-1A/N: This chapter contains flashbacks of controlling and violent behaviour. Implied rape (no details). There will be a prequel story to this one which details the events of Cassie's life before she leaves for Forks. Title still to be decided. Any suggestions? PM me.

"It all started about five months back. Do you remember, my mum met that guy, Richard…decided to get married a little while later?"

"Oh yeah. I couldn't make the wedding because I was…"

"On lock down for sneaking off with your boyfriend?"

"Yeah" she smiled sheepishly "Carry on"

"Okay, so my mum gets married. Everything's fine there. Perfect man, perfect job. Perfect chauvinistic pig. You know the type" she nodded to illustrate her understanding "Anyway, he had three kids. Two sons and a daughter"

**Flashback**

"Cassandra, I'd like you to meet my children. Mark, Leo and June" I looked at them. Mark and Leo were both about eighteen. Mark was had spiky dark hair and a short sleeved t-shirt, displaying his muscles, the classic jock look. Leo was leaner, his hair blonde and floppy. There was something unsettling about the pair of them. Perhaps it was the way they eyed me up. I felt like a piece of meat.

I turned my attention to the girl, June. She was younger then me, only thirteen. She had blonde hair like mine only hers was straw rather then honey, or gold (people described my hair differently depending on the light) and it was pulled into neat plaits, tied with red ribbons. She wore a little checked skirt and white blouse. Everything about her screamed 'daddy's girl!' I wondered why the heck she dressed like a little girl when her brothers dressed like regular teenagers. I already knew that Richard was incredibly chauvinistic, expecting my mum to do all the housework and such. Perhaps he thought that his daughter was supposed to look pretty, be innocent and silent until the day she became a housewife? God I hoped he didn't try to make me. No way.

Anyway, June looked okay. A bit of a tattletale maybe but harmless enough. Not like those boys…

**End Flashback**

I broke off.

"Bella, if I tell you this you have to promise never to tell anyone else. Not Charlie, not Renee. Not anyone. Promise?"

"I promise Cassie" I knew I could trust her. Bella and I had once been really close. After her mum left Charlie, she moved back to live with her sister. Me and Bella lived in the same house for six years. Then they got their own place when she was nine, back in America, Renee met Phil and Bella came back here. I was two years younger then her but we'd been closer then sisters until she'd left. We'd stayed in contact with each other but after a while Bella's emails become…fluff. Meaningless dribble and I knew that we weren't going to ever get back what we'd lost. There was something she was hiding. I knew it.

"Okay. So, we'd been living in the new house about a month and a half when my mum and Richard decide to go on holiday. They hadn't had a honeymoon because they decided to use the money on buying a house together…well, Richard decided. But it cost less then they anticipated which meant they could go on holiday after all. They decided that since Mark and Leo were both eighteen they could easily look after us girls, and the house. So, they left on their trip round the world" I paused, not sure how to continue "I never liked them much. They were rude, spoilt brats but I thought I'd be able to handle them" my voice has gone slightly high and hysterical. I told myself I wouldn't cry damn it!

"It's okay Cassie. Just tell me" she handed me a tissue as well, just in case. I heard Buddy whimper, sensing my discomfort.

"Well, the boys had always been a bit…off around me. They were like their dad, they thought men were supposed to be in charge. June was okay because she was the 'little one' and they left her alone. But…well…it started off small. Little things, like bossing me around and stuff. I mainly stayed hidden in my room. But then…a couple of days after mum and Richard had left…something happened"

**Flashback**

I was late. I'd meant to get back from school an hour ago but I'd been held up in the library doing my homework. I didn't enjoy homework but I knew it had to be done. The library was quieter then the house. Mark and Leo seemed to always have friends over, or they were playing on the Xbox. June normally played music really loudly so she could sing along (off-key) and dance (jump up and down, making the light fittings rattle). I had practically run back home because Richard called every day at exactly the same time and if I wasn't there, I'd get in trouble.

"Where have you been?" asked Mark when I came in. He was lounging on the sofa, but he rose as I walked past the living room.

"Hey! I'm talking to you! Where the fuck have you been?" he demanded, grabbing my arm.

"Library" I said, pulling away.

"Don't pull away from me bitch" he said, getting angrier. His nails dug into my arm. I kept struggling, his grip got tighter. I twisted and slapped him hard across the face. He let go of me, more out of shock then the force of my slap. I ran up the stairs. If I could just get to my room. Get to my room and I'd be safe.

I was almost there, my hand reaching for the handle when a pair of hands grabbed me by the waist and tugged me back. I staggered and fell to the floor. I looked up to see both Mark and Leo standing over me. Shit. This didn't look good.

"You don't run away from me!" growled Mark, pulling me to my feet. I tugged, trying to get free again. Leo wrapped his arms around my, holding me still.

"Let me go! Let me go! Please!" I screamed, tears pouring down my cheeks.

"No. You have been misbehaving and now you're in trouble" Mark said, scolding me like a naughty child. Leo didn't speak. He was the quiet one, that just scared me more then Mark's obvious aggression.

"What are you two doing?" asked June, sticking her head out of the bedroom door.

"Nothing sis. Just taking care of a little behavioural problem. No need to worry" Mark assured her.

"Well, can you at least keep it down? I'm trying to study" Mark smiled. It made me want to throw up.

"Sure thing sis. We'll try. Perhaps you should put some headphones in?" he suggested. I was desperately searching for a way out. Buddy was coming up the stairs and when he saw me he barked. The two boys looked over, temporarily distracted. I elbowed Leo in the ribs, broke free and started to run. I had to get out of the house.

I got to the stairs when someone made a grab for me. I tripped and fell, hopelessly reaching for something to grab onto. I tumbled down the stairs and lay in a broken heap at the bottom. My vision blurred and began to fade. I could dimly make out two figures.

"He told you not to run" said Leo before darkness consumed me.

**End Flashback**

"What happened after?" Bella asked, with horrified fascination.

"They took me to the hospital and got me x-rayed. I had a broken wrist, I was lucky it wasn't worse. They kept me off school for a few days before they deemed me 'healed'. Then they…punished me for running"

"They…?" She didn't want to ask but I knew what she meant.

"Yes. First Mark, then Leo. They didn't care. It got worse after that. I was never allowed to go out except to school. They stole my mobile, broke my computer. I had to ask for their permission before I went anywhere. They beat me, Mark especially. Leo was less violent but just as cruel. He found other ways to torment me. They used me as entertainment for their sick friends. They told me if I told anyone what happened they would kill me. I knew they could. June didn't care, she told me it was my place to take what they gave me. I thought things would get better when mum and Richard came back but it was worse. I tried to tell mum but Richard covered for the boys, said I must be imagining things. He hit me then too. I put up with it for a little while longer, then one day I stuck some clothes into my school bag, and when I'd been dropped off I ran away. The dogs were waiting for me at the gates (I'd let them out the back door that morning, they knew where to go). And I came here. I didn't know where else to go. I'm sorry"