Thank-you my first two reviewers EVER!

DiexGaaf and Adorereading

Your reviews were so encouraging, it got me exited so I wrote another chapter. hehe. This one is longer and more exiting =D

Hope you enjoy it!

Jack lay on his lumpy bed, now in cleaner clothes, staring at the ceiling of his small room.

One more year, and I can get out. Where the fuck I'm gunna go I have no clue. Even if it's the streets, it'll be me and only me. I can trust me.

He slipped into a surprisingly deep slumber; so deep he nearly woke up late. Jack had found that leaving for school incredibly early was the right way to avoid morning peril.

Jack drifted through school day attempting to ignore the pains that surged through his body. By break he was tempted to go to the school nurse, but it was too risky. If his foster father found out he

would think he had told, then he would pay. It wasn't until lunch that Jacks body couldn't cope with the pain. He cursed his feeble physicality as he came too on one of the nurses' beds. He wasn't

awake for long until the nurse came in to check on him.

'Hello there.'

Jack could do nothing but stare dumbly at the nurse; praying to god that she had not checked him over and seen his battered body.

The nurse must have mistaken his uneasiness for confusion because she quickly began to explain to him what she thought had happened.

'You fainted at lunch. You were brought here so you could catch up on some sleep. You looked exhausted'

Jack dipped his head so the nurse couldn't see the relief on his face. She hadn't looked at his body.

'You had quite a high temperature though, so I called up your dad. He should be here soon to take you home.'

Fear gripped jack, his muscles tensed and his pain was momentarily replaced by fear.

Shit. Shit. Shit. This was it. He would be punished for this, for sure. He could run now. No. That was crazy, you can't escape the inevitable.

'Um, can I have a drink of water please' he managed to choke out. He needed a minute to gather himself before his 'dad' came to pick him up.

'I am so sorry it took me so long, I came as soon as I was able'

Jack retched at the fake kindness in his guardians' voice.

'No problem. He passed out at lunch; it is a stressful time of year, probably too much work. I recommend he just take it easy for a couple of days.'

Damn it woman. She's passing my death sentence.

His foster father glanced icily over the nurses' shoulder into Jacks eyes, forcing the boy to timidly look to his lap.

'I'll make sure he has a couple of days at home'

The dried leaves crunched at they walked to the car. Jack had shrunk into himself, his eyes inspecting the leaves as if searching for a place to disappear. He glanced sideways toward Mac and it

suddenly occurred to Jack just how large the man was; all the fat on his arms appeared to be muscle as his fists clenched and his arms tensed.

This is going to be bad.

The clunk of the car door opening jerked Jack out of his thoughts. A large hand landed heavily on the small of his back forcing him awkwardly into the car, his back bent and his damaged ribs sent a jolt

of pain through him. He sucked in his breath to prevent crying out. Macs face remained still as he walked slowly around the front of the car and over to the other side.

The car journey was slow. The tense atmosphere unchanging as Macs stony face stared intently forward. The leather of the steering wheel squeaked under his white knuckled fists.

This is going to be really bad.

They were home. Jack got out the car, Macs hand clamped tightly around his skinny arm, guiding him toward the door. He fiddled mockingly with the key's staring at Jacks face with his tongue in his

cheek; mocking him as he dragged out the moment of awful anticipation.

As soon as the door was open he flung Jack into the kitchen. The counter prevented him from flying into the floor.

'What the fuck was that boy?' He began to stride over to Jack. 'Huh?'

Before Jack could formulate a coherent response, the back of Macs hand connected with his cheek. He grabbed the dirty blonde hair, forcing Jack to look into his black eyes.

'You were gunna tell, huh?'

'n-no, I wou-'

A knee collided with Jacks stomach and he doubled over as the wind rushed from his body.

'You won't ever tell anyone. You won't ever get away. Your mine!'

With that Mac sent a fist down into Jacks ear. Jack followed through toward the floor. He covered his head instinctively to protect from the blows. Mac eagerly laid a boot into the boys' side forcing a

startled yelp to escape Jacks lips. Jack regretted that immediately as it only seemed to excite his tormenter; a wide smirk spread over Macs jaw as he continued to kick and punch.

'You are pitiful! You are nothing'

After a while, the collisions ceased and Macs sweaty face appeared in Jacks field of vision by the floor.

'Pathetic' he spat 'don't think this is the last of it. I have permission to keep you here for a few days.'

He grinned maliciously

'Ain't no escape now, Jacky boy'

He cackled as he began across the hall into the lounge toward the TV.

Fuck you.

Jack lay still. His mind was not willing to invite sleep although his body needed it. His eyes seemed to drift, colours and outlines blurred before focusing on the large figure.

Fuck this.

He had no idea where the energy came from; years of being forgotten perhaps. It seemed that all the anger and despair Jack had bottled up over his 17 years was released in a surge of fury. He forced

his busted body from the floor; his weak arms shaking with the effort.

'Fuck you.' His voice shook, not with fear, but the effort it took to remain upright.

Mac stopped and turned.

'What did you say?'

'Fuck – you' Jack spoke the syllables clearly; his big blue eyes stared unwavering from Macs bulky face. There was silence as the man cocked his head to the side, confused at the reversed situation.

'You got a death wish boy' Macs callous whisper cut the silence. He began to tramp toward Jack. Each footstep echoed in Jacks mind as the man grew closer to the skinny teen.

Now or never.

Jack lunged forward with all his force. It was a futile effort. Mac was thrown off for a second but his large legs soon steadied his bulky frame and he grabbed Jack roughly around his waist; throwing him

toward the floor. Jack didn't stay down for long. He sprung up and turned to Mac again, who was now stood by the kitchen counter.

'You little fucker. What the hell do you thi-'

Mac hadn't time to finish his sentence as Jack, once again, threw himself at his foster father. This time he screamed as he flung fists at the giants face. Mac was knocked back toward the counter, his

hands searched frantically for something, anything to knock the crazed teen down with. He grabbed the first thing he felt. Lunging forward he struck the boy in the abdomen, hoping to force him down.

Jack yelped and staggered back. His hands cupped his stomach. He looked down at the area his hands had gone to. Blood soaked through his shirt. He looked up to Mac, surprised to see the man

staring at Jacks abdomen in shock. The knife dropped to the floor. Both fear and anger swam in his eyes as they returned to Jacks face.

'Look what you made me do you little shit'

Anger took over.

'You crazy fuck!'

Jack felt Macs ring connect with his cheek, followed shortly by the floor. Panic took hold of Jack as two hands wrapped themselves around his neck. He forgot immediately about his stab wound and his

body lurched wildly as his brain was starved of oxygen. His legs thrashed and his hands clawed at Macs strong arms. Darkness began to creep into the corners of his vision. He couldn't breathe. He

looked up to Macs grinning face. His angry eyes scared Jack as he realised he wasn't going to let go.

This is it.

It's about time.

Darkness clouded Jacks vision as for the first time in a long time, he gave up.

So, what do you think? was it an imrovement or same standard...or worse? =P

I will try and do my next chapter soon, but I have a busy weekend so I don't really know how soon. I hope you are enjoying it, sorry to leave you on such a cliffhanger. =D