Chapter 1

Ricky sat in his room trembling. His dad was about to come home. It was almost eight. That meant he'd be here at the house in a few minutes. Ricky watched the clock on the wall nervously. Yesterday's lesson had ended in punishment. He buried himself under his blankets. He really didn't want his dad to come in tonight. He still had a large purple bruise on his face from yesterday.

"Please, please, please," Ricky begged out loud. The door opened slightly. Ricky jumped and cowered. But there wasn't a need. It was his mother. His mother, she never helped him. She did nothing when his father was smacking him around the house.

"Hey, Ricky," she purred softly. She too bore the marks of abuse but she loved him so she said nothing and took the hits silently. "I love you." Ricky said nothing. He wished he could love her back but he didn't. Ricky flinched when the door opened and slammed. 8:17. Just on time. Wonderful. Ricky held back tears of fear. Please don't come in. please don't come in. Ricky thought to himself desperately. There was a clang and then his father called out, "Janet?" Ricky's mother sprang up at the sound of her husband's voice. Janet gave one last look to her only son and then left, pressing the door shut behind her.

"Get me a beer." Ricky heard him order. He shook slightly when he heard the small fizz of the beer.

Oh no! He's getting drunk! Ricky squeezed his eyes shut and hoped that he would just bug someone else. Minutes passed and Ricky began to relax a little. Maybe his dad wouldn't come in. Maybe he would leave him alone.

"How's my favorite son?"

Ricky cringed and Bob sauntered over. He set the bottle of beer down on Ricky's nightstand and put his hands in his back pockets, waiting. Ricky cowered underneath the gaze of his father and he knew better not to look up. "Well?" Bob demanded, slapping Ricky on the face with such a force that he was thrown into the wall his bed was against. Ricky gasped and then led his trembling fingers to his pants. He pulled the elastic waistband of his PJ's down and shook them off his feet so they were on the ground. Ricky braced himself for another attack from his dad about he was going to slow or whatever he did wrong. But Bob waited patiently tonight. Ricky shuddered. That meant he had something else in store for tonight.

"Hurry up you piece of shit!" His dad screamed into his ear. Ricky winced and pulled off his underwear too. He snuck a glance at his dad who gestured for him to get completely naked. By now, Ricky was crouched as far away from his dad as he could get and he was trembling hard. "Good." Bob praised Ricky. Bob too was naked. He older man seemed to fly into the smaller one and smash him into the mattress. Ricky whimpered, frightened by what would happen next. This was only the second week this had happened. Each night bob had done the same things, over and over and over.

"Get off of him!" Ricky's eyes opened to see his mother. Janet had in her hand a kitchen knife. Bob got up and put on his jeans. He sneered.

"Like you could ever use that on me." Bob sneered, his lip curling. Bob was off of Ricky in a heartbeat and he was advancing on Janet. He was quick. He had Janet pinned down and then the knife in his hand. He took it and madly swung it around.

"Please, please," Janet groveled at his feet from the ground. Bob made a noise of disgust and then threw the knife aside. He slapped Janet on the face and pushed her harder into the wall by her shoulders. He stared at her for a moment and then began throwing punches at her. After just a few, Janet fell to the ground holding her stomach. Ricky, too scared to even move, stayed in bed and watched the whole thing happen with wide eyes. He was so nervous about what was happening, he didn't even notice when Bob laid his hand on Ricky's shoulder. He jumped and tried to move back but the grip was strong and eight-year-old Ricky couldn't break free.

"Relax," Bob ordered. Ricky tried and when he didn't succeed, he closed his eyes and hoped the worst would be over soon.