I was woken by a burning sting across my face, I cupped my face and see my step-mother hovering over me.

"Get up now!" she yells and walks out. I stand up and go to the mirror. I look at my reflection and see a red mark forming from the slap. 

I guess she upset today, I thought. Which means I have to be extra careful with her, I gave myself a breather and walk to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, washed my face, then put on cover up. I knew I wouldn't have time to shower, so I'm going to have to do it later today.

I changed into a red flannel over a gray tank top. I slip into my black skinny jeans, grab my combat boots and collect my book bag and ran downstairs. 

Mike's here today, which means I'll be getting breakfast. I enter the kitchen and sat down.

"Morning Mariana." my step-father says.

"Morning," I said quietly.

I look across and see my step-mother was giving me a dirty look, it doesn't last long, Mary walks in. Lora biological daughter, she worse than her mother when it came to abusing me.

I kept my head down the whole breakfast until Mike said something. 

"Sweetheart, what happen to your face." my eyes go wide, 

"what do you mean?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Your cheek it's red and little swollen." I cup my face before I can say anything, Mary speaks, 

"we were playing douche ball in school the other day and Mariana got hit in the face, but she ok, right Mariana." she had a hard stare, I look at Mike and just nod. 

"Ok, make sure you put ice on it, ok." I just nod.

"Well I'm done, I'm leaving." Mary gets up and looks my way, 

"Mariana, do you want a ride to school?" She said with a fake tone.

Here's the thing, in this household, we have a role to play when Mike is home, both my step-mother and Mary act like we are a happy family, so with Mary asking me that question was part of her role. 

In reality, she doesn't give two shits if I make it to school or not. In fact, she never ever wants to be seen with me in public and that includes being in her car. She only said that so she can show Mike that she is a 'loving' sister.

"Umm it's ok, I'm not done with breakfast and besides it's a nice day I want to take a walk" I try to give her a nice smile, but every time I look at her I just feel disgusted. 

"Are you sure?" She asked with that fake smile, I just nod. Mary gets up, gives Lora and Mike a kiss goodbye and leaves.

"Well, I should be heading off to work." He gives Lora and I kiss on the cheeks and gets his sports bag. He was about to head out but stops for a moment.

"Hey Mariana sweetheart would you like to go to the gym with me after school?I want to show you something." My step-father owns the 'Goldman Underground' it's one of the top wrestling gyms in town. 

His offer scared me, I didn't like violence, the last time I went to his gym I fainted because I was scared that someone was going to attack. I was going answer with a fake excuse like I'm staying after school or something , but lora beat me to it.

"I think that a great idea." I looked at her in shock. She knew I was scared to go there.

"You need to get out more, honey, it would be good for you." She was giving me the look, the look that says 'if you don't do what I say you'll going get a beating later tonight.'

"What do you say, honey." I turn to Mike and hesitated, but I remember the last time Lora gave me a beating, I couldn't move for three days. So I just nod, with a small smile.

"Well it's settled then, I'll pick you up at 4." I just nod, he said his goodbye and walks out the door. My attention was back towards Lora.

"Why did you do that, you know I hate it there," I said softly.

"Oh whatever, don't be dramatic, I need you out the house today." She explained rolling her eyes.

"Why?" I asked

"Mary is having a boy over and she wants you out, so you don't interfere, she says you're known as being easy to others." I just scoffed, because she know it's not true, so I just rolled my eyes.

It's was fall, it wasn't to hot or to cold, it was just right. Walking to school was a challenge, usually it takes me at least 15 to 20 minutes to get school on foot, but since my side hurts its going to take me over 30 minutes. Every step I took a sharp pain would come through my side. Yesterday Lora gave me a good beating, reason being, I don't know she just come home mad and frustrated. So she decided to take it out on me because I was just there. 

I make it to the parking lot and I hear the bell ring from inside, which means im late. I step into the building, well more like limping. I try to get to my locker, but when I got there my locker was opened. Someone trashed my locker.

"Great" I whisper to myself. 

I look around the hallways to see if there is anyone, but no one is there, so I pick up my stuff, and throw everything into my locker carelessly, they're ruined anyway. After that I head to my home room. I slowly and quietly enter the room and all eyes were on me. I quickly looked down scare to make eye contact with anybody. 

"Mariana why are you late." I look up to see the teacher staring at me waiting for an answer.

"Sorry I woke up late." I said quietly , but loud enough for only him to hear me. 

"Just sit down and get your textbook out." I just nod.

As I sit down, I start to hear the whispering. It's nothing new, I should be use to it by now, I wasn't. People think I'm a freak, I don't care what people think about, but just having them whisper behind my back it pisses me off. I rather them say to my face. 

The period ends and I head from to my next class. As time went on I would get nervous, nervous to go to the gym with Mike. I was petrified and couldn't concentrate on anything.  I head to my last class, but before I got there I was surrounded.  I was surrounded by Mary and her friends. She didn't say a thing, she nod to her friend and the next thing I know I'm being dragged to girls bathroom. I struggle to get out of their grip, but I was to weak and to beaten to do everything.  I'm pulled into a bathroom stall and my head is dipped into the toilet. I thought I was going to puke, I couldn't breathe. They pulled me up, then pulled me back down. And they repeated that a few more times until they were satisfied. Everyone left and left me there laying there, trying to catch my breath. 

20 minutes pass and the bell rings, school is over. I get myself cleaned up and head out. I head home, as I was going I heard a honk. Turn see a familiar Jeep, it's mike. 

"Mari, come on. Ready to go to the gym." I just smile and slowly, but surely hop into the Jeep. As he was driving he kept going back and forth from me and the road. 

“Mari, why is your  hair wet?” I looked down and didn’t know what to say. 

“Umm...” moment passed. “I took a shower at school.”

“Why?” He asked, I just shrugged. 

We get there 20 minutes later, and I'm shaking, I feel like I'm going to die. Mike steps out, but still in the car. He goes around to my side and opens the door for me. 

"Are you ok." He asked. I smiled and nod and anxiously get out of the car.  I look up see 'Welcome to Goldman Underground.' So it basically saying 'Welcome to Hell." Then I walk into the entrance.