Hidden Within

More pain

The sound of my Aunts car pulling into the drive sends shivers up my spine as I quickly make my way to the front door before she opens it. My heart pounded in my ears as I silently waited on my designated spot for her to enter.

If I'm not exactly in the right position, I'll be punished for my insolence. This is the life I have lived since I was six years old. I didn't know my father, but I do very vaguely remember my mother. I know that she loved me and showed me kindness, but I can never understand why she left me here with her monster of a sister.

Within the first two days of being here my aunt told me "Your w***e of a mother got herself killed and left you here, so now you're going to earn your keep". That day was the day I learnt that my life will be hell, she beat me so hard for crying I collapsed.

I anxiously shifted on my feet as I hear my aunt approaching the front door. I don't think I can manage another beating right now, I was so hungry. I can't remember the last time I had eaten and my body was so weak.

The years of abuse and lack of sustaince showed on my frail body, every bone sticking out, dull green eyes, pale sickly complexion and long dry auburn hair. I guess I could have been really beautiful if I'd grown up differently, but I never got the chance. Eighteen in less than a week, and all I dream of is to go to sleep and not wake up.

My aunt opens the door, completely ignoring me and storming past. I would breathe a sigh of relief, but I know I am not that lucky. She makes her way to the kitchen and I silently follow waiting for her next command just as her daughter waltzes down the stairs.

My cousin isn't that bad in the sense that she doesn't participate in my beatings. She just provides my aunt with more reasons to beat me.

"How was you're day sweet heart?" my aunt asks her.

I drift off as they continue to ignore my presence. That was my mistake.

SLAP, my head goes swinging to the side as I breathe in a sharp inhale. I shouldn't have drifted off.

"You useless mutt, look at me when I am talking to you," she spits out in her venomous tone.

"Sorry, mam." I weakly splutter out.

"I can already tell you haven't done everything I left for you. My instructions were clear." she hisses accusingly.

I try so hard to think what I could have missed but I'm sure I did everything. My body starts to tremble because I know I am doomed regardless of whether I did everything or not.

"Sorry, mam, what have I forgotten? I can do it immediately." I whisper.

"Look around, fool." she yells while fisting my hair and turning my head to face the sink.

My heart stops when I see the dishes Courtney left in the sink. How could I be so stupid. I should have double-checked, but I didn't even hear Courtney come down earlier. Must have been when I was scrubbing the bathroom.

"Sorry, please. I didn't know Courtney had used any dishes!" I pleaded.

"MUTT, you dare use my daughter for an excuse not to do what you're told!" she screeches while dragging me towards the basement.

My body is trembling as I'm dragged by my hair to the stairs, I try to steady myself so I don't fall down the stairs but my body is too weak to move quick enough. I'm shoved hard in the back and fall down into darkness.

I'm jolted awake by the feeling of cold metal on my wrists and the burn in the small amount of muscle on my skinny arms. Why my mind betrayed me and made me wake up, I do not know, but I can tell it won't be for long anyway as my body dangles from chains attached to the basement roof.

As my eyes slowly take in the situation, I see my aunt has a bat in her hands. This bat in particular, is made just for me. The sick b***h put barbed wire around it.

My whole body starts quivering and I start to plead.

"Please I'm sorry, I promise I'll be better. I'll do better." My weak voice desperately calls out to her.

My desperation falls on deaf ears as she wickedly grins at me.

"You stupid MUTT, do you really think I care about the dishes in the sink?. I don't I just get pleasure from watching you suffer because everytime I look at you I see that w***e of a mother of yours. My precious sister and her precious daughter. Ha pathetic. I wish she could see how pitiful you are!" she spits and swings the bat.

The bat connects with my right knee as I hear a sickening crack.

"Arghh," I scream as tears start streaming down my face.

My knee cap is surely shattered, but the weirdest part is that no matter how badly she hurts me, my body always heals itself. I should have been dead years ago but somehow, my body manages to heal every broken bone I received within a few days.

"Your b***h of a mother took everything from me!" she yells while swinging the bat again, this time lodging the barbs into my back.

"You're defiantly the only b***h around here!" I scream as she jiggles the barbed bat out of my back.

I should not have said that but my body betrayed me and the small amount of adrenalin I got from the pain she caused made my mouth speak before my brain could stop it.

"You filthy MUTT, how dare you speak to me like that." she yells while swinging the bat into my left knee, shattering that one too.

"Your mother, the gifted one, so special my parents adoured her and forgot all about me. She took them away from me but if that wasn't enough, she took my husband away too. Destined mates, they claimed! Rubbish, freak show, abomination she was." she spits with pure hatred.

"I have no idea what you're talking about but if I was your husband, I'd leave to!" I respond difiantly.

I know I shouldn't have responded from the evil look in her eyes. She starts swinging the bat relentlessly into any part of my body she can reach.

She laughs like a lunatic "I wish she could see you now, her baby girl. Things really worked out for her. She pants in between hits. After she stole my husband, she got that i***t killed and had to beg me to take you in before she got herself killed!"

My consciousness starts to slip away as I feel warm blood all over my body. I am not even sure which parts are bleeding and which bones are broken. It all just hurts and I feel so tired.

My aunt still rambles but the hits have stopped while she stares at me, waiting for the life to drain out of me, I suspect.

"You're not special at all mutt." she whispers.

I can't see straight anymore but it almost looked like my aunt was now crying. Why would she cry? It's definitely not for me, I think.

"You're pathetic. Look at you bleeding just like the animal you are! I would give almost anything for that woman to see what I have done to you!"

I can barely hear her. My ears are thumping loudly as unconsciousness is taking over.

"Just a few more days and that wolf inside you will miss it's chance to surface and I'll finally be able to hurt you beyond repair." she rambles.

Wolf? huh, either I'm losing my mind or she is. What does she mean, wolf? I start smiling as my eyes flutter, unable to keep them open anymore. I give in and allow myself the peace of total darkness to creep in.