To Torment You, Oh Dear Sister

CHAPTER 1

“Mom, mom, look what I made!”

A big cheerful smile was seen across the young girl’s face as she made massive strides with her little feet. The mother, who was comfortably seated on the picnic mat on the ground, looked at her young one with adoration as she watched her run towards her.

“Oh, careful!” Elena spread her arms wide to her daughter, who almost tripped along the way, and welcomed her with a warm hug.

The little child laughed when she felt herself hit her mother’s soft physique. She then looked up to her as she proudly presented a piece of paper in her hand, “This was back in the lake dad and I just visited! Isn’t it beautiful?”

The woman’s eyes squinted as she examined the paper that was handed to her. There was a slight pause for a moment, then a moment turning into a while of silence. Only the sound of the birds and the breeze were heard, and Elena didn’t show any signs of reactions or responses to her daughter’s work.

When the little girl took notice of the lack of reply from her mother, she carefully peeked to the side with both curiosity and worry, “Mom? Is it… that bad?”

Elena sternly gazed at the sheet in front of her and her orbs shifted to look at her concerned daughter. Slowly, a delighted grin formed on her lips and she let out a chuckle, “My, oh my, did little Vivian draw another picture for me? How thoughtful! And it looks so magnificent that it left me quite speechless!”

Processing what she has just said, the 7-year-old was finally able to breathe in relief before giggling at her mother’s playful demeanor, “Please don’t scare me like that again!”

Elena laughed heartily at her retort, running her hand through her little one’s golden locks, “Awe, I’m so sorry honey.”

She then leaned in and planted a small kiss on Vivian’s forehead before taking a look at her drawing one more time, “I’ll definitely put this in my special treasure box, where I’ve kept all your sketches into collection!”

It wasn’t just any light-hearted remark when Elena said that. Her daughter’s illustrations have genuinely amazed her as, even other people agree, her crafts can be recognized as actually having a remarkable sense of art. And although they weren’t anything comparable yet to that of a professional artist, they realized that they were beyond what a normal child of her age can do.

Yet, what made her creations more special to her was because little Vivian’s drawings were always intended for her mother to receive. Their small family occasionally takes a stroll in the forest to have a picnic, and while Vivian and her father wander on the farther sides of the woods, Elena stayed behind to keep an eye on the food basket and the other materials that they have brought.

Because she was always left behind, the young girl always drew on a piece of paper the place she and her father went to so that the mother could still see the astonishing scenery.

Her love for drawing was always a gift, and it never failed to warm Elena’s heart.

However, there were times when people in the village suggested to the couple that they could present Vivian to the empire. Already given her talent with drawing, they said that their Highnesses could acknowledge her to be taken in and significantly improve more of her skills. It would be a potential great future for her!

But Elena always refused them. Other than her not being exactly fond of the empire and its rather iniquitous system, she also couldn’t bear the idea of submitting her daughter as if proposing to the king who would reward her for presenting a trophy.

‘How could those people think that it’s that easy?’ the woman’s eyes darkened at the thought while she caressed her sweet child’s back, having her arms wrapped around her small form once again as if trying to protect her from those who dared take her away.

Snap! Snap!

Suddenly, Elena broke away from her thoughts as she heard the noise of twigs cracking. Looking to where it was coming from, a set of footsteps started to resonate louder and louder, indicating that someone was approaching her place. A few branches of the plants were moved to clear up the path, and there revealed the person who came to visit her.

“Oliver!” Elena beamed at the return of her husband.

At the sound of his name, Vivian eagerly glanced at the direction to where her father was while still being under her mother’s wing. The child gave him a peculiar look and pointed her index finger towards him, “Dad, where have you been? You said you were right behind me!”

Oliver hoisted up his load a little bit, which he revealed to them a cluster of logs that were tied up together by a thin string, “I saw a lot of wood along the way. I figured to come back for them since these can help us with the incoming winter.”

He then placed the load down before marching to where his two beloved girls were, taking a seat down next to them. His hand grabbed a sandwich from the basket of food when he noticed that Elena was grasping a piece of paper.

“She showed you already?” grinning slightly, the man took a bite of the sandwich in his clasp while looking at her. The wife could tell from his gaze that he was also proud of the artwork his daughter has made, and she couldn’t help but shake her head as she rolled her eyes to the side with a chortle.

“Of course she did, she practically almost tripped when she ran towards me!”

Unknowingly, the youngster kept looking at her parents while they chatter as if she was observing them. And although she has yet but only a juvenile comprehension, she was fully aware of the emotion that she was feeling right now.

Happiness.

