Anyone here good at making a lantern from a soccer ball?

The tap tap tap from Maia's impatient foot annoyed Clary beyond belief.

The Principal had shoved them into that tiny room to "work things out with each other" right after the school bell rang. Obviously, Imogen wasn't aware of how stubborn Maia could be. The girl had literally sunk into her seat as far away from her as possible, saying absolutely nothing as the clock ticked by. Only the sounds of their breathing, Maia's foot-tapping, and the occasional sigh. Oh yeah, Clary thought miserably, things are going very well, Principal Imogen.

Well, she guessed it didn't really matter what time she got home. It wasn't like Valentine will be lounging on the couch, newspaper in hand. It wasn't like she would be lectured by him, or grounded because she got detention. It wasn't like he would come into her room at night, pat her head to keep her from pouting at him, and apologize for being too harsh. No, none of those fatherly acts will be given to her when she got home. It simply never happened in the longest period of time.

The bitter thought sent a pang of grief to her chest. Why couldn't he be like any other fathers out there? Why couldn't he take his little girl to the amusement park, buy her cotton candy, and lift her onto his shoulders when she was younger? Why did he leave her out on so many things, while the other girls experienced it all the time?

All those thoughts, but somehow, she wasn't angry. No, anger was the last thing she felt. Valentine was away from her most of the time, which was true. But when he was there, he'd buy her a new limited edition sketchbook, take her wherever she wanted to go, and hug her tightly before he got into another plane the next day. He wouldn't win 'the best father in the world', but at least he tried to be a good one when he could.

"When will we be able to get out of this place?" Maia's sudden outburst shocked Clary so much that she actually smacked her knee against the desk, a high-pitched yelp resonating in her throat. Maia gave her a quizzical look. "I don't know if I should pity you or laugh at you right now, Fray."

"Feel free to shut your mouth and just wait for those doors to open."

"Oh, you want to have another go with me?"

"Please, stealing your cap was as easy as stealing Simon's juice box!"

"You are so going down, freak!"

Maia was about to jump at her when suddenly, the door creaked opened. They were expecting the old woman to barge in and kick them out, but instead a young man stood with his hand on the doorknob. He had dark messy hair, honey-colored skin, and hypnotic brown eyes. He couldn't be any older than Jonathon, by the looks of it. He looked like he belonged in a child's fairy tale book. His appearance was handsome as those of a prince.

Maia froze in place, the color completely drained from her face.

"Did I interrupt something?" The boy asked with a grin.

"Um, who are you?" Clary blurted out.

"Daniel Roberts," He walked pass Maia and shook Clary's outstretched hand. "I'm Maia's older brother."

"Her brother?" Clary turned to Maia, who hadn't moved a muscle. "I never knew you had a brother."

Maia was silent. Her fists were trembling beside her thighs. What was wrong with her?

"Ah, she probably doesn't want to brag," Daniel laughed. He wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulders, making the girl gulp. "Right, Maia?"

She only nodded silently.

"Well, we better get going. I talked to Principal Imogen so you two can go home." He tried to pull Maia with him to the door, but she stood right where she was. He gave her a look. "Maia, it's time to go home."

"I thought you were at college." Maia whispered. Her voice strangely shook with restraint.

"I got home early. Is that a problem?" He tugged on her arm, but she still didn't obey.

"I-I can get a ride home by myself." Finally, she moved. She grabbed her backpack from the floor, pushed Daniel out of the way, and sprinted out the room. Daniel cursed silently and ran after her.

Now, it was Clary's turn to be immobilized. What the Hell just happened? Daniel seemed to be a nice guy, but Maia was clearly uncomfortable. She actually stopped from attacking her when he had entered the room. She had never seen Maia so frightened, so distraught. Usually, she was collected and cool and just plain rebellious. But after seeing her shaking behind her brother's back, Clary knew something was wrong. Very wrong.

Without another thought, she grabbed her own backpack and started her search for the Roberts. The hall was deserted, but she faintly heard voices from somewhere. She followed it to a corridor that led to the parking lot. Maia's pleading voice was clearer now. She was…crying? No way, Maia Roberts never cries.

