Lucy's POV
A week has passed since Edmund's bloody encounter with the Scrubb family. I remember walking into his room after Uncle Harold trudged back down the stairs. The blood covered the walls but the stench was worse. You could almost taste the copper in your mouth. If I saw one more object splattered with red I was going to claw my eyes out. The walls were red, the door was red, the floor was red, the small, squeaky bed pushed against the red splattered wall is slightly red, the tiny dresser is red, the closet it red, and the broken window still has red dripping from the glass. I wanted to run but then I saw him lying on the bed, barely conscious. I ran my fingers through his hair and I let the tears drip softly on to his cheek. If only I had my cordial I could save him so much pain. Still, there had to be something I could do. It would be next to impossible to steal some pain numbing drugs and even if I could use my knowledge of Narnian herbs it would be of no use, the plants here are different. I immediately got to work on tearing a few clean strips of his bed sheets. Carefully I first wrapped it around his arms, making sure it was tight. I then checked for broken ribs and when I found them I wrapped them too. There honestly wasn't a whole lot else I could do. So I did the only thing I could. I held his hand until he woke up.
He's doing much better now but I still fear for him. I wrote to Peter, he was more of my father than my real father ever would be. I pleaded with him to come take us away. I wrote of the horrors we encountered in our short stay in this forsaken house. I was ready to mail it when Aunt Alberta caught me at the bottom of the stairs.
"Where do you think you're going young lady?"
"Nowhere, just to the post. My brother likes weekly updates on our stay here. We miss him very much." I responded sweetly, the complete opposite of how I felt towards the miserable excuse for a woman. Her lips were pressed into a thin line and her beady eyes narrowed.
"Give it to me." She barked, "I should like to read it."
"I don't think that would be necessary, besides I already licked the envelope and to open it would waste money."
"I think we can afford an extra envelope." She sneered as she ripped it from my hands.
"No, please, give it back!" I was ignored as she tore the letter open taking in every written detail.
"You lying little witch. How can you be so ungrateful for everything we gave you; a house, a warm bed to sleep in, good meals? And your brother, he got exactly what he deserved!"
"How dare you say that about him. No one ever deserves to be abused. I'm sorry that he isn't your little fat pig of a son but that is no excuse to hit him."
"That is enough!" She screeched. She pulled her arm back ready to stop her when she was interrupted.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on her." Edmund rushed down the stairs as fast as his bruised legs could carry him. He was huffing in pain and anger. This was a bad combination almost like when you wound a wolf or a bear, it only makes them angrier.
"I swear if you touch her I will personally rip your fingers off. Woman or not, no one hurts my valiant sister." He snarled, "I don't care what you do to me but I promised I would keep her safe and that's what I'm going to do."
"You don't care what happens to you? Fine, I won't do anything since that obviously isn't getting the message across."
"Please no, just stop it!" I cried but no one listened. Aunt Alberta grabbed Edmund by the arm and dragged him down the hall. I chased after them but I fell as Eustace stuck his foot out. Without even thinking I scrambled to my feet, punched him with all my might in the nose and took off again, smiling as I felt the crack. My feet pounded on the carpet in rhythm with my heart. I had to reach them before something dreadful happens.
I was seconds too late as Aunt Alberta shoved Edmund in a small dark closet and locked the door.
"I hope you enjoy your stay you little varmint." She hissed, "Now it's your turn." Alberta said as she turned to me.
"Now that your big brother isn't here to protect you let's have a little girl time shall we?" I glared at her defiantly with a look that could only mean one thing, bring it bitch.
Obviously she didn't think it would take much to break because at first she simply shoved me at the wall. Unsatisfied with my lack of response she once again tried to finish what she started earlier but I caught her hand. I wasn't really expecting to have any form of training in fighting like I had so I let out a shriek of surprise as her heel connected with my foot. It would be badly bruised in the morning, I could already tell by the dull throbbing.
Edmund's muffled screams came from the closet as he pounded on the wood. "No let me out! You said you wouldn't hurt her. No, please, Please! Stop!"
"I promised nothing boy, I said I wouldn't do anything to you. And who are you to command me? If you don't stop your wailing then I'll just make everything a whole lot worse for your sister!" He immediately feel silent.
Eustace then ran forward. "Mummy, mummy, Lucy hit me, Owww, it hurts mummy. I think it's broken!"
"Good." I muttered. I was silenced as 'mummy' punched me in the gut. I kicked her in the shin in response. I will fight to the end just like Aslan would want.
I received another punch to the gut, "That is for Eustace." I slid to the floor to catch my breath. I kick to the chest, "That is for lying." I reached out and slammed my hand against the back of her knee, forcing her to fall. She screamed in range. Alberta grabbed my head in a death grasp and slammed it against the wall. Spots danced in front of my eyes as they started to droop. Again and again I hit the wall until I couldn't feel it anymore, I couldn't feel anything anymore. The last thing I heards were small broken I'm sorry's coming from the closet.
NEXT MORNING
I woke up with the world's largest headache slouched against the wall, blood sticking in my hair and ruining my dress. The house was silent except for the radio coming from the parlor. Alberta was probably at the doctor's trying get Eustace's nose checked out. I crawled on my knees towards the closet, not trusting my legs to hold my weight quite yet. I tried the doorknob but it wouldn't budge. I glanced through the key hole only to find him huddled up in the far corner his head buried in his hands.
"Edmund, come on Ed, it's me Lucy." I whispered. I wasn't sure why I was whispering because Harold couldn't be bothered to leave his leather arm chair. Possibly because I was afraid someone might jump out and separate us further. Maybe it was the fact that we were both so shaken up that any loud noise might make us break. Then his head lifted up only a centimeter to see if it really was me.
"Are you alright? Did she hurt you?" He asked rapidly, concern pooling in his brown eyes.
"I'm fine I think but I might have a concussion though."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you, I should have done something, but I just sat here and-"
"Stop it Edmund, this was not your fault, you did what you could and no less. Just calm down, and I'll get you out of here soon. Now where's the key?"
"I'm not getting out, not until Alberta lets me out. She has the key in her chest pocket. I watched from the keyhole. Besides, what would we do if we managed to pick the lock anyways? She would find us, beat us and then separate us there's no point in even trying."
"It's okay Edmund, I'll go write to Peter again once I can find an envelope and stamps, assuming Alberta hasn't already burned the letter. I'll wait until she's gone grocery shopping and then I'll sneak out and mail it. We can't give up Edmund, because if we do then we will die here. I'm sure of it, we'll have no will to live but if we keep on trying and never give up we can survive this, just like always."
"Just like always." Edmund repeated. Then his stomach gave a loud grumble and he grimaced.
"Here I'll go find something to eat that could fit under the door, I'll be right back."
"Hey Lu, thanks and not just for the food." In the darkest moments of a life a spark of hope seems to light up the whole room. And maybe, just maybe we found that spark.
