-1 Lucas lay on his bed trying suppress hot tears that were threatening to fall from his eyes, distracting himself, trying to be strong as he nervously grappled at the sleeves of his only suit, which after this long day had become crumpled and worn down, so that his appearance resembled the wilting taking place within.

From his now darkened room he could still hear the sound of his mother making petty small talk with people who held no importance to the Scott household. To Lucas their voices sounded like nails being scratched down a board with nothing but intentions of venom, but he was too tired, to weak to make any type of complaint towards them. The pain he had felt from such a young age, the pain his mother never knew about, the pain he had felt that had weakened him until it had taken hold of all of him and could be found in every nerve of his body, there was nothing stopping it, all he could do was wait.

Flashback…

Pain. Pain is something every human life experiences, whether it be emotional, physical, intentional or unstoppable it lives in us all. The problem with pain is no one can ever really understand another persons as no pain is ever the same. Lucas as a boy, like most had been given the necessary injections for his health, but no injection had ever filled him with such a state of delirium. He could feel his body convulse as the liquid, that felt like razors coursed through him. His body shook uncontrollably causing his teeth to bite down onto his already split lip and making his mouth once again fill with the salty taste of his blood. Lucas sat pressed with all the strength he had up against the kitchen wall he could not understand having just taken something so pure, so white why his body was unable to stop shuddering and retching as Rick stood over him not feeling anything other than complete enjoyment. Moments later Lucas heard the sound of his mothers car pull into the drive way, he tried to stand, to run to her and beg her for help, but as he tried to raise himself with his thin Arms an unbearable pain was sent crashing through his chest, causing him to release a whimper that made Rick smirk with enthusiasm. As soon as Ricks smirk had appeared it soon vanished as he heard Karen approach the door.

"Get up off your fucking ass" Rick said kicking Lucas as hard as could. He repeated himself several times, but when he soon realised that Lucas wouldn't, or couldn't stand he grabbed him fiercely by the arm and dragged him into his room.

"Look at me kid, your mother is about to walk through that door, and when she does you better keep your mouth shut, that's if you don't want me to do the sane to her." by the horrified look that spread across Lucas' face Rick was more than aware that what he had said had gotten through to Lucas.

" You worthless piece of crap, like she would have cared anyway." he slammed the door, leaving Lucas lying lifeless in the dark. Lucas heard his mother enter the house and greet Rick warmly, as she entered the Kitchen he heard the panic in her voice at the sight of blood and vomit that Rick had carelessly left on the floor.

"What happened in hear, where's Lucas, is he okay?" Karen spoke softly but there was obvious fear written across her face.

"hey, hey Karen look at me" he said tilting her face towards him, and throwing her a sweet smile, " Lucas came back from the river court and he felt a little faint, he fell and hit his head, he's a bit bruised, but nothing to serious. He must have caught a bug from being out in the cold for so long." as if by magic the worry that had been so evident on Karen's face seemed to fade.

" Thank you for looking after him, I better go see if he is alright." at the sound of this Lucas began to make his way into his bed, to ensure that Ricks story seemed more viable. As he saw his bedroom door open Lucas wanted to cry, to just collapse in tears, but Lucas fought this feeling instead he lay still and allowed his body to give in to the convulsions.

"Hey sweetie" she said lovingly. "I heard you were ill, you ok?" Lucas could just make out a nod to signal that he was fine. "ok baby I will let you rest". Lucas watched her head for the door. "Mum, wait." he said with a croaky voice, but just as he was about to continue he caught site of the warning eyes of Rick in the distance. "I would do anything for you mum, you know that right?"

"of course I do sweetie, now go to sleep." As he heard the door close he felt the shaking ease and the pain from his body increase and so he lay there looking up into the darkness, preparing himself for what would come tomorrow.

End of flashback…

Lucas was stirred from his reverie by the sound of his bedroom door opening. He felt a moment of confusion overwhelm him as he was taken over by the feeling that he was in the memory that he had relived but a moment ago. Karen approached Lucas and could almost immediately see the evident redness of his eyes, but as she knew all to well Lucas would never share his feelings with her, he would remain within his walls, and no kind words could possibly change that.