Illuminated By The Darkness

Chapter 32

Tiara:

A throbbing pain on my leg had me open my eyes. I looked beside me and saw that Vicky was still in deep sleep but she had thrown her leg over my wound. I pushed her leg from on top of mine and sat up without disturbing her.

The pain was too much. Maybe this wound was deeper than the previous one. Carefully I got up from the bed and the pain worsened. It felt like my leg was being cut off from my body. Every step I took hurt and I was limping.

Oh no! How am I going to hide this?

Slowly I started to walk back and forth in my room to get accustomed to the pain and to hide my limp. After pacing for a good ten minutes or so I was able to walk normally, but it still hurt.

"Tia if you have turned into a fitness freak, there is gym in the basement. You should try that out sometime" Vicky said.

I stopped on spot. How long was she awake for?

"Did I wake you?" I asked guilty.

"Don't worry about it" She said.

There was an awkward silence between us. I knew she had questions regarding yesterday.

"Fuck it! Hugh told me what happened. Eugene was angry at someone and was being his destructive self when you decided to show up. He didn't mean to shout at you Tia" She said.

I nodded.

I knew she was right. Hugh told me the same thing. I know it too. But seeing him like that yesterday scared me. The fury in his eyes told me what he was capable of doing if he found out who I really was.

"Hey, I can tell you one thing for sure Tia. My brother maybe a douche bag but he will not hurt women physically. Besides he has Stella to do that for him." She said.

I nodded.

"Are you alright sweetie? You look really pale." Vicky said.

"I'm fine" I mumbled.

"You sure?"

I nodded.

"Okay. I'm going downstairs; let me know if you need anything. I will come to check on you in sometime." She said.

I nodded.

I watched as Vicky left the room closing the door behind her.

I sighed and walked into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. Vicky was right, I did look pale.

How long will this last?

The pain , the terror. When will I be truly free? Piece by piece I stripped out of my clothes and stared at my reflection. Every inch of my body said a different story. The butterflies that flew down from my shoulder to my chest; my family. I touched the two big ones that symbolizes my parents, whom I may have seen but not remember. I have only heard stories for how great human beings they were. Moving my fingers I touched the comparatively smaller one; Amara. My strength. My weakness. My everything. Someone who gave me a purpose to live, now only lives in my memories and then to the tiny little butterfly. Blake.

"I'm sorry baby" I said. "I really wish I had got a chance to hold you in my arms, to see you smile, to see you grow."

Turning my body slightly to the side I looked at the letter C carved into my body. A souvenir. A constant reminder of who I belonged to. That is not it. The ring, I removed it. The mark on my finger also screamed whom I belonged to.

I might have physically escaped the hell. But I was not free because the hell lives inside me. The darkness lives within me. It has become a part of me. There is no escaping that.