PROLOGUE

ALESSIO....

"Aunt Ari will my mom come back?"Six year old Alessio asks.

His aunt gazes up at him,and although he can see the doubt in her eyes she says with a smile on her face."Of course she will Alessio. Your mom just needs time,the death of your father hit her harder than anyone else.Not only that,she loves you guys and she'll never leave you."

Despite his aunt's words he still doesn't believe that his mother will come back,he doesn't know why he feels this way but he just does. He looks at his sister who is sleeping peacefully on his bed,she had another panic attack screaming for their mother in her sleep,it's been two weeks since their mother left and since then his sister Ava has been sleeping with him in his room.

He can't understand why his mom did what she did...mother's are suppose to love their children,and be there no matter what...but his mom just left them without saying anything....not even a goodbye. Not only did they lose a father but they lost a mother too...and how can a six year old understand the decisions of a grown up.

How can his mother leave them like this,and not say anything,how can she do this especially knowing how his sister gets.Who will stay with them now,who will take care of them.His aunt came back the second she heard about his mother,he's six years old but that doesn't mean he is dumb.He hears more than he's suppose to and has seen things that should have traumatize him....but yet he remains unaffected.

The one who's taking everything hard is his little sister Ava, that's why they hide things from her because she's so sensitive.As for him he's been in training and he has directed all his emotions into training because he doesn't want to think too much about what his mother did...that's his way of dealing with things.

"Come on."His aunt says."It's time for bed now."

She gently removes the covers and he climbs in,a soft kiss is planted on his forehead,he wish it was his mom.He wishes for so many things but at his age he knows it won't come true,he has been wishing for his mother to return in these two weeks....but she hasn't. He has wished for to have a father....and although it happened...his father didn't live long.

But he promised his little sister....that no matter...he'll always be here for her...and that's a promise he intents on keeping.....

WINSTONIA....

"Mommy....?"The five year old girl said.

"Yes my angel."Her mother lovingly stroked her hair.

"Why does daddy keep on hurting you?"The woman gazed down at her daughter,she opened her mouth to talk but no words came out.

"Go to bed now Toni.Tomorrow is school."Just when little Toni was about to say something they hear a loud bang coming from the kitchen,Toni can see the fear and anguish on her mother's face. "Your dad is home.And whatever happens...don't come out of your room.Is that clear?"Her mother ordered her.

"But what if daddy hurts you again."Toni asked with tears in her eyes."I don't like it when he hurts you."

Her mother looked at her with utter adoration in her eyes,she loves her little girl and despite Toni's bravery she'll never put her daughter at risk of getting punishment from her dad.Claire took one last look at her daughter before heading out her room.

Meanwhile as she is laying in her bed, little Toni can hear how her parents are arguing and by the high tone of her father's voice she knows he is drunk and that her mom will get beaten again.

She doesn't understand why her dad isn't like other kid's dad...who is loving and caring.All her dad does is yell and shout,and if her mom hasn't made dinner then she'll be in trouble.The other day when Toni tried to help her mom,she got a beating from her dad and was locked up in the toilet for a few hours....with no lights.

She is afraid of the dark,afraid of monsters and what they represent.She is scared of her dad,her mom said she can't even have friends or even bring them over,at school she's always by herself,many kids tried to befriend her but she always shy's away from them.

Toni wishes her parents could be more loving towards each other the way her teacher has explained.She wished they loved each other maybe then her dad won't drink so much and hit her mom. She wished she understood why her dad behaves the way he does, she asked her mom to talk to her dad but every time her mom tells her to shush and not involve herself in grown up business.

Although it's hard for her to keep quiet,she doesn't talk anymore because her mom asked her not to....and if she does interfere in grown up business then her dad will lock her up.That is something she doesn't want,being locked up in a room where you can't see anything.She is afraid of that and also afraid her dad will beat her up for being a naughty girl.

Daddy once said he doesn't like naughty girls, naughty girls get punished,so she wonders if her mom is naughty that's why her father keeps on hurting her mom.Toni hears another loud bang followed by the sound of her mother's voice as she screams.... Immediately Toni rushes for the door but her mother's words before she left her room,makes her hand freeze on the door handle.

She slips to the floor as she hears her mother's screams and pleas this is how her family is.This is what she has to hear and deal with whenever her father comes home drunk...the noise goes on for a few more minutes,until all she hears is her mom's silent whimpers.