Liar.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN , LIAR

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a/n : *Content Warning* this chapter shows depictions of child abuse and grooming

please skip if you're uncomfortable! Your comfort is much more important than a story 🫶

Flashback.

For the first time in forever, everything was calm. Athena wasn't sad about Sam leaving. Of course, it still hurt to think about, but the pain got easier. She's been able to avoid John's wrath lately. But there were still times when the young girl would have to do things that Dean was too old to do now. Things Athena didn't want to do. The last time Athena went to the bar, she met Zach. There would be times Athena would call Zach and she would tell him about everything that was going on in her life (besides the whole hunting monsters thing). And the best part was that he would listen to her. Athena thought that being able to sort out her feelings and trauma with the help of Zach. She would help her get through life and better it.

But that all came crashing down when she entered her Motel room.

As soon as Athena walks into her room, she closes the door, behind her and looks forward. She freezes, seeing John standing there, his eyes on the piece of paper.

Athena takes her headphones off. She stays silent, but her eyes look at the construction paper, and her breathing hitches.

It was the number that Zach gave her a few months ago.

"Who the hell is Zach?"

"A friend."

John lets out a low laugh. He was laughing at her. Athena could hear it.

"You don't have friends, Athena."

John waves the paper, his amused expression was now filled with anger. "Who the fuck is Zach?!"

"I...I don't know." Athena looks at the ground.

John freezes and his jaw clenches. "Athena."

Her heart drops into her stomach.

"Why are you lying to me?"

Athena swallows and shakes her head, "I-I'm not--"

John starts to walk toward her and she steps back. "I met him at the bar!" she cries before John hits her.

"What bar?" John seethes.

"The one in Arizona. When I had to pickpocket the money." Athena whimpers.

John slowly shakes his head, "And what, you didn't think getting a grown man's number was fucking weird?! I thought you were smart."

Athena pulls her brows together, thinking. "I am smart," she says, her voice slightly low. "That's why I got his number."

John notices Athena's attitude shift and he squints his eyes at her.

"He gave me the number if I ever wanted to talk to him," Athena admits. "Because he knew that you were a bad man--"

John slaps Athena across the face and she falls to the ground. "You think I'm a bad man?!" he grabs Athena's hair and yanks her onto her feet. "I save people and what do you do? You don't even help--"

"I help! I'm smarter than you and Dean combined!" Athena bites back for the first time ever.

That just fueled John's anger even more. He pulls Athena by her hair, she thrashes and screams.

Athena knows that she shouldn't argue or fight. She knew doing that would get her into more trouble. But right now, she didn't care. For the first time in Athena's life, she wasn't thinking about pleasing anyone.

"NO, LET GO OF ME!" Athena screams.

John pulls her into the bathroom and opens the toilet. Athena's eyes widen.

"NO, PLEASE--"

John throws the paper with Zach's number on it into the toilet. Athena's eyes water.

"NO!

Athena dives for the toilet, but John flushes it. She watches as the paper disappears along with her hopes of ever having a better life.

John grips Athena's chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"You need to show some respect!" John barks. "I saved you! You would be nothing without me! You are nothing."

Athena's breathing quickens when John shoves her face out of his grip.

"Your mother abandoned you."

Athena keeps her eyes on the ground, anger racing through her veins.

"Dean hates you."

Athena's throat tightens, she feels a shock run through her chest, then it travels through her arms, and enters her fingertips.

"Sam left you."

Athena's body starts to shake, tears burning in her eyes.

"You're a half-blooded bur--"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The lights of the bathroom explode, causing it to become dark. Athena flinches and John quickly pulls his gun out of his waistband. John looks around the bathroom, then looks at the little girl on the floor, tears in her eyes.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," Athena growls.

Athena shifts her gaze to the gun in John's hand and her heart drops into her stomach, noticing the gun aimed between her eyes.

"Dad—"

"Do it again."

Athena opens and closes her mouth. She never thought the first time she would have a gun aimed at her, it would be her dad holding it. The girl knew that they had their ups and downs, but she was his daughter.

"I can't...I don't understand what you're talking—"

"What the hell is...?"

Dean stops in his tracks and his voice gets caught in his throat. He looks at his father holding a gun to Athena.

"Dad, put the gun down."

John continues to glare at his frightened daughter.

"You can't do anything right." John seethes, lowering the gun and shoving past Dean.

Dean lets out a soft breath as the door slams shut. He looks at Athena and notices her still staring off into space, tears in her eyes.

"H-He was going to shoot me."

"No, he wasn't."

Athena lets out a breath of disbelief, "You're joking, right?" She sniffles. Her eyes skim across Dean's blank expression and her heart drops into her stomach.

"You actually believe that..." Athena looks at the toilet and she slowly shakes her head. The girl slowly stands up and brushes past Dean.

