A Daughter's Nightmare

Chapter 1: Intro

Summery: A look into the life of Martha Bessell. This chapter is based heavily upon "The Dark I Know Well" and the scene that's before it in the show.

Disclaimer: I don't own Spring Awakening.


Author's Note: I know this is short and not that good; I wrote it during free gym.

Martha sighed. It had been a long day at school, and now she had to go home. She dreaded the moment her father would come home from work. That meant there was only a matter of time before bedtime. Bedtime was what she hated the most, even more than she hated the beatings. Bedtime was when all her innocence was lost, when the one person she hated most would come to see her.

"Martha, time for bed now," her Mama said. "Put on that new nightgown, the pretty ruffled one your father bought you." She winced. She could see another bruise that had appeared on her arm from the night before. Shit. She'd have to cover that before anyone saw. It also meant that she'd have to wear a long sleeved dress the next day.

She carefully undid her braids (she was only allowed to wear her hair down at bedtime) and laid the ribbons that held them together on her bedside table. She shuddered, seeing the nightgown that was hanging on the back of the door. She knew she had to put it on, or it would be worse tonight. After changing her clothes, she said a quick prayer, blew out the candle, and crawled into bed. How long would it be tonight before he would stumble in, drunk and reeking of beer?

Sure enough, the sound of footsteps approached her door, growing louder by the second. The pounding matched the beat of her heart. She didn't dare scream or cry. That would make it even worse. She knew all she could do was to lie there and breathe. A moment later, he came in. shut the door behind him. "It's just you and me. Child, you're a beauty." Martha tried not to wince as he came around to her bed. Crawled in with her. He pulled down his pants, exposing it. He ordered her to hold it, to touch it. "Oh yeah. Just like that." She knew he would leave the sooner she satisfied him, on a good night. On a bad night…

After he was finished, he hoisted her nightgown up around her waist. "God, it's good, the lovin'. Ain't it good tonight? You ain't seen nothin' yet, gonna treat you right." He plunged right in her. There was no pain, for her had done this many times before. He pushed into her, faster and harder. "Oh yeah. That's my little girl." After several minutes, he finished, and left. Left Martha cold, alone, and helpless. Raped.

The next afternoon, Martha was walking with her friends. "Careful, your braid is coming undone," Thea warned. Martha froze, fixed it. "Isn't it a bother, wearing your hair like that all the time?" Anna asked. "Tomorrow, you shall wear it down!" Wendla cried. "For God's sake, no, Papa beats me enough as it is!" Martha blurted out. Shit. Secrets out. They looked at her with questioning faces.

"Well…what I mean is…it's nothing," she said quickly. "Come on, Martha, tell us," Anna begged. "When I don't do as he likes…Papa yanks out his belt…hits me with the buckle…everything…." She rolled up her sleeve, exposing a fresh bruise from the incident at breakfast.

"My God…Martha! The welts! They're terrible!" Wendla exclaimed. "We must tell someone," Anna said, agreeing. "No. That'd throw me out for good…" "Like Ilse, you mean…" Thea finished for her. "Please, we must…" Anna tried. "No. No. I'd be on the streets for good. No, Anna. I won't tell. I'll just play along. Just for now, okay?" Anna, clearly uncomfortable with this, backed up a few steps.

Martha turned around, leaving her friends behind her, walking towards the place she called home. It would never end. She would always be the victim of Daddy's drunkenness and temper. She would always be in a nightmare.

Should I continue this? Read/review, please, and let me know if you want to hear more of Martha's story. I might bring Moritz in, and definitely Ilse.