Hey guys! A bit of a darker one today, so please heed my warnings! I based this on my own trauma and struggles with disabilities, depression, eating disorders, and such. If you cannot handle these things right now, if any of this makes you squeamish, please do not read. I don't want my work to trigger anyone, so if you can't read this, curl up with a nice cup of your favorite drink, and watch or read something fun instead, okay? Take care of yourselves, lovelies! Now, for those of you who are staying with me, let me list the triggers!

TRIGGER WARNING FOR CHILD ABUSE, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE, EATING DISORDERS, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, SELF HARM, MANIPULATION, ALCOHOLISM AND POTENTIAL GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE THINGS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Now, I hope you all enjoy (I think? I don't know, this one's heavy) and reviews, comments, and criticism are welcome! If you need anything tagged, please tell me!

Rough hands caressed pale flesh, fingers dragging along jagged scars. The hair raised across her arms, a scared whimper escaping her.

"Please… No."

Her pleas were ignored. Shadows seeped forward like spilled ink, the strong smell of chemicals, sweat, and stale food reaching her. She choked on her breath, hot tears streaming down her face.

She pushed against him with shaking hands. She couldn't see what he was doing, all she could see was his cold blue eyes.

She felt sick.

She gasped for breath between sobs, her limbs heavy as they dropped to her sides. She couldn't fight anymore, no matter how much she wanted to.

She resorted to begging, soon finding a hand clamped over her mouth.

She closed her eyes, praying for it to be over. His perverted touch was ceaseless, the rough fabric of the car seat biting into her skin.

"I can't take it, why are you doing this?"

There was no answer. There never was.

Just the sound of the air conditioner, and the monotonous radio, droning on as her torture continued.

I was startled out of my slumber, breathless and shaking. The shadows of my dimly lit bedroom warped and bent as I fully came to consciousness, clumsily reaching around to turn my lamp on.

I dragged myself into a sit, placing my hands on either side of me before twisting my spine, both ways until I heard a satisfying pop. I did that a few more times with my neck, arms, wrists, and legs, making sure everything was in place before sliding out of bed.

I quickly reached for my robe, pulling it on and wrapping my arms around myself before I began to shiver. This house was always so damned cold, no matter what time of the year. It didn't help that my skin always felt frozen, in any season with any amount of layers.

I walked over to my closet, steadying myself on the wall as I went. The last thing I needed was to fall and hurt myself again. Last time the bruises didn't leave for weeks.

I pulled out a sweater and a pair of velvet leggings, ignoring the fact it was late spring and would almost certainly be warm.

I made my way to the bathroom, making sure it was empty before going in. I locked the door behind me, keeping the light off as I turned the water onto the hottest setting. I undressed and stepped into the spray, shuddering slightly as the near-boiling water hit me.

I took my time in the shower, it was one of the few things I enjoyed doing. The warmth of the water was welcome, and the steam was usually so thick I couldn't see the body I despised. It was almost symbolic, as I scrubbed away the feeling of hands on my skin and the shame that came with it. I washed my long white hair, an unusual shade for someone my age, though I inherited it from my father. He always insisted I cut it, but I liked to keep it long. It was nearly down to my lower back, and he had threatened to shave it many times. I was starting to believe he would.

When I was done in the shower, I got out and tried off. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, the light was off but the sunlight was seeping in. I subconsciously wrapped fingers around my wrist, as I stared at my protruding ribs.

God, I looked awful. Half-starved, sleep-deprived, and painted with bruises and scars. Frankly, it made me want to curl up and never leave my room again, but seeing how I had school in two hours, that wasn't an option. So instead I got dressed, making an effort to keep from looking at myself. I brushed my hair and pulled it into a ponytail, before brushing my teeth.

Once I finished in the bathroom, I cleaned up and left, heading downstairs to make breakfast before everyone woke up.

The house was silent as it always was in the mornings. A glance at the clock told me it was nearly seven, giving me just enough time to make breakfast before everyone else awoke.

My mother was the first to wake. Right before I finished breakfast, she came down and dug through the liquor cabinet, pulling out a bottle of wine. She opened it and took a long drink before walking away, not even bothering to acknowledge me.

I sighed inwardly. Apparently, she wouldn't be joining us for breakfast.

I finished up breakfast, which consisted of eggs, sausage, french toast, and fruit. I neatly set the table, and placed each dish down, taking care to make it look nice. My father always appreciated it more if it was pretty.

