Go to Hell (on hold)

EIGHT

He beat me until I could hardly breath, until there wasn't an unbroken bone in my body. I looked up at him, but Mr. Blackbourne remained faceless. He laughed when I cried. Spit in my face when I begged for mercy. And when he was done with me, when I was damaged beyond repair, he threw me into a bottomless chasm. I fell and fell and fell until a large hand wrapped around my middle. The creature brought me close to its face, its sulfur breath making my nostrils scream.

"Such a little whore." It had the voice of my mother. "They only keep you around because you're a easy, undignified slut, and that's all you'll ever be."

"I'm sorry!" I shouted into the blackness. "Please, mother, forgive me."

"My darling Sang, there is one way to make this right." The voiced changed, now something more masculine. It reminded me of a talking snake.

I stared into the face of the monster, willing to do whatever it took to redeem myself. His glowing red eyes were the last thing I saw before he swallowed me whole.

I jolted out of bed with a broken scream. My breathing was fast and my body soaked in sweat. It was just a dream. Not real. But no reassurances were able to calm my racing heart. I stumbled to the bathroom and splashed cool water on my face. The rancid breath of the monster still permeated my senses.

The small clock on me dresser read that it was nearly seven thirty. I could sleep for another forty-five minutes if I wanted to, but the nightmare was still too fresh in my mind. So instead I began to get ready for breakfast with Luke.

I stared at the shower, debating whether or not to get in. I needed to wash off, but my mother's voice still rang in my head. Once, she had tied me up in the shower and left me die under the scalding hot, then freezing cold spray. I had stayed in there for hours before my father silently untied me and told me to clean up the mess. She did it because I had talked to a boy. He'd asked if I had seen his run away dog. I said it might have ran into the woods behind my house.

No, a shower wouldn't be happening today. I stripped off my clothes and wiped the drying sweat from my body with a wash cloth, then washed my hair in the sink. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do for now. Maybe tomorrow I'd force myself into the shower to get properly clean.

I dried off and dressed in a simple black skirt and a white blouse with little pink hearts. I slipped matching high heels onto to my feet and practiced strutting around my room. Gabriel liked to put me in heels, so it would be best if I knew how to actually walk in them. However, I decided to switch to black ballet flats after the fourth time I nearly broke my ankle.

At precisely nine o'clock, a knock rasped at my door. I thrust it open, revealing Luke's beaming face. I smiled back. He wore a light blue shirt with most of the buttons undone to reveal his toned chest. I blushed. This wasn't a date. He didn't see me like that.

"Ready for breakfast, cupcake?"

"Yep."

Luke escorted me down to a massive kitchen. It was simple and practical, but beautiful all the same. The stainless steel appliances were pristine, as were the granite countertops and hardwood floors. Large bay windows provided plenty of natural light and a wonderful view of the garden. A servant kneaded dough in the corner, but otherwise we were alone.

"Do you like to cook?" Luke asked me. I nodded. It was one thing I had done while alive that hadn't completely felt like a chore. "Good, because we're making pancakes."

Luke got out all the ingredients and tools necessary for pancakes. He moved with an ease and familiarity that hinted that he had cooked in this kitchen many times before. I giggled when he slammed a bag of chocolate chips on the counter and winked at me. We mixed the batter, and as we were cooking the pancakes over the griddle North stormed into the kitchen. He grabbed a banana and glared at the pancakes, then us.