A battle I won't lose

part 2

Katherine's POV

It had been three days since Mom brought me that book. I couldn't read it; the pages were blank. Whenever I asked Mom to see, she'd say otherwise. I managed to get her to read it for me, but the servant interrupted, asking where Amelia was. Without Mommy, I wouldn't even try to live. If she left me, I didn't know what I would do. But maybe perhaps, I would get the light that was stolen from her in her resemblance, Tomorrow is my birthday—15/5/2000. I hope she remembers.

I heard the slow creak of the door as Mom cautiously opened it, her eyes searching mine with a mix of excitement and worry. "Hello, princess. Have you gotten to read that book yet?" Her voice was soft, trying to mask the concern that clouded her face.

"No, Mom. It's still blank," I replied quietly, disappointment heavy in my voice as I looked down at the mysterious book nestled among the cleaning supplies.

Amelia studied the book intently, her fingers tracing over the seemingly empty pages. "Hmm. But there is writing on it, I can see it," she murmured, more to herself than to me, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"I don't know, Mom," I whispered, feeling a shiver of unease crawl down my spine as I looked up at her.

Amelia sighed softly, her breath catching slightly. "Okay, it's fine. You stay here, okay? I have to go out. If they ask, tell them I am bathing, okay?" Her words were gentle yet tinged with a hint of urgency.

I nodded obediently, my heart sinking as she turned to leave, her gaze lingering on me before she disappeared from view.

The house fell into a heavy silence after Mom left. Each passing hour felt like a weight pressing down on my chest, anxiety gnawing at my insides as I stared out the window, searching the street for any sign of Mom's return.

Time Skip

Restless and anxious, I paced back and forth in my small room, my heart racing with a mixture of hope and fear. "Mom should be home by now," I whispered to myself, glancing nervously at the clock ticking away the seconds. "It's so late. I tried telling the servants she's still in the bathroom, but they aren't buying it anymore."

A creak echoed through the house as the front door opened, my heart leaping in anticipation. Rushing to the hallway, I expected to see Mom's comforting presence—but instead, it was Father, William. His arrival filled the room with tense, foreboding energy, his cold eyes piercing through me.

"You!" His voice sliced through the air, sharp and demanding. "Where is your mother!?"

I trembled under his intense stare, my voice barely a whisper. "S-s-she is—"

"You will come with me now!" His grip on my wrist was tight, almost painful, as he pulled me forcefully through the house and down into the basement—a place of shadows and secrets.

With a rough shove, he threw me onto the cold, hard floor, his face contorted with anger and frustration.

I whimpered in fear, confusion clouding my thoughts as he loomed over me, demanding answers I didn't have. "You will now tell me where the fuck did your mother go, and why are the police saying she didn't survive in a car accident?"

My mind raced, trying desperately to make sense of his accusations amid the fear and pain. "I-I-I, she went to—" Tears welled up in my eyes, my voice faltering under his relentless gaze.

His rage erupted like a storm. He grabbed a leather belt, the sound of each strike against my small body echoing in the silence of the basement. Pain shot through me with every blow, my cries were drowned out by his harsh words.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally stopped, dropping the belt to the ground with a cold sneer. "Maybe if you answered quicker, I would have just locked you up," he spat, his voice dripping with malice. "Well, your mother's dead now, kid. She died in a fucking car accident. Oh lord, heavens," he scoffed, a cruel grin twisting his lips. "Some weight from the earth has finally gone down. She looked like a donkey," he chuckled darkly. "That was the best news I got in my life. Now your kind can just rot in your closet."

With a callous shove, he dragged me across the floor, leaving a trail of blood as he locked me back in the cramped closet.

I curled up in the darkness, tears streaming down my face. The pain in my body was nothing compared to the emptiness in my heart. The room, once a place of solace, now felt like a suffocating tomb of despair and terror.

My small frame trembled as I tried to make sense of the cruelty that had shattered my world. Innocence shattered, replaced by a numb acceptance of the horrors surrounding me.

Time Skip

Morning broke, casting a dim light through the cracks in the closet door. I woke up, my body sore and bruised, but my spirit hardened with resolve. Wiping away tears, I faced the reality of my new existence.

I stared at the blank pages of the book Mom had given me, wondering if its mysteries held any answers or solace. Deep down, I knew that comfort would come from within.

A gentle knock interrupted the silence, pulling me from my thoughts. "Sweetie, are you there?" Nicole's voice, filled with concern, reached through the door.

No response came from me. Nicole's worry grew, her knocks becoming more urgent. "Sweetie?"

With a rush of anxiety, she opened the closet door quickly, only to find me lying still, a blade in my hand and a small cut on my arm.

"Oh my god," Nicole gasped, rushing to my side. "Sweetie, hey, wake up. Oh no."

After bandaging my wound and tucking me into bed, Nicole's eyes filled with tears. "What a young girl experiencing this," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "I will get you out of here. You don't deserve this."

Nicole's heart ached for me, a child thrust into a nightmare beyond my understanding. Determination filled her as she vowed to protect my innocence from further harm.