Who Are You?

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A/N: I just want to put it out there that any part of this publication CANNOT be duplicated, translated, republished, etc. in any form. I work really hard on my stories and seeing other people take my work without prior permission makes me feel like it was for nothing. Thank you so much and enjoy reading "Who Are You?".

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"If the world is pitch black
I'll look lovely too.
Whenever my heart opens
I brace for the bruise."
- Ugly Child, Joker Xue

FIFTEEN.

Fifteen bruises lined my arms and legs. Dried blood caked my scalp. I laid broken on the cold tiled floor, helpless.

I curled up in a ball, swallowing back the tears that desperately wanted to spill. Slowly and gradually, as minutes ticked by, I picked myself up. I grabbed a kitchen towel and cleaned up after myself, wiping off the deep crimson liquid splattered all across the floor.

My hands trembled as I picked up the broken rice bowl stained in fresh blood.

After cleaning up everything, I limped downstairs to the basement, where my "room" was located. There was no heat for the winter and not even a fan for the summer.

An old mattress with no bedstead laid on the floor, on the far left of the basement. A used wooden desk picked off from the streets and a hand-me-down dresser were placed next to my makeshift bed. There was no source of ventilation except for a tiny window the size of a large textbook high above the wall, almost touching the ceiling. There was a tiny bathroom down here, something I can't thank enough for.

There was no way I would—or can—go upstairs to release myself when they're there.

I sat down on the mattress and took out some ointment for the bruises. I tried not to flinch as I applied the medicine.

After all, I should be used to the pain.

I went to the bathroom to clean myself, washing off the dried blood on my scalp. The wound had stopped bleeding, thank goodness, but a small lump had formed instead. I ignored the sharp, stinging pain and continued shampooing my hair.

After slipping into my pajamas, I buried myself in the blankets. I didn't want to sleep. I didn't want to sleep just to wake up to another nightmare.

There was nothing in my life to look up for.

Except...

Escape.

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I never woke up after five. I seized any chance that I had not to see them. It was the best way to protect myself.

As I tiptoed upstairs to leave for school, all that greeted me was tranquility. My body never relaxed, not until I was fully out of this house and free of its brooding chains.

"Where are you going so early?" The voice chilled me to the bones and made my body shiver in apprehension.

Not turning around to face my step-father, I answered placidly, "To school."

Siwon gave a dry laugh and remarked, "Is there a boy you're out to ruin? Do you think anyone would want to have a sullied woman like you?"

I closed my eyes as I felt his breath brush my neck. He grabbed my hair backwards so his mouth leveled with my ear. A yelp escaped my lips, the wound from yesterday burning from his grip.