"I can't do this."

"What are you talking about?"

Athena runs over to her backpack and she starts to stuff her things into it.

Dean pulls his brows together. "No. Hell no. You are not leaving—"

"You can't stop—"

Dean snatches his bag away from her. Athena lets out a breath and she looks up at her brother. "Give it back to me."

"No."

"Dean—"

"No!"

Athena jumps, trying to reach her bag, but Dean raises it higher.

"Big meanie! Give it!"

"You're not leaving!"

"It's not like you care!"

Dean freezes and Athena jumps up once again, grabbing his wrist, tugging it down. She snatches her bag from his hand and runs over to her bed. Dean looks down at his hand and exhales.

Dean loves Athena. Of course he does. But he never got along with her. And for him it feels like it's too late to start trying to form a bond now.

"You can't survive without us."

Athena slips her bag on. "I think I'll manage."

"Athena, dad—"

"You told him to put the gun down and he hesitated, Dean!" Athena snaps her teary eyes to Dean's shaky ones. His eyes soften as she thinks about the moment. "I don't want to be here anymore. Sam was supposed to—"

"Get over it!"

Athena flinches and her jaw slams shut. Dean wipes his face and groans, his stress becoming more evident. He was trying his best trying to keep everything in order. But he was tired.

"Sam left. Because he wanted to." Dean says, his voice shaking. "And he left you here because he didn't want to have the burden of...you!"

Athena takes a step back, silence filling the room. I'm a burden.

Dean comprehends what he just said and his mouth slightly opens.

"Athy, no. I didn't mean—"

Athena sprints past Dean, ramming him to the side. She opens the door and runs into the rain.

"Shit—ATHY!"

Dean runs outside and stands in the parking lot. He tries his best, looking through the heavy rain. His breathing quickens. Dean tried to keep everything under control for who knows how long. And he just broke everything with a few heartbreaking words.

☆

Athena never imagined that she would run away. The only reason she ever stayed was because Sam promised they would both get out. But now it's like she didn't have any reason to stay.

Athena was a burden.

The little girl was pitched under a bus stop station. Her arms wrapped around herself, shivering from the wet clothes clinging to her body.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

"No. They hate me." Athena inhales a shaky breath. "Th-this is better."

Her teeth start to chatter. Chews on the inside of her cheek. Athena looks across the street, seeing the bar across from her.

We could always—

"No."

We have nothing.

Athena scratches at her wrist. She inhales a deep breath. "Desperate times..."

Desperate measures.

Athena stands up and crosses the street. She stands in front of the door of the bar, the sign plastered across it, reading 'closed'.

The girl forces her eyes to water. She rapidly knocks on the door.

"Help! Help me, please!"

Athena continues to knock on the door, her voice muffled from the heavy rain and the locked door. A small smile forms on Athena's lips when she sees a figure walking towards the door. The door opens and Athena wipes her face.

"H-Hi..."

The man looks at the girl. "I would ask you for your I.D. But it's obvious you're not of age."

"I didn't have anywhere else to go." Athena admits.

The man notices Athena's red rimmed eyes. He takes a step aside. Athena lets out a breath, "Thank you so much!"

Athena enters the bar. She stands in the middle of the bar as the man closes the door. "I'm sorry, if I bothered you."

"I was just closing up anyway." The bartender grabs the towel and hold sit out towards the girl. "You wanna tell me what happened?"

Athena places the towel over her head. "I got lost..." she grumbles, a pit forming in her stomach. Athena hated lying. But she didn't know what else to do. She was cold and hungry.

"Well, do you have a number I can call for you?" The man folds his arms.

"I'm sorry—"

"Hey, hey, hey..."

Athena looks at the man and he gives her a comforting smile.

"Don't worry about it." The man shrugs. "I'm sure if your father is near by, he'll check around here, right?"

Athena presses her lips together and nods her head. "Right." Guilt forms in her stomach.

"I'm Victor."

He holds his hand out towards her. Athena keeps her hands at her side. "I'm Athena."

Victor nods his head and lowers his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Athena."

"Would you like something to eat?" Victor asks.

"Uh, if that wouldn't be a problem." Athena fidgets with her fingers.

Victor takes one of the chairs off the table and sets it on the floor. "Take a seat."

Athena manages a small smile and sits at the table. She looks around the empty bar. The ambience was comforting to her, but the silence was deafening and it made her sink into her chair.

"Uh...here's some chips." Victor sets the bowl in front of her. "And apple juice."

Athena presses her lips into a small smile. "Thank you." She grabs the bowl and pulls it toward her.

Athena starts to eat the chips in silence.

"How'd you get the bruise?"

Athena slows her chewing, she wrists; not spotting any bruises. "What bruise?"

"Your face." Victor says.

Athena lightly touches her face and winces. "Oh..." she goes back to eating the chips.

