The Dysfunctional

Chapter 20: On The Brink

            As our feet stomped on the innocent earth, the wind  picked up, and my heart raced. I could hear Finch running beside me, running short of breath. We were almost outside of the forest, when I felt something impale me from the inside. I stagger, and fall to the ground, hearing yet another snap. My breath shortened, and I immediately pressed my arm against it, trying to force the pain away from the area. "Stella, are you alright?" Finch asked, kneeling down beside me. "I-I bro-ke an-another r-rib," I struggled to say, gasping for the air I could, as it felt thin. "Okay, let's get you home then," Finch had quietly said, picking me up, and carrying me the short distance bridal style.

                  I had woken up to Finch laying me on my bed. "We're home," he smiled softly, his eyes sparkling in the bright moonlight. "Thank you," I said quickly, trying not to wake Clark up, or annoy Finch.  I'm sure he just wants to sleep after the long day he's had.  As I slide off my hoodie, I can see something strange under my tank top. I carefully lift the shirt, revealing my ribs, three of them snapped, including my sternum. Finch turns to face me, his shirtless body getting closer to me. "We should try and wrap you up," He says, looking at me, trying not to see the broken bones I had. "I don't know if it'll do anything, but you can try," I say, coming to an agreement. "Good, now Stella, I need for you to take your shirt and bra off," He said, walking to the dresser to grab wrap, and speaking quietly. "U-uh-umm," I stutter. "I think I'll pass," My face turns bright, as he walks back. He lets out a small sigh. "Here, turn around, you'll take your shirt off, and guide my hand. I promise I won't look, okay?" I think, and let him wrap me up. As I turn around, I try to lift my shirt over my head, but it hurts me too much. "What's the hold up?" Finch asks, tiredness in his voice. "I-I can't lift it over my head, it hurts for me to use force," I say shyly, answering him. before I was able to protest, I feel his cold hands travel around my bare skin, and carefully lift the shirt, careful not to hurt me. "I'm going to take your bra off, okay?" he asks for reassurance. I nod my head, as he unclasps it, letting the straps fall from my shoulders. "Take the wrap, and put my hand where it needs to start wrapping, and then I'll dress you back up," I gulp my spit, and lift my breasts up, putting his hand right under them. His other hand, holds me still, and gives me a chill as his hand wraps around me ribs and higher torso, and the other glides along my body, holding me in place. 

             Tying the wrap off, I hear a tear, as he rips the remaining spool from the used wrap. "Stella," he began, nervousness in his voice.  "Yes, Finch," was all I managed, careful not to hurt myself. "I'm going to dress you, but," He trailed off, worry maybe, in his tone. "But what?" I questioned, somewhat repeating him. "I need you to face me. I'll have to support your arms when I put your bra and shirt back on," Covering my chest, turn towards him. My face was probably the brightest shade of red there is. I held one arm out at a time, covering my chest with the other. My breath hitched, as he held one cup in place with one hand, while the other slid the second strap up my arm. For a teenage boy, he sure controlled himself well. We didn't break eye contact, and he didn't try anything dirty. He help both of my arms up with his hand, and carefully slid the tank top over my head. Pulling it down to fit, he smiled and cupped my face in his hands. "Feel better?" He asked, waiting for my response. "Yes, very much, thank you," I smiled, and soon felt his warm lips on mine again. "Anything for you, Stella," Grabbing my hand, he kissed it gently, before laying us both down to drift to sleep.

          I could hear Finch snoring, as well as Clark. I thought I heard something come in, but it was most likely Sebastian or Pazzo. With my legs tired, I scoot to the edge of the bed. As I begin to stand on my feet, Finch moves his arm around the bed. "I'll be back, you dork," I said, as I lightly kissed him on the cheek, as smile forming lightly on his soft pale face.

       I silently walk out of the door, Clark is once again on the floor, being suffocated  by cats. "Lucky bastard," I say to Clark in her sleep. I groggily make my way to the small bathroom in the camper. Looking closer in the mirror, I open my eye wide, and observe the dark circles and bags under my eyes. Looking through the shower curtain in the mirror, I see a shadow standing behind it. Turning slowly, I carefully walk to the curtain, making sure not to make any sudden movements. I barely even touch the curtain, and a tall figure with long black hair jumps out at me, a cloth is held to my mouth, and the smell is suffocating...My vision is blurred, and the last thing I see, is a devilish smirk on the figures face, dark and evil.                        

