•Rain Winters•

Home? What is that even? It used to be a place that was filled with warmth and family laughter.

Family meals always took the cup because they were the best. When everyone was gathered at the dinner table and sharing how their day was.

Never once had I thought our new norm, would be the sound of shouting and cutlery being broken downstairs. At first it would be once in awhile, but things escalated quite quickly.

No one knows what really went wrong and yet the blame is on me.

My room door opens with a thud and mother comes stumbling in. She's drunk! I'm not even close to suprised. I quickly stand up straight as she takes a step forward and starts to circle me.

"You've gained weight." She slurs, but yet her firm tone sends shivers down my spine.

Ever since my older sister Prudence disappeared that many years ago, and Heather sent away to live with relatives, mother had been obsessed with me.

The clothes I wear, how I look and how I behave. She makes sure I have a perfect body, and that I always obey the rules and orders. She never fails to teach me a lesson if I don't listen and obey her every rule.

For some reason even when drunk she has a tendency to check my weight, not that I have any to begin with.

I stand still and say nothing, she continues to inspect me from top to bottom.

"Make sure you father doesn't see you, he'll be disappointed." She breaks the silence then leaves the room.

It's 2 A.M and I walk down to get a glass of water. Walking down the creaking stairs, I hear two hushed tones speaking in the kitchen, which is weird. Mother and father are usually asleep by now.

Taking a step closer and making sure I'm not seen, I try listening in on the conversation.

"His willing to pay good money for her." Father's slurry gruff voices says.

"I'm not sure Lucian, Rain's too fragile for this." I could sense worry in mother's tone.

"Since when have you started caring for that \*\*\*\*."

The next mintues are followed by silence. Until mother whispers.

"She's still my daughter!"

Father snorts. "That I have no doubt about."

I walk back upstairs, shocked, forgetting about my water.

Where they talking about me? God no I hope not. They wouldn't sell me right? I'm their daughter.

I tip toe my way back to my room. My parents conversation replaying in my head like a stuck record.

I stared at my pale sickly reflection, it disgusted me honestly. New addictions of bruises decorated my lower abdomen and back. They always made sure not to hit the visible parts of my body.

I always told myself that they didn't mean to. It was just a stress of the moment thing.

Last night father had lost his temper and I end up with fresh new bruises. It's been three days since I over heard their conversation.

I haven't been able to get proper sleep therefore dark bags decorated my eyes.

Whenever father was drunk lately mother was protecting me from him or atleast tried, it was weird but I didn't dare question it. However mother was not here yesterday and the events took a turn.

Carefully approaching the door, I leaned in and pressed my ear to the cracked wooded door and listened in if anyone was there or not. But there was nothing but silence lingering in the run down house.

I realeased a breath I didn't know I was holding as I desenced the stairs, each one making a creaking noise.

As I got downstairs both my parents were up and about. I was startled, no rather I was scared.

"Good morning." I said bearly in a whisper. Mother gave me a strange look before pulling me close and examining my face.

"Have you not been getting enough sleep?" She questioned. I hissed in pain as her hand rested on my back.

Her and father had some sort of a eye conversation. And without them both noticing I bolted out the door and started the dreadful day that awaited me.

On this particular day I had no classes whatsoever I was going to spend the day at the Home.

•••••••••

"Mrs Addams, is there anything else you'd like me to do?"

"Nothing dear, you may be excused for the day." The old lady I worked for said.

My work was nothing fancy and it wasn't really work either. I just helped at the nearby old age home, when ever I had free time which was everyday.

Sure they didn't pay me but once in awhile the old people would give me money.

The walk to my home was painful and slow, but as I got closer the more uneasy I felt. It doesn't even deserve the title home.

As I got closer, I saw four black SUVS surrounding the place. A thought came to mind the I must turn away and leave but I had nowhere to go.

As I got closer, I saw four black SUVS surrounding the place. A thought came to mind the I must turn away and leave but I had nowhere to go.

Had it been my parents friends? No. I don't think they can afford those, no offence.

A few minutes later several men came out and the SUVS drove off.

Please please may they be both sober. I silently prayed.

I open the front door as quietly as I can and keep my head down. I catch a glimpse of expensive alcohol on the coffee table in the living room. Oh god not again.

Nevermind dinner I already had lunch, I made my way quickly to my room, I didn't want to get a beating like yesterday, plus my wounds were still healing.

Later that night I woke up to someone stroking my hair. The faint smell of alcohol gave it away.

It was father. I froze under his touch, there's nothing I hated more than his touch but he is still my father so it's okay, it's fine.

I tried to convince, but clearly everything wasn't.

•Rain Winters•

Ever since that visit from those mystery men, my parents have been acting strangely around me. Or maybe I'm just oblivious.

