The Secrets of Bloodlust

        Gold Creek Town         The Chambers’ house         Skylar Chambers         “Skylar, why aren’t the clothes washed?” My father, Hank, said angrily.         “Because I can do more than just chores in the house!” I argued. “Please let me come with you!”         “How many times must I tell you?” He gripped me by my throat, pushing me against the timber wall. I grabbed his arms in my hands as I struggled to breathe. “You do chores inside! You clean dishes! You wash clothes! You dust the house! You tidy the rooms! You are a girl! Girls do not go outside and round up horses and cattle! Girls don’t handle guns, swords, or daggers!” He shouted. “Do you understand me?” He gripped my throat tighter.         I nodded. He released my throat enough for me to talk. “Yes, father.” I choked out. He let me go, walking to the door.         “From now on the doors will be locked until I get home. You have lost all privileges of leaving this house.” He stormed out of the house, locking the door. I stood there watching the door, my hand feeling around my sore, red throat. With my breath heavy, I swallowed hard before getting to work. If father comes home to anything dirty or misplaced, I will be in big trouble. I got some hot water to put in a tub that already had cold water in it, my goal to make it warm.         “You’re gonna get disowned if you keep arguing like that.” Said a familiar voice behind me. I felt the water and added some more hot water because it was still a bit cold, not once looking up at the girl who spoke.         “Maybe then I’ll get out of here.” I replied.         “Well, I’m not complaining. Honestly, I don’t even know why you want to go out there and do a man’s job.” She scoffed.         “Eliza, that’s the thing. It doesn’t have to be a ‘man’s job’, I want to get out and see the world. Not just the inside of this house. I want to know where our food comes from, how they hunt, how they grow crops. I want to feel the bark on a tree and feel the dirt from the ground that keeps us stable. Haven’t you ever wished to see wildflowers on a massive field with a herd of wild horses?” I looked up at Eliza, her face holding the ‘you’re crazy’ look.         “I would never go near one of these filthy creatures, they are for men to use when fighting, hunting, or traveling.” She crossed her arms over her chest as she started describing what she wanted in life. “One day soon a man will come and marry me, I’ll clean and do all the duty’s in the house as well as bare his children. He will hunt for the family and earn us money to buy luxurious things for his family. That is all us girls need to wish for.” I was about to open my mouth and argue with her but another voice bet me to it.         “Eliza is right, as females we are expected to know all the chores to keep the house livable.” Mother said, coming into the room to add to our quarrel. “You girls will marry men and make a family of your own and your children will do the same. This is the way life is. But Sky, you also have the right to dream. Even though it may never happen.” She raised an eyebrow. “Now you too are sisters so you will show each other respect. Get to work and stop wasting your time bickering.” Mother grumbled. I immediately turned back to the tub, shoving the clothes into it. I pushed the clothes around in the water, adding soap to make it bubbly.         The rest of the day consisted of me cleaning the house and getting dinner ready. My sisters and I take turns at night to cook dinner for the family, another way for us to practice. After we had dinner, father returned home. He hung his coat on the hanger at the front door. I watched him as I arranged the pillows on the chairs in the living room. We locked eyes for a moment before he walked past me with no acknowledgment of what happened this morning. I sighed and proceeded to my room after finishing in the living room. I laid on my bed, thoughts running around in my head like a game of chasey between a cat and mouse.          Why did my father always give me the cold shoulder? I know he does it to me more than my sisters. I don’t know why. I have an urge to confront him about it, but if I wanted to get hit, strangled, or disowned I would do it. Fortunately, that’s not the case, I just want to be free from this hell. I’m not ready for marriage at the age of 18. I’m only 16, two more years until my father will find someone, he thinks is worthy of me. That’s right, I don’t even get a choice to whom I marry. How did this world come to be so corrupted?         I shook the thoughts from my head. I turned on my side and closed my eyes.         Just sleep, Sky, sleep, and maybe tomorrow will be different. Why should tomorrow be different? I care about the reason; I need a change.