Short Stories

Within Glass Eyes

This is honestly something I just made from the spur of the moment. I believe everyone has worth and this is for those who feel like they're worthless. You are not.

It was cold. It was so cold. How long had she been there? Days? Weeks? Months, perhaps. She didn't know anymore. She didn't know anything anymore, not even her name. She looked up, matted black hair falling in her face, as the rusted hinges of a long shut door squeaked open. She hissed in pain as torchlight shone in her eyes. She scrambled away and curled into a fetal position in the corner, as though it would protect her.

Cruel laughter rang in her ears. "Enjoying your stay, Princess?"

Princess? Was she a princess? She didn't remember anymore. Nothing made sense. The fog in her brain was slowly taking over parts of her; she was losing herself in it.

The man walked closer to her. "How does it feel to be shunned, hated, locked away and forgotten by everyone who knew you?" She turned away as tears threatened to fall. He spat at her. "Worthless. Do you know why you're here? It's because you're worthless!"

Something snapped. She jumped up and with feral rage flung herself onto the man. He screamed as she scratched him with long unkempt fingernails and bit him with jagged teeth. He finally managed to throw her off. She skidded across the stone floor and whimpered like an injured puppy before glaring at him again.

He swiped blood away from his mouth. His face was covered in scratches and bite marks. She smiled, a wicked, crazed smile. She would no longer fight it. She was going mad. Why not accept it? Perhaps it could help her escape.

The man glared daggers in her direction. He raised a hand, as if to strike her, then lowered it. "You're worthless! That's why you were shut away down here!" He hissed.

She again felt tears prick her eyes. Was it true? Was she worthless? She turned to the fog of madness forming in her brain. Is it true?

No.

That one word made it all click. She wasn't worthless. She hadn't been shut away because she was hated. And she most definitely wasn't a princess. No, she was a Queen. Staggering, with legs that hadn't been used in some time, she stood. She looked the man in the eye. Oh now he was in trouble. All the pain, starvation, it would be repaid. She smiled at him, tilting her head to the side.

"I am not worthless." She smiled. "And neither are you." The man looked confused. Her eyes hardened, pools of glass forming in them. The man screamed and tried to run away from her. She reached out a hand. Glass tugged at the mans feet. It spread over his legs, to his chest, his arms. He stood mid-flight. His face was not yet glass. Neither was his heart. The girl approached him. She hooked a finger under his chin and lifted his gaze to hers. "No one is worthless," she said. "It's time I repaid my debts to you."

The man's eyes filled with terror. She raised her hand. He would die, not that he didn't deserve to. He stiffened. Glass shattered on the floor and he fell to his knees. He looked up at the girl. "Why? Why wouldn't you kill me?" He asked.

She simply turned and went back to her corner. "Because. Now you know. Every life has worth." She looked away, the glass fading from her eyes. The man gazed at her, then turned and fled up the stairs. She turned away. Blind eyes weeped for all she had lost, and for what she had yet to gain.