I brewed coffee and got out the pitcher of orange juice, setting it up just in time as my father and brother came in.

The two sat at the table, no words being said between us as they loaded up their plates.

I sat down and did the same, keeping my portion down to a single piece of sausage and half a piece of toast. I didn't think I could stomach much more than that, as I tallied the calories of each thing.

"You start at your new school today, Weiss." My father said in my direction.

I gave a nod, as I took a bite of my meager portion.

"Use your words." He scolded.

I bit back a sigh, swallowing it down with my food. "I know, dad. I'm… excited… to start fresh." I prayed my words didn't sound as stiff as they felt.

He scoffed. "Don't mess it up this time. Then you won't have to switch again."

I caught myself from nodding. "Yes, dad."

"Do you think you can manage to behave? Act more like Whitley?"

"I will try my best."

"Don't try. Just do it."

I kept back a grimace at his snapped words. "I will, dad."

He sat back with a satisfied sigh. "Good."

I quickly finished the rest of my meal, washing the plate before heading up to my room. I could hardly stand to be near him.

I dug around in my cabinet and got out a few bottles of pills. My mother had me keep them hidden from my father, he didn't believe I needed them. He got angry when he saw me take them, and I wasn't going to make that mistake again.

I took my needed dose of each, placing them back in the cabinet before I finished getting ready.

When I was finished I went downstairs. Breakfast was already cleaned up after, and I suspected it was my mother who did it, my brother and father both detested chores. My father was waiting for me in the entryway.

I shrugged my bag onto my shoulder and I walked over.

"Could I walk to school?" I asked, keeping my gaze down.

"No. I'm driving you, no arguing. Now come on." He said firmly, grabbing my wrist and pulling me along.

I stumbled after him, wincing as I felt my wrist pop. Once we were in his car, I put it back in place as he put the key in the ignition. He peeled out of the driveway, as I hugged my bag close. He reached over and grabbed my thigh. He always did this.

I held back a shudder, closing my eyes.

"I always like it when you wear your velvet leggings. It makes your ass look nice."

I pressed my forehead to the cold glass of the window, squeezing my eyes shut as I listened to the morning traffic, trying to drown out his words.

The car ride couldn't have been over soon enough, as we pulled into the parking lot of the school. I began to get out of the car before my father stopped me.

"Hey. Don't you want to give your dad a kiss before you go?"

He was taunting me, he knew I couldn't say no. So I swallowed back the bile that rose in the back of my throat, and pressed a kiss to his lips, his coarse facial hair scratching my skin.

I got out of the car and resisted the urge to vomit up that morning's breakfast. Instead, I walked towards the towering school, aptly named Beacon Academy, as it stood out against the cloudy gray sky. A private school that I picked, although my father was less than pleased with my decisions.

I took in a few deep breaths, calming myself and pushing down the dread that formed a tight knot in my chest. I walked through the heavy wooden doors and was met with a crowd of students.

I squared my shoulders and held my head high, pushing through the mass of people as I searched for the principal's office. After a few minutes of searching, I found it and went inside.

Sitting at the desk was a silver-haired man, olive tinted bifocals perched on the bridge of his nose. He was dressed in a rich velvet suit, the purple fabric catching in the light of the morning sun.

"Professor Ozpin." I bowed my head. "I'm Weiss Schnee."

His lips curled into a warm smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Schnee. Your father has told me much about your academic excellency."

I bit back a scoff. "I'm sure he has." He loved to brag about me as if I were a trophy he could parade in front of his friends.

"I am glad to have a star pupil such as yourself at my academy. Will you be staying at the dorms this semester?"

I perked up. Dorms?

"I would love to," I said, keeping the excitement out of my voice. If I could convince my father, then I wouldn't have to be around him for a whole semester. It sounded like paradise.

"You would be rooming with three other girls, would that be alright?" He asked.

I quickly nodded. "Of course."

He smiled once more. "Lovely. I'm sure your father would love to give you the opportunity. After all, it comes with the enrollment. Now, is there anything else you would like to know?"

I thought for a moment, becoming hesitant. He must have picked up on it.

"Feel free to ask anything at all, Miss Schnee."

"Well, you see, I have this disorder, but I'm not sure if it's of importance," I said, chewing on the inside of my cheek, anxiety swelling in my chest.

"Of course it is. Please, continue." He gave a small nod.

