''Come here rabbit... cute, cute little rabbit...''

Ellie tossed herself further against the closet's wall, hoping she'd blend into it and disappear. Her bruised knees has been brought to her small frame, limpy arms envelopping them in a hug. Her body shook in terror and pain, eyes fixed on the door, knowing all too well it was only a matter of time before he found her. Her hands moved to her head, gripping at her hair, tugging it in desperation. She wanted him to leave her alone. She didn't want to hear his voice, to see his weathered face, to feel his hands against her skin.

She frowned, the newly fresh scar across her eyebrow still aching. Tears shone at the edge of her eyes. She always thought she was someone tough. But David made her feel so weak, so helpless and worthless. She hated it with every fiber of her being. She was nothing but a ragdoll, something to be used for his own sick pleasure. She hated him, more than words could ever describe. There was no word strong enough in this world to specify how much she despiced him.

She heard the footsteps coming closer and she closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks, knuckles white from the grip she had on her auburn hair. Her breathing was uneven and her silent crying turned into whimpers when the wooden door opened on his ugly face, lips twisted in a demented version of a sweet smile.

Physically speaking, David Williams was nothing like his older brother. He was scrawny but possessed enough strenght to lift her up easily. His hair and eyes were dark, whereas her father was light haired and blue eyed.

His eyes was what scared her the most. They were hungry, full of an animalistic desire that wasn't there before the system forced her to live with him after her parent's accident. She had no one but this uncle her parents visited once in a while.

He had a charming personality. His voice was soothing and his eyes genuine and full of trust. For a while, he was this sweet uncle who brought her ice cream and showed her those cartoons destined for teenagers despite her younger age.

Then she came to live with him.

Everything was fine at first. She had stayed in the same school so while she was crying the death of her parents, things weren't so bad.
Then there was the curios hand on her knee. The lingering fingers on her tight. The low purring when he asked for a kiss on his cheek. The accidental touch on her ass. It has been so gradual she barely noticed when things got out of hands.

''Come here Ellie. I dont want to hurt you baby girl. Come to me.''
''Leave me alone, you chickenshit!'' She yelled, rage burning in her words.

His face turned horrible and he squinted his eyes in anger.

''What did I say about cursing?''

He reached madly for her foot, his anger only fueled by the shouts of terror and distress of the teenager who tried to kick at him with all her might, her hands trying to get a hold of anything that could help her get away from him.

''Submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.'' He growled, holding onto her jeans so hard she feared it'd tear.

Ellie could only cry in fright when he got her out of the closet, an handful of her ponytail in his strong hand. He forced her cheek againt his bearded own.

''The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.''
''You are not my family!'' The girl hissed with an hate that came deep from within her core.

But he didn't listen, eyes staring at something high up.

''Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day - just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an exemple by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.''

Ellie felt the bile threatening to spill all over him. Her head felt fuzzy and light, as if she was going to faint.

''You're sick.'' She stated, her nails stabbing the back of his arm.

But he only smiled, his grip tightening over her shaking blossoming body at his mercy.

''I am only purrifying you from this evil deviance of yours, my little rabbit. So you can come forward a normal member of this society.''
''Go to hell!''

He backhanded her so hard she fell on her back and the floor cried out under her weight. He rolled over her, his body so much larger than hers. She looked at him straight in his eyes and saw nothing but the horrible fate that had yet to come. She was only 13 but she felt like murdering him, bash his brain with a machete until there was nothing else but a mashed version of his face.

Ellie woke up in a gasp and the mother of all headaches. She breathed hard throught her nose, trying to get a grip of reality but fuck, her head was hurting like a motherfucker.

She lifted her body to a sitting position and the ache in her back reminded her she slept on that wooden bench all night. Night that was not completely over judging by the still dark scenery, a ray of light barely making itself known above the high buildings. Fear crept up her back and turned into a disgusting shiver. Furiously wiping away the cold tears on her face, she stood up, grabbed her bag and headed toward a more populated area.

The memory of David was so fresh in her mind, it was like he was still there, creeping upon her every move like a shadow. She still felt the bruise from his touch, and her scar became sore. She closed her eyes and tried to think about something else and the only thing that came to mind was the infectuous smile of that black haired girl. It eased the muscles in her shoulders and released the tightening of her chest. She wanted to see her again.
But could she ? She was so damaged and she was so pure and angel-like. God, she didn't even know her name.

