The Secrets Under Her Skin

Chapter 2: The Unknown Home

"What a pretty little girl" he said, forcing her chin down as he swung some heated metal across her thigh, "Yet so devious. You're just a murderer, killing all those people with your addict drugs". Once her parents passed she never believed she would experience so much pain once more, and it only turned out to be worse. She assumed it was only the third day, for how much longer she knew it was better off to be dead at this moment. There was nothing she couldn't feel, from down at her feet to her face. She could feel her lungs weaken by being a victim of second-hand weed, and it turned out to be the only thing that calmed her. As they smoked, they wouldn't harm her.

Time went on and she began to count the seconds and take in the environment around her. Though it was dark, when she could see she noticed a billboard on the wall, all aiming towards her, she could see her apartment, her fake friends, and even scenes in the middle of the night. She realized then this was no mistake, but throughout the entire room there was no information about this gang, it was all a mystery she wished would end.

As they came back on the fourth day they walked in with no weapons on hand, but instead they all surrounded her as only one stood up front. The one from behind her grabbed her head, pulling it up as she looked over with weak eyes, with one man only walking closer and closer to her.

She begged and begged for them, but it was like she was a punching bag, used as a toy and her voice was inaudible. They gripped her throat, squeezing it tighter by the second to the point breathing was impossible. "The girl who has betrayed everyone, her friends, family, and even her buyers. See you on the other side".

She was drenched in a cold sweat, gasping for her breath as if she had just drowned, her hand shook and she couldn't end it. With a stunned body she noticed a woman glancing at her, she dropped her work and stepped to her, "Sweetie I need you to breathe ok?" At this moment her hand shook drastically, "deep breath in and out, just follow me".

Within minutes her breath was normal, and the lady continued to talk to her, "Is everything alright?". "I... I think I just had a flashback" she said in a near whisper, "I don't know if you knew what occurred, I don't recognize you".

"I wouldn't think of them as flashbacks, rather remember them as your badges, your endeavors that you faced yet survived" she said, "and I'm Janet, Ryker's mother".

A knock on the door, then they slowly entered to notice the ladies, "I told you I heard commotion". "Oh shut up Ryker" a girl with shoulder-length hair entered. "Both of you need to quiet down, what do you need?" Janet yelled at them, "Finch asked us to, I should let him know that Andrea's awake". The black-haired boy walked away and down the descending stairs as Skylar sat on her bedside.

When Finch stepped into the room he examined the stand Janet was at before. Ryker walked into the room along with another one, however he appeared a lot quieter, yet eyed Andrea with a sense of disquiet. "How are you feeling?" he asked, resting against the blank wall, "I've been better".

Finch came to her side with a plastic cup, "it's a bone rehabilitating potion, due to your injuries they won't heal on their own". The drink had a foul smell, however still she drank it entirely, presenting a bitter taste as she swallowed it. The pain erupted at her ribs, causing her to bang her head on the wall as the throbbing consumed her. The tenderness was like her recent stab wounds, however longer and more persistent. Agony fell into her arm and leg where both bones had been fractured. She felt the bed sink as a hand gripped around hers, along with two hands on her body in comfort, "You need to breathe Andrea or it'll only become worse". However even as she breathed she felt more pain as it went away, she felt herself short of air and squeezing the hand that held hers.