The Secrets of Bloodlust

Escaping only to be captured

        The next morning, I was rudely awoken by my mother, she came in and stole my blankets. And miraculously, I got really cold in the next few minutes thanks to my lovely sister, Kerry, who put all the heaters on in every room except mine. She likes to mess with me a lot because somehow, I always fall for it.

        After I had a quick shower and got dressed in my nice blue dress that I love, I started the morning chores with washing yet more clothes. Again, I boiled some water to fill the tub with warm water. I added soap and started washing the clothes that piled up.

        I froze when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked into my mother’s eyes, they held sadness. “Mother? Are you ok?” I asked as tears started to form in her eyes, my eyes widened at the sudden strong emotion that radiated off her.

        “You are such a beautiful young lady; I don’t want you do go to one of those filthy men.” She wiped the tears as they fell. My eyes widened at her words. Mother was so nice and I told her everything. I trust her more than anyone. So why did she call men ‘filthy’?

        “Filthy?” I asked, pulling my hands out of the tub to dry them. This was serious, mother rarely cried.

        “You don’t know, but men are disgusting people filled with lust for women. They marry for the s*x not their love…” That’s when mother burst out in tears. I took her hands and led her to the couch. I gave her a glass of water before sitting down next to her. Once she regained her composer, she continued. “My mother was strict, she taught all her daughters that they need to know how to cook, clean, please men and anything else that was done in the house. If we didn’t work or we slacked off we would get hit with a stick that she would carry.” Mother took a sip of water before continuing. “We were taught that we had to rely on men to gain our money and to buy us anything we needed. It was forbidden for us to ever leave the house unless we were attacked by bandits or we were to travel away with our husbands. Women are treated like slaves for men, we are trapped in a house for our life cleaning every day and looking after young until we die. I was given to Hank; I didn’t love him. I was forced to marry him, if I didn’t our house would be taken from us. I was part of a deal. I didn’t want to say no because I loved my family no matter how much they hurt me, but I didn’t want to say yes either because I knew what he wanted. Sometimes you have to give up lots, I was willing to do that for my family.”

        “So father...raped you?” I asked reluctantly.

        “Yes, many times. But I’ll never regret having you.” Tears filled my eyes with her words. I looked at the ground in absolute shock. How could men do something so heartless to vulnerable women? “Your father isn’t as bad as some of the men I’ve heard of or seen. He respects me a bit more now, but he still wants me to have children. I hate the thought because I don’t want any more girls going through what I have. And I don’t want my sons to turn into filthy bastards that don’t respect women.” Tears started falling from my eyes, mother gripped me in a tight hug.

        “Are all men like this?” I asked with a shaky voice.

        “Most are, I’ve not heard of any men that have married for love. Of cause, you could get the odd few but that’s very rare.” Mother answered. “Although… I have heard rumors about the man ‘Bloodlust’ who has made it clear he will not take on a woman without loving her. People called him weak for that, of cause it’s different now as lots fear him because of his murderous trait. I’ve heard the lucky few get to spend the night with him. They say he’s amazing and handsome but would anyone love a murderer? See some girls go around and have s*x with all sorts of men, some get paid for it even if they have husbands.”

        “So…Bloodlust is different?” I asked curiously.

        “He is called Bloodlust for a reason; he kills a lot of people, so many it seems like he likes doing it. He’s a scary man, but I’ve heard he always pays his debts. If someone helps him, he will repay them back.” Mother explained. “Bloodlust always gets what he wants though. He steals. He doesn’t care for anyone but himself. If you ever happen to come across him. . . leave. He’s great with any weapon and smart, that’s why he isn’t dead yet.”

        I nodded. “Will I be given away to a man?”

        Mother sighed. “I wish you didn’t have to. Trust me, if there was anything, I could do to stop it, I would. You know how your father gets. Trying to stand against him is like having a death wish.” She picked up my hands, giving them a squeeze. She looked up at me and smiled. “You’re going to be-“  

        She got cut off when the door suddenly broke off its hinges when father came barging in. “Get the girls to safety! Bandits are attacking!” He yelled, not looking at us. He held his gun up and shot it out the door frame. Shots fired back at him, he hid behind the wall of the house, shooting out the door every now and again.

        “Quick! This way!” Mother grabbed my hand, pulling me with her. We ran past all the rooms to the kitchen at the back of the house. Mother opened a cupboard; she stuck her head in and made some noise but I couldn’t see what she was doing. The shooting got louder and my heart started beating faster. Mother pulled back and gestured for me to get into the cupboard. I looked in, my eyes widening to see a small door that led into a tunnel. Mother looked into my eyes. “I want you to go through this tunnel, it leads to the back of the house. Once you get out you run to the woods as fast as you can!” She ordered, giving me another hug before I climbed in. “Don’t look back, it will be harder to leave. Go find a new life, I love you.” She said, she kissed my forehead and closed the door to the cupboard before I could say anything. I hesitated for a moment. I’ll do this for her as well as myself. She’s giving me a chance. I’m so grateful for that. I closed the small door that led into the dark tunnel after I crawled in. I couldn’t see anything. Tears were falling from my eyes as I heard screams. I was determined to get through it. Light started to show at the end of the tunnel, making me crawl faster to get out. I stumbled a few times on my dress while trying to crawl. My breathing got heavier with fear. I’m not a huge fan of small, dark spaces.