Whenever I left for the Home, I would always notice,there was a black car standing near the house. At first I thought it was nothing, but as weeks went by it was always there. Then again it's Rain (me) we're talking about, I may be oblivious.

"Rain, come sit." Father said, both my parents were seated in the living room. At least this time he looked sober.

The atmosphere was tense, until mother broke the suffocating silence by clearing her throat.

"Your mother and I have been given an offer... It includes the Moretti's." Father started.

I could sense something was off the time they had called me down.

The Moretti's were highly known throughout the whole of New York and in the business world. Rumours voiced they were a crime family but I wasn't really interested and my social life never existed so I don't know much about them.

Mother cleared her throat and gestured for father to continue, which he did.

"They have asked for your hand in marriage which your mother and I have agreed."

"W-h-hat?" I gasped. I knew this was coming, I saw it from a mile.

"Yes, the wedding is in two weeks. His a fine looking man you'll learn to obey and love him." Mother said with a hint of happiness.

"B-u-ut you can't do that. Wha-at about my studies."

"Housewife's don't need degrees Rain." Father said with a hint of annoyance.

3

One look from him and I knew to drop this matter. This is what they were talking about that night.

The Moretti family did not ask for hand in marriage rather my own parents had sold me.

The rest of the afternoon locked up in the small room, today's events replayed in my head, like a delicate memory.

At times I wish I had one of my sisters with me, but no none of them were here. They left me to fend for myself.

Only the sound of my sobbs could be heard but I stopped as soon as I heard the sound of my door creak open.

I tried pretending as if I am already sleeping, but that dirt trick never worked on my mother as she spoke.

"I know you're awake Rain." She says. By the tone of her voice I know she's not drunk. Thank the gods.

"Why would you let him give me away like that mother?" I try to say forcing the burning tears away.

"It's for your own good Rain." She says in a moetone voice.

I stared at her with disbelief written all over my face. As much as I dispaised both my parents, a part of me still believed that they loved and did everything in the name of love.

Oh how was I wrong.

"Sleep now, you'll need the strength for tomorrow." She dismissed me, Again!

I let out a annoyed huff and watch as her shadow leaves the room. Soon after darkness takes over me and I fall into a dreamless sleep.

...•Rain Winters•...

The person who stood infront of the mirror was not me. Her hair was styled perfectly and she was wearing a beautiful white wedding dress.

Her face was covered in light make up, she look beautiful and stunning at the same time. That person was me yet not.

"You look wonderful Rain." An unknown voice said entering the room.

"He-ea-ther?"

A gasp escaped my lipstick coated lips as I saw who it was.

There stood my second eldest sister in a sky blue mermaid dress that hung her all in the right places. She looked gorgeous and more grown up. Her chocolate brown eyes held many different emotions.

Heather was my best friend, and her being here at this moment had meant alot to me. I had so many questions to ask my sister and yet so many things to tell her.

These past two weeks have been quite hectic for me. Two of eating nothing but vegetables and water. It was mother's way of making me thinner. And I quote 'men like women with thin figures.'

Two weeks of mother's training of me becoming a submissive and good wife as if I wasn't taught that already.

All this was torture. I've lost weight, not that I had any to begin with.

In this period of two weeks I tried asking mother about my soon to be family and she only gave short answers like,

~They will treat you well, if you obey and listen.

~You'll never be poor or struggle in poverty.

Today was the day of the wedding. Too fast right, I know.

"I can't do it Heather, I'm too young, I still have my whole life ahead of me." I said as tears fell silently.

"No, you can't say that Rain it's too late now. You don't know these people." She said seriously.

"What do you mean?"

I needed to know more since mother wouldn't say anything even after a thousand times of asking. Heather sucked in a deep breath and looked at me.

"You too precious and naive for this cruel world Rain. Stay strong and don-"

Before she could finish, mother and father interrupted us and came in the suite we were in.

The Moretti's had booked a hotel for the wedding and only family and friends were present. The venue was beautiful and the person who organised it had good taste.

"Hello mother, father." Heather greeted politely.

Father scowled and scoffed while mother returned the greeting with a small forced smile.

"Usually I wouldn't do such, but today I will try be nice to both of you." Mother said.

I almost scoffed and rolled my eyes at her but I didn't dare.

"It's almost time." Father spoke up.

Upon hearing this my shoulders tensed. Heather couldn't stand the atmosphere and went to join the other guests while I stayed with mother and father. My nerves were sky rocketing, I was sure I was going to puke there and then.

Mother brought me out of my terrace by handing me a red velvet box. I gave her a questioning look and she said.

"It's a gift from the Don.... I meant your husband."

Inside were a pair of very beautiful diamond earrings, I stared in awe. I asked one of the make up assistant's to help me put them on as my parents made no attempt to help me.

As I turned back to look at my parents, they were gone and a Greek god stood in their place.