Define Me

Chapter 3

"Please! Stop!"

"You bitch! I told you to keep that attitude in check and be grateful but you fucking crossed me and report it to the cops!" he yelled at me and bring down the whip on my curled legs. It was too painful and I was screaming and begging for help but there was just uncle Ralph and I in this basement. My 14 years old self thought that if I report what they did to me physically, I could have my freedom but my plan backfired when they saw a few scratch marks on my right wrist. They turn the other cheek just like that without seeing the bruises on my back. They took me back to uncle Ralph and Julia and when I saw them laughing together, I know I can't trust anyone now. The moment uncle Ralph shut the door, he dragged me downstairs and beat me up.

Another blow on my back before he kicked me at my stomach. I lost my breath for a moment and gasped for air. Uncle Ralph stopped when aunt Julia step down from the stairs. "Ralph, that's enough. We can't risk leaving proof on her."

Uncle Ralph yanked my hair back and I knew if I push one more button, he could kill me. "Be a grateful bitch or I might file you as a missing person while you are chain in this room until you die. You are not wanted in here but your mommy and daddy left a hell of fortune for you and that guardian fee is just a beginning. So if you value your fucking life, I say you'll do what I or Julia wants. Ya hear me?" he release and push me, causing me to hit my head hard on the floor and gave a headache.

I was barely focusing but I manage to hear their last conversation before I passed out.

"How can we get those money when she turned 18?" Aunt Julia asked.

"We'll get them because she own us her life. If she refuse, I'll fucking kill her myself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

No thanks to the dreams that I have been having for 3 days, I end up feeling restless on my fourth days in school and by this time, people starting to talk about me being a weirdo or a druggie. I may have to 'protect' my uncle's name but at such talk doesn't concern him or Stellar much. Rumors are just rumors and if anyone asks, aunt Julia has the answers like I over-work myself with house chorus or I studies too much so I could get the best collage and the truth is, these rumors comes from Stellar herself. It was a mind torture game from her and she probably knew that it was eating me inside and she loves every miserable feeling I'd show in my eyes.

About my part time job, I told aunt Julia and uncle Ralph about it and they, especially aunt Julia, was pleased. She said something about me need to be independent and found my own money instead of using the money from the guardian fee but the truth is I knew they didn't want to spend money on me but of course, she reminded me to do the house chorus.

"Hey lil' cousin." Stellar bumped her slender shoulder at me, almost dropping my books. "Wanna seat together for our bio class?"

I didn't look at her while I answer in monotone. "No, thanks."

Her new friends suddenly greet her from her locker and giggling at my choice of clothes for today; a grey long sleeves shirt with faded pattern and an old blue jeans. "What are you wearing, girl? It's hot in here."

Stellar laughs with her. "Oh she has this habit to hide her skins." she looked at me and winked. She knew what's mark on my wrists and she didn't careless. She knew, she mocked them and saying that I deserved to feel so low and pathetic because the moment I stepped into their life, I brought nothing but bad omens to them. I don't see these bad omens but somehow I believed her because I can't read people's mind, I don't know how people think of me or what had happened at them while they were working. With the way my own uncle and cousin acted on me, then I guess I am a burden to them