Malevolence

Chapter 29:

Please read the Writer's note before continuing to read this chapter.

Evelyn:

"What are you doing here?" I quickly pick up my towel, wrapping it around my body so my mother can stop goggling at the bite marks.

"Evelyn, my dear, what are all those wounds on your skin?" My mother whimpers, like she has just witnessed an accident.

See Ransom, even my mother calls your love bites wounds!

"Has Ra – I mean," My mother coughs, lowering her voice as she quickly looks to the door, "has Ransom been hurting –"

"No." I say firmly, and a little too loud. "Not really anyway."

"Not really?" My mother says, like she doesn't believe me. "Oh! Has that boy been abus –"

"Mom! Please stop." I hold up my hand.

"My daughter, you have bruises all over you!" My mother gestures to my entire body and then she screws her eyes closed. "Oh! What has that man been doing to you?" My mother covers her face, shaking her head, and I swear I am hearing her sobbing.

Do the bite marks look that bad?

Yes. Yes they do!

Oh why do I allow Ransom to bite me?

Because you are too caught up with his touch?

"Mom," I approach my mother, removing her hands from her face, "Ransom hasn't been hurting me on purpose, that I can assure you."

"Can you?" My mother says, straining her voice, as she looks below my neck and then she looks down at my stomach. Her eyebrows pull together in what I think is puzzlement. "And have you, um, gained weight?" she pokes at my stomach.

"Mom! Don't poke me!" I snatch her hand away.

"And have your boobs gotten bigger?" My mother points to my chest.

"Wow! Rude much."

"Well," My mother shrugs one shoulder up, "I know you don't like if I say you have gained weight, but you have. Not a lot though, you just feel a little squishy in the middle." she pokes at my stomach again.

"Stop that." I say quickly.

She drops her hand to her side. "And why would you complain about your boobs being bigger? I mean, don't men like that?"

"I'm with Ransom." I state the obvious.

"So? Doesn't mean other men can't look, and your boos do look bigger."

I close my eyes as I inhale and exhale slowly, ignoring my mother's rude comments about my body.

"Whatare you doing here?" I slowly open up my eyes, wanting to change the subject.  "Hang on, were you the one who rang the doorbell?" I muse, looking at the bedroom door.

"Yes I was, but I was wondering why Ransom would answer the door, then I thought –"

"This is his house."

"I know that, but you live here too. So anyway," My mother holds up her hand to silence me just as I am about to speak. "Ransom told me you were showering, so naturally, I wanted to go to your bedroom, but Ransom told me to wait in the lounge. He went off to the kitchen so I just stood up and came in here," My mother twirls her finger, indicating the bedroom, "and now I see why you don't like to show your body off. You have wounds all over your body, because Ransom has been hurting you." she starts to sob again.

"Mom," I whine, "it's really not that bad."

"Not that bad? Are you serious? You have bruises everywhere." My mother places her hand on her cheek, shaking her head.