Chapter Six: But It Hurts...

He was hurtling faster and faster towards the ground until he finally landed with a thud. He moaned and rolled over, his eyes slowly shutting.

-

"Did anyone see what happened?"

"Nope."

"Maybe he fell."

"From a two-story building?"

"Maybe he was pushed."

"Where are this kid's parents?"

"The house is empty."

"Get, back! Give him some air!"

"I think he's waking up."

Rico moaned and opened his eyes. He sat up and looked around. He grabbed his book bag and started to run away.

"Hey kid, wait…"

The man's calls were deaf to Rico's ears. He just continued to run.

-

He stopped at a house and began rapidly knocking on the door. He waited until it was answered.

"Rico? What are you doing here?"

"Miley…I need a place to stay." Rico said.

-

"So, what's up?" Miley asked Rico. The two were sitting in Miley's room.

"Well, my dad wanted to see if he could find my mom so I needed a place to spend the night." Rico lied smoothly.

"Oh, alright." Miley said, not fully believing him. "Wanna sleep on the couch?"

"Sure. Thanks Miley." Rico said. He walked out of Miley's room.

-

It was around midnight.

Rico was peacefully asleep on the Stewart's couch when he was roughly shaken awake. He opened his eyes and gasped.

His dad was standing above him.

Mr. Suarez grabbed Rico and hauled him out of the house, unaware that he woke up Miley.

-

"WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?!" Rico's dad roared, harshly shaking him. Rico's chin trembled.

"N-nothing!" he said. "Nothing I swear!"

"You're a little liar." he spat.

"No, please don't hit me." Rico pleaded.

Mr. Suarez grabbed a vase and smashed it over Rico's head. The boy fell to the floor, holding his head. He struggled to get up, but he was thrown into the wall.

"Stop! Just stop!" Rico sobbed.

"Who are you telling me what to do?" Mr. Suarez asked his son.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Rico asked faintly. He let out a cry of pain when his dad kicked him in the stomach.

"Because you made her leave!" he yelled.

"No I didn't!" Rico said. His dad kicked him again and punched him in the jaw. Rico felt blood ooze from his face. He fell limp to the floor when his dad walked away.

-

Miley stared in horror as Rico's father beat him senseless. Blood was everywhere. Rico was being thrown around like a rag doll. When he fell limp to the floor, a tear spilled down Miley's cheek.

'Rico gets abused?' she thought.