The Melody Of Destiny

Chapter 15

Mateo

I wake up to the sound of incessant giggling and a headache that feels like a jackhammer is having a party in my skull. Slowly opening my eyes, I stretch out my cold, stiff, sore body. As I try to prop myself up, a groan escapes me, and I collapse back onto the cold, damp, ground. I'm outside. Brilliant.

Covered in sticks and dirt and suddenly the thought of a sider crawling up my back invades my mind. I try and bolt up instead I sluggishly stumble up like a decaying zombie. That's when I hear the all-too-familiar click—my little cousin capturing my award-winning performance. Oh, great absolutely frickin amazing. I lunge towards them but the hot, glaring sun nearly blinds me, turning the world into a pixelated mess. A wave of nausea slams into me like a tidal wave. I fold in half, my stomach churning violently, my throat dry and roar, nausea bubbling up my stiffening throat. My head jerks back as I retch throwing up all over my self. Click, click, click - my cousins shrieks of disgust piercingly sharp. Perfect!

Stumbling over to the patio, I collapse onto the porch steps, resting my head between my knees. Breathing through my mouth, desperately trying to stay my breathing. My throat feels like it's been scraped raw by sandpaper, and the bitter taste lingers in my tongue. My head feels like it's been rammed by a sledgehammer every sound pounding against my skull. Slowly, the memories painfully claw back in – my sisters slap, the deafening music, the girl with the radiant smile as I floated upside down. What was I thinking? How could I let him do that?

My fists clench and unclench, knuckles white with frustration. My jaw clenching tightly, breaths ragged, angry bursts. How could I let him manipulate me like that? My sister's wedding. Idiot. I am a frickin idiot. I slam my fist into the step the pain radiating up my arm but not enough to distract me. I bury my face in my hands, fingers digging into my scalp as if I could claw the regret out of my mind. 'Wine boy' that's all I am to him? What a joke. What was I thinking? I really outdid myself this time.

Showing up drunk and covered in vomit stumbling like a drunken sailor. What a grand entrance right? What was I thinking? The memory gnaws at me. I still cringe at how the room fell silent. Ovier shoved me out, and I was too drunk to stop him. One swift punch to the gut later, I was sprawled on the grass. My mom locked me out like I was some annoying, mangy mutt.

What was I thinking. Dammit. My body aches, everything hurts. I force myself to stand, each step up the stairs pounding like a jackhammer in my skull. I stumble into the shower, letting the icy water crash down on me, slowly warming up watching the grass and dirt drain whishing it could wash away my shame. What was I thinking "Dammit, I'm such an idiot." I yell the words echoing of the tiles. My sister will never forgive me. My sister will never forgive me. The thought burns like acid, and I punch the wall in frustration. How could I have been so stupid? I close my eyes, wishing I could turn back time.

Two days. 

It's been two days since he ruined my life. They came in the dead of night, without warning, smashing down the door yet again. Honestly, it must be some kind of record.

I'm lying on a cold, hard floor, my muscles spasming in relentless, constant pain. Each twitch sending a jolt through my body, making me wince. Where the hell am I? It's not the jail, not the courthouse, not the castle's holding cells. But where? Where did they drag us to?

I try to shift, to push myself up, but I slump back against the damp wall, the spasms refusing to let up. It's no use. My hands are still bound behind my back, the awkward position pulling on my shoulder blades, the pain shooting into my elbow. The zip ties digging into my wrists, sending a horrible painfully numb sensation prickling over my hands. They're too tight. If this causes permanent damage, I swear I'll... I'll what? What will I do? What can I do?