Chapter Ten:

Melissa huddled under the cramped bed and watched as the bottom of dirty brown boots trudged purposefully into the room. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, clutching her churning stomach. This had been a bad idea, coming here, but in her anger she had had no choice. She couldn't let Rex stay here, being degraded everyday! That would be cruel, and Melissa was anything but cruel.

The boots came to a stop right near her head.

"You're awake." A voice growled.

"Yes." Rex answered icily. A loud thwacking noise rang.

"Don't speak to me boy." The voice above spat.

Rex softly whimpered somewhere above her.

Melissa closed her eyes, so angry. Why was she just sitting here while Rex was getting hit? She should be out there whaling on the guy!

"Don't cry boy. You're weak. Act like a man!" the voice commanded.

"I'm not crying." Rex whispered.

SMACK!

More whimpering followed.

"Stand up." Rex's father ordered.

The springs of the bed creaked as the body resting on it moved.

Melissa bit her lip. She could feel Rex's fear overpowering the pounding thoughts of his father. She imagined him shaking and about to cry.

"Rex, don't give in." she breathed. Why was he complying so easily to the man? Was he really that afraid?

Suddenly the sound of skin against skin erupted in her ears. She squeezed her eyes tighter and clapped her hands over her ears so the sickening sounds would be muffled. Images came to mind of fists and Rex whimpering.

The sound went on for what felt like forever. Melissa felt like crying. How could anybody do that to their child? Anger bit at her chest, an urge to do something, anything, to help her friend, she needed to, it was her duty.

But the chaos just raged in her mind as she held herself still, her anger resisting her will power.

How did Rex put up with this?

Melissa lay on the ground, curled into a protective ball, trying not to cry or kill Rex's dad, and waiting for it to end, wanting it to end, but knowing the end was no where near.

Somebody was hurting Rex and there was nothing she could do about it.