The Abused and the Abuser

Ryne's excitement for the future died the moment he stepped foot in his house and closed the door behind him, trapping him inside.

The stench of alcohol consumed his senses, a pungent cloud that clung to every surface.

After removing his shoes, Ryne left the entryway and the smell grew stronger, mixed with the faint, stale odour of old food and neglect.

Something connected with Ryne's head and his body buckled from the impact. A beer bottle shattered as it hit the floor, shards of glass scattering around his feet.

Sure. Just another injury on top of the others. No biggie...

Through the hall, sitting at the dining table, his father, Richard, picked up another bottle. Rage bubbled inside Ryne, but between him and his father, Cassie sat at the dining table. To get to him, Ryne would risk her safety.

"What're you staring at, boy? Get me another beer!" he slurred, his eyes glazed over and unfocused.

Not even going to ask your son why he's beaten and bloodied? Do you think all of this came from last night's beatings?

"What's that look for? Do you want another lesson?!" He waved the bottle around in the air, his grip tightening.

Unconsciously, Ryne had been glaring in his frustration.

What do your 'lessons' ever teach me?

I almost laughed, but the pain wreaking havoc on my body turned it into a cough.

His father let it go and pointed to the fridge, ordering him non-verbally to fetch his liquor.

Ryne approached the fridge in the corner and grabbed one of the premium beers. The stench of the hopps and some expired half-eaten rations assaulted his nostrils. He opened the bottle with his father's fancy bottle opener and handed it carefully to his father.

As soon as he sipped from his beer, Ryne grabbed Cassie by the wrist to go to their room.

"What's the rush? Why don't you sit down and tell me why you didn't go to school or work today?" he demanded, his voice rising.

Shit.

"I-I wasn't feeling well," Ryne stammered.

"Yeah, the school sent me a message. But what about work? They called saying you didn't even give them a reason for your absence."

"I don't know... I forgot!" Ryne accidentally yelled back and fear filled him.

Ryne backed away from his father. Aware of what awaited him.

"You raise your voice to me? In my house? Do you know how hard I worked to get your daily visas approved to work in Nova City?!"

"I really wasn't feeling well..."

"You look well now, don't you?" He pointed his newly opened bottle at Ryne, the contents swishing around, and a little spilling out as he looked Ryne over.

"I'm not..."

"What? Are you calling me a liar, then?"

"Cassie, go!" Ryne whispered urgently to her.

Cassie rushed out of the room. His father kicked the table up, knocking the dishes from dinner onto the floor, and pinning Ryne to the ground at the same time. Stepping onto the table, Richard looked down at Ryne with a smile.

The asshole actually enjoys tormenting me. What a pathetic man.

"After I'm finished disciplining you, you make sure to clean up this mess you made. Alright?"

"Y-yes!" Ryne choked out, fear and anger warring within him.

I want to kill him. I want to kill him, but what happens to Cassie after that?

Ryne put up with the beatings, pretending that every hit to his torso hurt. Richard's usual power-crazed smile widened as he continued until he grew bored and staggered towards his room in a drunken stupor.

Ryne cleaned up the mess, and reset the table. As he washed up the dishes with last night's water, he stared at the knife block.

Surely, he'd be asleep. Passed out, more like. Could I make it look like his fault? Like an accident?

The worn floorboards creaked behind me and he raised his arms to guard his face. Instead of being stuck, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around his body, and he looked down at Cassie.

No. I don't ever want her to see me as a murderer. Just a little longer. That's all we need.

Tonight, in his room, Ryne's eyes stayed dry and Cassie sobbed in her sleep.

---

In the outskirts of Nova City and at the edge of Fracture, where dilapidated buildings stood as remnants of a forgotten era, Ryne's home loomed, a modest structure struggling to hold its own against the harsh winds of existence. Within those weathered walls, a tempest brewed, fueled not by the elements but by the volatile emotions of an abusive father.

Just as Ryne planned to leave on his day off to visit the Circuit breakers, a large hand scruffed him by his collar. His father's face, pained by his current hangover, looked down at Ryne.

"Make sure you pick up a power cube on your way home, you hear?"

Ryne's heart pounded as his father's voice thundered through the air, his words carrying the weight of a pending storm.

"But you usually do that. C-could I have some credits?"

Ryne felt weak. Unable to stand up for himself at home or at school. No matter where he went in life, there would always be people he couldn't put up resistance against. People who would have more power.

I want more power. I want the strength to fight back.

Pain throbbed in Ryne's head as if his father was transferring the hangover through touch.

[And you will have it.]

The voice bellowed within Ryne's mind, completely sure of its statement.

"What, after last night? You want me to give you money? You've got a job, so help provide for your family!"

He raised his fist, and Ryne darted out of the house before his father could add more injuries to Ryne's already battered body.

A power cube is just what I need, though. If there really is a bunker, I might be able to protect myself and Cassie for a couple of weeks if things get bad...