Ok so this chapter focuses on Skye and Marco then I'll probably move on slightly and revisit the impacts in certain situations.
Also I know I'm kind of leaving Rafael out alot and some of you probably don't like him but he's a good dad, I just don't want to write him better than Alesandro (a character from my book series).
Also just a warning, this chapter will mention sexual abuse. Not in too much detail though.
For as long as she could remember Skye had her brothers. Despite living in the same room as them for 10 years, she still managed to keep alot of secrets from them.
She hated what they did to her, she hated how they touched her and her brothers knew that. They knew it effected her mentally too, but they had no idea the true mental impact it had on her.
They mostly stuck to physical abuse, it was rare they sexually abused her but it happened.
Now everything was out and her father and other brothers seemed to be extra careful with what they said. It was like they were trying their best not to upset the triplets.
But for Skye, it felt like they were treating her differently.
The only one who didn't walk on egg shells around her was Marco. Even Alex and James were careful around her.
But Marco was still his usual heartless but caring self.
She didn't want to bother him with her stupid feelings though so she simply left the house one morning. She was kind of greatful their dad had gotten them all of school for a bit. She didn't feel up to more people being cautious of her.
She wasn't stupid though, she didn't leave the gates, she stayed on the grounds, walking around the garden. As far away from the house as she could get.
She didn't realise how big the garden truly was as she neared the furthest section, she came across what seemed like a while new area. It was a hidden piece of the garden. She could tell this area hadnt been cared for in years.
Instead of the lake pictured above, the swing overlooks the pond, pictured below.
She smiled seeing the swing and sat down, it was peaceful. She had no one looking over her shoulder, checking on her. And it was still quite early so she should get a few hours to herself. At least that's what she thought.
It wasn't long before she heard footsteps and when she turned Marco was there. He looked at her with annoyance. "I see you found my spot" he said firmly. It wasn't like he was annoyed at her, but when he wasn't being self destructive off the property, he came here. Usually when he needed to smoke.
"Sorry I can leave" she quickly said.
"No it's okay. No one comes down here anymore, it's a good spot to get away from all the worried glances" he said more calmly.
"Don't you just lock yourself in your room" she questioned.
"I do but I also like to come here, especially in the morning and whenever I was grounded as a kid" he said.
"I'm struggling Marco. They all walk on egg shells around me. Even Alex and James. I know they mean well and I'm greatful but it's hardwork. I have to keep up the act of being okay but I'm not" she explained.
"It's more the emotional impact rather than what they did isn't it" he said.
"Yes. It only happened a few times but it's like one moment I'm okay that next I'm scared to do the wrong thing" she agreed.
"Yeah. I can't promise it will go away but it gets easier coping"
"How do you cope " she asked.
"Bad habits and anger" he simply stated.
She had noticed the packet of cigarettes he had stuffed into his pocket when he realised she was here.
"What about when you was younger and couldn't do any bad habits" she asked.
"Locked myself away, didn't speak or I got angry. One time Lorenzo tried to comfort me and I punched him." He confessed.
He was now sat against the tree watching her. She had nervously sat next to him.
Her head soon rested on his chest and unlike anyone else, he didn't mind it because it was his Skye .
"You punched Lorenzo" she was a little shocked. Her eldest brother was scary, she knew he wasn't going to harm them but everything about him screamed 'dont mess with me'. And she couldn't imagine anyone getting away with hitting him, even Alex.
"I was 13 so Lorenzo would have been 22. Now it was pretty pathetic of me, barely a teenager punching a grown man. After I did it, he looked like he wanted to murder me but he simply glared and walked away. I'll always remember it, even though I didn't even cause a slight mark on him. I got to punch Lorenzo and he didn't do anything" Marco explained with a smile on his face.
"See that's the sort of thing you don't want to become. I mean look at how I treated the three of you. I don't even know why I hit the boys, I don't know why I suggested you go back to where you were because even not knowing where you were, I didn't want any of you to leave. I suppose I found comfort in pushing you three away. And the sick part of me enjoyed making you fear me, I didn't feel like the weak child who got hurt. You reminded me so much as to how I couldn't save you and what happened. And I know i sound pathetic right now, what I did has no excuse but it does have a reason. Ultimately I was self destructive" he continued.
