CAGED

Chapter 17: Break Down

Arron had thrown me out into the hallway after I had passed out. When I came to again I had to clean the floor as a few drops of blood were where I was disposed at. When I had finally managed to clean the blood up I nearly had to crawl up the stairs to my room, my body aching in a way it hadn't in so long.

My room was not how I left it. When I muddle through the door I briefly notice the room is all but destroyed, the bedding dishelved and all of the drawers in the dresser on the floor with clothing flooding out from them. I let out a shaky sigh of annoyance as I make my way to the bathroom.

I run myself a scolding hot bath and slowly climb in, my skin already burning and protesting being in here. I ignore my natural instincts to jump out as I slip as far beneath the water as the tub will allow. The water turns a vicious pink as the blood from my wounds seep out and into the water. I don't move until the water turns cold and the room sends a chill my way; only then do I finally take the washcloth and clean myself entirely.

As I finally climb out of the tub to get dressed I can't help but to notice my reflection, and I almost cry. I was once so beautiful, and now I'm this! I am a twig thin, scarred, bruised, bloody, and hopeless mess. I am weak and broken; my eyes can tell anyone with half a brain cell that much.

I tear my eyes from the mirror and see the brush Master uses on my hair sitting on the counter. With a shuddering breath tears pool in my eyes and I lift the brush for a moment before throwing it heavily at the mirror. Glass shatters from the mirror as my reflection breaks, the mirror now matching how I believe my soul looks.

I leave the bathroom a mess and crawl onto the bed; with Master gone I am able to cry freely for the first time in a while, so I open the gates and allow the salty tears to flood from deep within. A year and a half of built up fear and anger burst from my chest as a strangled cry escapes past my lips.

I know the uncles have heard me by now, but I can't seem to muster the will to honestly care. What can they do, kill me? Master would be pissed but he can just get himself another slave. Beat me? They've done that already so another time would be nothing new. At this point nothing would affect me as much as that reflection did; the mirror reminding me of what once was and what is now my reality.

The uncles don't come to the room as I wail uncontrollably; they probably don't care enough to bother with me. I accept it as I cry until there is nothing but an empty hole in my chest, no tears or energy left at all. I'm so drained that I fall asleep in seconds without even realizing it. Next thing I know I am waking up to Uncle Jason standing in my doorway with his arms crossed, a disapproving look on his face. I jolt up in shock amd stare at him, my eyes wide and confused.

"You are a strange girl," Jason comments as his eyes scan my awful appearance. I know my eyes are red and puffy, my face streaked in dried tears, my long hair wild and a mess, and the room destroyed. "Is this your first breakdown?"

I blink at him in confusion as I try to process his question. Breakdown? I ask myself as I look at the room. Realizationnl hits my chest like a brick. He thinks I did this! He's going to punish me because he thinks I demolished the room.

"I didn't do this!" I yell out, a gasp following at the sound of my raised voice. "It-it was already messed up when I came in last night."

"So you didn't smash your mirror?" He asks as his eyes flicker to the bathroom floor, shards of glass scattered around the floor and counter.

"I-I did do the mirror," I admit in shame. "B-but I didn't do the room!"

Jason cocks an eyebrow at me. "I'm supposed to believe that the girl who shattered her bathroom mirror did not also rip her drawers out? That she did not throw her bedding around while she screamed all night?" Jason took a step into the room, coming nearer to me as he shut my door behind him.

I could feel my hands tremble as he approached me. He took his hand under my chin and lifted my face to meet his. He studied me for a moment before releasing my face only to bring his open hand across my cheek. My head whipped to the side at the force of the slap. I slowly raised my hand to cradle my cheek as I brought my eyes to meet his challenging brown orbs.

"You have fifteen minutes to clean this entire room, or you'll be punished." Jason's voice is calm and measured. "I'm not as nice as my brothers when it comes to punishments, so I would hurry if I were you."

Eyes wide from his threat I scrambled off of the bed and stood. Before I could take a step to clean though Jason slammed his fist into my stomach and, while I was doubled over gasping, he brought his elbow down hard into the center of my back causing me to collapse. From the floor I heard him chuckle to himself.

"Thirteen minutes to go, kitten."