"I have this genetic disorder, it's called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. The collagen in my body isn't formed right, you see, so it causes some issues, namely with my mobility and joints, though it has many comorbidities that go along with it." I glanced up at him to judge his reaction, before deeming it safe to continue. "I have many dislocations and balance issues. It makes movement difficult at times. I tire easily and have fainting spells caused by Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia if I stand too long. I have to take medication to keep my symptoms in check, but one of them, Tramadol, is a controlled substance, prescribed of course. Is that okay, sir?"

"Of course it is." He hummed thoughtfully. "Though, your father didn't mention anything about it. Why is that?"

"He didn't want to hinder my abilities." I lied.

He smiled. "Of course. Well, you don't have to worry about that. Just be sure to talk to the nurse, inform her about your condition and give her a list of your medication, okay?"

"Yes sir," I said.

He pulled out a pamphlet and slid it across the desk. "Here is a map of the school, class schedule, and general information. Don't be afraid to ask for help from the faculty if needed, and my door is always open."

I stood from the chair and smiled. "Thank you, sir. It was nice meeting you."

"It was nice meeting you as well." He hummed before I turned and left the office.

I let out a breath, the anxiety of the situation hitting me as I made my way through the hallways. I studied the map, before finding a secluded bathroom. I went inside and locked the door behind me. Once I made sure no one was present, I walked over to the toilet and purged everything in my system, both out anxiety and the heaviness I was starting to feel. Though, it was too late to get rid of any calories from breakfast.

I rinsed my mouth out, taking a tin of breath mints from my bag and eating one, avoiding my reflection like the plague. Once I had collected myself, I left the bathroom and made my way to the auditorium for the assembly.

The large auditorium was buzzing with students. The crowd was overwhelming, so I stuck close to the wall, leaning against it for support. After all the walking I had done, my right hip was starting to waver in strength, and I was left breathless.

I used to do this every damn day, have I really gone downhill that fast? Maybe I need a cane. Or better yet, someone to put me out of my misery. I thought bitterly to myself, placing a hand on the aching joint. I shifted my weight to my other hip, as I let out a sigh. A teacher walked onto the auditorium stage, and the crowd went quiet. She was a tall, severe-looking woman, with her light blonde hair pulled into a neat bun. She stepped in front of the microphone, pushing up her glasses as she regarded the crowd.

"Welcome everyone, to Beacon Academy. My name is Glynda Goodwitch, and I am one of the many professors at this school. At Beacon Academy, you will not only be taught the core curriculum, but things you will be able to use in your career and daily life."

My mind began to wander as I stared off into space. The voice of the professor became white noise, as my thoughts traveled to the nightmare I had. I quickly shut my eyes, pressing the heels of my hands against the sockets.

"Hey, are you okay?" The polite, concerned voice of a girl came from next to me.

I jumped slightly, startled as I looked down at her. She had spiky black hair that ended in deep red, bright silvery eyes, and a black dress decorated with red ribbon and chains. She looked young,

"I'm fine," I stiffly said. "Just a headache."

She didn't look wholly satisfied with the answer, but thankfully didn't press. "Right. I'm Ruby, by the way, Ruby Rose!" She gave a toothy grin, full of joy. She looked so happy, it was like she didn't have a care in the world.

"Weiss Schnee," I said.

"Ohmygosh! Your dad's the CEO of that tech company, right!? The Schnee Tech Company? I love their stuff! I'm a huge tech nerd, I can't believe you're his daughter!"

I sighed inwardly. "Yes, I'm his daughter." I couldn't blame her. She didn't know.

"The Schnee Tech Company has been using unlawful practices for years. They're a major pollutant, refuse to make any efforts by fixing it, and are unafraid of using child labor for components of their products. Plus, they've had shady business deals for decades, with stolen ideas and false copyright claims."

Once more, I was startled by a voice beside me. A dark-haired girl with olive skin and amber eyes.

I couldn't stop myself from jumping into a defensive spiel I had been trained to say. "The Schnee Tech Company has done questionable things in the past, but it has moved forward and is bettering itself. The rumors of us having shady deals and child labor is completely false, and I-" I stopped myself mid-sentence, taking a deep breath and reminding myself that I didn't need to stand up for my father. "I apologize."

The dark-haired girl quirked an eyebrow. ."You're the heiress of the company, why wouldn't you stand up for it?"

I shifted, crossing my arms. "Who are you?"

"Blake Belladonna." She said. Neither of us bothered to hold out a hand, and I could tell she didn't like me.

