Chapter 3

Claire's POV

I felt light prick at my eyelids and groaned.

How come I was still alive?

I sat up rubbing my face and froze.

…This wasn't my bedroom.

This wasn't my house. Our new one or the old one.

Where the fuck was I?

Oh god!

I leaped out of bed, (bed?), but I was still really dizzy and thumped on the floor.

I moaned and rolled over onto my back, panting.

Had someone kidnapped me?

Mind you, it wouldn't matter. I wanted to die didn't I? Or if It was for rape, well, that's nothing new.

Suddenly the door crashed open and I jumped. I leaned my head backward, and saw the Goth girl I had met the other day, leaning over me.

"God, you ok?" she asked worriedly. But before I could answer she interrupted herself "I mean of course you're not ok you're covered in bruises and cuts and you're really, really thin…" I looked up at her startled, before I realized.

My hands scrambled for the hood of my hoodie, in order to cover my face, but it wasn't there. I looked down. I was still wearing my bloodstained ratty t-shirt, but there was no hoodie to hide myself.

I rolled onto my feet and tried to straighten up, but my feet still wouldn't support me. I stumbled and, Eve I think it was?, grabbed me underneath the arms, supporting me.

I stared at her. No one had done that before. They just let me fall and laugh.

"whoa, easy there tiger. You've lost like, a load of blood. Oh! You really should have some food then, right? I've heard that when you lose blood you kinda need to get something like sugar or something right? . Silly me. Come on. Do you wanna come down, or have me bring it up to you?"

"I…I'll come down." I mumbled, still surprised. "Thanks."

She grinned at me. I tried to smile something back, but my lips wouldn't corporate. I looked down and slowly made my way over to the door. Gripping the door handle tightly, I staggered over to the stairs. But as I made my way down them, my legs faltered, and I plummeted down the steps.

"Claire!" Eve screamed and rushed down after me.

"hey! what's-" someone else said and I heard more footsteps. I stared up and the celling, feeling the agonizing pain that engulfed my body, gasping. Dimly, I was aware of two more people coming towards me. I rolled over and pushed myself up onto all fours, my head bowed as I tried to regain control of my breathing. Eve was babbling at me, her hands fluttering on my back, unsure on what to do.

"What the fuck happened Eve?" someone asked. I looked up.

It was the boy! Oh my god.

"well, I got her to come down so she could have some breakfast, cause you know blood loss, and I forgot to help her down the stairs and she fell-"

"I don't need help." I said quietly.

They stopped talking and looked at me. I pushed myself up completely, and stood up, grabbing onto some table or other to support me. "I'm fine."

"bullshit." I looked up surprised. The boy was nearer me and studying me with his eyes.

His eyes…had, had I seen them somewhere else before?

"Where are you hurt?" I looked over. There was another boy there. Golden hair, bright blue eyes, he probably could draw 100 girls with just a smile.

"nowhere." I looked away. "Nowhere new anyway." I mumbled.

There was silence, before eve randomly yelled "breakfast?" in order to break it.

"sure." I whispered and started to walk over the kitchen.

Suddenly though, there was a ghastly sharp pain in my stomach. I gasped and doubled over, clutching it.

"Claire?" they started to come nearer but I shook my head. I pulled away my hand and looked at it.

It was covered in blood.

"Shit" I whispered and dropped to my knees. The boys and eve ran over, ignoring me.

The boy took one look at my stomach and cursed. I lay back and rolled into a ball, my breathing erratic. When I fell, it must have opened one of my cuts.

Well great.

The boy leant forward to me, his hand outstretched. I flinched away.

He froze.

"Please…please don't hurt me." I whispered.

His eyes widened. Briefly I saw a look of surprise and pain before it disappeared, his face full of something strange like…link kindness I think is the word?

"I'm just gonna sort out the cut Claire. I promise I won't hurt you. Ok?" I nodded. I don't know why but I trusted him. Man, I didn't even know his name, but I just felt…safe with him.

Wait. Never mind. I can never, ever think that. Ever.

I'm never safe. I made the mistake in thinking that with my parents.

He smiled softly at me before he said "Eve get the first aid kit."

He turned back to me. "I'm gonna have to take a look Claire, is that all right?" I nodded again and closed my eyes. I knew what he was about to see.

He lifted up my shirt and the boys cursed, eve gasped.

My stomach was covered in blood, from an ugly ragged gash. Black and blue bruises covered my stomach, and you could see all the bones in my ribs.

I really, really wish they didn't have to see that.

"God Claire what happened?" the blond asked and I looked away, silent.

The boy started to stich up my stomach, and the whole time, I stayed silent. Eve was crying quietly. The blond was staring at my face in horror. I stared up at the celling and closed my eyes, shocked by the gentle touch of his fingers.

No one had ever been that gentle with me.

Hell, no one had ever been gentle with me.

"It's done." The boy said quietly and placed his hand on my arm. "Michael, get some food for her. Eve, set out some cushions on the sofa." So Michael (I guess that was his name then) got up, while the boy lifted me up carefully and carried me over to the sofa, laying me down tenderly.

"Thanks" I whispered. "But there was really no point in doing that. You didn't have to take the trouble."

He looked at me shocked "but if I hadn't you would have bled to death!"

I looked back down and said nothing. They boy realized what I meant and his eyes widened.

"Claire…" he whispered.

Michael and Eve came in and sat down, Eve at my feet, Michael in a chair nearby. He picked up a guitar, and started playing something peaceful. Eve handed me and the boy a plate, chili I think, before digging in herself.

There was silence while we ate. I ate quickly. It had been so long since I had had a proper meal. I couldn't help but enjoy it a lot.

The last time I had, it had been when I had shared lunch with the little boy. The boy who had cared for me.

But that was long gone now.

"Claire" I looked up. Michael had stopped playing and was looking at me. Eve turned round while the boy glanced sideways at me.

"We need to know Claire. Tell us the truth, and No more bullshit."

He stared into my eyes.

"What's going on? Who the hell is doing this to you?"