Angel with Horns

Limits

Even the best of us have limits, but what if someone passes it and keeps pushing forward? Well, Jackline on her final night living in her hellish apartment, limits were pushed. She had hair dye that she bought just for summer without her fathers knowledge. She hid it under her bed so he wouldn't burn it, she would take the abuse later she thought. Her father came home late, he had a strong scent of vodka on his breath. She started heading towards her room, knowing he was going to hurt her. Loud footsteps came fast behind her. Her father grabbed her by her blonde hair and pulled her closer, he punched her repeatedly in her face. She screamed in pain, then he lost interest in hitting her. He cuffed her to a doorknob and went to the kitchen. Frantic, 16 year old Jackline tried picking the lock on the cuffs, scared of not knowing what her brutal father was going to do. He came back with a knife. He pulled her sleeve up and started to cut at her wrist saying "15 cuts for 15 years of hell" as he stared at her unflinching face after each cut. With anger he yelled "the 16th cut will mark the end of this hell!" He sliced at her throat. He walked away to wash the knife. Jackline, in tears, continued to try to pick the lock on the cuffs. She then heard footsteps coming her way, so she played dead. Holding her breath as he came near. He uncuffed her and dragged her to the bathroom, placing her in the bathtub. He then left to clean the trail of blood. Her limits have been pushed so far that night. She then snuck out the bathroom window to her bedroom. She bandaged herself up and grabbed the hair dye and packed her things in a bag. She went back to the bathroom through the windows and locked the door. She heard her father pounding on the door as she dyed, dried, and cut her hair. Crying out of fear.

She went back to her room and grabbed her things. She knew she had to change her appearance further. Jackline stood on the fire escape contemplating how to make herself unrecognizable.