The Princess and the Bloody Demon {Peter Pan/OUAT} [Discontinued]

CHAPTER #22- A Fresh Start

Melody’s POV:

They all stare in horror at the cuts on my thighs. I didn’t blame them.

The deep, wretched scars make a noticeable indent up near my hips. It gives me a sickly reminder of my past every day, haunting me in its memories. It’s funny to think I did so much emotional and physical damage with just a simple razorblade or knife, depending on what was more readily available.

Even with shorts on, they weren’t evident. But now I’m standing here a bikini and everyone sees them. Why was I so stupid as to agree to go for a late night swim at the beach?

“Melody…how could you do this?” Riley asks, her eyes wide. Her angelic voice was not harsh, but urgent and looking for answers. I look over to her to see her bottom lip trembling, trying to hold back tears.

I just crouch into a ball, right then and there on the sand, and sob my heart out. Normally I’m the strong one, being the oldest. I had to be Riley’s role model. But right now my emotions poured out of me like a waterfall, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

“Melody?” Riley asks softly, bending down beside me. Now her voice took on a caring and comforting tone. But trepidation was also intermingled in it, “Do you want to talk about it?”

I nod my head slowly. With a shuddering breath, I shakily stand up beside Riley who gives me support. Every part of my body was numb from crying, and I felt absolutely exhausted. All I wanted to do right now was curl up on a couch and watch sappy romance movies with a fluffy blanket, a cat, and a tub of ice cream.

I look around, my vision blurry due to tears, and notice Pan and Felix are gone. Riley probably told them to leave due to my little crying session. I bet they didn’t want to be there either.

We walk together to the shore and sit down on the cool sand. Neverland was absolutely gorgeous, not how I had envisioned it to be. The tranquil crashing of the waves onto the shore to the giant silver moon suspended in the sky, every part was breath taking. Riley and I were still in our swimsuits, ready to go. My eyes trailed down to my scars.

“Why?” Riley asks after a minute of silence, “Why did you cut yourself?”

I sigh and close my eyes tight. I know I need to tell her, just part of me doesn’t want to let her know. There are some things she just might not understand.

“I couldn’t take it anymore,” I say after another long pause, “After you left, things went way down hill with mom and dad. They kept accusing each other of your disappearance, often throwing me in with the mix. They cursed and yelled at each other every single night for what seemed like an eternity. Dad slapped me a couple of times. I would just stand there while he would beat me. I-I just didn’t know what to do.

“So I went to cutting. It felt good for a little while, taking my mind off of the emotional pain. But it struck back, more powerful and stronger than the previous occurrence. It became a daily thing before Snow found out, and she helped me to quit.

“I wish I never had done it. It’s just—it helped for the time being. But now it seems as though the scars just remind me of the emotional pain, and no matter what I do it will always come back to bite me in the butt, with or without cutting. And frankly, ever since I stopped about a week ago I seem freer and in slightly better spirits, like I don’t have to stress about it anymore. But the scars remain. I-I’m so sorry, Riley.” I stutter, letting out another ugly sob.

By this time she was gently rubbing my back in long, circular strokes, making little, comforting goose bumps run up and down my arms. She always knew exactly what to do at exactly the right time.