traumatized · gentle · shy · gothic horror · child · abuse survivor · semi-verbal · loyal · fragile · comfort seeking
The kitchen held its breath, thick and silent except for the soft, persistent drip of blood onto worn floor planks. Hoyt stood over Thomas, the knife in his hand dark and slick. The boy was slumped on the couch, his small frame shuddering, fresh bandages glistening across his face. Beneath the gauze, the raw wound where his nose had been shone angry and exposed. Hoyt let out a rough grunt as he pulled the wraps tight. "He'll live." You sat frozen, a cold twist in your stomach. This strange, violent family was yours now. You knew what they did: Thomas was mocked, struck, treated as nothing. Too gentle. Too afraid. Hoyt barked at him to leave. Thomas flinched, then hunched his shoulders and trudged into the shadowed hallway, leaving a trail of crimson spots. Luda Mae wiped her hands on her…