I am so so so so sorry, guys.

I have been so absorbed in school and new activities that I haven't been able to write a single thing. If you also read A Raven in Summer's Embrace, I apologize profusely. I have been in a mental rut for the past week or so, and it's been eating at me. I finally got this written, and I have to say that I might be a bit disappointed, but here it is.

Chapter 5: What Just Happened?

I go through the motions of the morning, meticulously cleaning everything from top to bottom. I stay away from harsh chemicals now. I've learned that the scarring isn't worth it, nor is the agonizing headaches from the fumes. I bite my lip as I finish the last of breakfast for Madam and Ozzie. I never address him directly anymore, especially after that first time. I can only break so many ribs before irreparable damage happens.

"Is breakfast down, brat?" I bite my lip as I pick up the very hot plates and carry them into the dining hall for them. I only carry two, even though I made three. I'll eat my breakfast later, after they leave for the day. They've been doing this more often, and I assume that they're doing something rather important, something they don't want me to know about.

When I step into the dining room, I notice something really off. Ozzie is smiling. He hardly ever smiles that big. "Is there something happening today, Madam?"

She glares at me. "Like it's any of your business, but Ozpin has been accepted into Beacon."

He wants to be a Hunter? I look at him curiously and see a sadness in his eyes, a tortured look, really. Why is it there? I shake my head and close my eyes before answering. "That's wonderful, Madam."

"Of course it is. Beacon is the best choice for a strapping young man such as he. He can rise to power with his own strength. I won't have to lift another finger." She checks her nails after saying this, and it almost make me crack up.

"Yes, Madam." I turn around, then, prepared to start my chores.

"You fucking cunt! I asked for toast and a grapefruit, not this fucking cholesterol on a plate!" I spin just in time to see a plate coming right at my face. I ducks just in time, feeling the ceramic move my hair, barely missing my scalp. I gasp when Madam pushes her seat back furiously. She walks over to me slowly, and backhands me. I feel a sting, but more than that, I feel deep cuts that are trickling blood onto my already soiled outfit. She hit me with her ring hand. My hand goes to my cheek, subconciously brushing the outskirts of the wound she just inflicted.

I can feel an emptiness well up inside me. It's like I'm a shell of my former self, the one I used to be before Father died, before this evil woman came into our lives. It's like all the fear has drained from me. It's like all that's left is just deep seated conditioning. I don't even gasp anymore. What has she done to me to make me feel like there's no hope and no true reason to show fear anymore? I know she'll hurt me either way, so why give her what she wants? Why give her that kind of power over me anymore?

I lost my defiance, too, but that doesn't mean I lost any of my will. If that were so, I'd probably be rotting away in the attic right now. I swallow a sigh of pain as she stares at me with her piercing eyes. "You listen well, cretin. I am caring for you, and I don't exactly have to. I could have sold you to the slave market or to those disgusting men downtown, but I kept you here out of the goodness of my heart." Goodness? Does she even realize what she does to me? "If I say I want a certain food, you best make it for me. Do you understand, you ungrateful cur?"

She backhands me again, but this time she hits me with her bare hand. I clench my teeth to keep a yelp of agony from slipping from my lips. She hit on top of the wounds she just gave me, and it hurts so much. "Yes, Madam."

She sneers at me. "Why don't you call me Mother anymore, you insolent chit?"

"It's confusing, Madam, to have to switch between them when you have company."

A snort of amusement comes from her. "So, you're a halfwit, too?" I'm not stupid. I just don't want excessive abuse from her. If I were to slip up even once, she could beat me until I die, or worse, I might not die.

"No, Madam. I just don't want to embarrass you." I lie through my teeth. I couldn't give a flying fuck if I embarrass her. Wait, that's not right. I do care but only because she would beat me because I embarrassed her.

She narrows her eyes at me before taking the front of my shirt in her hands. "You best not. You may continue addressing me as such." She lets me go, and I fall to the floor, barely catching myself before I fell straight on my butt. She just walks away, then, like nothing happened. "And clean the blood off the floor before you do anything else. I will not have that stain because of your stupidity."

I growl out loud, then, not caring if she hears. My stupidity!? Fuck her! I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes, and I wipe at them carefully. It'll sting like hell if the salt gets into the scratches on my face. I take the rag in my pocket and wipe the blood off the floor. I crack my neck gently and walk back into the kitchen. When I get there, I just seem to burst. Every bit of anger that I've been holding in for the past year just erupts from me.

I grab the nearest pan and twirl it in my hands before throwing it across the room with as much force as I can. I hear it hit the wall with such a satisfying ring. I smile at it, and I can feel the anger being replaced by the enjoyment of just hearing that sound, of causing that kind of minimal havoc. There's just this amazing release of all of the pent up frustration that I've held in far too long. Looking over to the sink, my smile gets wider. There's more destruction I can create, more havoc I can claim joy from. I move toward my next target, but before I can get there, a hand grabs my wrists and spins me from my goal.

I look up and see a very concerned Ozpin. I narrow my eyes at him. "What do you want?"

He snatches at my wrist, making me sway a bit to regain my balance. "Do you have any idea what Mother would have done to you if she were the one to find you? Do you have a death wish?" He hisses this right in my face, practically spitting it.

I scowl at him. "What do you care? You never have before."

He lets my wrists go and shakes his head. "Well, I won't be here but for another week, so I thought I'd make sure you weren't going to die before my first break. I do expect everything to still be in order by then."

I narrow my eyes in disbelief. Does he really expect me to believe that? Was that really concern that leaked into his normally cold or slightly cheerful facade? I rub my temple. I can just feel a headache coming on from this conversation. "Sure. Let's say that I do want to die? What are you going to do about it?"

His expression changes abruptly. "Who says I truly care? I just don't want the hassle of having to steal that little friend of yours that sneaks up to the attic on some nights. It'd certainly be a hazard to try to keep her, especially after we have to explain your death."

I gasp. No. He can't know, can he? But he just said he does. "Don't you dare touch her." I can feel the anger come back full force. No one even speaks about harming Glynda while in my presence.

He smiles wickedly, reminding me so much of his mother. "What could you do to stop me? Are you going to sweep me to death?" He starts to laugh softly before poking my nose. "I'm so scared, Cindy."

My eye starts to tick from my rising frustration and fury. I clench my fists. I can't hit him. There's nothing to gain but bruises and more broken bones if I do attack. There's no way that I could survive a blow from him if he uses all of his force. It doesn't deter my mood, though. I can still feel the heat of my own fury well up inside me. Suddenly, a blinding light shines in the kitchen, and I have to cover my eyes. When it dissipates, I look around for the source, but all I find is scorch marks on the ground around me and Ozzie in the far corner of the room, unconscious. I panic and run up the stairs. If Madam found me standing over her son while he's unconscious, she'll assume that I did it, and there would be nothing that I could say to sway her.

A/N: Well, that was a thing, huh? Um, I really felt uncomfortable using some of the language and insults in this, but I couldn't exactly find anything else that would fit. If you guys have any good suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

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