1 month later school is in full swing. Skye's living situation hasn't gotten any better, in fact it got a little worse. She missed a week of schooling just to recover from Garrett and now she was behind. To make matters worse Maria had to postpone her visit due to scheduling conflicts with other kids, and while Skye just wanted to cry over the phone, she made sure to sound fine. Maria had promised though to stop by soon.

Meanwhile she continues to go to school and hang out with Jemma and Fitz. They presented their project and boy, it was a good project. Jemma and Fitz now go to hang out with Skye at Mr. Coulson's diner. Skye has been having a bad day today.

She woke up late, and put on a sweater and her jeans. She was late to homeroom and was very tired. The previous night was rough. Ward and his brothers got home late and were making all this racket. Her skin was crawling and kept trying to cover her ears for peace. Garrett lost his job and he was in bad moods all the time. Trust her, she has the bruises to prove it.

Her senses have been all over the place. It has gotten worse since but she tries to push herself and work through it. The day has been very long though. She is tired and the lights are piercing her eyes. She really doesn't want to hear anyone or talk to anyone but if she doesn't then Jemma and Fitz will be worried. Mr. Coulson has already been giving her looks all day and she really just wanted to go home, not Garrett's home, just home.

"Skye" Coulson repeats, "Skye"

"Huh-uh sorry" She mutters inaudibly.

"Skye, this lesson is very important, I'd hate if you missed it, this might help with the other lessons you've missed"

Continuing with his lesson he starts talking about poverty vs. wealth. Skye zones out a little before Jemma reaches over to give her a little nudge. Catching her off guard the little nudge that is small and trivial becomes a big deal. Her muscles tense and she frowns as her breath catches. She needs to get out of here, she wants to leave, but she doesn't want to talk or do anything.

Immediately after school she ignores the stares from Jemma and Fitz as well as the invitation to go to Mr. Coulson's diner. She heads home, and curls up on her cot. She turns the lights off and lays down covering her ears. She quickly falls asleep.

Luckily Skye woke up just in time to make dinner before going back to "her room". Around 6pm she hears Garrett come in, probably from another casino. That's his new fixation. Gambling. He barges in her room and grabs her by the arm making her yelp in surprise. Her bruises are still fresh from the other night. She can barely make out what he is yelling at her and her ears are pounding making tears start falling.

"What the h-ll did you tell the school"

Still disoriented, she gives him a confused look, "..."

"Speak to me g-dd-mmit" He yanks harder pulling her downstairs. She can't bring herself to say anything. She is scared, and overwhelmed, and his voice booming in her ears makes her want to cry.

"I..I"

"Stop stuttering you b-ch. I got an email from a worried teacher, Phil Coulson, wanting to make sure you were okay. What did you tell him?"

"N-thin"

"You know he used to be my best friend," he said, dragging her to the closet, "but one mistake. One mistake and they never talk to you again. It wasn't even a big one. His stupid morals. I just needed some cash okay." he pauses, "Now I'm here and he's a teacher married to a beautiful lady. But why does he want to know about you"

She avoids eye contact and tries to get her breathing steady, "Whatever, get in there. You'll get out when I let you" And suddenly a pair of hands push her into the closet, binds her hands with a metal cord to a rack built into the wall and closes the door. He locks the door and walks away breaking her thoughts and she starts crying. Why does this always happen to her? She wonders why she can't just be normal.

30 minutes into it, her wrists are already starting to scratch against the metal cord. Luckily she went to the bathroom before this happened, but still. An hour in and her crying dies down. And as the sun comes up and she figures out a way to try and get out of the binds. Her wrists are bloody and sore, but she continues to figure out a way to get out of them. She squeezes her hands to try and make them smaller and examines the cord seeing if there are any flaws. Getting desperate she pulls down hard keeping her arms together and wincing as the cord cuts deeper into her arms.

*knock *knock

"Ugh!" Garrett yells. He heaves off the couch and strides over to the door, "WHAT DO YOU-want. Sorry, Um hi Maria"

"Oh it's Maria now? You pretended not to know me when I brought Skye"

"I thought it might be more professional"

"Now, what's with the attitude?"

He sighs rubbing his hand over his face, "Sorry, just a little stressed"

"Where's Skye?"

"Already at school"

"Really? It's only 6:40am"

"Uh- she had computer club"

"At 6:40am?"

"Yeah"

Maria gives him a funny look. She's known Garrett since highschool, he can't be…He's a good guy, he'd never…

"Garrett, I don't believe you. I want to check on her because I was told she missed a week of school" Skye hears Maria say firmly. Maybe this is her way out.

"Maria, come on. She is fine, she was a little under the weather."

"Where is Skye? I told her that she'd be okay, and I promised to talk with her."

"Maria"

"Garrett, I trusted you, don't make me regret that."

"Geez, fine. I'll get her, why don't you wait in the living room"

"I'll wait here" Maria glares.

Skye can feel the vibrations as he walks over to where she is and can sense that Maria is tensing up, "Jonathan Garrett! Tell me you did not put her in the closet"

He doesn't respond and just continues to fiddle with the key. The closet door opens and Skye squints as the sun shines through.

"I am reporting you, you will be going to jail. I am personally making sure of that" She fumes getting on the phone. She makes a quick phone call before pushing him aside.

Skye continues to stare at the ground trying to somehow wiggle out of cords still but Maria rushes over, "Skye honey, don't do that. You're going to make it worse"

But Skye can't stop. Her skin, not liking the binds, continues to pull them, "Skye," Maria says again grabbing her wrists softly. She pulls out of them not liking Maria's hands on her arms.

"Srry-sorry" Skye repeats breathlessly.

"I'm sorry, I trusted Garrett, and I wanted to visit sooner but I thought you were okay"

"I-its only been 3 weeks," Skye cries quietly.

"It's okay, it's okay" Maria repeats, staying with Skye, "Here's what we're going to do, okay, we are getting you checked out and then you are staying with me for a while"