Chapter 3: Skin

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the Degrassi characters.

I drift away to a place
Another kind of life
Take away the pain
I create my paradise

Manny swallowed and looked into Craig's eyes. She chewed on her lip. Not knowing on whether to tell him or not. She knew she said she would, but she was beginning to have second thought.

"Manny?" Craig asked softly.

"What?" Manny asked, in a daze.

Craig sighed softly. He knew it must've been weird for her. To be called his biggest mistake one moment then him wanting to help her the next. He did love her though. He was all she thought about. Even with Ashley, he thought about Manny.

"Manny... Please." Craig encouraged.

Manny closed her eyes, her lip trembling. "Um... Okay... Um... About... About 9 months ago... My... My dad... Was in a car accident... It was pretty bad... Bad enough to put him in a coma... He hasn't woken up yet." She began. Her voice shaky, but Craig was listening to every word she was saying. "So... We had my Uncle Johnnie... My dad's brother come to live with us... I was always scared of him. He always hit on me when he came to visit. So when he moved in...?" Manny cringed. "He... He started beating me... Burning, punching, cutting, straping, hitting, whatever..." She swallowed. She opened her eyes. Tears stinging them. Craig looked at her concerned. He was disgusted with Johnnie. On how much he was like his father, and how anyone could treat somebody that way. Especially Manny.

"Oh God..." He said. "Manny... We have to go to the police."

"We?" Manny asked. "No we have to do nothing of the sort. YOU have to do nothing of the sort." Manny told him.

"Manny... He's... He's beating you." Craig told her matter of factly.

"And I can handle it." Manny stated. "I shouldn't of told you in the first place. It's none of your business." She snapped, she was now becoming very defensive.

"Manny..." Craig started.

"No..." Manny interupted. "You aren't telling anyone. Not anyone Craig. I can handle this. I know what I'm doing."

"No you don't." He told her.

"So... So what you think I'm stupid now... Lovely." She spat. She stood up about to walk away. Craig stopped her.

"Manny... No. You're not stupid. You're a victim. There's a difference." He said. "I'm going to the police after school."

Manny shook her head. "No... Please... Please don't Craig... Please." She begged.

"Why not?" He asked crossing his arms.

"Because... If.. If you do... My mom and Uncle have told me that they'd take my father off life support... I couldn't live that... I couldn't live with knowing that... My stupid mistakes. Are the reason my father died." Manny swallowed.

Craig's face turned to pure disgust. "Manny... That's sick. You can't let them threaten you like that." Craig stated.

"Look." Manny replied. "I can handle this... I can deal with it for a couple more years, if I have to... But deal with my father dying? NO. I would never forgive myself." She swallowed, her eyes dark, as she chewed on her lip.

"And what if you die Manny?" Craig asked.

"That's not going to happen." She said.

"Oh really?" Craig asked. "The beatings are already severe enough... What if they get so severe that you die? Huh?" Manny shook her head. She knew Craig was right, but she couldn't rat them out. "I can't lose you Manny. I would never forgive myself for that." Manny looked up. She was amazed. She snapped out the amament however, about a second later.

"And what is so great about living?" Manny asked, with that she kicked her heel and walked off. Leaving Craig in completed and utter silence. Craig swallowed sinking down to the bench, plating his head in his hands.

Later that day Manny walked in the house. About 15 minutes late. She had to stay after class. Her heart began beating fast. She swallowed, and tried to tip toe upstairs. Hoping no one would notice. Her hopes died though about 1/4 of the way up. When she felt Uncle Johnnie grab her ankles sliding her down the stairs. He picked Manny up by her hair and dragging her to the living room and threw her on the couch.

"Where the hell were you?" He asked fiercely.

Manny swallowed hard and opened her mouth, but no words came out. Uncle Johnnie slapped her hard across the face. "Answer me." He demanded. "NOW."

"I... I had to stay after... I'm sorry... I..." Manny stuttered. Fear in her eyes. Uncle Johnnie shook his head once more. "Go to your room." He barked pointing his finger. Manny stood up her body shaking. She fell to the ground, shaking violently. Uncle Johnnie kicked her in her stomach. "NOW." He ordered picking her up by her arm. Manny soon ran upstairs, holding onto her side. She closed her door and ran to hide in her closet. She knew Johnnie would be up with whatever he'd be using on her. Hiding never helped and she knew that, but she did it every day in hopes that he'd give up. Although he never did. Manny squeezed her eyes shut, and burried her head in between her knees when she heard Uncle Johnnie stomp about her room. He opened the closet door, once more picking Manny up. This time by the collar of her shirt, throwing her to the bed. A belt in his hands. Manny swallowed hard and assumed the usual position. Taking off her shirt. Again the belt slapping against her back.

Manny lay in her bed 20 minutes later. Uncle Johnnie was gone. For now. Until he found something that Manny did, that made him mad again. Manny closed her eyes. Her mind wandering off. She drifted off to sleep. Trying to put the thoughts of what just happened out of her head.

I drift away to a place
Another kind of life
Take away the pain
I create my paradise