-Hell is for children-

Pat Benetar

Thalia was currently hiding in the school janitor's closet.

Crouching awkwardly, with her knees pulled up to her chest, she tried not to make any noise, tried desperately to disappear. She had been huddled there since her kindergarten teacher had suddenly attacked her, with serrated claws and fangs that had sprouted out of nowhere. Thalia had dashed out of the room in terror and darted into this closet, and had been here for over half an hour, too afraid to peek out in case the monster was waiting for her out there.

She trembled as she desperately waited for the home bell to ring so she could get home. She had learned not to upset her teachers or her mother by talking about the monsters that seemed to follow her. So she hid in this closet every time an attack happened, which was often. The principal thought she was a problem child, and because of this status, she was watched constantly by teachers children and parents alike.

Finally, the bell rang, releasing the small six-year-old from her crouched position. She peeked nervously out the door, before darting quickly outside, her pink sandals slapping against the pavement as she joined the other kindergarteners as they awaited their parents.

Tucking her bright yellow dress under her as she sat down on the pink-painted wooden bench she waited for her mother to come and drive her home. Sighing, she tucked a strand of ebony hair behind her ear as she watched parents bend down to hug their sons and daughters, kissing them on their noses or cheeks and taking their hands as they lead them to their cars. Hurt blossomed in the her young heart as she watched her classmate's wave to each and every one of their friends, saying goodbye with hugs and toothy grins, of course none of them were waving at her, because she was the problem child, the one who their parents told them to stay away from. She didn't understand why, but because she was young, she didn't dwell on it too long.

So she kept waiting for her mother, until she was the last one there, still sitting there on the bench beside the swings. The sun began to dip under the horizon, and the playground was washed with golden light as Thalia yawned; checking the tiny watch on her chubby wrist, it was six o'clock. She had been waiting for her mother for two hours now. Her lower lip trembled and she ducked her head as she climbed down from the bench, and grabbed her backpack.

The street lights went on as night settled over Manhattan, and cars drove by, not noticing the crying toddler in the yellow dress and the pink flowered backpack walking alone on the sidewalk. Thalia kept walking, stumbling down the sidewalk; her house was a forty minute drive from her school, so it would be at least an hour and a half before she got home.

Her mother was a soap star; she was semi-famous for playing the girl gone wrong in a popular show that she was fired from. Thalia knew just how easy it was for her mother to play that role. Thalia wasn't a stranger to being left behind; it was just something her mother did. It wasn't as if Thalia wanted to go to the parties that her mother loved, they were loud, long, heavy parties with old people who liked to laugh at her and pinch her cheeks too hard.

Not to mention it was actually easier when her mother wasn't around, to forgive her and forget the nights she came home drunk and angry. But because she was six years old, and because she didn't have anyone else, she repeatedly forgave, and was repeatedly crushed every time her mother forgot about her.

Destiny Grace the Soap Star didn't have a daughter, since she hadn't gotten an abortion like she had wanted, as her manager couldn't find a doctor who wouldn't report it to the paparazzi, so Thalia was hidden away, and registered under a fake last name in school. That meant no one could come over to her house, and her mother wouldn't show up for any school activities.

The six year old climbed the steps to the large house; she'd had to climb over their iron gate to get in, and knocked on the door. The nanny opened it for her, gasping and covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes widening and clouding with tears, but she just hurried Thalia in and took her backpack, rambling in some unknown language, determined not to look at the young girl again. Thalia tugged a piece of hair back from her eyes, scrunching her tiny round face into a grimace as she heard her mother's high pitched laughter echo down the spiral stair case.

She kicked her dirty pink sandals off and climbed the stairs that lead to her mother's room. Not able to reach the banister yet, she crawled up on all fours, pretending she was an animal, as she reached for the next step. She reached the top of the stairs and turned to her mother's room, standing on her tiptoes to wrap her tiny fingers around the golden doorknob she turned it and it swung open.

Her mother's room was painted a dark purple, the color of rich wine. A vanity table with a polished gold trim on the left side, was overtaken by make up and fancy looking boxes, all designer labels, on the other side of the room there was a dark wooden table, on top of which was an assortment of wine, whiskey, brandy, vodka and other alcohol. The hardwood floor was littered with clothes, empty bottles and papers. A massive bed sat in the middle of the room, framed by golden metal and purple curtains, it was a beautiful bed, Thalia supposed, but she wasn't looking at the bed, she was looking at her mother, who was in the bed, with a man.

Hearing the door open, the portly man flipped hastily to the other side of the bed, as her mother drew the covers around herself and sat up with a start. She caught sight of her daughter, staring at her with a mixture in astonishment, humiliation, and fury. Thalia stood at the door, her tiny fist still holding the doorknob, her mouth open in a small o. Swallowing hard, she took a step back and closed the door, hearing the fat bald man swear and laugh, and her mother whisper yelling about how she hated children and how she hoped this wouldn't interfere with her audition.

Shell-shocked, Thalia stumbled back down the spiral stair case, on two feet, half-hoping her mother would come after her, to tell her everything was fine, that the fat balding man wasn't going to stay, that she was sorry that she forgot to pick her up from school. But even at six years old Thalia wasn't that naive. So she just descended into her basement room, and sank into a heap on her bed, and cried silent tears, hoping no one would hear her, and tried to forget what she had just seen.

she glanced up at the full length mirror on her wall. all she saw was a small scared girl in a grubby yellow dress, with half of her hair coming loose of her pony tail, and red rimmed eyes, staring back from a pale face, sprinkled with freckles and dirt.

She huffed, this was not her. she tore off the dress angrily, standing and staring defiantly at the mirror in her underwear, puffing her tiny chest out as she wiped her face free of tears. She would not be the crying little girl in the yellow dress again.

first chapter done! whoot whoot!

sorry if it starts off slow, its building up ;)

meh, i'm really not all that sorry...

CC welcome, if sometimes ignored, flamers can go die ;)

meep.

-Miss. Alaneous 3