Happy Birthday...?
OOC: Backdated to Saturday 2 February, when Terence has his birthday. Preferably only open to Michiru and Laurian, though I suppose anyone is welcome to go to the infirmary.
Liz had woken up early on her free Saturday morning. She'd been all excited the whole week as well, because today would be her brother's birthday. It was a busy time, though, with all the birthdays coming at once. First Haruka's birthday and now, one week later, Terence's birthday. But Liz didn't mind it, because it was yet another opportunity to spoil those she loved with little gifts and sweets.
She dressed herself up in her prettiest dress, quickly brushed her hair and put a matching ribbon in it. Liz hummed softly to herself, though she made sure she didn't hum too hard. She didn't want to wake up her roommate. She'd already told Kate she'd be gone for today. Under normal circumstances, the girl would've taken her friend to her brother, but Terence had asked if she could come alone today. Liz could understand it. In their whole lives, there hadn't been a birthday they could spend together without pain, misery and despair. Her last birthday had been fun, of course, with Haruka, Michiru and others. But today would be the first time they were together, and without their father.
Liz packed the presents and food for today in a large bag. It was a bit heavy, but she managed. Continuing to hum softly, she left the room and went out to Terence's apartment. Her mind was filled with excitement, looking forward to what Terence had planned for today. She was completely distracted that when she entered the building of Terence's apartment that she didn't even notice the shiver and eerie feeling. Only when she reached the door to Terence's apartment did the girl stop.
"That's odd," Liz said softly to herself as her eyes fell upon the open door. Terence never left the door open, not even when he was at home. She hesitated, but pushed it further open and stepped cautiously into the hall. "Terence?" Her eyes scanned the hall, but she saw nothing suspicious. With a little more confidence, Liz stepped into the living room.
And there she saw her brother, lying unconscious near a wall. Only one glance was enough to tell Liz he had been beaten up very bad. She let out a startled cry, dropped the bag and quickly rushed to his side to apply whatever she had learned in the past semester at Healing Magic on Terence. "Terence! Oh, Terence, please be alright." A hand brushed some strands out of his face. "Please be alright. Please... Ah!"
A second startled, and this time painful scream when someone suddenly pulled her on her feet by her hair. Liz didn't need to turn around or look up to see who it was. The presence she sensed was all too familiar to her.
"F-Father...? Father, please..." The happiness she'd felt that morning was all gone and replaced by fear, if not panic. Liz struggled, though without much success. The only thing it accomplished was that she made her father even more angry. He let go of her hair, but the next moment, she nearly flew through the room after a very painful kick in her stomach.
That wasn't all, of course. It was never enough for her father. Liz saw him stamping towards her, towering above her. The thought of escaping didn't even cross her mind; his presence was enough to paralyze her with fear and all the young Seer could do was to make herself as small as possible.
She cried, she pleaded, she apologized over and over again for having lied to him, but nothing worked. The pain, the hitting and kicking, it all continued, seemingly without an end. And it was worse than it had ever been before. It didn't last long before she could feel her conscious slipping, the relief of blackness without the pain. It scared her, because it had never been this bad. And then she realized it.
He wasn't looking for punishment. He was going to kill her.
As Liz slowly lost her conscious, Terence began to regain his. The first thing he noticed were the cries from his sister. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry and the world spun around him. But he saw one thing clearly. His father. His sister. And with that, the memories came back.
Terence scrambled to his feet, slowly, because his whole body hurt. But he wasn't going to let this monster kill Liz. He wasn't going to let him hurt her more. He had known that one day their father would find out and come to look for them. He had been prepared for this day. The only reason he hadn't been able to do anything before Liz came was because he hadn't expected his father to show up today.
It was in the drawer. Close, and easily accessible. Terence forced himself to stand and worked his way to the drawer. Withing a minute, he had found what he had been looking for; the gun he had bought as soon as he had some money. He knew there was nothing else that could keep him or Liz safe from their father's terror.
His hands trembled and it was difficult to aim. His first shot missed, but still caught the attention of George Riley. The man turned slowly around, his eyes narrowed as he eyed his son and the gun that was aimed at him. Terence didn't hesitate, but fired a second shot. It hit; he could see how his father took a step back and his shirt began to turn red at one place. But he wasn't dead yet.
Terence began to panic. He had shot at his father, he had hit him... why wasn't he dead? The panic made him irrational and as quickly as he could, he emptied the slot. Only one more bullet reached his father; the rest all penetrated the walls.
George Riley stumbled back. The second bullet that hit him had been more lethal than the first one. He grunted something - maybe even said something, but Terence couldn't hear it. Then the large man that had terrorized him, his sister and his mother for so many years fell flat on the floor.
He was shaking badly after his father had fallen to the ground. The nerves, the fear, the pain... everything got too much. His sister! Terence moved as fast as he could to her side. She wasn't moving, and only barely breathing.
Don't let her die, he prayed as he picked the lifeless form up. Please, let her life. Let my sister life.
He had to do something. He had killed his father! What if the police came? And... and his sister. Liz, she needed help. What if she died? What if she was already dead?
