Addicted To A Memory

Chapter 1

Natalie's POV
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that there is no one in the kitchen and in the living room. He's not around. I can do anything I want as long as he's not around. I smiled to myself. I haven't had my relaxation time for 5 months already.
Robert, my stepfather is a scary guy. I admit, my throat always closes whenever he talk to me, even just a cassual talk.

Ever since my father died when I was 16, a year after Chase left. My mother became depressed, missing my father. But when she met Robert, everything changed.

When I first saw Robert, there's a strange feeling that I felt. He got this bad aura. But I don't care, as long as my mother's happy, I am also happy.

My mom is the best mom in the whole world. She's always smiling, and that warm smile she always wear can break any cold feeling inside. So that is why I am willing to sacrifice, even my happiness just to see her smiling.

I am willing to sacrifice everything just to see her smile.

Because that is what you do when you love someone unconditionally, you sacrifice.

"You really thought that I am not around..."

My blood ran cold and I involuntarily shivered in fear from the whispered words of my predator. My eyes widened and a big lump in my throat is making me uncomfortable. This is worse than my first gymnastic exhibition.

"Turn around you little bitch." So I did.

SMACK!

Robert slapped my small face with his big, calloused hand.

I fell on to the floor while I held my right face. It's probably gonna leave a mark.

"What did I told you last night?" He calmly demanded but the his calmness is making my heart beats in panic. I started breathing heavily.

"ANSWER ME, YOU BITCH!" He shouted at me while he continuously kicked the right side or my torso. I swear I heard a crack but I bit my lip, stopping myself from screaming in pain.

"N-no going d-downstairs for a-a week, no f-food f-for a week o-nly a b-bottle of wat-ter for a-a day." I pathetically stuttered out of pain and fear.

"And what did you just did?" He tapped his shoes in the wooden floor making a tapping sound that makes me nervous.

" I-I didn't followed. I-I'm sorry, father. Please forgive me" I apologized to him, hoping he will accept it and he won't punish me again.

"Let me think..... No." He smirked

"In fact, I have another plan. Let's take this to the playroom" He evilly smiled that made my heart beats so fast that brought pain to my right side of torso, but I feel numb. I can't feel anything.

When he mentioned 'playroom', every vein in my body ran out of blood. Every bone in body started to melt. The playroom that Robert mentioned isn't the typical playroom that you imagine. Every corner of that death room is filled with memories that I don't want to remember. The playroom that Robert mentioned is also known as the dungeon.

And we're going to the dungeon.

- - -

When I had my first menstrual period, I thought that it is the end of the world. I thought that the pain that I am experiencing that time was the worst pain that I can experience. But I was wrong.

The pain of the whip kissing my bare back is nothing compared to any pain that I experience for the past 22 years. Because the whip slashing every fiber of my skin reminds me of how fucked up my life is. How broken I am.

"AHHH!" I screamed out pain when he whipped me for the nth time.

SLASH!

SLASH!

Tears keep running down my face. I looked up and saw him smilling at my wounded, bloody back.

"Do you want me to stop? Well, I just want one thing from you and I'll leave you and your mother." His words made my ears open to listen in his words.

"I'll leave you and your mother alone IF you tell me where the heck are the papers."

My face scrunched up in confusion. What papers is he talking about? I tried to dig deeper in my mind if my mom or my dad ever mentioned something about the papers that Robert is talking about.
But none was found. And it scares the shit out of me of what is about to come.

"I-I don't k-know what are y-you-" My word was cut off when he opened the light of the other side of the dungeon, revealing my beaten up, unconsious mother.

My heart breaks in so many pieces when I saw her. I tried searching for that smile, but I can't find it.

"Mom!" I shouted in shock when I saw her. Her skin is so pale. Almost translucent. Her curvy figure turned into literally skin and bones. She have eye bags under her eyes. She's so beaten.

"So, you want to save mommy? Or I'll shoot her in front of your very eyes." He loaded his revolver, pointing at my mother's head. One pull of a trigger will kill my mother in instant.

No I am not planning on losing her.

She's the only one who cares.

She's the only one left.

My lips trembled as I think of somthing to save my mom from the hands of my evil stepfather.

I always thought that those movies about 'step-parents' that Tyler and I used to watch wasn't real but Tyler always believe in those. I was always the realist one in between the two of us. I always thought that having a step-parent when your real parent passed away is a good thing since it means having a second chace to build your broken family again
But I was damn wrong.

"Come on, stop wasting my time! Tell me, where are the papers?" He impatiently tapped his shoes in the concrete floor of the dungeon.

"I-I don't-t know! I don't know! Please don't kill her! Please" If I am not tied up, I'll be on my knees begging fo him to spare my dear mother's life.

"WRONG ANSWER!"

And he pulled the trigger.

Red viscous liquid splashed in my torn clothes and in my face.

My mother's body went very limp, signing that her heart just stopped beating. She's gone.

"NO!!! MOM!! WAKE UP MOM!" I screamed at the other side of the room just to wake up my dead mother. Tears keep falling from my eyes. I can't stop them.

Why is life so cruel to me? Did I do anything wrong? Is my prayer every single night wasn't enough?

He walked to me, holding a sharp knife with a sadistic smile.

This is just the beginning of the torture session.

Hello. This is the first chapter of ATAM. So what do you think?

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•moira