Silence settles between them.

"Are you really lost?" Victor asks.

Athena looks at Victor. Her chest tightens. "Uh—no. I'm not lost." She rubs her palms against her jeans. "I...I ran away."

Victor keeps an unreadable expression. Athena inhales, "I just...knew I wasn't wanted." She shrugs. "So, I made a choice. For the first time ever I'm thinking about myself."

"Well..." Victor nods his head. "...good for you."

Athena presses her lips into a small smile. "I'm sorry I lied to you."

"I get it." Victor reassures Athena. "I wouldn't have let you in if you were just coming in for a drink."

Athena pulls her brows together. There was a familiar feeling talking to Victor. He reminded Athena so much of Zach, and that made her feel safe. And that made Athena not see how dangerous this situation was.

☆

Athena was a smart girl. But what people would always forget is that she was still just a kid. She would make mistakes. The young girl trusts too easily.

After a few hours of talking, Victor made a decision. "You know, we can't stay at the bar forever."

Athena pulls her brows together. "Well, I don't want to intrude or anything."

"You're not gonna intrude. I have a guest room you can stay in." Victor reassures the girl, a comforting smile on his lips.

Athena relaxes and her small smile grows. "Okay!" She exclaims.

Victor chuckles, "Anything for a friend."

Victor helped Athena with her bag to the car. "You know, I saw the pins on your back pack." He looks at the young girl.

Athena looks at the pins.

"I have a lot of comic books at my house. If you wanna take a look at them."

Athena's eyes light up, "Really?"

Victor nods his head, "Would I ever lie to you?"

Athena ignores the voice in her head. "I trust you."

Athena had never seen so many toys in her life. Everything that a child would want to have was in the room. It was something Athena was unfamiliar to. And Victor knew that.

He watched as Athena's face brightened, walking into the room. "You told me you had comic books not all of this!" She raises her hands, her eyes running across each shelf of toys. "Do you have kids?"

"I did..."

Athena turns to him, "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Oh, no. They didn't die, they just...grew up." Victor shrugs. "Lost interest."

"Oh, well, I don't get that." Athena says. "I mean, just because you grow doesn't mean you should pull away from your family." Her eyes sadden, thinking about Sam.

"I'm sorry about your brother."

Athena looks at Victor. She told him about the promise Sam made to her, and how it unraveled. It was nice having someone to talk to. Especially after losing Zach's number.

"You remind me a lot of my other friend, y'know?" Athena walks over to one of the shelves filled with books.

Victor pulls his brows together and tilts his head. "Oh, really? And who is that?"

"Zachary. Zach for short." Athena says. "He was also a bartender. He was one of the first people who actually cared about me. I think you guys would be great friends!" She looks back at Victor and he smiles.

"I bet we would."

As soon as Athena turns away from the man his smile drops.

"Hey, how about I run a bath for you?" Victor says. "And I can make you something to eat. Anything you want."

Athena chews the inside of her cheek. "I think I'm all good on food."

Victor's eyes soften, "It's okay to eat here, Athy. Promise."

Athena's stomach grumbles and she smiles softly. "Okay, I'll have a grilled cheese and strawberry milk."

"Coming right up!" Victor points at the beanbag chair. "Just sit and relax. Do whatever you please. I'll be back."

Athena runs over to the beanbag chair and sinks into it. A small giggle leaves her lips. Victor looks at the girl one more time before leaving the room.

Athena spent most of that time reading comic books, then she started building with the Lego blocks. After she was done with her bath she ate her dinner and Victor showed her to her room. "Do you need anything else?"

Athena gets under the covers and shakes her head. "I'm okay. Swear."

Victor nods his head, he placed a hand over Athena's thigh and she slightly jumps. The man pulls his hand away quickly, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Athena shakes her head. "Just shocked me, that's all."

Victor looks at the tv. "Wanna watch a movie?"

Athena inhales, "I'm actually super tired."

"Oh, come on!" Victor pokes at her sides and she giggles. "You can't watch one movie? It can be anything you want."

Athena's eyes light up, "Can we watch Scooby-Doo?!"

Victor laughs, "Fortunately for you, I have the episodes."

Victor gets the show ready. He sits on the edge of the bed next to Athena.

As time went by with each episode, Victor would scoot closer and closer to the little girl. Athena felt her eyelids grow heavy, until she finally fell asleep. Her head fell to the side, landing on Victor's arm.

☆

Each day that went past was always the same. Victor and Athena would bond, laugh, watch tv, read, eat junk food. But as time went on, Athena grew weary about her father and eldest brother. The girl would express her concerns with Victor, but he would keep telling her that since she hadn't heard from them yet; they didn't want her back. And she started to believe him.