"You know we forgive you for all that right" she said.
"Alex doesn't "
"I think he secretly does. He understands why"
"I don't want you to end up like me Skye. I know I haven't exactly been there but I know you like to be alone in your room , even without Alex and James" he said knowing that it was somewhat similar to how he started.
He locked himself away as a kid, skipped meals. She had done that a few times.
"I suppose you're going to suggest therapy " she muttered hating the idea.
"No. But dad is already making you three go, it might be helpful though"
"I feel stupid, Alex and James are suffering just as much as me, they know the pain I went through. They have psychological damage from it too" she admitted.
"Of course they are. But it's different when you're the one being raped. It has a different effect" Marco said. He wasn't entirely comfortable having this conversation but he knew Skye would struggle to open up to anyone else.
They were both victims of rape and they understood each other.
"Is it wrong of me to want to be out here. Away from everyone, including Alex and James"
"No. Sometimes it's best to have a little time alone, clear your head" he told her.
"Alex and James don't deserve to hear what I'm truly feeling. Neither do you, but I don't have to tell you, you already know"
"I do know and I'm going to help you anyway I can because I don't want you going down the wrong path"
"You know you're actually quite caring and nice when you want to be"
"Well I do try" Marco said.
"So what is one of the things you struggle most with " Marco asked after some time.
"Sleeping. Sometimes I can't sleep for days but I'm used to it by now" she confessed.
Despite the family knowing everything, they still had alot to learn about the lasting impact. The sort of stuff that wasn't visible.
It was obvious Alex devoloped anger issues and became fiercely protective of them.
James and Skye were a little harder to figure out. It was clear James could be just as protective but he had a lack of confidence and didn't think he was good enough.
And Skye, well she kept everything bottled up, anxiety was something she suffered with, Lorenzo was the one to realise that. But there was so many little things that they had yet to find out.
"Sometimes I pretend I have slept just so Alex and James won't worry" she couldn't help but confess to Marco.
"Did you sleep last night" Marco asked but he knew the anwser. She was up early so either she hadn't slept like him or she got very little sleep.
"Not really. I just don't like being vunerable and sleep makes me vunerable" she told him.
"Do you trust me Skye" he asked , he knew she did as she was telling him her secrets.
She hesitated not knowing what he was going to say next but nodded as she did ultimately trust him.
"How about we go inside, you can have a little sleep and I'll stay in your room.Not in a creepy way or anything, I'll probably just be on my phone. That way you're not vunerable if anything happens" he offered.
And she agreed. She knew Marco would never let anything happen to her.
Maybe that's why she felt so safe when she drifted off to sleep.
Marco simply sat on his phone, not paying her any attention but it helped her.
She hated being so reliant.
If only Marco was there to save her from her nightmares. Another reason she didn't sleep.
The nightmare itself was horrific, with the gang cutting her up, breaking bones.
Of course she started to cry in her sleep and Marco who had been drifting off himself was quick to get up and try to wake her.
She thankfully awoke just before the gang sexually abused her. She was gasping for air, tears ran down her face.
She didn't care that it was Marco, she clung to him sobbing into his chest. And Marco who wasn't used to people seeking comfort from him, he wouldn't allow anyone to seek comfort from him. Except his Skye.
He held her tightly. Comforting her the best he could.
Once she had calmed down , he asked if she wanted to talk about it.
And she vaguely told him "just a nightmare about the physical abuse" she told him.
He held her tighter, luckily she couldn't see how angry he was.
He would burn the world down to protect her.
And he would make them all pay.
He would protect her from anyone. No matter who they were.
Okay so I know this chapter isn't the best. But a little foreshadowing in this chapter.
Of course they aren't suddenly going to be better now so their suffering will come up but I'm moving on to a twist in the story .