Gwen sat there on her bed, her room dimly lit by the measly light on the ceiling. The summer had been terrible so far. Her father seemed to hate her even more, and it certainly showed in the bruises and scars she'd received. But now, he was out, probably at the local pub, so she could sing as loudly as she wanted.
I haven't been myself today
I used to think we're in a big monopoly game
Struggle is the price you pay
You get just enough just to give it away
We're sinking and we're floating away
Throw me a line so I can anchor my pain
The fabric is about to fray
The fabric is about to fray
She strummed her guitar, the sound filling the house.
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Things keep coming and I keep wondering
I start feeling the walls close in
Things keep coming and I keep stumbling
I start feeling strong enough to break
I start feeling strong enough to break
She was singing so loudly she didn't notice her father slamming the door downstairs. She didn't even notice the angry, noisy footsteps making their way up the stairs.
I've been running through my mind today
Scenario is to catch your hypocrisy
And no one ever takes the blame
But everyone is searching for a cure to the pain
And nothing ever seems to change
Oh nothing ever seems to change
We're just playing broken records in a deaf man's charade
Jon Healy threw her door open, storming into the room. Gwen's face registered shock as her grabbed the body of the guitar, and hurled it against the wall without so much as a flinch. Her grabbed her left forearm angrily and threw her to the floor.
"Found your mother's guitar?! Always with your head in the clouds! Useless, you are, just like her!" He kicked her in the ribs, and she felt something crack, as searing stabs of pain filled her abdomen. It was harder to breathe now, and the combination of her throbbing bone and fighting back her tears was making her chest ache horribly. She never let him see how much it hurt her, it would only please him further. "I knew I should've killed you along with her! You and your damn Light heart!" He slapped her hard across the face, getting close enough so Gwen could smell the alcohol on his breath.
As he continued to hit and kick her, she listened intently to what he was saying. Killed her? Nothing made sense...
"You fought against what I taught! Why did I believe you'd be Dark?!" He brought his hand to her cheekbone, her face stinging with pain. The edges of Gwen's vision were blurring slightly, but she fought unconsciousness. He was giving away so much, Gwen had to hear all of it.
"I hate you." She whispered, not really sure if he'd heard it or not. All she had known of all her life was fury and pain, and she was desperate for it to end.
Jon pulled his sleeve up, preparing for the hit that would render her unconscious. Gwen's vision was fuzzy now, both with tears and pain. But there was something strange on her dad's arm. A strange mark.
He hit her so hard she thought she'd die from pain. As she fought not to scream, she brought her eyes upon the mark again.
It was a skull with a snake coming out of the mouth, glowing a sickening black color.
As everything went black, Gwen realized what it meant.
It was a Dark Mark.
Her father was a Death Eater.
Author Note: I don't own the lyrics I used above, they belong Hanson. The song is "Strong Enough To Break" and it is new material for their album. Yes, I am a Hanson fan, they're my favorite band, and if you have problems with that, go and complain to a Dementor. I'm sure it'll kiss you to make you feel better.