Athena contemplated on trying to call Dean's cell, then she noticed there were no phones around. And when she asked Victor to call her brother, he got cold. It was the first time she saw him act in a negative way. It scared her. As soon as that happened, Athena's subconscious grew louder in her head.

Get out of there.

So, Athena started to pack her bag. As soon as Athena was done, she zipped her bag and turned around. Athena jumps, seeing Victor standing in the doorway.

"Going somewhere?"

Athens swallows, "Uh, I appreciate you letting me stay here for a few weeks. But...I have to go back home."

Victor looks down, "Athena, we've talked about this—"

"I know, but..." Athena presses her lips into a firm line and shrugs. "They're my family. And...I know how much my brother worries. He's a worrier."

"So you've said." Victor says. "But, Athy, for everything you have told me...he worries about everything and everyone, but you."

Athena pulls her brows together. "What? No—he worries about me. He just never wants to admit it."

"You don't know that."

"I know you're just trying to help me, Victor. But I know my own brother." Athena slips her backpack on.

Victor inhales a deep breath, trying to keep himself calm. "There's nothing I can do to change your mind, huh?"

Athena shakes her head, "No, sir."

Victor nods his head, he looks at his watch. "Okay, I get it...you need to leave. I just...I thought I was gonna be able to show you the surprise..." his stance becomes sad.

Athena's back straightens. "Surprise? What surprise?"

"Ah. It's nothin'." Victor waves a dismissive hand. "I mean you're leaving now, y'know? You're growing up...just like my other kids that left."

Guilt rises in the young girl. She grips the straps of her bag. She couldn't leave him like this. Victor helped her these last few weeks. Now, she had to help him. "Uh...you can show me the surprise." She says. "I just...really need to go after—"

"Of course!" Victor's attitude brightens. "You can go after that, I promise!" He holds his hand out to the girl.

Athena smiles and takes his hand. Victor guides her through the house. They make their way down the stairs, and he leads her to the pantry.

"So...what's the surprise?"

"It's not really a surprise if I tell you, now is it?"

Athena chuckles, "I guess not..."

Victor opens a door in the pantry, leading to basement stairs. He stops and turns on the light, revealing the creaky wooden stairs. Athena tilts her head. "I didn't know you had a basement."

"Yeah, I made it myself."

Athena smiles, "It's like you can do everything!"

Victor smiles, "You have no idea."

He starts down the stairs, each step creaking. He stops and turns to the girl, "Come on. We're almost there."

Athena looks at the stairs then back at Victor's warm smile, instinctively she smiles and follows him down the stairs. Victor takes a step aside so Athena was the first one down the stairs. She lands on the cement floor with a huff and looks away the basement.

The girl pulls her brows together, looking around the empty basement. Her eyes land on the bed in the corner with chains.

"Uh, Victor—"

The door slams shut. Athena snaps her eyes over to the closed door at the top of the stairs. She walks up the stairs and grabs the doorknob. The girl twists the doorknob.

Locked.

Athena knocks on the door. "V-Victor?" She calls out. "Can you open the door, please?"

"I'm sorry, Athy."

Athena pulls her brows together. "I have to...I have to go see my family—I want to go to my family. Open the door!" She pulls at the door knob.

Silence is heard on the other side of the door. Athena's breathing quickens and her knocks on the door soon become bangs.

"Victor! Let me go!"

The girl continues to bang in the door. Slowly, Athena starts to piece everything together and tears form in her eyes.

"LIAR! YOU LIAR!"

She kicks at the door and rams her body against it. Suddenly, the girl feels a wave of nausea wash over her and she stops. Her head becomes light headed and she stumbles.

"Wh..." her vision blurs and she grips the railing and slowly stumbles down the stairs. She makes it to the cement floor and falls to the ground. Her eyes stare at the blurry basement ceiling, remembering the food she had earlier.

He drugged her.

Athena sees the door to the basement open and Victor walks down the stairs. He crouches down next to her and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Athy, I care about—"

"You...you lied to me." Athena uses her declining strength to try and move away from the man. "You lied to me and kidnapped me..."

Athena's throat starts to close up and she inhales. "You have to let me go." She begs. "Please, my family—"

"Doesn't care about you." Victor says.

Athena swallows.

"Your father hurts you; your brother, Dean, he hates you, and Sam...he broke your promise. He saved himself."

"You manipulated—"

"I SAVED YOU!" Victor grabs the girl's face, forcing her to look at him.

Athena lets out a pain filled cry and flinches. "Let me go!"

Victor's eyes widen and he lets Athena go. "I-I'm sorry..." he goes to cup her face, but she pulls away from him.

"I want to go home." Athena sobs.

"This is your home."

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Author's Note:

It's sad that the first chapter I uploaded since a couple weeks ago is this dark...

You can text this number if you want to talk to someone about being a witness or a victim of child abuse. <3

1-800-4224453