[A/N: warning, this chapter might be a bit uncomfortable for a few.]
_______
Three days had passed since Aric found himself in this strange, flat world—if that's even where he was.
It was early morning.
Nessa was curled up on the living room floor, wrapped in a threadbare blanket, while her small frame occasionally shivered under the blanket. On the other hand, Lilia was in the bedroom, but the 'bed' was just as hard as the ground.
Aric meanwhile slept in an old, chipped crib. The same soft white blanket from the day Lilia had found him in the forest was wrapped around him. It was warm. So much so that he felt guilty to see Nessa on the floor.
'Such is life...'
"Lilia, you bitch!"
Aric's thoughts came to a screaming halt as a shout rang out.
Kicking the curtains aside, a man stumbled in.
Nessa woke up with a start and immediately backed behind a small wooden table, her eyes large with fright. "R-Resol?" Lilia asked, emerging from the bedroom with her face turned pale.
The man was a towering figure, brawny but bloated, with a greasy receding hairline. He had a black horseshoe mustache stained with remnants of his last drink. His clothes were disheveled, reeking of sweat and alcohol. Aric watched him stagger in, clutching the wall for balance, a half-empty bottle in his hand.
Resol stuck his tongue out, licking the rim of the bottle before haphazardly tossing it to the side. It shattered loudly against the wall. He took a stumbling step toward Lilia, letting out a thunderous belch.
Lilia forced a smile, her voice trembling. "Ah… Resol… H-how have you been?"
For a moment, he was silent. Then, without warning, his hand shot out, grabbing Lilia by the hair. She yelped as he yanked her toward him, his foul breath invading her space.
"How have I been?" Resol hissed, flashing his yellow teeth. "I was rotting in prison for six months because of you!"
He flung her to the ground with a force that made Aric wince. Lilia barely had time to steady herself before Resol's hand was in her hair again, dragging her up. He kicked her hard in the stomach, and she crumpled to the floor with a pained gasp.
"It's your fault, you bitch!" Resol snarled, kicking her again. "If you could just satisfy me, I wouldn't have to go to other women!"
He snarled, grabbing her hair again, licking her neck causing Lilia to flinch but didn't cry out.
"I can't even go to a prostitute because you don't make enough money." He spat along with his words, giving another kick to her ribs.
Aric stared the scene unfold, his tiny fist slowly clenching.
'That's how she got those scars...'
In the corner of the room, Aric saw Nessa bringing her knees closer to her face while her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
Panting from his drunken tirade, Resol glanced around the room before his eyes settled on Aric.
"Who the fuck is this?" he slurred, pointing a finger to the crib
Lilia, with no strength to stand, rested against the wall. "That's… Aric," she managed to say.
"My child."
Resol froze, narrowing his bloodshot eyes as the words sank in. Slowly, he turned back to Lilia, his face turning dark.
He bellowed, "You bitch!" and his fist hit her face. She staggered backward, caught by her hair before she fell again and received another punch.
"How dare you sleep with another man!"
He brought his face dangerously close to hers, "Did you by chance... forget how I am?" A sneer broke on his face as Lilia's face grew pale.
"Please, Resol! Don't do this! I'm still weak!"
Her voice was muffled as she was pulled through the curtain towards the bedroom.
Aric sat still in his crib, his heart heavy, as he listened to the screams.
A soft, broken sound drew his attention to the other side of the table.
Nessa.
She was crying, face hidden in her bent knees, and small body shaking as muffled cries continued to escape her.
And that was how Aric's day started.