chapter 1: Maxine

Prologue

Five years old.

It's October and the sky is foggy. It might rain today. The kids are playing as usual and I'm just here alone watching them shout and get along. I'm the smallest one in my class and everyone just steps on me when they don't see me.

I'm used to it.

"Hey four eyes!"the familiar voice calls me.

I quickly turn my head to the direction of the voice only to get smacked in the face with a soccer ball.The slimy ball knocks me straight into the ground.Being the smallest in kindergarten is another reason I hate myself. I always get picked on and it's always the same person.

"Sorry not sorry ! "The voice laughs and I open my eyes only to see the worst of the worst standing in front of me.It can only be Hans Morgan. I never did anything to make him mad but he seems to find joy in making me suffer.

"Let me help you up ,"he offers his hand and I reluctantly take his hand like a fool.

The minute I get up with his hand still squeezing mine. He pushes me right back to the ground. This time I don't fall easily but I try to balance myfel. Hans bursts out laughing like his life depends on it. His green eyes flash with amusement as tears blur my vision. I don't have my glasses today because he broke them yesterday.

"Are you crying? "He pouts and I sniffle while trying to push back my tears back in,"Don't you want to play with me ? "

"No ,"I sniffle,"Leave me alone ! And go away. I don't want to play with you "

"Well, I will give something else to cry about ,"he smirks.

His green eyes sparkle with mischief when he looks at the swing. He grabs my pigtails and drags me through the mud like a ragged doll. I claw my hand onto his arm but it's no use. Hans is too strong for a six year old and I'm only a year younger.

"Please stop ! "I cry as I tug on his shirt. I don't know why he is doing this but my heart is pounding so fast. I hate the swing and I'm scared of heights.

"I'm not leaving you alone,"he chuckles. He puts me on the swing and I start sobbing loudly.

There's no way he's going to stop.Hans doesn't have a limit when it comes to me and he never lets any of the kids play with me. He always makes sure that I'm alone at his mercy.

It is always one after another and it never stops. Everytime he laughs at my face as I cry.

"You know what..."his voice trails and he suddenly stops. I look at him and wait for him to something else inhumane but he lets me go.

"I will play with you tomorrow,"he pats my head like a pet,"I'm bored and your tears are not really entertaining me enough ."

I clench my hand tightly and wipe my tears. So he only did this because he finds this entertaining.Hans wipes his hands and releases me .To everyone he is the perfect boy that is so well behaved but to me...he is my nightmare.

"Bye four eyes,"he sticks his tongue out and my body recoils with disgust,"And don't eat too much."

His chuckles fill the air as he turns his back on me .

I stop sobbing and look at my ruined pigtails. Mum doesn't even know that a random boy bullies me everyday at school. I begged her to move me but she dismissed it because she thought that I was failing to adjust to my environment. I just wish I never see him again.