World Upside-down

Memories Come Flooding back

All of a sudden, something breaks, like a damn in my head images, pictures, memories start flooding my mind. Everything from the past 4 years fly through my mind. I fall to the flood holding onto my chest. I feel like I can't breathe, it hurts, then suddenly everything goes black. I can see everything. Everything from my past. Everything Up until the day I was taken.

I'm on the street begging for food. My foster dad kicked me out yet again. I still remember the smirk on Maddy's face. f**k I wanted to punch her teeth in. I can hear the sobs coming from Mrs. Engel. She was supposed to protect me. I thought she loved me, but I guess she was no match against the greater evil. A man approached me, he told me he was a doctor, and that he was going to help me forget all the bad that's happened to me. That man was Landon. Everything went black. I remember it all now.

I wake up, in the fetal position crying. How could he do this to me? Why did I deserve this? What could I have possible done?

The woman is no longer there. I can't believe this. Four whole years of my life, gone. How am I supposed to get those years back? No, I can't I have to start over. Right here, right now. I won't let him win. It's my turn now.

I hear footsteps approaching so I quickly jump onto the bed and pretend to be asleep. I hear the door open as Landon walks in and gently caresses my cheek. I try not to shudder under his touch. Disgusted that this man thinks he has the right to touch me after everything he'd done.

"Princess, it's time for lunch, would you care to join me?" He asks, not that I even have a choice.

He reaches out his hand which I accept as to not make him aware that I know. I know just what he's done. All the years of torture, manipulation. The years that he took from me. I know what I need to do, and I start tomorrow.

"Landon?" I say suddenly as we sit down to eat.

"Yes princess?" He asks Not bothering to look at me but instead focuses on his food.

"Am I free to use the workout room whenever I'd like? I'd like to get stronger, get healthier if that's okay with you? I don't want to feel weak anymore. I want to be healthy. I want to become the girl you deserve. One worthy of your love. In this state I just feel pathetic and unworthily."

He looks up at me with surprise on his face, and then side smiles. "Princess this place is all yours, mine and yours, and as long as you keep to the terms set for you, you are free to go wherever you choose!"

I smile at him and jump up, rushing over to give him a hug and quick kiss on the cheek, finally, I'm going to start my training and take this asshole down.

"Thank you." I say and back down to start eating my food.

When lunch was done, I went over an sat on the couch in the sitting area, Unsure of what to do next. I look around room until I spot a bookshelf. I get up and walk over to it to try and find a book that interests me. Once I find one, I walk back over and resume sitting on the couch to read.

It's a story about a warrior princess called "Amazing Girl." She's from Atlantis. She has superhuman powers she was gifted. I study the book. Mentally imagining the moves, the steps she would make, how she fights. It's like a movie playing in my mind. She is brave and strong. Everything I have to become. I'm going to become my own princess. Nobody is going to save me from this tower I'm locked in. This is something I have to do for myself. I sigh to myself and keep reading the book. Once I'm finished, I walk over to the bookshelf and put the book down, scanning the shelves for something more that might interest me. Once I find another book called "The Art Of Battle." I sit back down and begin to read. Once again getting lost in the pages before me.

Before I know it, its dinner time. Landon and I make small chat while eating dinner. He asks me what books I have been reading and what I find so interesting about them. I try not to give away too much detail, so he doesn't suspect anything. He asked When I wanted to start working out and if I'd maybe like to train with him sometime. I shrugged my shoulders not saying yes or no. He accepted that as an answer and left it at that. Once we were done eating, he started to clear the table. I watch not sure of what to do. He likes being in control, so I don't want to overstep and mess things up.

Before turning in for the night, He tells me good night and kisses my cheek. I walk away towards my bedroom, before go in I turn around. "Good night." I say and walk inside shutting the door behind me. I pull out some simple pajamas, a tank top and some shorts and get into bed. I go over my plan one more time in my head before I let sleep overcome me. Tomorrow starts a new day. My training. A new me. This time, I will win. I will not back down from this fight.

If I can get up early enough, I will go to the gym. I still don't have a lot of strength but I need to at least try. I know i will slowly getto where I need to be. Regardless of how long it takes. I need to do this. I need to do this for me.