Chapter 1

The small 5-year-old bit her lip nervously, as she snuck out of the wardrobe she had been sleeping in, into her older brother's room. Daddy was sleeping and she knew waking him would result in a beating. Timmy was much safer to wake. Timmy would never hurt her, he always protected her. Not that she wanted to wake him, but her tummy had been making noises for ages and it was really hurting now.

"Timmy" she whispered shaking him slightly, on his torn pyjama top with dried blood stains, "Timmy I'm hungry" he didn't move or stir, she sighed. Daddy has been in a bad mood last night; Timmy had told her to hide in the wardrobe while he put daddy to bed, meaning she hadn't had dinner and lunch yesterday had only been an apple they had picked off the tree. Her tummy grumbled again she covered it not wanting to wake daddy. In the dead of night the grumbling appeared to be really loud, like a monster was living in there. At least in the wardrobe she was safe, they'd put blankets in so it was warmer than Timmy's room and a piece of wood to prop the door so once inside nobody else could get in, but that wasn't helping now, she needed to go out and try find some food. Listening carefully at the door she tried to see if daddy was awake and was reminded of the noises of last night.

She had heard daddy shouting at Timmy and the sounds of smacks and glasses smashing and Tim crying in pain as daddy told him to man up. She could see the bruises to his arms and one to his head. Zona sighed she hated it when they got hit. Timmy always got hit more, mostly defending her, but she always got hit harder, with belts and other things. Daddy said it's because girls shouldn't be seen or heard and that she was a devil child that had killed her mammy and didn't deserve to be alive. Timmy said it's because she looked like mammy that it made daddy sad which then made him mad and when daddy was mad, he liked hurting them.

She rubbed her grumbling tummy again. Timmy hadn't stirred still. She was a big girl now; she didn't need Timmy she could make her own breakfast. Quietly as she could she snuck out their shared bedroom. They technically had their own rooms, but Timmy always insisted Zona stay with him that way daddy couldn't hurt her in the night, like he had done before waking up going to the toilet and beating her on the way back to bed. Zona always felt safer with her older brother there so didn't mind sharing a wardrobe with him.

Watching the floorboards carefully Zona avoided the ones that creaked, waking daddy up was a definite no go. In the kitchen Zona searched for food. Daddy didn't go shopping often and when he did, he'd often forgot food and come back with his happy juice. Zona didn't think it worked because he always got madder after drinking it. With nothing in the bottom cupboards, she could reach Zona grabbed a chair dragging it to the worktop. Timmy had gotten them some bread last night for sandwiches, but daddy had come home before he had chance to make anything to eat, they ate sandwiches a lot. Timmy earning money from the neighbours to buy them food, washing cars, shovelling leaves, and walking dogs. Mrs Stiles down the road was always giving away Jam and honey that they used to flavour the bread, otherwise they ate it dry. It was a cheap filling meal. Zona hated sandwiches, it was always sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and supper. Bread was cheap and didn't need heating, the gas having been cut off long ago.

Reaching the bread, she got out one slice, Timmy always insisted one slice each, even when they were really hungry or had missed meals, it had to last, sometimes he got lots of chores other times he didn't. Next was the jam. Timmy hid it so daddy didn't take it, Zona reached her small arms just missing the cupboard, just a bit further. She stretched balancing precariously on the arm, suddenly finding herself falling, the chair following landing with a crash, she screamed as she landed feeling her arm snap as she crashed to the floor. what's worse was the bottle of 'happy juice' that had been balanced on the side rocked before smashing on the floor.

From upstairs she heard a roar and knew daddy had woken up. Looking at the mess she knew he was going to kill her. Tears filling her eyes, Zona tried desperately to clean the mess, adrenaline taking over as she righted the chair and began picking up the glass. The sharp pieces sliced her small hands, but Zona didn't care. If daddy found out he'd beat her so hard, she had to get it cleaned up before he came down. Panic was taking over now as she used her sore arm against her tummy to hold the glass and her good hand to pick it up.

Footsteps on the stairs made her speed up as she dropped the sharp bits in the bin using a tea towel to wipe up the juice that was left on the floor. It was too late though, and the kitchen door slammed open.

Daddy took in the scene his bloodshot eyes seeing the glass in the bin, the overpowering smell of whiskey, the brown liquid dripping off the tea towel and his missing bottle of alcohol. His stupid murdering bitch of a daughter stood there bleeding all over the floor, again she had ruined everything.

"You are a stupid, useless, bitch!" he screamed storming over. Anger filled him, after everything he did for her, this was how she repaid him, by smashing his alcohol. If she hadn't killed her mother, he wouldn't need to drink so much.

"I'm sorry daddy I'm sorry sir I didn't mean it" Zona sobbed as he easily lifted her off the floor by her hair. Dumping her onto the table, "I'm sorry Sir" Zona continued to cry, her hands covering her face.

