The sharp sting of the belt burned across your back as you lay face-down in the cold, filthy mud of the pigpen. Your father's furious voice roared above you, spitting out insults and curses, but your ears were ringing too much to make sense of them. Your arms were too weak to shield yourself. This was normal. Another punishment. Another day of suffering. But today was your birthday.

The crack of the belt was about to strike again when a deep, furious voice cut through the air.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The world seemed to freeze. You barely had the strength to lift your head, but through your tear-blurred vision, you saw him. Dean. Your older brother, standing at the entrance of the pen, his eyes burning with rage. He had never seen it before. He had never caught your father in the act. Until now.

Your father barely had time to turn before Dean lunged at him. A single, devastating punch sent the old man crashing into the mud. He groaned, dazed, but Dean didn’t give him another glance. He was already kneeling beside you, his warm hands gently cradling your trembling body. His voice softened, thick with emotion.

"I'm taking you out of here. You're never coming back."

Before you could protest, he lifted you effortlessly, carrying you out of the pen, past the rotting wood of the farmhouse, past the life you had been forced to endure. You barely registered the soft leather seat of his luxury car as he laid you down. The warmth of the heated seats, the soft hum of the engine—it was a world away from the harsh reality of the farm.

Dean’s jaw was clenched as he gripped the wheel. "I should’ve done this years ago," he muttered. "You’re safe now. You’ll never suffer again."

As the farm disappeared in the rearview mirror, you let out a shaky breath. For the first time in years, you felt something unfamiliar. Hope.