Forest

Chapter Five

Flasback:

The air is thick and suffocating with each shallow breath. Without opening my eyes, I know—I've been thrown into the basement again. The cold floor beneath me feels moist, its chill sinking into my skin. Slowly, carefully, I shift into a sitting position, my back pressed against the rough wall.

Pain races through my skull, each throb a reminder of what they've done. My body feels broken, as if every scream I let out has left its own scar. My heart pounds in my chest, and I can't tell how long I've been lying here, crumpled and forgotten.

I squeeze my eyes shut again, trying to focus on breathing—long, steady breaths in and out. Just enough to keep me steady.

But I'm terrified. So fucking terrified.

They can't see that, though. I can't let them know. Fear is a weapon in their hands, a weakness they'll use to tear me apart even further. No, I can't let them see me like that. I won't give them that satisfaction.

It's pitch dark in the basement, but I don't need light to feel the damage. Every bruise, every open wound, every aching scar pulses with its own rhythm of agony. My body feels like a battlefield—attacked, assaulted—by the very people who were supposed to love me. To care for me. But they don't. They never did, and they never will.

Tears spill down my face, endless like their are never going to stop, carving paths through on my cheeks. My body shakes violently, sobs ripping out of my throat before I can stop them. The pain is unbearable, suffocating, and I know—no one cares. No one ever has.

A noise makes me aware of my surroundings. The basement door creaks, its hinges groaning under the weight of what's coming. My breath catches in my chest.

No.

I quickly wipe my tears away and force myself to sit up straight, ignoring the sharp pain shooting through my body. Do not show weakness. Do not let them see you break down.

"Where are you?" His voice cuts through the darkness, low and venomous. It echoes down the stairs, the slur in his words making it obvious—he's drunk. Again.

The sound of his unsteady steps makes my stomach churn. Every fiber of me screams to run, to hide, but there's nowhere to go. I grit my teeth and force myself to my feet, swallowing the cry of pain that rises in my throat. My legs feel like they could give out any second, but I stay standing. I have to try to protect myself from what is coming.

"Didn't I tell you to clean up? To do the damn laundry?" His words come sharper, louder. "Are you so fucking lazy you can't even do that?"

Before I can respond, the first hit lands. His hand strikes my cheek with such force that my head snaps to the side, my skin burning like fire where he hit me. The sting brings tears to my eyes, but I bite my lip hard enough to taste blood, willing myself not to cry out.

But he doesn't stop. He never does. Stop isn't a word that he knows or ever will know.

His fists, his hands—they hit me again and again. My ribs, my arms, my face. I collapse, unable to stay upright under the relentless assault. His boot comes next, slamming into my side, my stomach, my legs. Each kick sends shockwaves of pain through my body, and I can't hold back the screams any longer. I crack, and I break down on the ground. Covering my face, trying to shield my body.

"Please," I sob, the word catching in my throat. "Please stop! I'm sorry—I'm sorry!" My voice cracks, and sounds desperate.

The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth, the blood combins with the salty tears that won't stop falling. My body breaks down even further as I vomit, the impact of another kick tearing through me. My vision blurs, black spots swimming in front of my eyes. I can't breathe. I can't think.

And then, finally, it stops. His shadow retreats, the sound of his heavy steps fading into the distance. The gets shut again with a big slam.

The pain doesn't leave, though. It lingers, spreading like poison. My limbs feel like they've turned to lead, too heavy to move. The darkness around me grows, swallowing everything in its path until there's nothing left.

Nothing but the black hole pulling me under, its grip unrelenting, refusing to let me go. And thats when the black hole absoberds me and doesn't let me go.