Chapter Text
Danielle was born in London, UK, to a tight-mob family. She is the only daughter of Philip 'Phil' Wolfe (Harvey Keitel) and Elizabeth Wolfe (Olivia Colman), she is the only sibling and younger sister to her older brother, John (who is two years older than her). Phil and Elizabeth were totally strict on their only children, their views on their own children were the same as their views on other people.
Sometimes, Phil and Elizabeth physically abused their children (to show them who is in control), and mainly to gain respect from their children. Although the physical beatings happened in their own home, John and Danielle stuck together. They even refused to gain friends as their parents wouldn't have approved of it, in a way, John and Danielle became each other's protector.
Eventually, John rebelled against the mob and stood upto his father; "You can't bully me anymore, and nor can you bully my sister." John said to his father, which only enraged Phil more.
"You are my son, and I will not let a coward like you talk back to me." Phil responded before beating his son to a pulp.
*Danielle's voice is heard*
"After that day, my older brother left the house (taking the secrets with him). John was twelve years old when he left and I was ten years old. A couple of months after my fourteenth birthday, my dad got a promotion (within the mob) and he was transferred to Rosewood, Pennysylvania. So we packed our bags and left, I had to leave my friends behind, but most of all I was leaving my older brother. We had no idea where he was and I missed him terribly."
//////////
We arrived in Rosewood, PA, and I unfastened my belt and got out of the car. As I stood in the field, my heart stopped beating for a while, everything that was in London was now gone and I had to get used to being in Rosewood. After unpacking my stuff, I decorated my bedroom and put the picture of me and John on my bedside table.
"Sweetheart?!" My father said after knocking on my door.
I glanced up to look at him, quickly standing to attention and waiting for his permission to allow me to speak.
"At ease! Sir yes sir." I replied before standing in the new position. "I will be watching when you are not at home, also you will have bodyguards to take you everywhere." He said, as I secretly seethed inside, "Yes sir." I responded as he smiled, "Good girl." Said my father before leaving my room.
I sat on the bed and screamed into my pillow, nothing was ever gonna change and I wasn't happy about it. It was enough to suffocate myself, and bodyguards was the icing on my (already) dull life with my parents.
That evening (at teatime) we ate in silence, as we did everytime. I was brought up with the saying that, 'Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard'. Afterwards, my mother took the plates away and I was left with my dad (alone), yes he was my father but I was terrified of him.
"Tomorrow, you will be driven to school by a bodyguard and you will be starting at Rosewood High School." He said sternly as I daren't speak out of turn, and so I nodded at him, "Good, now go and have a bath." I got up quickly and sprinted out of the kitchen, I lived my life on egg shells and I was constantly fearing my parents' when they were angry.
//////////
After my bath, I got dried and dressed. Taking my dirty clothes downstairs and placing them in the washer, then I went back upstairs and climbed on my bed. I was reading something when my mother came into my room;
"Your father tells me that you have accepted the new school, is that you?" She asked me as I looked at her.
"Yes Ma'am." I responded to her as she smiled at me, "Good girl. We love you and we want what's best for you!" My mother replied, while hinting that I was now an only child, and I was expected to take over from my father when he passes away.
"What about John, mother? He's my brother and your son." I replied, as she slapped me round the face, "You do not/ nor do you ever mention your brother's name in my presence or your father's presence, do you understand me?" I clinched my cheek as it stung from the slap and I forced my tears back.
"Yes Ma'am, I'm sorry Ma'am." I said as she stood up, "Good, now there will be no talk of John in this household anymore. Get some rest, you have school in the morning." With that my mother walked out of my bedroom and I went into my en bathroom and put some cold water on my cheek.
My parents had completely froze John out of their lives, even disowning him for turning his back on the mob and to be honest, I was beginning to do the same. John is my brother and I love him, I snuck downstairs to hear my parents talking about my brother, and I was absolutely disgusted by them.
"I don't know what is happening to her? Danielle has this silly idea that John is coming back and he isn't, he betrayed us and everything we are as a mob family." My mother said as my father agreed.
"I will deal with it, right now let's just focus on her and getting her settled into this school." Replied my father as I felt sick to the core and then I went back upto my bedroom as they hugged each other.
As I closed my bedroom door, I grabbed a small box from my cabinet drawer and I opened it. Inside the box was a golden locket that John gave me to me before he left, the inscription read; "Love You Always Dani" I smiled a little as I put the necklace on and I returned the box to the drawer.
//////////
I was awoken the following morning to the sounds of birds chirping, I got in the bath and got dressed for school, before heading downstairs, I put the locket inside my t-shirt (to hide it from my parents). The locket was all I had left of my brother, and I still believed that one day, he was gonna return and save me from our vile parents.
As with every morning, we ate breakfast in silence and then I was driven to school. I stared out of the window and gazed upon the greeny fields that passed. A few moments later, the bodyguard pulled up at the school and we were met by the headteacher, Mrs Harcourt.
"Good morning Danielle, I'm Mrs Harcourt and I will be showing you around the school." She said as we shook hands, I became shy immediately and then walked with her to the school reception. Then she took me on a tour of the school and I felt more nervous each time, nevertheless I met the teachers and I rarely spoke to them.
Mrs Harcourt then left me with the teacher, Mr Sharwood and he was funny. After pairing me with a guy (who I later figured out was the popular stud of the school), I remained silent and I agreed with him on many things.