I managed a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Blake. I'd like to talk more about this issue sometime, really. I Agree my father's way of running things isn't ideal, and I'd love to know how to improve on it."

She perked up. "Really?"

I nodded. By then the assembly was over, and people were beginning to leave.

"Hey! We should totally hang out!" Ruby said excitedly.

Blake looked unsure, as Ruby bounced on the balls of her feet next to her.

"I actually need to call my father…" Ruby's face fell. God, she looked so devastating when she was sad, how is that even possible? "But afterward I'll join you."

"I don't have anything better to do. I'll tag along too." Blake shrugged.

The younger girl squealed excitedly. "This is awesome! Oh wait till you meet my big sis, you're going to love her! Oh my god, the first day of school and I'm already making friends! This is the best!"

Blake and I traded a look. How could anyone still be this innocent and pure? I smiled meekly. "I'm going to step out now and call him."

I slipped out of the still crowded room and walked until I found a secluded corner. I leaned against the rough brick of the building, as I took my phone out, calling up my father.

I drummed my fingers on my leg as it rang. The longer it took for him to answer, the more anxiety built in my chest. Finally, he answered on the fourth ring.

"Hello?" He grumbled through the phone.

I took a breath, putting on my best cheerful voice. "Hey, dad! They, um, have dorms here and-"

I was quickly cut off by him. "Um, um, um. Use your damned words, Weiss."

I cringed. "I'm sorry. They have dorms, and I was wondering if it would be possible to stay here during the semester." I made sure to speak properly and annunciate. The less I messed up, the more he'd be willing to agree. At least, I had hoped so.

There was a long pause before he spoke again. "Are you serious?"

I could tell by his tone he was angry. My hands grew clammy, as my stomach dropped. I took a few deep breaths, calming myself before speaking again.

"Yes. I think it would be a good opportunity. It would give me a chance to be on my own, and experience things for myself." It would give me a chance to get away from him. But would he ever agree?

I could almost hear the thought in his head. He knew that what he had done to me could get out if he let me stay in the dorms. After all, I wouldn't be under his control. But did he think he had groomed me well enough to keep me quiet?

Finally, his answer came. "Fine. But don't expect me to take you back before the semester is over, do you understand me?"

I was both terrified and ecstatic. He trusted me, and that was his mistake.

"Yes, I understand," I said, chewing on my lip, trying to keep my voice steady.

He abruptly hung up, leaving me filled with emotions that clashed inside my mind.

I composed myself, closing my eyes as the cool breeze blew past me. There had been a weight lifted off my chest, and I felt free. But how long was that going to last before he decided he wanted me back? What was I leaving my mother and Whitley to?

I swallowed back the guilt and opted not to think about it at the moment. I would cross that bridge when I got to it. Instead, I slipped my phone back into my bag and walked back to the auditorium. Inside

I quickly found Ruby and Blake, now joined by a boisterous blonde. That must have been Ruby's sister.

I steeled away my emotions and walked over. The blonde was leaning against her younger sister, telling a story in a rather animated fashion.

"Oh! Weiss! This is Yang!" Ruby said cheerfully, gesturing to the blonde.

"I'm Weiss Schnee," I said, bowing my head.

"Oooh, a rich girl! Wanna be my sugar momma?" Yang winked at me.

My cheeks went hot, as I grew flustered. "Excuse me?" I choked out, severely caught off guard.

She just laughed. "I'm joking, don't worry. Buuut if you wanted, I'm not opposed~" Her tone was teasing, but that didn't stop me from growing more flustered.

I cleared my throat, trying to calm down. "I do not think I'll be taking you up on that, thanks."

She wrapped an arm around me with a good-natured laugh. "Don't worry about it, ice queen."

I couldn't help but shy away from the touch. She noticed, quickly moving her arm. "Ah, sorry, shoulda asked."

I shook my head. "It's fine. I believe Ruby wanted to look around?"

"Yup! This way!" The younger girl then ran off. Yang followed close behind, as Blake and I fell towards the back.

I was thankful for the moment of relative quiet that her company offered. It gave me a chance to gather my thoughts as we walked.

"How was your phone call?" Her voice was so soft, I almost missed it.

"It was fine," I replied. I glanced over to find her studying me. "What?"

"You just seem tense." She sighed.

I shrugged it off, and we continued our walk.