Ellie felt her mood dampen at the idea.

All in all, she felt miserable. She felt deadly tired, weak, hungry and stressed. She also felt scared, but it was an every day emotion. She was still shaken up by the nightmare and there was nothing she could do to stop the images graved in her head, playing it over and over like a broken record. She only moved forward, head hung low.

The dinner she walked into was already lit with human activities. Mostly early construction workers, clothed in dirty clothes and yellow protective gears. But Ellie didn't pay attention to them and settled in the only booth available, eyes half closed, feeling as if her soul had been drained from her body.
She ordered a coffee full of sugar and nothing to munch on. Her stomach groaned in protest but she ignored it. She didn't feel hungry-hungry, she just felt like throwing up. Even the coffee was too much but she had to buy something if she wanted to stay in the warm and inviting environememt.

She drank her coffee, staring lazily outside the window. The sun was begining to set and Jackson slowly was brought to life. A group of teenagers passed in front of the dinner, laughing at something one of the boys said and gesturing wildly. Ellie grimly thought that could have been her, if life had turned out to her favor. They were smiling and the teenager wondered when was the last time she'd been happy.

Probably when her parents were still alive.

She was so lost in her own thought she didn't notice that someone has taken the seat in front of her. The place was so packed it was the only place left.
But she didn't aknowledge him, keeping her stare on the window. The person in front of her shifted and exhaled softly.

''Hey there kiddo.''

Ellie frowned and looked up, eyes darkening upon seeing the face of the man of the shed. She hadn't seen him properly but she was sure it was him. She recognized his voice and thick texan accent.

''You gotta be fucking kidding me...'' she growled under her breath, looking on her side to avoid his face, the wrinkles around his eyes reminding her too much of Him.
If he was offended by her cursing he didn't show. He took a calming sip of his coffee and looked at her with soft concern in his eyes, unsure of what to say.

''The coffee good ?'' He asked, almost timidly.

Ellie shot him a hateful glance,

''Why do you care ?''
''Just askin'' he shrugged.

She frowned harder and turned her head toward the window, taking a sip herself.

''It tastes like burned shit.''She finally answered, not looking at him.
''Why do you drink it then ?''
''Fuck man, are we playing twenty questions now ? Don't talk to me. Just drink your shit and be on your way!'' She barked as a defense mechanism.

The man strained his eyes over the too skinny teenager, trying to decipher how to approach this wild cat without getting clawed at. He looked at his surroundings, deep in thoughts.

''Haven't seen you in the shed recently. I reckon it's getting mighty cold outside.''
''Again, why do you fucking care?''
''I just don't think a kid should be out there by this weather.''
''Oh yeah? Well I don't think a dude as old as you should drink coffee. Isn't it bad for your heart? How old are you anyway, 70?''

Despite the insult, he chuckled lightly.

''Aren't you the little firecracker, I'm 45. Think you can count to that?''

Was it in her head or did the little fucker just crack a joke at her?

The pain in her head had subsisted, thanks to the coffee, and she felt a remark creep up her throat.

''I definitely can. Not so sure about you though, you know, with the dementia. You being 45, you should already be dead at this age. Freaky old man.''

He smirked into his dark, steaming coffee.

''Careful there kid, that's a big word for someone who's 11.''

Ellie felt her face redden at the implication and she fisted her hands, shooting him a murderous glance.

''I'm 16, you old fucker.''
''Hm. I mean, you're so small,I could have sworm...''
''Hey!'' She yapped. ''I'll have you know that I'm above average. Not like a giant like you can understand.''
''Hm? Sorry, kiddo. Can't hear you from up here.''

Ellie crossed her arms protectively.

''So that's how you spend your sweet mornings? Chatting up homeless teenager girls?'' She sneered from across the table, finally daring to meet his eyes.

The man seemed to think for a second before he shook his head. He looked rather well for a man in his mid forties. He must have looked handsome at her age. Not like she was interested anyway.

''I've been uh... worried 'bout you is all.'' He said carefully, eyes staring intently at his mug. ''I, ah, saw you sleepin' in the shed the other day and... well it got me thinkin' that maybe you were in trouble.''
''I'm fine.'' Ellie hissed, leering at him with the eyes of a desperate cat ready to bounce at any hint of danger.