         I can't see, or move. However, I can smell, feel, and hear, but it's faint. I can feel my body begin to grow scratched and bruised, as the intruder is dragging me on the earthy  ground. "Tch. For a skinny girl, you sure are heavy, but when I'm done with you," she grunted as she pulled my arms over a log. "You'll be begging for me to kill you already," as a loud door slammed closed, I was dragged down a flight of stairs, only resulting in my body being covered in more bruises. I was lazily slouched in a chair, my arms were tied tight to the arm rests, and me legs, soon to get rope burn from how tightly they've been tied to the legs of the chair. "Now, let's see how much on an 'anomaly' you really are," her voice was dark and curious. A horrible combination. my eyes were forced open, but I couldn't see. "Hm, your eyes glow, and I know you can hear me," My eyes snapped open, revealing the powerful glow my eyes contained.  I tried to break free, but it was no use. "Oh, feisty little one, aren't you?" she said getting closer. As my vision cleared, I could clearly see who I was the victim of. Even here, Brittany can't leave me alone. "Please, just let me go, I didn't do anything," I said, with a convincing tone. She scoffed as she gave her reason. "Oh really?" she began. "you walked everywhere with that stupid look on your face. You were always so careless, as if nothing was good enough for your second glance!" I merely sat and waited. A smirk on her face came into view, as her dark emotion seeped out of her smile. "Unless it was me. It didn't matter when it was, I could say something to you, and those green eyes of yours would narrow and go into your sinister stare," She finished, turning around and walking away. "It's obvious you're crazy, And you know what the worst part about that is?" she questioned as I sat in silence. "Finch doesn't love you. You've peeked his interest, yes. But that's only because you bumped into him before our little incident," Walking back, she had a huge pair of pliers. "Now, let me see how abnormal, you really are," She said with a crazed tone in her voice.

The closer she got, the more my body inched and ached to get away, but there was nothing I could do. She instantly went to my hand, and slowly peeled my fingernails upward as they healed at the same time. "Tell me that Finch doesn't love you," She said in a dark tone, I had no choice but to reply. If I didn't reply right away, The slower she would tear my nails. "Tell me you're a mistake," With each order, she grew a little bit louder. "I'm a mistake," I would repeat. She would tell me things, repeating some, over and over and over and over. "Finch doesn't love you! Tell me he doesn't love you!" She made me repeat this one the most. "F-F-Finch D-" I was cut off by the increasing pain. "What was that Stella, I couldn't hear you!"  "Finch doesn't love me!" I said, as I began to cry and bawl. Brittany left for a good enough time to let me sleep. I've been stuck in what I'm guessing is her basement. The whole place reeked of my blood, as she ripped off my nails over and over again. To keep me from going crazy, she would make me repeat her orders, as she ripped off my nails. 

        My head grew heavy, and I was asleep for a long enough time. "Stella," I sat up, and looked around. "W-who's there?"  I asked quite frantic. "She's right you know," Her voice was familiar, as was her face as she stepped out of the shadows, and picked my face up. "M-Mom?" I was confused. Now of all times, she decides to show up. "You were a mistake, and that boy doesn't love you. Someone as insane as you isn't capable of being loved. For example, I don't enjoy you, and I was happy to see you were here,"  She finished, walking upstairs, but Brittany returning, ready for more. I was being lied to this whole time, and as of now, I knew I was really nothing this whole time...I screamed out of anger. "this is why I'm getting away with what I am," her tone grew dull. My breath was jagged, and I began to shake. Looking up, I narrowed my eyes. "G-good, then I won't get in any trouble for my next action, correct?" I said all too happily. A large smile broke across my face. "Hm, try me Stella, it will only make Finch love you less," She finished. Something inside me had snapped again. A deadly and murderous vibe hit my intentions. I could feel my eyes burst with the glowing feature. I had broken free from the chair. My wrists were still bound together however, this resulted to Brittany trying to run up the stairs. Banging on the door, I can hear the ropes dragging behind my feet. Her hazel eyes grew wide, the closer I got. However, the closer I got, I could feel my smile grow larger and larger with each step up the stairs I took. She screamed for her life, but it's took late, for I have already taken her arm, and thrown her down the flight of stairs, the scent of both of our blood mixing the aroma of the basement.

"This is what you deserve," I started, as I began to kick her repeatedly. "You know, Stella," she began, but was cut off by her own coughing of her blood. She was now on the verge of death. "Finch really loved you, I was only wanting someone's love. I stole your sanity, so please, take something from me," Before she passed naturally, I was filled with rage, grabbed her tools from earlier, and ended her instantly by stabbing and twisting her fatal organs. I stole her life, as she stole the last of any sanity I had. My syndrome had been completed, for my hair is white as my soul once was. However, I have been tainted in every which way.