leave all your love and your loving behind you

( Warning for spoilers to Andrea's past )

And warning for allusions to child abuse.

Muscle in plastic

It's as Andrea stands up to the boy twice her height that she finally understands her mother and how much courage it took for her to run from her sisters. All she wants to do is run, but she is her mother's daughter and if her mother could stand up, then by all that might be left that's holy, so would she. His fist knocks her down, and she wants to laugh. If he thinks that's all it's going to take; her Aunt Clarise hit harder than that. The kick sends her crashing again and then all the other boys join in.

Minutes or hours later, a red haired girl her own age comes into her field of vision as she lays on the ground. "You shouldn't fight their way," the girl says. "They're bigger than you. Hell, looks like just about everyone's bigger than you. You should fight your own way. Unless you like being hurt?"

"I...what do you mean?" Andrea asks.

"You good at throwing? Throw rocks at them or grab a stick. Using your fists or just standing there and taking it like they do is stupid. I'm Sharon," the girl says offering a hand to help Andrea up.

"That's...that's a good idea. I'm Andrea." She says shocked at the idea that she can fight back.

"Nice to meet you Andrea."

Children of the Grave

( Warnings for hints of gore and cannibalism… )