedroom and call it a night. How pitiful; to even memorize abuse procedures by heart, as if it was a weekly schedule. For her, it was twenty-four seven. Would the nightmare ever end?

He starts to slab her good and hard, pulling her hair more to the point of almost dragging her off the bed. Every hit Midori took, she held her tears of pain and agony. She refused to cry, absolutely refused. No way was she about to let him have what little pride she had left. Although, there were moments when she used to think whether staying strong was a waste of time. It definitely hasn't changed anything to make matters better so far. So she didn't know why she continues to be brave. Perhaps small voices of her memories tell her to do so, memories of her parents teaching her the value of strength so long ago. But at times like this, her way of tolerance was slowly killing her.

Ryuji continued smacking her three more times, then stopped and looked down at her still collected expression. He grew angrier when not tracing a single spec of fear or apology behind the newly pink bruised face. Snarling under his throat, he released her and pointed a shaky finger at her. "Damn you! Damn you to hell, you little brat bitch! Why did you have to come here? Why did you had to be born in the first god damn place?", he shouted. His finger still pointed at Midori as he struggled to keep himself from collapsing on the carpet floor. Ryuji's heartless eyes grew heavy with exhaustion, his lids ready to close on its own. Midori rubbed her cheeks, not giving him an answer, and still wore her same normal expression. After a few minutes, Ryuji gave a loud yawn and stumbled back to the doorway. Before he left, he glanced back at Midori, glaring at her a final time with a snort. "Heh….you make me sick", he grumbled and exited the room.

Midori waited until she heard the slam of his bedroom door. Sighing again, she got up and went to the bathroom across from her. Examining herself in the mirror, she took a rag and wetted it with hot water, trying her best to sooth the stinging pain from the powerful slap. She held it against her face for a short while, and then washed her face again. She headed back to her room and closed the door gently, crawling back into her warm bed. Inside, Midori didn't felt warm, or secure underneath the comfortable blanket. If only 'Uncle Dearest' knew just how wrong he was when thinking she was so brave and strong-when honestly, she's crying every single second. Oh pitiful soul. "Something has to be done", Midori whispered to herself before falling into a deep sleep. "I must stop him".

But how?

END NOTE: I really hope this chapter was not too long to lose your interest. I promise you, this isn't like your ordinary teen drama abuse type of story. So please don't start thinking this is another boo-hoo sad motion picture XD. It's gonna get better and more twistedly intense in the next three more chapters. For anyone who has seen Hell Girl/Jigoku Shoujo (which I highly recommend you watch), you would understand that this is going to turn out as a horror fic.

By the way, I just want to thank some of my good fanfic pals that continue to support and inspire me to write, despite my long absence: Blueberry Absnith, PoisonxLilly, AnimeOtaku, Rima-Touya Rose, iRawrTera, XxDark-maiden201xX, and last but not least, my good buddy KayTester! Thanks for always being a kickass author with your creativities and supporting me all the way. It's always an hour working with ya. The same goes for everyone else too. And if I've missed thanking everyone else who also read and review my works, my sincerest apologies. Just please know that I'm grateful to all my audiences. You know who you people are ;). Until next chappy, peace out! ^ . ^