There was something weird going on with him. With the tone of his voice, of his smell, with his posture. There was something... oddly father-like with him.

And she hated it. She hated that it brought up feelings she's been trying her hardest to ignore.

She finished her coffee tossed her bag on her back.

''I don't need your help.''

And she left without giving him the opportunity to talk back, she couldn't give two fucks about what he wanted to accomplish with her. Guys could never be trusted. They were nothing but perverted animals.

Once she was sure he wasn't following her she slowed her pace to a more normal walk, head still replaying the scene over and over again. What the fuck was that ? Who did he think he was? Must be some pervy dude out for her pants too. That's what she was worth, right?
Ellie cringed at the thought and it reminded her of the hours of crying she's spent over this, too deep in her self loath to think about anything else. She wanted to scream and cry at the memory of his disgusting hairy hands over her belly, on her face, between her legs...

She was going to be sick.

She ran to the closest trash can and puked everything she had eaten and drank lately, which wasn't much. The whole ordeal left her stomach empty and painful. She groaned in discomfort and let her back slid down the brick wall behind her, headache coming back full force. She felt like shit, and tears welled at her eyes. She wiped them with her sleeve and marched to a more reclusive area, feeling like a zombie.

-

It was pretty late when Ellie decided to try eating again.

She bought a proteine bar from the grocery store, but she kept staring like she was trying to fanthom the idea of eating it.

She sat cross legged in front of the said market, trying to look like some bored teenager and not like a freaking homeless scrawny kid. A strand of hair brushed her nose and she blowed on it. Man she wished she could get an haircut. She had been thinking of shorter hair for a while now, but it was not high on her priority list.

Maybe someday.

She stared hard at the food then pocketed it, deciding she still wasn't hungry despite the growling of her belly. She stood up and decided to ask that dinner she left earlier if she could borrow a booth for the night when something caught her attention. It sounded like fighting and arguing. Usually Ellie was not one to dwell in people's business, she had enough problems of her own, but there was something awfully familiar about that feminime shout. So familiar in fact, it made her throat close up. She gathered her stuff and jogged to the back of a karaoke salon. Despite the bright neons, the back of the structure was dark and covered in graffitis. Ellie felt her bag drop off her shoulder at the sight before her. She rubbed her eyes but there was no mistaking that unholy sight.

The girl from the school was there, clad in a beautiful white skirt and blue top. Ellie felt her heart pound furiously and her mouth go dry. However, she seemed angry, and was yelling at one guy standing in front of her with sandy blonde hair and a jeans jacket. She was poking a long, manicured finger at the boy's chest, giving him a slight shove with each argument.

''What the fuck is so hard to understand, Bailey? No means no! I learned it when I was barely two ! And beside, I have a boyfriend now! Surely you know what that means right? Or do I need to spell it out for you?''

Her voice seethed with rage, but also confidence, as if the big guy was nothing to be afraid of. The boy rumbled, his voice deep and sharp in his reply:

''I've been going after you for months, Dina! Months! You said it was fine. You let me kiss you in the back of my car the other day! And now you're telling me you were not serious? Just how much of a tease-no, a slut are you! ''He yelled, hurt clear in his voice.

The girl, Dina, shook her head in disbelief.

''You need to go home, Bailey, or-''
''Or what, wrench?''He growled, seizing her up by the front of her shirt, violence evident in his behaviour.

Ellie felt her feet move on their own. She left the bag on the ground and with all the force her body possessed, she tackled him on the side so hard they both crashed on the ground.

''What the hell!''Bailey groaned, holding his head. ''Who the fuck are you?''

Ellie stood up with only small scratches at her elbows. She looked at him with hatred.

''Why don't you fight with someone your own size, uh?''
''Oh, you mean like you? Stay out of my business!''

The teenager has stood up, and Ellie noticed he was exactly the same size as her. She cursed under her breath.

''Well'' She muttered to herself. ''Here goes nothing.''

The punch was so fast, he never saw it coming. He staggered back in a grunt, hands holding his nose. Behind them, Dina watched the scene in shock and confusion.

''Wait-'' She started.
''You fucking bitch!'' Bailey yelled, lifting his fist.

Ellie took a step back, prepared to defend herself, but her foot tripped.

Tripped on a stupid rock.

The punch against her temple was so strong she almost felt her eyes pop.

She was knocked out cold.