Chapter 2- Alexa

Alexa pulled a toy dragon from her backpack, handing it to her little brother, Max, who took it with wide eyes. He yelled with joy, and hugged it tightly to his chest. Alexa felt a small bit of happiness flow through her, seeing her five year old brother happy, despite their father. Luckily, he wasn't home at the moment, so she and Max were able to play his favorite, made up game, where he took his dragon and flew around a palace built from blocks, pretending to burn it down while the prince rushed in to save the other prince.

When Alexa was eleven, her mother died giving birth to Max. Luckily he was able to be born healthy, but her mother… not so much. Her dad had blamed Max ever since, always trying to hurt him. But every time, Alexa would stop him, leaping in front to block Max from his blows.

Alexa was in the middle of making the dragon stomp the palace, when she heard keys jingling in the front door.

"Shit, dad's home," She muttered under her breath. She ruffled Max's hair, and told him to bring his toys to her room so he could play. She was sure her dad would complain if he saw Max playing in the living room.

He grabbed his dragon, still hugging it, and darted off to her room. She picked up his palace, his toy prince still in the tower, his plastic arm outstretched. She carried both toys towards her room, as the front door swung open, her dad's heavy boots stomping in. She gently closed her bedroom door, letting Max play, unaware of the new danger.

She listened as her dad, angrily cursing at something- probably something as stupid as usual. She took a deep breath, and quietly walked into the living room, her dad's eyes jumped onto her.

"What do you want?" He snapped, his face growing red. She rolled her eyes, not having even said a word yet.

"I just wanted you to know I won't be home next week, until friday." She said, glaring right back at him. His clothes were coated with stains, and torn, his hair unwashed and stinky. His shoes were old and ragged. She wrinkled her nose from the stench he gave off.

"I don't give a shit," He shouted. Alexa didn't flinch, like she knew he was hoping she would. He lept off the couch, and in two giant leaps he was in front of her face, breathing his stink breath in her face. She glared back. Then suddenly she felt his hand hit across her face, making her stumble down. She hit the ground, feeling the pain shooting through her body. Her vision was slightly blurring as she could feel him hitting her over and over again until she cried out to stop, did he actually listen? She thought she heard his footsteps backing up, and she could no longer feel his fist hitting her.

"Needed something to take my anger on," He said, with a laugh as he watched his own daughter lay on the floor, in far too much pain to move. She heard his foot-steps trailing off, and for a moment, felt relieved.

Until she remembered Max was in her room, and he was headed right for it. She winced in pain, and dragged herself to her feat.

Just a few hits. Im fine, im fine, got to get to Max! She thought, as she stumbled down the hallway. Her door was already open, and she could hear Max crying. She stopped at the doorway, to see her dad holding his stuffed dragon in his meaty hands, looking ready to kill. Alexa lept forwards, knocking it away from him. Max grabbed it off the ground, holding it closer, and scooting farther away towards the corner of the room.

Her dad lunged forwards, trying to hit Max, but once again, Alexa grabbed his hand, trying to hold him away, and for a hot second, she thought she did. He pulled back, looking disgusted at the fact she even got near him. Then, he glanced towards her bed. Her heart stopped. He reached over, and picked up something that looked ordinary to anyone- a stuffed blue jay. It's wings were pulled to its side, and it's black feet standing up. But, her dad knew what it was. The last thing her mother left her, the only thing he hadn't destroyed yet.

He grabbed the bird, holding it high as Alexa jumped for it, crying for him to stop, to please stop. He glared down at her, kicking her away with his boot, like you would a pest. She was sent back onto the ground, hitting the back of her head. She felt her vision blur once more, but she could see one thing clearly; Her dad, ripping the wings off the blue jay, tossing them to the ground. He tore the feet off, threw the stuffing out, and dropped the shredded body of the last thing her mother gave her. She felt her vision grow more and more blurry, as the noises began fading off. She thought she heard her dad leaving- or was it Max? Who was beside her now? Where was she… and she slipped into darkness.

The next day at school was weirder than the rest. Alexa had to wear an oversized hoodie and sweatpants to hide all her bruises, and her black eye. She'd seen the other students look at her and clearly wonder why in the hell she was wearing such heavy clothes in summer,and she was already sweating. As she sat down to her third class that day, in her chair farther back and farther away from the other students, due to the fact her teacher said she was 'unnecessarily violent'. Unfortunately, Ashley, the 'rich' and 'popular' girl sat in front of her. This was going to be interesting.

And speaking of it, the long blond-haired girl walked in, wearing gold necklaces, and diamond rings. She had a watch that clearly cost a fortune, I doubt she can even tell the time, and her designer purse and shoes. She looked like a walking nightmare from Alexa's dream.

As Ashley sat down, taking her seat in front of Alexa, she started whispering to her little idiot of a friend, Brittany, who also sat in front of Alexa and right beside Ashley.

"Oh my god, she's such a weirdo!" Ashley said, acting like Alexa couldn't hear.

"Oh my god, you're so right!"Britnay said. "She is SO violent, too!"

"Her girlfriend is so weird too!" Ashley whispered. "I called her fatty, and she, like, cried over it!"

"What's weirder is two girls dating. It should never be that way, that's so gross."

Alexa grinned. Ashley opened her mouth, about to say something back, but Alexa tapped her shoulder. Ashley turned around, her face looking disgusted that Alexa even touched her.

"What do YOU want?" Ashley said, tossing her hair.

Alexa glared at her, making Ashley's courage falter, as she seemed to know what would come next.

"Ashley, shut the hell up about me and my girlfriend." She snapped, "You are an annoying little bitch. My girlfriend is not fat, and if you look at her and think that, you must be looking into a mirror. You are the only weird one here, so, say one more word about me or my girlfriend and I will murder you and toss your body to the ocean for the sharks, understand?"

Ashley's mouth hung open, as she seemed to realize Alexa wasn't joking in the slightest. She didn't say anything, just huffed loudly, turning around and tossing her hair. Ms. Jackson walked in suddenly, as Alexa was about to yank on the back of Ashley's ponytail.

Ms. Jackson spent the rest of the class talking to them about the solar system, how it works, blah blah, blah.

Ashley was quiet for once, surprisingly. The entire class was almost over… and then… the phone rang.

Ms.Jackson answered. She talked for a little while, before putting the phone down, tears in the corner of her eyes. She turned towards Alexa, and she knew. She knew exactly what she would say, the way she looked, the way she slowly turned, the way she was crying. The way she looked so, so sad…

"Alexa… your brother died of cancer a few hours ago…"