Clary hurried her footsteps. The freezing almost-winter air slapped her, but the only thing she noticed was Maia curled on the floor, and Daniel holding up his belt. Clary jumped when the leather made contact with Maia's bare arm. The girl in front of her screamed but didn't try to fight back. When Daniel looked up, his angry expression turned into confusion, shock, and then back to the mask she had seen in the detention room.

"O-Oh, hi," He hurriedly hid the belt behind his back. "Um, Maia was uh…"

At his feet, Maia struggled to sit upright. Angry marks lined the skin of her arms. When she turned her face to look at the redhead, she saw that her face was streaked with tears. Clary's legs brought her to Maia's side, carefully draping her arm over her shoulders. Together, they stood slowly, none of them speaking but still having the same intentions.

They had to get out of there.

"Clary," Daniel started. "I was−"

"Save the bullshit, Daniel," Clary spat viciously. She felt Maia squeeze her shoulder in a silent warning.

Daniel's face contorted into rage. "You know, it won't make a difference if I beat up another girl. Have any idea who that would be?" He lunged at Clary, but Maia pushed her out of his way, sending her rolling across the rough pavement.

"Run!"

"In here!" They slammed the door open with their shoulders, sending it into the wall harshly. They closed and locked it just in time before Daniel came, banging the old wood with his foot.

"How do we get out of here?" Clary panted.

"I was hoping you had the answer," Maia backed away silently, finally dropping herself onto a near chair. "God, how could he be home? He was supposed to stay in college until Christmas!"

Behind them, Daniel had stopped his attempt of getting the door to open. They faintly heard his retreating footsteps and a few muttered curses. But they couldn't risk going out there and get beaten by a psychopath brother. So, taking her chances with Maia instead, she sat across from her, giving a comfortable space between them.

"Maia," Clary whispered gently. The girl lifted her head. "You were abused by him, weren't you?"

"Yeah."

"You never told anyone?"

"My parents wouldn't believe a single word I said about him. He has that disgusting, innocent look that people would just fall in love with. The last thing they'd expect him to be is a brother who almost killed his own sister on a daily basis."

"The scars?"

"Daniel threatened me that if I show them to anyone, he'd hunt me down and cut my tongue with a butter knife." She visibly shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. "He finds it amusing to hear me scream, to beg for him to stop. He loved filling my closet with spiders or rats, mixing my sandwich with worms – and that was only his morning routine! When mom and dad aren't home, he'd…"

Clary sat at the very edge of her chair. "What did he do to you?"

"He hurts me. He beats the shit out of me with a belt, or sometimes with razors. I tried to run, but he always finds me." Maia hastily wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "The day he went off to college was the best day of my life. He was finally gone."

"Does Jordan know?"

"Yes. I only talked about it with him. He tried to confront him, tried to stand up for me, but he…" She swallowed visibly. "Jesus, can we stop? Please, I don't…"

"It's okay," Reaching out a tentative hand, Clary pulled her into a gentle embrace. It seemed weird, hugging her like that, but at the same time she knew she had to. Maia was clearly losing it. It was obvious from the way she trembled, the tears she kept inside, and the unmistakable sorrow in her eyes.

They both jumped when the door shook on its hinges.

"He's here," Maia whimpered on Clary's shoulder.

Standing up slowly, Clary plucked a chair from the floor, carrying it with her to the door.

"What the hell are you doing, Fray?"

"I'll surprise him, that's what." The door shook more, making Clary's heart race twice as fast. She held the doorknob with a quaking hand, and the chair with the other. Her breaths were short and quick, cold sweat running down the side of her neck. She was aware of Maia sobbing behind her, but she had to focus on the task at hand.

The click of a lock sounded, and the door swung open.

Cliffy! Sorry, gotta keep you guys interested, am I right? Anyone?

What will happen to the two girls? Are they really gonna be captured and get a belt to the back? Let's find out in the next chapter!