A/N: So, this is actually my first Glee fic, and it's a dark one :L ... Oh well... Uhm, it's probably not going to get updated, AS much as my others, it really just depends on what show/book/movie that i'm in the mood to write for.

There are quite a few changes i made. You'll notice this is very AU. Anyway,

Shelby plays a big role in this, so if you don't like her, this isn't the story for you. Rachel's... 14 in this, Blaine is her twin brother, Santana is two years older and Puck is a year older than Santana.

WARNING: There will be violence, disturbing scenes and rape in this.

Also, you probably have seen similar fics like this. I'm not trying to steal the plot, I just felt like writing my own. There is a notable difference in my story you'll find out at the end of this chapter, that i'm not sure many people have actually written before, and certainly not in this context so...

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, if i did, Idina would be on it more and Rachel would never have been with Finn. Also, the title of the story comes from Taylor Swift's Safe and Sound feat; The Civil Wars.

Chapter One

It was dark; the floor beneath her was wet and cracked. The floorboards creaked as he descended the stairs.

She closed her eyes, squeezing them shut tightly as she clung to the hem of the torn dress she was wearing. She whimpered softly as his footsteps grew closer, his heavy breathing invading her hearing.

'Go away. Please go away.' She thought, repeating it over and over until the door opened quietly. She heard it squeak as it thudded softly against the wall.

"There's my princess. Have you been a good girl?"

She nodded her head, her breathing ragged as he moved closer. His hand dashed out, gripping her wrist tightly as he hauled her on to her feet.

"Liar!" He hissed, shoving her backwards.

She cried out in pain as her shoulder connected with the concrete walls. Opening her eyes just a little, tears falling down her cheeks, she cringed at the dark eyes that glared at her.

She shot up in bed, her sheets clutched tightly in her hands as sweat appeared on her forehead. She was shaking, her breathing rapid as she pushed the sheets away from her. She reached over, searching blindly on her bedside table for her light. Flicking it on, she blinked at the sudden brightness in the room. Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she stood up, gripping the stuffed rabbit by her side by its ears.

Leaving the light on and her sheets in disarray, she walked out of her room and padded down the hall. Pushing the door open softly, she peered in to the darkness of her mother's room. Tip-toeing over the clothes lying on the floor, she stood beside the bed, gently reaching up to shake her mother's shoulder.

Shelby groaned in her sleep, lifting up on her elbows to blink wearily beside her.

"Rachel?" She murmured, spotting her daughter standing beside her bed.

Rachel nodded, climbing up on to the bed to crawl into her mother's open arms. Her back against her mother's chest, Rachel sniffled, clutching her rabbit to her chest.

"Did you have another nightmare baby?"

Rachel nodded again, her body still shaking slightly. Shelby held her close, humming softly as she rocked Rachel back and forth. She knew when her daughter had drifted back to sleep, the steady breaths and loose grip on Pinkie giving it away. Sighing, Shelby gently kissed Rachel's forehead, lying her back down on her pillow.

The nightmares were becoming more frequent, sometimes Rachel would be sobbing or Shelby would wake to find her wandering the house.

Before she knew it, sun was streaming through the crack in her curtains. Shelby stirred, opening her eyes to see Rachel lying across her chest curled in to a ball. This was how she'd normally wake, when Rachel ended up in bed with her at least. She looked up from gazing at Rachel to see her son standing in the doorway.

Blaine stood, leaning against the frame with a frown on his face.

"Another nightmare?"

Shelby nodded, biting her lip as she looked down at Rachel again.

"It's getting worse." She whispered, stroking Rachel's hair with her fingers.

Blaine sighed, pushing off the frame as he stepped backwards.

"I'll get the other's up, and we'll start breakfast."

Shelby smiled at her youngest son in thanks, watching as he left. Looking back down, she carefully traced the scar peeking out of the back of her daughters pyjamas. Rachel shifted as Shelby lightly ran her nails along her neck. Lifting her head, Rachel looked at Shelby with sleep-filled eyes. Shelby smiled sadly, leaning forward to kiss Rachel on the forehead as she crawled backwards off of her mother. Rachel kept an arm wrapped around Shelby's waist; resting her head on her mother's shoulder as Shelby continued to run her fingers through her hair. As Rachel fell asleep again, Shelby slowly disentangled herself from the girl's clutches, quietly leaving the room. Padding down the stairs, she smiled at her three other children sitting at the dining table silently eating their breakfast.

