Corruption

Part 16 - Scars

(Quick note, if you couldn't tell, this isn't the fluffiest of chapters. If you don't like that shit, skip this one, no one will judge)

Chell walked along the dusty corridor, laughing to herself at the tracks the pair left when they had danced. The smouldering remains of the door at the far end of the hallway smoked as the pair stepped over it. A black, expansive void stretched out in front of them. GLaDOS walked a few paces then stopped and turned around."Chell, can I ask you something?" Chell nodded, curious and slightly worried."Where did you get those scars?" This is what she'd been afraid of. Instinctively, she went to pull her sleeves down and shake out her blazer. Wait what.

The underside of her arms was littered with thin, red scars. Chell shrugged, but couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something huge. Hours of walking and funny stories later, Chell was on her last legs. God she was so tired. GLaDOS sensed this and pulled her into an artificial alcove formed of turret production machines. Chell knew where they were. They were so close but she was so tired. She curled up and closed her eyes, enveloping herself in warm, blissful darkness.

Chell couldn't retaliate, not without a severe punishment. It was bad enough people kept asking about the bruises. Really, her mother was driving home the point she'd spent the last 13 years driving home. She was worthless and never amount to her brother. He was the academic, polite gentleman. She was just trash. Again and again and again. Chell could feel the searing pain, the hot, stubborn tears and the cool, sticky blood. She ran a stick thin finger over her back, wincing as she felt every lash, all the blood, the bobbles of her spine and collarbone protruding from her back.

She had long since lost her glasses, the shattered glass still stuck in her arm, the frames on the table. She grabbed the scissors and began to cut. The physical pain distracted from the emotional pain. Chell grabbed the bandages she'd stolen and wrapped them round her waist, stopping the bleeding on her back. She leaned against the wall. Who needs a bed or a window? I've got my imagination

Chell shot up, shivering. What the hell was that? GLaDOS had gone into sleep mode beside her and was letting off a low hum. She shuddered, thinking back to that dream. Who was that? Thoughts flew around, buzzing ideas and suspicions. She was so caught up, she hadn't noticed GLaDOS looking at her back and just hugging her. She got up and kept moving, a grim expression on her face and her fists clenched tightly.