Lost & Found

3: Why?

Chapter 3: Why?
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A long whip was raised and slashed on a set of twins, instantly waking them from their once-peaceful slumber.

"OW!" They both cried out.

"Get up!" Deneen screeched before bringing the whip down again, slicing their skin.

Not wanting to receive another hit, the two quickly rolled out of bed, awaiting for their mother's next command.

Well..

"Why couldn't you just yell at us to get up instead of hitting us" Liza questioned as she inspected her oozing cuts.

Deneen's eyes flashed with anger at her daughter's innocent backtalk. "I can do whatever I want, and just because of that I'm gonna teach you a lesson for questioning my methods!"

"W-Wait..." Liza whimpered softly with her hands raised defensively as she backed away from the advancing woman.

"Come here, brat!" The mother grabbed onto the girl's arm and began whipping her tiny body mercilessly, ignoring her cries and desperate pleas.

No emotion crossed her features as she brought down the whip over and over again, igniting a new strip of fire with each strike.

Lena stood and watched...helplessly as her sister's painful cries and the crack of the whip filled the room. Her mind told her to move and help, but her feet remained planted on the wooden floor below.

She couldn't do anything.

She could, but...she wouldn't.

Whatever she did to cease Liza's whipping would only result with her being beaten and whipped.

And she didn't have the courage or strength to step forward.

She had fear.

Tears streamed down her face as she suffered in pain along with her sister, praying for brutal violence to end soon.

Liza twisted, rolled and jumped to avoid the abuse, but the woman only followed her and continued with hurting her.

For what seemed like hours, the whipping finally came to an end to both of the girl's relief.

But the evil work of the mother didn't end there.

"No breakfast for you Liza. Lena I suggest that you get your breakfast before I change my mind." Deneen warned, and headed out the room to another part of the house.

Lena quickly helped her crying sister off the floor before running to the kitchen.

A shaky breath escaped Liza's bleeding lips as she staggered over to the bed and leaned on it for her support. Her beaten body protested at the forced movement and fell weak on her causing the girl to fall face first onto the mattress.

The strength wasn't there to help her and she had no choice but to just lay on the stained covers as she blinked rapidly at the walls to rid the tears building up in her eyes.

They fell shut but a steady stream of tears continued as she slipped into a light sleep.

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Liza moaned softly as hands rocked her back and forth in a desperate attempt to awake her.

"Lizzy wake up." A soft voice spoke with urgency.

Liza slowly rose with a long groan, ignoring the cries of her aching back and opened her eyes to meet the panicked expression of her sister.

"What?" She mumbled tiredly.