Greg was shaking. His arm stuck out at an odd angle, the bone broken clean in half and the wrist shattered. He was pale, sweat beading on his forehead.

"What do you say to me?" the father, a tall blonde man standing very close to his son spat

"I'm sorry"

"What?" he asked as though he didn't hear the first time

"I'm sorry, sir" Greg repeated. John back handed him across the face, making him stumble and crash onto the flagstone floor of the garage. He whimpered as he landed on his broken arm. John rolled him onto his front with his foot, and pinned him down, keeping a low pressure on his chest.

"What did you do to deserve your punishment, Gregory?"

"I don't know sir"

"You don't know? Pathetic little idiot" he barbed

"I don't know"

"I caught you, when you were supposed to be mowing the lawn. I saw you, staring off into space. Laziness is bad, just like you. Do you know how I'm going to get rid of it?"

"No sir" Greg whispered, wanting desperately not to imagine what his punishment for ten seconds of thought would be.

"I'm going to keep you away from a hospital for your arm for five days. Each day, you will do your chores in half the normal time, or I will break anything your body had managed to repair. Got it?"

"Yes sir"

"Good" John released him, and drew his foot back to strike. The kick got Greg right in the gap between his ribs and he had to hold his breath to stop himself howling. John kicked him again and again until he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Stop! Please stop" He begged. John stepped back.

"What did I tell you I'd do the next time you asked me to stop? I'm trying to help you, boy, for when you're a man and you'll be able to cope with pain. It's good for you."

"You said you would double my punishment and do the original on Mom" Greg said, very quietly. He didn't want to hurt her.

"That's right"

"What if I tell her?" Greg said, a sudden surge if bravery overcoming his fear. John turned red, his hands balling into fists. He'd threatened his son so many times about this, he'd never expected him to ask.

"I will hurt her so she won't be able to tell anyone else"

"You know what you're doing is wrong" the realisation hit Greg like a tonne of bricks.

"I'm doing it to help you"

"Then why keep the secret?"

"She wouldn't understand"

"No, she'd be angry. She loves me more than you" he was so sure of himself in that moment that John was frightened.

"She doesn't love you. You are unloveable! Sure, she sticks around, but only through obligation! I bet you'll never see her agin after you turn 18. You didn't really think she loved you, did you?"

"She does" Greg sounded much less certain

"We were talking about you last night. Trust me, she can't wait to be rid of you" he said maliciously

"I- I... I don't believe you" his voice shook, his only lifeline to normality severed and destroyed.

"You know what happens when you're stupid, don't you Gregory?"

"Yes sir" he whispered. And the blows began again. Greg was glad they didn't end until long after he had succumbed to the darkness.