Escape my ruthless past.

Chapter Seventeen (Trigger warning)

* Mauve's POV *

The sound of Uncle Ernie and Aunt Clarissa's voices brought me back to reality. I had stayed out later than I had planned, and I knew they wouldn't be happy about it. As I heard them come through the door, I decided it would be best to keep out of their way. I tiptoed around my room, trying to avoid any confrontation.

"Hello, who's there?" Clarissa shouted out. I could hear footsteps heading towards my door, and I quickly grabbed a school book, pretending to study. My door flew open, and Clarissa stood there, looking at me in shock.

"I'm sorry if I was being too loud," I said quietly.

"Ernie, get your arse here. Look what the cat dragged in," she said with a smirk.

"Well, well, well, finished whoring yourself out have you and decided to come back to us, come to scrounge?" Ernie spat.

"I was gone one night, I'm so sorry, I was at my friend Rose's and lost track of time, I must have fallen asleep," I said, trying to explain myself.

Slap a hand connects right with my cheek.

"FALLEN ASLEEP, WHAT FOR THREE f*****g MONTHS?? DO YOU THINK WE'RE STUPID?" Clarissa yelled.

I had no idea what they were talking about. I thought they were being dramatic about one night.

"WELL??? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Ernie said, pulling my head backwards, causing me to gag from the alcohol on his breath.

"I told you, I was at Rose's. I didn't think one night would be a problem. I'm sorry," I said, panic in my voice.

"You are delusional, girl, stop playing dumb. Three months and nothing, we've had to deal with people knocking, calling asking questions," Clarissa stated.

I didn't know what to say. I was in shock and afraid of what they might do next.

Before I knew it, I was being dragged down the corridor,down the stairs, every step causing pain in my side. Ernie pulled me to my feet and over to the full sink, dunked my head under the water, and held me there. I pushed back and tried to gasp for air, but I couldn't, and I swallowed and choked on the water. He lifted my head and then thumped it off the side, all the time screaming about how he had to do the cleaning. Blood was pouring down my face.

Just as I thought he had had enough, he chucked me across the dining room table, and I landed on the wooden chair, which shattered, causing a sharp, agonising pain in my side. I braved and looked down, and a sharp bit of wood was embedded in my side.

"Leave her Ernie, she is stressing you out. I'll grab you a beer, sit on the couch, and watch some tele," Clarissa said calmly as she walked to the fridge.

As she did, she kicked me in the side, right where the bit of wood was stuck, embedding it further. "Fuckkkk," I barely screamed.

I found myself crawling, desperately trying to escape a torturous situation. My body ached, my skin was raw, and I could barely breathe. The pain was unbearable, but my longing for freedom and my love for my parents gave me the strength to continue.

My parents were always there for me, supporting and loving me unconditionally. I missed them dearly, and I yearned for their comfort during this horrific ordeal. As I slid along the floor, I felt a surge of emotions and pain, but I refused to give up. I had to keep going.

In my attempt to reach the backdoor, I stumbled upon a kitchen shelf, grabbing onto it in a desperate attempt to pull myself up. However, the shelf gave way, and I was engulfed by a shower of shattered glasses, their edges tearing into my skin. The pain was excruciating, but I barely noticed, driven by the need to escape.

"MAUVE, YOU USELESS b***h!" Clarissa's voice echoed through the room, and I felt a hand roughly yank me to my feet. I was dragged outside, my clothes torn and tattered, and tossed unceremoniously onto the ground like a piece of trash.

As I lay there, pleading for mercy, my eyes began to close, and I felt myself slipping away. Just as I surrendered to the darkness,

* Rose's POV *

It was just another ordinary day until I found myself staring at the picture of me and Mauve, pinned to my wall, with a heavy heart. "Gods, I miss her," I whispered to myself. "Goddess, let her return to me, please," I pleaded.

As the evening approached, I was heading out for a games night at Mike's house. But something compelled me to take a different route, a decision that would change the course of the night. The smell of blood filled the air, leading me to a gruesome discovery - a lifeless body lying on the pavement, covered in blood.

I panicked, unsure of what to do or who to call. In that moment of distress, I mindlinked my mother, knowing that she would be my best source of help. "Oh hell, oh hell," I murmured as I awaited her response. She instructed me to remain calm and focused, guiding me through the situation.

The roar of an engine pierced the silence as a car spun around the corner. I felt a wave of relief wash over me upon seeing my mother emerge from the vehicle and rush towards me. She held me close and pressed a kiss to my forehead, her voice steady as she instructed, "Right, love, help me put the body in the car. I need you to focus." I simply nodded and, together, we gently lifted the stranger's lifeless form, placing them in the back seat.

As we sped towards the hospital, my heart raced, and my mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts. I barely registered the subtle groan that escaped the person's lips, but it was enough to make my heart leap. We managed to situate their body in the back of the car as we continued our frantic journey.

Upon our arrival at the hospital, I watched as my mother dashed inside, desperate to find assistance. I slowly opened the car door and reached for the person's face, carefully brushing a few strands of hair aside. My breath hitched, and I released an agonized scream as I recognized the face that stared back at me.

"Mauve!"