THREE
997 Words
The next day, I woke up to the scent of hot tea. I rubbed my eyes a little, bringing back my conscience and reigniting my sight to the fullest. I turned to my left, and there on the side table was a tray. The tray contained a cup of ginseng tea and an expensive dish of rabbit soup and fleshy meat, just the way I like it. There was no sight of the stranger, only a note sticking out beside the plate.
It read, "Dear Mary, we might not have known each other for long, but meeting you has been the best time of my life. I wish I could stay a lot longer, but my people need me, and I promise that someday we will meet, and then I will never let go of you. Your stranger:". He wanted to hide his identity from me. Not like I cared, but it seems appropriate for me to know his name.
I returned home after breakfast. My parents burst into laughter upon seeing me once more. My stepmother, Annie, wasn't the type to give up whenever it came to insults, and this was the right timing for her to up her game.
"The newest mate in the blue moon pack has arrived," she clapped her hands slowly as she moved closer to me. It was her way of telling me that she was prepared. I ignored her, heading straight to my room. She grabbed me, landing a hot slap on my cheek without haste. I stepped back, holding my left cheek, while gazing at her.
"Did you think you would ever leave this house? This is where you would rot your wretched piece of thrash," she yelled again. She raised her hands once more, but I was faster this time, holding her hand in midair. "The fact that your daughter got my lover doesn't mean you will always get me. I am not your slave, and never will I be," I said, throwing her hand away. She gazed at me with fear written all over her; she never thought I would be able to stand up against her.
I thought that would stop her, but it just brought out the hidden devil in her. She began sending me on various errands, and she humiliated me wherever I went.
"Mary, how about you get a drink for our visitors?" she had asked me one night when Kevin and Jessica had visited. I couldn't disobey, and it had already been two months since the mating ceremony. I knew we would still cross paths, but I never thought it would be so soon.
"Mrs. Anderson, I am here to give you my respect. Jessica has been the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I assure you that I will take care of her forever," Kevin started.
"My son-in-law sees what my daughter is capable of. What would we be saying if you had married a weakling like Mary?" she replied. They all burst into laughter except my father, who found it offensive.
"Here is your drink; enjoy," I said, dropping the drink on the center table and moving away.
"You seem furious, Mary. Are you still feeling terrible for being rejected by Kevin in front of everyone during the mating ceremony?" Jessica's voice stopped me in my tracks. I preferred silence when it came to things like this, so I let out a smile as a response.
"Don't you think he deserves me, or do you still hinder feelings for him?" she pestered. My father was becoming pissed by her questions and was retiring to bed to avoid being tainted.
"Jessica, my dear, don't talk to her like that. She isn't worth your time", Annie derailed the matter, gazing at me like I was up to mischief.
"I will be in my room." I faked a smile before turning to leave.
"Get back here," my aunt ordered. I gave her a death glare before heading off to my room. It was insulting but worth it.
Kevin left by midnight for a meeting, leaving Jessica with Annie. Not long after that, the door of my room creaked open. I could see two shadows by the wall, and from their shape, they were women. Before I could get off the bed, they both grabbed me, hitting me with hard objects.
"This is what you get for trying to be strong." I could hear Annie's voice as the hit continued.
"Why don't you just die, weakling?" Jessica said in the background. I couldn't see them as my hands were protecting my head, blocking my sight.
I wiggled as they hit me. Pain thrust through my body, and I found myself yelling. I got tired of getting hit and stopped wiggling; my body stopped moving, and my eyes were beginning to close. Maybe this was it; maybe it was time for me to meet my mom.
"Mary, Mary, are you awake?" Jessica called out to me. My sight was blurry at first, but after some time, I could see. From the smell of the room, I could tell that we weren't at home. The room was painted white, and the fluorescent lamp was there to light it all up.
"Is this the afterlife?" I asked.
"You make me laugh; you're in a hospital," Jessica explained.
"If I am in a hospital, then why are you here, and why isn't your mother with you?" I inquired, not believing her words.
"You passed out..." I cut her off. "You guys ganged up on me while I was resting, and I passed out.".
She flinched a little before continuing, "I won't say it like that, but yeah.".
"You little wench," Annie came in, grabbing me by the collar.
"Mam, this is a hospital; you can't do this," the doctor said, holding her back from tearing me up.
"What did I do?" I gasped for air as she left my collar.
"How dare you get pregnant?".
- Writer