Living in the village, taking strolls in the nearby peaceful forest, having picnics, and making joyful laughters. It was as simple as life can get where it was only the three of them together. Even if they weren’t living like royalty, being in a castle like a princess or riding a fancy carriage to transport to places, the three of them were already enough for the young child.

They were like the ideal happy family one could ever wish for.

And oh, how little Vivian wanted this to last forever.

***

Clink clack!

The sounds of plates crashing and glasses shattering on the floor reverberated across the whole room. The desperate cries of a woman mixed with an indignant and furious voice of a man’s; the scene innately unfolded like a nightmare.

Vivian stood hidden behind a wall as she saw her mother lied on the floor with her body having an atrocious position. Her skin was discolored with black and blue and her left cheek had a visibly large cut due to the broken glass.

The child’s eyes were widened as she continued to watch the sight in front of her. And while she peered closely to see the face of the abuser, she realized that it was none other than her father.

‘But why?’

She couldn’t speak nor could she move, for the little girl instinctively feared the thought of doing any action could attract harm to her. She was bewildered by what was happening, however, her tears couldn’t stop falling and were flowing helplessly down her sweet rosy cheeks.

‘Why is this happening?’

Oliver stared down at his wife, his face devoid of any sorrow or guilt. Even after hurting her, her appearance irritated him so much that he murmured a string of curses beneath his breath. With violent force, he then pushed open the front door and left the house without saying anything more.

Now silence engulfed the whole place.

No other noise was heard. Just the melody of the evening wind gently blowing in through the doorway.

Elena noticed Vivian peeking from behind the wall and she carefully rose up in a sitting position on the floor. She turned her body towards her, and even though she was in great pain and agony, she smiled at her as if the child was the loveliest being she had ever seen in her life.

The woman extended her arms to her, just like she always does. And with that simple gesture, Vivian quickly rushed to embrace her in a warm hug. Her tears were still overflowing and Elena stroked her small head softly in hopes to comfort her.

“There, there, child. Mommy is here for you.”

Hearing her say sweet nothings to her despite that her voice was sore and hoarse, Vivian wept even more. It has nearly become a daily occurrence since her father began the abuse. He occasionally attempted to hit her, but her mother always came to her rescue, which is why she was mostly the victim of his cruelty.

But nobody knows why or how the man, who was meant to take care and look after his family, turned into a ruthless individual.

‘Was it because mom was often arguing with dad?’ Vivian thought to herself, desperate to find an answer. Her mind was telling her the truth that she already knew, but her heart was saying otherwise. She wanted to believe that he had an actual reason as to why he would harm them, because she wasn’t ready to accept that her own father was a monster who is without regret.

‘But is this really an enough reason to hurt us?’

Suddenly, the little girl felt a touch on her hand and looked up to see her mother intertwining her fingers with hers. Her senses refocused back to reality, and she felt the silence of her surroundings once more. Beneath the beautiful moonlight that shone from above, it was only the two of them together in the night and she felt so peaceful.

‘That’s right… as long as I have mom.’

Vivian stopped sobbing as she noticed her vision starting to become fuzzy. She was having a slight headache from her crying, so it wasn't long before her eyelids were gradually closing. In a moment, everything went black and she fell into a deep slumber.

***

Birds.

Rustling of leaves.

A warm feeling on her skin.

She slowly opened her eyes, awakened by the sensations given by her surroundings. Immediately, Vivian’s hand made its way above her face, striving to cast a shadow on her eyes as she blocked what seemed to be the sun's blazing rays. When her eyesight finally adjusted to the brightness of the scene, she realized that she was still in the same place where she had fallen asleep.

The cemetery.

Arising in a seated pose, her head gently turned to the side as she caught a glimpse of a stone she had come to visit frequently. On that very stone, carved the name "Elena Hulderrich", marking the place of her mother's grave.

‘Mom, I miss you so much…’ Vivian's eyes welled up as she recalled the dream earlier from when she and her mother were still together.

It's been exactly two years since she passed because of a dreadful illness, and at that time, she was unable to ask for help from anyone who could cure her. Because of her father's mistreatment of her as well, her health quickly deteriorated, which eventually led to her death.

The girl then hugged her knees and she stayed as close to the tomb as she could, seeking for solace. From time to time, her hand blandly scratched anywhere on her skin that was covered in itchy wounds and bruises. Now that her mother was gone, she was the next victim of her father’s aggression. And every single day, she had no choice but to be subjected to his violence at home.

It was the main reason why Vivian visited the cemetery so often, to get away.

But deprived of sleep, hungry, and suffering from the injuries she sustained, her situation left her no choice but to just wait, too, for her death as she thought about joining her mother in heaven.

Where all her struggles and misery would vanish, and especially to finally be back in the presence of the person she loved the most.