"This can't be my kitchen. It's too quiet."

Though she was only teasing, she was smiling sadly as their all looked up from their food.

"She was dreaming about it again wasn't she?"

Santana lowered her spoon to her bowl, glaring at the cereal as though it were the source for her sister's nightmares. Caressing her cheek as she passed, Shelby leaned back against the counter, picking up the steaming cup of coffee.

"Yes."

She watched as she sipped her caffeine as Santana turned in her chair.

"She's never going to get better. Is she?"

Shelby bit her lip, trying to think of something to say when her eldest spoke up instead.

"Shut up Satan! Rach'll be fine. Just… Give her some time, geez."

Shelby sight as Santana glared at Noah, huffing as she pushed her cereal away and stood.

"She's not fine! And she's not going to be fine! Denying everything, Puck, isn't going to help anyone. Not her, not mom, not us!"

"Santana!"

Santana turned to her mother, a scowl on her face as she prepared for Shelby to scold her. She furrowed her brow as, instead of looking at her, Shelby was looking behind her. Turning, Santana closed her eyes as she saw Rachel standing in the doorway, eyes wide as she stared at her sister.

"Rach… I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" She trailed off, not sure how to continue.

Rachel's eyes watered, but she nodded at Santana anyway. She slowly walked to the other side of the table, climbing on to the seat beside Blaine.

"Are you okay sweetie?"

She looked up at her mother, nodding her head as she watched Blaine pour her some cereal. As Santana sat back down, she bit her lip as she watched her little sister poke at her cereal with her spoon. Narrowing her eyes at Noah as he glared at her, she bent her head to stare at her food. Blaine looked around the room, feeling the tension as Noah glared at Santana, Santana glared at her bowl, and his mom stared at Rachel.

"Just a few bites today. Please sweetie?"

Rachel looked up at her mother, nodding silently at her pleading expression. Blaine sighed, as she managed to eat and swallow three spoon-fulls. Taking her hand, he led her out of the kitchen and up the stairs, having finished his own breakfast just before Rachel had even come in to the kitchen.

Shelby watched as her two youngest left, before turning to glare at her eldest. Noah, ignoring his mother, continued to glare at Santana.

"Well done Satan. Great job you did there."

Santana looked up, scowling at him as she hissed at him.

"Shut up di-"

"Do not finish that sentence Santana Maria Corcoran!"

Santana flinched at her full name, looking back down at her half-eaten breakfast.

"I didn't know she was there. I didn't mean to make her upset."

Shelby softened as Santana whispered, stepping forward to rest a hand on her shoulder.

"I know honey, but you know how… fragile, she is. I want you to go up and apologize okay?"

Santana nodded, shooting a glare at Noah as she left the kitchen.

"Noah."

Noah looked up at his mother, sighing as he leaned back, resting his hands behind his head.

"I know, I know! Don't antagonize. I'm sorry, okay!"

Shelby sighed, shaking her head.

"Go get ready for school."

He sighed, standing up as he shoved a piece of bacon in to his mouth.

"Sorry ma." He said as he passed, kissing her on the cheek and leaving the room, bounding up the stairs three at a time.

Sighing, Shelby held the edge of the counter, closing her eyes.

She rushed through the hospital doors, her heart racing and her hair in disarray as she ran up to the desk.

"My daughter, Rachel. Where is she? You said you found her."

She turned as someone called her name, slightly relieved as she saw Doctor Lexon approaching.

"Rachel? Is she okay? What happened? Was she hurt? Of course she's hurt, we're in a hospital. Who did it? Where is he?"

"Shelby!"

She stopped speaking as the doctor interrupted her. She paled at the expression on her face, fearing for her daughter.

"There are severe injuries, and she's in surgery, but that's not what I'm worried about."

Shelby shook her head, her breathing labouring as scenarios ran through her head.

"What? What are you worried about?"

Doctor Lexon looked at Shelby, with what she thought may be pity, or sadness, or a mixture of both.

"Rachel… She's not speaking. At all… Shelby… She's gone mute."

A/N: I hope you liked the first chapter, I'm not sure when i can get the next one written, but it should give insight into the Corcoran family now and before.