[A/N] I started this fic literally years ago, back when I first started writing fanfiction, and kind of abandoned it when I started new on this account. However, I decided I quite like the fic and after reading through what I've already got, I've decided to continue. So here is the start. The first 5 chapters have been written and I will be uploading them as I continue to write to hopefully you won't have to keep waiting for me to upload. Thanks for reading.

[WARNINGS] I will warn now that there will be description of physical abuse (not Klaine), homophobia, etc. If there are any other things I will try and warn before the chapter is posted!

"If you say one word, to anyone, I will kill you."

The words seemingly echoed around the corridor and Kurt was numb. The only thing he felt was the harsh pants of breath from Karofsky, who was leaning forwards so that their faces were barely an inch apart.

Kurt wanted to open his mouth and scream, but he couldn't move. He couldn't do anything. He felt his breath becoming harder to catch and he had to force himself to breathe as his throat seemed to close up. With that, Karofsky walked off, leaving Kurt struggling to breathe behind him, a few tears dripping lazily down his face.

Kurt woke up panting for breath. This scene had been the subject of his nightmares for weeks, playing over and over until he woke up in a sweat, thrashing around in his attempt to move.

He hadn't spoken for 2 weeks. The exact day when the threat was issued, Kurt stopped speaking. And with that much time off school to worry about Karofsky, his urge to speak was slowly degenerating. He didn't need to speak, he simply had to use actions or write things down.

Today, was the day his family hoped that would start to change. It was the day he was starting at his new school, Dalton Academy, and he was terrified. He didn't care if the school had some sort of zero tolerance anti-bullying policy, it didn't meant people stuck to it. He didn't want it to start again.

"Kurt," came a tired grumble across the room. Kurt looked over to see Finn rubbing his eyes and sleepily glancing between Kurt and his alarm clock. "Are you alright?"

Kurt just nodded and went to look at his own clock. 6.15. He'd be getting up soon anyway.

Finn had fallen back to sleep when Kurt looked back up, and the shorter boy rolled his eyes before getting up to shower and use the bathroom. After he was freshly washed and clothed, he looked around his side of the room. He'd packed everything over the past week, not wanting to forget anything or lose something important, but that meant dealing with an almost empty bedroom.

Kurt glanced over at Finn who was still snoring away and sighed. He was going to miss sharing a room with his brother. Although they often fought - mainly over Finn's hygiene - they were just beginning to get close. They were like real brothers now. Also, Kurt was terrified about sharing a room with a stranger. He barely communicated with strangers, let alone slept in the same room as them!

Kurt made his way upstairs, following the smell of coffee and toast. He found his dad and Carole sat at the breakfast bar, hands curled around mugs of coffee and munching on toast smeared with jam.

"Morning, Kurt," Burt greeted, sighting Kurt in the doorway. "What do you want for breakfast?"

Kurt looked between the table and his father and step mother. He then shook his head vigorously.

"Aw c'mon, Kurt, you've got to eat! Big day ahead, huh?"

Kurt let out a sigh and then made his way to the cupboard to grab a box of cereal, pouring it in silence into a bowl.

"You all packed, sweetie?" asked Carole, watching Kurt as he prepared his bowl. He looked up to meet her eyes and gave a brief nod before turning his gaze back onto the bowl of cereal in front of him.

"Looking forward to it?" Carole continued. Kurt simply shrugged and yanked open the cutlery drawer, making the contents rattle.

Deciding he couldn't take any more of his parents' interrogation, he took his breakfast and a freshly poured coffee down to his basement bedroom, where his step brother was snoring gently. He settled down in a desk chair and laid his bowl and mug on the desk in front of him. He picked up his phone as he began to eat and surfed through the various texts he'd received that morning and the previous night. All were from his friends - the same friends he'd been worrying the hell out of for the past 2 weeks - wishing him good luck at Dalton. He felt so selfish. He'd blocked out his best friends over the last couple of weeks - avoided speaking to them (or communicating at least), leaving Finn to pass information like his transfer - but they were still trying and making sure he was okay. Well, he wasn't okay. He was anything but okay. He was still scared and worried and upset. His friends and families only hoped that this transfer to Dalton would fix that.

He sighed and rested his phone on the desk before shoving another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

"Bro?" came a mumble from Finn's direction. Kurt turned to see a sleepy Finn sat watching him. "You alright?" Kurt shrugged, leaving Finn's face crumpled in worry. "Bro, it's going to be great! You'll meet some great people, get lots of new friends, they'll be no bullies and you won't have the drive to and from school. That's like a whole half hour more to get ready. And with the uniform that's at least another 10 minutes of you choosing an outfit taken off. You're going to go to school looking 40 minutes better than normal."

Kurt let out a laugh at Finn's attempt to help. Finn really did make him feel better than he had previously and couldn't help but spare a smile for his step brother.

"What time do we have to leave?"

Kurt spread his hands in front of him signalling 10 and Finn nodded. He glanced at the clock which told him it was 7.30. He sighed and rolled out of bed to go to the bathroom. Kurt took this as a chance to finish his breakfast. He gathered the bowl and mug and took them upstairs to the kitchen. Burt and Carole had scattered and the room was now empty.

Kurt felt even more terrible. He could see how miserable his father was and he hated him being unhappy. It was his fault that his father was upset - because of his suffering and his insistence to not speak. He wanted to speak, even if it were just to apologise to him, but every time he tried his throat would tighten and his breath would hitch.

He had over 2 hours to kill so he went to his vanity and finished his hair and skin products. He ended up tidying the few possession left in his bedroom, double checking his suitcases and dusting his half empty bookshelf before collapsing onto the living room sofa with his parents.

"I'm going to miss you, Kurt," his father commented, glancing between his son and his wife. Kurt nodded, wanting to reply with how much he'd miss his family and how he'd come home every weekend. He wanted to tell his dad how much he loved him and he wanted to be able to speak to him.

But he couldn't.

The time finally came and Kurt, Burt, Carole and Finn piled into the car. The drive to Dalton in Westerville was a good 2 hours, which Kurt planned to travel every weekend, but it flew by. Soon, they were pulling up to the tall gates of Dalton and removing Kurt's luggage. Kurt gripped his notebook - which his dad had given him for communication purposes - as he watched his father and brother drag his bags inside. He, himself, handled his school bag and wash bag.

He took one last glance at the building before taking a deep breath and entering the school.