Black Waters [A Dark Romance Military Fanfiction]

Chapter 3 Her Etched Skin

Trigger Warning: Mentions of Suicide, Scars, and Self-Harm.

My scars are the past carved into my flesh, a history I long to erase. Yet, it seems an unattainable dream. The scars came from my own hand and from someone I believed I loved.

At 16, I encountered my first love during the twilight of my high school years. His name was Cole. As a student of considerable intellect, I had progressed to advanced levels ahead of time. But it was on that fateful day when the tides of my life began to turn.

"Cole. I don't want to. I'm not ready." I said as he traced my face with his fingers. His eyes looked different. Filled with desire and lust. "I am. I want it and I will have it. You are mine after all." He said that as he pushed me onto the bed. I struggled his force trying to break free. "NO! COLE STOP!" I couldn't fight him. I wasn't strong enough.

We had done it, and I was left shattered. I couldn't leave; all I could manage was to cry. I lacked the courage to end things with him. He persisted in his ways with me. Each time, it felt like I was losing a piece of my soul. Eventually, my friend Leah intervened, insisting that enough was enough. She urged me to distance myself from him. I heeded her advice, but that was just the beginning of a more challenging journey.

*Slap* Cole had just slapped me clean across my face. "You think you can just break up with me? After all we've done. You belong to me. I claimed you. You don't get to leave me just like that." Angered by his actions, I screamed at him. "I can! I don't belong to you! I never did. You changed. You practically abuse me every time we see each other. I'm done with you, Cole! Get the hell out of my house!" He was definitely angered by my response, but nothing could prepare me for what he would do to me. He punched me then went to the kitchen coming back with a knife. I was frightened with tears rolling down my face. I couldn't speak. He grabbed my chin and pointed the knife at me. "You do belong to me, Sierra. You've always been mine. I have to mark you now permanently since you won't accept that. Stay still or this will hurt worse than it already will." After pushing me into my stomach, he etched that knife into my skin. I couldn't help but scream. No matter how I cried, he continued to cut and scrape. Again, and again. He looked at me as he finished marking me. "Perfect." He grabbed my chin again. I was shaking. "You belong to me, and you always will. Act like this again and you will feel this knife against your skin again." He said that as he dropped the knife to the floor and walked out of the house. I laid there in my blood feeling like my life was truly ruined. My friend Leah came inside wondering what happened. She was sitting in her car when she saw Cole walk out of the door. He got into his car driving off at an insane speed.

She froze when she saw me laying in my own blood. She screamed. "SIERRA!" She hurried over to me and called 911. I couldn't feel anything. I was cold. I remember blacking out then waking up in the hospital. I was wrapped in numerous bandages and on an IV. Leah was right beside my bedside when she saw me wake up. She had tears running down her face. I could tell because her mascara was messy. "Are you okay? What happened?" I couldn't speak. I was afraid. My mother walked into the room. "Cole is gone. No one can find him. He is wanted for assault. I'm so sorry, darling." The tears ran down my face. I was ruined. Forever scared.

From that day on, I trained myself to be stronger. I started to take self-defense classes to defend myself so that wouldn't happen to me again. The memories would never leave me though because they were permanently etched into my skin. No one had seen or heard from Cole. He had probably left the state after hearing the police were after him. I was walking to the store to grab some groceries for dinner when I saw someone staring at me from across the road. He was wearing a black hoodie. I dismissed it because he could have been staring at anyone. I continued walking until I noticed he was gone. My eyes darted all over the place and I couldn't find him. I was starting to get worried until he was right in front of me. I recognize those eyes. It was Cole. I felt something stab into my skin at that moment. I looked down to see a knife plunged into my stomach. I could hear screams coming from all around me. I looked into his eyes once more tearing up. "You deserved this. If I can't have you, no one can." He took his knife out of my skin and stabbed me again. I felt nothing in that moment. Maybe it was adrenaline. Next thing I know a man in a Military Uniform shoots Cole. Cole screams as he falls onto the ground. I laid there in my blood again. Again, I had been cut deep by his knife. I was powerless. It was honestly relieving to see Cole on the ground this time. I could hear the sirens. The man that had shot Cole approached me applying force to my wound to prevent my bleeding. I remember his words, "Don't worry. You are going to be alright. You are a fighter. Don't give up yet." Those words would forever follow me. I blacked out.

Even though I wasn't conscious, I could hear everything. The sirens, the commotion, Cole screaming, the doctors who were operating on me. Everything. I woke up later stitched up. I struggled to get up. I saw my mom and Leah again. I felt like I had just relived that moment again. When he etched my skin with that knife. This time, he intended to forever wound my skin. I winced at the pain. My mother came to my side and held my hand. "He's gone sweety. He didn't make it." Hearing those words felt like they lifted a boulder off of my heart. As if a burden was finally released. My eyes started to spill the feelings I felt deep in my heart. I was free, but never truly free from the memories.

After that day, I felt lost. After being scared again and again by Cole. His words echoed in my mind, "You were meant to die." Maybe I was. I felt like I didn't have a purpose anymore. Maybe I needed to free myself fully from this pain. I went outside and went for a long walk. I felt trapped in my thoughts. Next thing I knew I was on the bridge. His words wouldn't stop echoing in my mind. "Just die, just die, just die". They wouldn't stop. I wanted it to stop. Maybe it was instinct or fate. I stepped near the edge ready for the black waters to envelope me. Accept me as I'd join the water. I felt like I was floating. I fell in...

*Cough cough* I laid on the water's edge. Somehow, I survived. How? I sat up noticing a man sitting next to me. I recognized him. He's the man who shot Cole that day. "Are you alright?" I stared at him not knowing what happened. Then I realized I almost died. I almost killed myself. Tears welled up in my eyes and fell down my face. He slid over next to me and wiped my tears. "It's alright. You are safe. That's what matters. I meant what I said that day. You are a fighter. That's why you didn't die that day. And you're definitely not dying today either." I looked into his deep grey eyes. "Why did you save me?" He looked at me wrapping me in a towel. "I've been watching you. Ever since that day that guy was at your house. I was on my run as usual, and I saw him run out of your house. I heard screaming. I quickly called 911 even though your friend called them too. I was the one who carried you out of the house that day. I kept my eye on you after that day. Knowing that guy would probably come after you again. I saw you train in the gym time and time again. I did some research on you. Good grades in school, you managed to skip to High School before you turned 16. You remind me of myself when I was your age. A fighter. I was doing my rounds as I usually do and I saw you on the bridge. I hurried, but you jumped off before I could stop you. I jumped into the water after you. Pulled you back up to give you a second chance." I stared at him. "Who are you?" He sat up and offered me his hand. "The names Leo. I'm a Sergeant in the Army. I'd like to help you if you'd allow me. We need fighters like you."

I took his hand and nodded. This is just what I needed. That day, the waters spoke to me. It was not yet my time. This is where my story began. I would become the strongest, fastest soldier the Military would ever see. But the road there is long and intense. How would I even make it there?