07 - GILDED BRUISES

-SAGE-

" Hello, little Sage."

I found myself gasping for air as he stood up taking a step towards me.

" Ss-stay away." I whisper pointing at him as he chuckles.

His chuckle sent cold shivers down my spine making my eyes water. I just want to be left alone !

" No greeting or anything. That's quite rude, don't you think so ?" he hissed.

" Away." I whisper feeling a lump forming in my throat.

" Why are you so scared of me, baby ?" he asks pushing me against the wall.

That's when all the control broke. Sobs wrecked my body, my heart crashed against my ribcage and went back as I took all the courage in my body to keep myself up ignoring my trembling legs.

" Are you scared of me too, little one ?" he asks as the corner of his eyes soften.

" Away." I whisper licking my dry lips.

" Sage." Shawn's voice seeps in the quiet atmosphere.

Enrique immediately slaps his palm over my mouth as I let out a scream which came out muffled. Tears ran down my cheeks as I could feel a panic attack rising.

" Shhh Sage, I know you also won't like to see your brother and me trying to rip each other's head off. Be quiet and respond normally to him." he whispers.

I sob as blur flashbacks cross my mind making me scream in fear. I just want to be left alone.

" Sage." Shawn calls again. Enrique takes his hand away but the anger in his eyes was still there making me urge my throat to produce some sounds.

" I'm not hungry." I mumble ignoring the hunger scratching the walls of my stomach.

" I'm not asking you about it. Just open the damn door." he says.

" I'll come down myself." I mumble digging my nails in my palm.

" If you don't get there in five minutes, I'll break the door and take you down." he says before sounds of him walking away comes.

" So you're alive ?" Enrique scoffs.

" Unfortunately." I whisper.

" Must be having a great time , huh ?" he chuckles.

" You always wanted to be the centre of the attention and I'm sure you're enjoying the attention you receive now. Being treated like a baby by your siblings and a fragile doll by your father. Mr Martinez must be giving you all the attention and care you always craved for , huh ?" he giggles glaring down at me.

" You're just an attention seeker, Sage." he growls before pushing me away.

" Go down." Enrique snaps at me.

I stumble away from him and rush out of the room with the help of the walls to get to the dining room as quick as my trembling legs could take me.

The chatter in the dining room already had me groaning in vexation. Shawn pulled out my chair which was between his and Elliot's.

I sat on the chair staring down at my bruised palm.

Sabrina smiled as she placed a bowl of tomato soup , yogurt and pudding in front of me.

The sight of it already had me in tears of hunger and anguish. My helpless eyes roamed on the table looking at the different types of pasta dishes , chicken and lamb curries, meatballs, spaghetti and so much that I couldnt even name them. There was a feast in celebration of Enrique's return and all I had on my plate was bland, moist food.

Enrique sat down on the chair opposite of me on the other side of the table. I bit my lips looking at everyone busy in talking and serving themselves.

Holding back a sob, I picked up a meatball and clutched it in my hand placing it on my lap under the table away from everyone's gaze. I felt like a thief in my own house and it was killing the left over pieces my soul had.

" Sage."

I look up at Elena to see her offering me a sad smile.

" I saw what you did but I'm sorry, you can't have it." she mutters.

Tears filled my eyes as I took the meatball and placed it on Shawn's plate. A huge wave of sadness washed over me as I felt ashamed of my acts. My eyes couldnt help but wonder back to the meatball which was now on Shawn's plate.

" What the fuck Elena ? Just let her have it." Elliot bellowed.

" Its not that I don't want her to eat what she likes Elliot but we have to consider her health too." Elena argues.

" Its just a meatball Elena." Shawn growls.

" It will affect her health. You know about it Shawn." Sabrina growls at him.

" There is so much on the table. Let her have that small meatball. She loves meatballs." Shawn growls.

" Enough." Father booms making me bite my lips in fear.

" Sit down all of you." he growls.

" Sage, why are you so hell bent on creating drifts between us ?" he growls. I clutch onto the material of my sweater feeling my head getting light.

" When you know you can't have that type of food then why the hell did you take them ? All you do is make everyone fight with each other. Are you satisfied now ? Is your bloody stomach full now ?" he fumes.

I wince trying hard to block his words out. My hands began trembling as Shawn placed his hand on mine trying to comfort me.

" Enough, Jared. She's just a child." Mason, Enrique's father says as my dad scoffs.

" Being childless is better than having a child like her." he grumbles as I pull myself up.

It was too much. I wanted to be in my room right now , hugging my mom's scarf and crying myself to sleep not sitting here listening to my father regret my birth.

" Now that's too much." Shawn grits his teeth angrily.

" You forgot the warning I gave you that day ? You are not to raise your voice at me and defend her. She has her own useless throat to produce sounds for her." Father yells at Shawn.

I pick myself up from the chair with tears streaming down my cheeks when father yells again.

" Sit right there, Sage." he screams.

I let out a wrecked sob as my body falls back on the chair immediately. My legs and hands were trembling, my eyes wanted to close, my body was wanting to shut down.

" You want to throw a tantrum and walk out of the room and then we'll have to rush you to the hospital in the middle of the night leaving our peaceful sleep." he growls.

" Enough Jared. Sage, please have your food sweetheart." Mason mumbles softly.

With trembling hands, I pick up the spoon which falls back again. A exasperated sob escapes my lips as I try again only to witness my trembling hands failing again.

Shawn shifts towards me and picks up the bowl, he offers me a sad smile before feeding me the tasteless soup. I rub my eyes with the back of my hand as he slowly feeds me the food.

I slowly look up at Enrique to see him already staring at me. He looks away immediately and concentrates on his food making me sigh softly with eyes threatening to spill again.

The scary darkness covers me like the atmosphere. How do you expect me to escape ?