𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐄 | 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚕𝚏

𝙵𝙾𝚄𝚁𝚃𝙴𝙴𝙽 | 𝙷𝙾𝚂𝙿𝙸𝚃𝙰𝙻... 𝙰𝙶𝙰𝙸𝙽?

"Female. Approximately aged ten. Brown hair. Light skin."

°°°°

The atmosphere was oppressive, thick with an unsettling darkness that seemed to weigh down the very air. The cold was not just a seasonal chill—it was biting, cruel, seeping through the thin walls of the small, dimly lit room. It wrapped around the young girl like an icy shroud, making her shiver uncontrollably beneath oversized clothes that hung loosely on her tiny, frail frame. She was just seven, yet the cold had already taught her the cruel lesson of fragility. The freezing air felt as if it had found its way into her bones, freezing her from the inside out.

Huddled in a corner, Lexie curled herself into the smallest space possible, her thin arms wrapped tightly around her legs, her chin resting on her bruised knees. She tried to make herself invisible, retreating into her own body as though she could disappear. Her breath escaped in ragged puffs, small clouds of mist forming in front of her face. For a brief, fleeting moment, she watched the mist swirl and disappear, a tiny smile playing at the edges of her lips. It was cool, she thought. The way her hot breath contrasted with the frigid air. But as soon as the thought left her, the coldness returned tenfold, crawling up her spine and spreading throughout her limbs like ice water.

Her thin frame shook violently, rattled by a deeper chill that gripped her core. She pressed her knees tighter to her chest, her body instinctively curling inward for warmth. She cast a wary glance around the shadowed room, eyes darting nervously to the dark corners where the unknown seemed to lurk. Fear was ever-present, a constant companion, and though she knew the monsters she feared were not the kind that hid under the bed, they still haunted her mind. That was why she was there—trapped, locked away, and terrified.

A shiver wracked her small body, forcing her hands to her mouth as she blew warm air into them, trying, in vain, to restore some feeling to her numb fingers. Her breath was hot, but the cold seemed stronger, winning the endless battle between her fragile warmth and the relentless freeze.

Then, out of nowhere, pain—sharp, searing, and all-consuming—ripped through her stomach. She winced, curling further into herself as the burning sensation spread like wildfire through her abdomen. It felt like her skin was on fire, the pain unbearable. A small, muffled whimper escaped her lips, which had already turned a sickly shade of purple from the cold. She clenched her teeth, willing herself to stay silent.

"Shut up!" A voice thundered from behind the door, making Lexie's heart stop. The bang that followed was loud, the sound of a hand slamming against the door in warning. "Shut up, or I'm coming in!"

Terror shot through her. She quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling the small sob that tried to force its way out. Her wide, tear-filled eyes stared at the door, waiting, dreading what would come next. Her body shook as she tried to keep quiet, her other hand moving frantically over her legs, rubbing her thin skin in a desperate attempt to generate warmth.

But the pain in her stomach only grew worse, a torturous burn that made her body jerk in response. It felt like it was tearing her apart from the inside. She bit down on her knuckles to silence the sounds threatening to escape, her body trembling violently as tears streamed down her face. She wanted to scream, to cry out, but she knew that would only bring more punishment. She should have been used to it by now—the pain, the fear—but no matter how often it happened, she never could get used to it. The pain was always fresh, always overwhelming.

Her small body began to shake uncontrollably, her teeth chattering as the cold gnawed at her from all sides. Tears dripped from her eyes, each one feeling like a small burst of heat against her frostbitten cheeks. For a moment, she let them fall freely, the warmth of her tears the only comfort she could find. But soon, even the tears began to sting, burning her tender skin like acid.