The academy was massive. Towering brick walls adorned with ivy, ornate sculpting in places, delicate stained glass that painted a beautiful scene. It was old and well-loved, and for a moment I felt excited to stay here, explore the old buildings and sprawling grounds and garden. It was quickly stamped out as I remembered I might not be staying here for long. I didn't want to get my hopes only for it to get taken away.

However, with the look of wonder on Ruby's face, it was hard to not get excited about my chances here. After all, maybe I could be that happy.

After a tour through most of the grounds, we finally made it to the dormitory building. Like everything else, it was large and ornate. At the front desk, sat a woman with curly red hair and a rather colorful vest.

She grinned as we entered. She seemed very warm and motherly, not unlike my own mother before she began drinking.

"Well hello, girls! You must be here to get checked in, yes?" She hummed.

Ruby nodded, as she and Yang went up to the desk.

"Now, it's four to a room, would you girls like to room together?"

Before any of us could answer, Ruby agreed enthusiastically.

"That sounds amazing! Oh, Yang, this is going to be so much fun! It'll be like a sleepover all the time!'

I found myself frowning. I hadn't ever shared a room with anyone, let alone three other girls. I had so many things I could barely hide from my family, how was I supposed to keep anything private? With my dislocations, and constant pain, and nightmares, and panic attacks, it was all so much.

A gentle hand on my shoulder pulled me from my quickly spiraling thoughts. Blake stood beside me, and I could see the same hesitation in her eyes. She gave me a small smile as if to say "it's okay".

I took a deep breath, calming myself. I was fine. I could do this. I've handled so much worse, roommates won't be an issue at all… Right?

The lady at the front desk, I quickly found out her name was Maryann, led us down a hallway and up a flight of stairs. She brought us to a fairly spacious room. It was bare, and although it appeared rather large, I had to remind myself there were three other people besides me.

"Your luggage will be brought in soon. You all left your things at the luggage drop-off, right?" Maryann said sweetly.

Everyone else nodded.

"Actually, I didn't realize I would be staying until an hour or so ago. Can I have someone bring my things?" I asked, my voice meek and quiet.

"Why of course honey! We luggage drop off until five tomorrow evening." She hummed.

I let out a breath of relief. That was one thing out of the way. Maybe I could have my father's assistant, Klein, bring my things.

I followed the three into the room and looked around.

"There's only one closet," Yang commented.

Blake looked inside. "It seems spacious enough for us all to fit clothes in."

Ruby snorted and giggled, elbowing Yang. "As long as you don't hog the whole thing."

She rolled her eyes, nudging Ruby back. "Oh hush."

They continued to banter back and forth, as I stood to the side, watching them with a small, melancholic smile. I wondered what it was like to have a family like that.

I once again found Blake by my side, watching me with keen amber eyes that seemed to know too much. "Do you miss your family?"

Her voice was soft like before, but the question made me uncomfortable. I shifted my weight, staring at the patterned carpet. "I suppose so." I chose my words carefully, trying not to reveal any more than I needed.

I felt her watch me a few moments longer before she sighed. "I miss mine."

I hummed, I missed my mom and my brother, but it was overshadowed by my overwhelming relief to be away from my father. Another pang of guilt shot through me. I just left them, alone with my father. God, what did I do?

"Guys! We should have bunk beds!" Once more, Ruby's cheerful voice broke through my thoughts.

"Bunk beds? Why?" Blake asked.

"Well, we could save a lot of space that way, and bunk beds are just super awesome!" She grinned toothily, Yang nodding along.

Blake sighed, glancing towards me. "It would save a lot of space. I guess we could do that."

"I'll take the bottom bed," I said, rubbing my arms. I was less likely to fall that way, and I didn't need to injure myself before school started.

Ruby cheered. "I'm gonna go talk to Maryann about it!"

With that, she ran off. And four hours, a bit of work, and a luggage drop later, the dorm room was set up and unpacked. We were all sitting on our respective beds, me and Blake on the bottom bunks, Yang and Ruby on the top.

I laid back on the bed, utterly exhausted by the day. It was well into the night now, and I was thankful Klein was able to get my things to me before morning.

I closed my eyes and listened to Yang and Ruby chat, as Blake wrote in a small black notebook. I took in a deep breath and sighed, filled with the relief of the night of reprieve away from my father.

And I was met with my first night away from home, no chance of a fight, yelling or waking up with my clothes a mess, and my father leaving my room.

It was my first night of safety, and I welcomed it with open arms.