Ashlynn grabbed a handful of tissue, using it to apply pressure to her forehead as her mother aimlessly searched around for a first aid kit. Her twin brother, Travis, was crouched in front of his sister, unsure of what to do.
Their father had returned home from the fields in a horrible mood and had taken to drinking copious amounts of liquor to drown out the agitation he had developed over the last few hours, which had bothered the children greatly as it was early hours of the morning.
of course, the twins mother was the main target of the man's anger as he pushed and shoved her about, threatening to hit her if she didn't do as he asked.
Ashlynn, having had enough of their father treating their mother so badly, decided to say something that many Erudite folk would have deemed vulgar and disrespectful.
In a fit of drunken rage, Donnie threw his now empty bottle of alcohol at his daughter, causing it to smash over her head and make blood gush everywhere.
Ashlynn was woozy from the injury, as she was sure she had a rather nasty gash on her forehead. But, that didn't make the girl back down as she glared at the man. If her brother hadn't of come and practically carried her out of the living room, it was possible Donnie Bôevìc would've put an end to his own daughter's life.
"What were you thinking?" Travis scolded as he moved her hands away from the injury and proceeded to clean the area up with a wet rag. "You know better than to speak to him like that when he's in that state."
"We've been quite for far too long, Trav. 18 years of abuse. There's only so much one person can take. If I don't start stepping in, he might kill mum."
"Ashlynn, I do not need you defending me. If it gets you hurt like this, then I don't want you getting involved at all." Their mother scolded as she appeared with a first aid kit, which she promptly opened and began to tend to the injury on Ashlynn's forehead.
"It needs stitches," Ester Bôvìc spoke as she poked and prodded the open wound. "We need to get you to--"
"I am not going to the hospital!" Ashlynn hissed. "Not if it means you're staying here with that monster!"
Ester sighed. "We'll have to make do with what we have then. Travis,dear, go into my sewing box and fetch me a small needle and some thread."
The blonde haired boy nodded and hurried out of the room to collect the items his mother had requested.
"Ashlynn, I want you to listen to me and listen carefully."
Ashlynn looked up at her mother, her silver irises peering deep into her mother's Hazel ones.
"I want you to get as far away from here as you can, so, despite what your Aptitude test says today, I want you and your brother to choose a different faction."
Ashlynn's mouth dropped open as she heard her mother say this. She wanted her to leave her alone with that disgusting excuse of a man? No, she wouldn't do it.
"I can't leave you with him, mum. He'd hurt you! I won't be able to live with that!"
"hush now, my shooting star, you won't be leaving me with him."
"But, where will you be?"
"Long gone." Ester responded. "After the choosing, I'm leaving."
Ashlynn wanted to ask her mother so much. So so much. But, her brother returned with the supplies, leaving nothing more to be said by the woman. Instead, she proceeded to stitch up the wound on her daughter's forehead before whisking the twins out of the small bedroom and to the front door.
"Good luck with your tests " she said, forcing a smile onto her face. And, without another word, she hurried them out the front door. She placed a quick kiss on their foreheads before closing the door.
Taking hold of Ashlynn's hand, Travis began to lead his sister through the Erudite district.
Today was going to be a long day...