"Shut up" Daddy screamed, but Zona was too far gone, his hands rained down on her small body, until she stopped fighting. "Pathetic, your mom gave her life for you, and this is how you repay her" he spat lifting her off the table throwing her to the floor, so she landed next to the bin, like the rubbish she was before storming back upstairs. Afterall he'd had a busy week at work and was planning to lie in. Zona lay still on the floor crying, everything hurt, so bad.

She wasn't alone for long as Timmy snuck in, he too had been woken by the scream but had heard daddy going down so had to wait until daddy returned to his room. "Oh Zona" he cried keeping his voice low as he crouched down next to her.

"I'm sorry Timmy I didn't mean to make him mad" Zona sobbed, as he hugged her carefully not caring if her blood went everywhere, he was already covered in his own blood from last night's beating.

"I know Zona," Timmy said sadly. They both been beaten before, but this was bad, his little sister's left eye was already swelling shut, her lip split open, her left arm hung limply by her side and appeared wonky with multiple cuts to her hands and lower arms.

He knew if he lifted her nightie the skin underneath would be black, blue and purple. "We need to go get medicine" Timmy decided. Their first aid supplies made up of old clothes wouldn't do for this she was too injured. They'd have to sneak into a doctors or hospital. Luckily, he had some money saved up so they could pay.

"Let's get cleaned up" Timmy suggested, they both needed to change out of their pyjamas if they were going to the hospital. He helped her to her feet, and upstairs using the sink to clean most the blood off and helping her change. His own bruises were fresh which made man handling his sister harder. Timmy couldn't help feeling like he had failed to protect her. He had heard her calling him this morning but had chosen to pretend he was asleep needing just a bit longer in bed, now he felt guilty that his laziness had resulted in Zona being really hurt.

"Come on" he instructed, as they left the house. Although he wasn't sure she could walk that far, he knew he couldn't leave her here with daddy. The nearest emergency clinic wasn't far from where they lived, with both of their injuries it took a lot longer to get to.

Outside Timmy stopped, "You wait here Zona, I'll go in and buy the bandages" Timmy ordered, his bruises were all hidden by his clothes or his hair, Zona wasn't so lucky. They both knew of anyone found out they'd be taken away and locked up into foster care. Daddy always told them if they thought living with him was bad, then foster care was worse and they'd be separated, locked up outside in dog kennels, never fed, not allowed to go to school having to work all day in dark cold mines. Something neither sibling could imagine, for one being separated was a strong no.

"Okay Timmy" Zona said sounding braver than she felt hiding in the bushes by the entrance. Timmy straightened himself up looking as tall as his malnourished 8-year-old body would let him. Head held high he walked in.

It was busy people everywhere, Timmy didn't let that stop him, Zona needed him to be brave. Heading to the hospital desk he was stopped by a nurse "Hey are you okay?" She asked kneeling down, so she was at eye level. She looked kind, with a smiley warm face, blue eyes, and blonde hair just like him. Timmy imagined that's what a mom would look like, if he had one.

"I need to buy some medicine and bandages" Timmy replied bravely. "I have money" he added hoping it was enough,

"Are you hurt?" The nurse asked her eyes surveying the small boy, noticing dried blood on his jeans and t-shirt and the stiff way he was holding his body.

"No" Timmy replied defensively,

"Then why do you need medicine?" The nurse asked. Timmy bit his lip as he thought of a lie,

"It's for my mum she sent me, she is sick and fell so I need bandages and I need medicine" he lied.

"I'll come and see you mum, that way we can make sure she has the right medicine" the nurse offered, holding her hand out.

"You can't" Timmy replied panicked before recovering "she is sleeping" he lied again. The nurse raised an eyebrow suspiciously but went with it, sensing if she pushed, he'd clam up further.

"Okay, tell you what come wait over here I'll go get your medicine" she offered. Timmy nodded, he watched her like a hawk. She went into a room and came out with a bag full of goodies handing it over. Timmy peered inside finding lots of bandages and packets of medicine.

"Pain relief tell you mom to take 2 tablets every 4-6 hours" the nurse instructed. Timmy nodded, taking the bag, it wasn't heavy, but it was bulky.

"Thank you" he said "how much" he fingered the money in his pocket, hoping he had enough.

"Don't worry about it," the nurse replied. Timmy sighed in relief as she let him leave. Outside he headed to where he had left Zona in the bushes. "Zona" he whispered; the bushes didn't move dropping the bag he crawled in. His sister was there sleeping. Shaking her shoulder, he tried again, "Zona" he repeated louder worried she looked a lot paler than normal.

"Timmy, I hurt" she moaned. Panicking now Timmy didn't know what to do, Zona was really hurt, and he didn't know if the medicine he had would help. They could go home, daddy would know what to do but he wasn't sure Zona would make it, he could go to the hospital, but they'd take her away. Tears ran down his face as he debated what to do, he couldn't fail Zona again, but he didn't know what to do. This was a lot worse than a few bandages.

Author's note

So this started off as a quick drabble, of why Arizona doesn't like sandwiches, but i stumbled onto a story idea that i think will take a few chapters. Anyhoo, let me know what you think. Click review

Thanks