Not knowing where else he could go to, where else he could find help, Terence began to drag himself and Liz to the only place he knew they'd be safe; St. Catherine's School for Girls.
Liz had woken up early on her free Saturday morning. She'd been all excited the whole week as well, because today would be her brother's birthday. It was a busy time, though, with all the birthdays coming at once. First Haruka's birthday and now, one week later, Terence's birthday. But Liz didn't mind it, because it was yet another opportunity to spoil those she loved with little gifts and sweets.
She dressed herself up in her prettiest dress, quickly brushed her hair and put a matching ribbon in it. Liz hummed softly to herself, though she made sure she didn't hum too hard. She didn't want to wake up her roommate. She'd already told Kate she'd be gone for today. Under normal circumstances, the girl would've taken her friend to her brother, but Terence had asked if she could come alone today. Liz could understand it. In their whole lives, there hadn't been a birthday they could spend together without pain, misery and despair. Her last birthday had been fun, of course, with Haruka, Michiru and others. But today would be the first time they were together, and without their father.
Liz packed the presents and food for today in a large bag. It was a bit heavy, but she managed. Continuing to hum softly, she left the room and went out to Terence's apartment. Her mind was filled with excitement, looking forward to what Terence had planned for today. She was completely distracted that when she entered the building of Terence's apartment that she didn't even notice the shiver and eerie feeling. Only when she reached the door to Terence's apartment did the girl stop.
"That's odd," Liz said softly to herself as her eyes fell upon the open door. Terence never left the door open, not even when he was at home. She hesitated, but pushed it further open and stepped cautiously into the hall. "Terence?" Her eyes scanned the hall, but she saw nothing suspicious. With a little more confidence, Liz stepped into the living room.
And there she saw her brother, lying unconscious near a wall. Only one glance was enough to tell Liz he had been beaten up very bad. She let out a startled cry, dropped the bag and quickly rushed to his side to apply whatever she had learned in the past semester at Healing Magic on Terence. "Terence! Oh, Terence, please be alright." A hand brushed some strands out of his face. "Please be alright. Please... Ah!"
A second startled, and this time painful scream when someone suddenly pulled her on her feet by her hair. Liz didn't need to turn around or look up to see who it was. The presence she sensed was all too familiar to her.
"F-Father...? Father, please..." The happiness she'd felt that morning was all gone and replaced by fear, if not panic. Liz struggled, though without much success. The only thing it accomplished was that she made her father even more angry. He let go of her hair, but the next moment, she nearly flew through the room after a very painful kick in her stomach.
That wasn't all, of course. It was never enough for her father. Liz saw him stamping towards her, towering above her. The thought of escaping didn't even cross her mind; his presence was enough to paralyze her with fear and all the young Seer could do was to make herself as small as possible.
She cried, she pleaded, she apologized over and over again for having lied to him, but nothing worked. The pain, the hitting and kicking, it all continued, seemingly without an end. And it was worse than it had ever been before. It didn't last long before she could feel her conscious slipping, the relief of blackness without the pain. It scared her, because it had never been this bad. And then she realized it.
He wasn't looking for punishment. He was going to kill her.
As Liz slowly lost her conscious, Terence began to regain his. The first thing he noticed were the cries from his sister. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry and the world spun around him. But he saw one thing clearly. His father. His sister. And with that, the memories came back.
Terence scrambled to his feet, slowly, because his whole body hurt. But he wasn't going to let this monster kill Liz. He wasn't going to let him hurt her more. He had known that one day their father would find out and come to look for them. He had been prepared for this day. The only reason he hadn't been able to do anything before Liz came was because he hadn't expected his father to show up today.
It was in the drawer. Close, and easily accessible. Terence forced himself to stand and worked his way to the drawer. Withing a minute, he had found what he had been looking for; the gun he had bought as soon as he had some money. He knew there was nothing else that could keep him or Liz safe from their father's terror.
His hands trembled and it was difficult to aim. His first shot missed, but still caught the attention of George Riley. The man turned slowly around, his eyes narrowed as he eyed his son and the gun that was aimed at him. Terence didn't hesitate, but fired a second shot. It hit; he could see how his father took a step back and his shirt began to turn red at one place. But he wasn't dead yet.
Terence began to panic. He had shot at his father, he had hit him... why wasn't he dead? The panic made him irrational and as quickly as he could, he emptied the slot. Only one more bullet reached his father; the rest all penetrated the walls.
George Riley stumbled back. The second bullet that hit him had been more lethal than the first one. He grunted something - maybe even said something, but Terence couldn't hear it. Then the large man that had terrorized him, his sister and his mother for so many years fell flat on the floor.
He was shaking badly after his father had fallen to the ground. The nerves, the fear, the pain... everything got too much. His sister! Terence moved as fast as he could to her side. She wasn't moving, and only barely breathing.
Don't let her die, he prayed as he picked the lifeless form up. Please, let her life. Let my sister life.
He had to do something. He had killed his father! What if the police came? And... and his sister. Liz, she needed help. What if she died? What if she was already dead?
Not knowing where else he could go to, where else he could find help, Terence began to drag himself and Liz to the only place he knew they'd be safe; St. Catherine's School for Girls.