Lace

10.

The moment I was brought forcefully into this world so far-fetched from comprehensive reality, I was never the same. Apart of me died on the streets the moment I blacked out in front of the dark situate that brought me into his home and twisted me against my moral beliefs and brought e to the edge of insanity.

He tortured me, kidnapped me, and acts as if he is doing me a favour. He marked my body with more than just ink that claimed as one of his minions, but with scars that will forever remind me of the monster he is.

Erebus robbed me of my non-existent freedom, and now holds my right to lie in the palm of his hands. My life, existence and every atom making up this delusional, broken girl that I am, belong to him. The tattoo on my back, scars that littered my caramel brown skin, and horrid memories that embedded itself in my mind was proof enough.

What makes it worse? I allowed it.

I surrendered myself to a man that's made of no humanity all for another who don't even know if is still alive. I surrender my mortality for a friend that I can't find.

From the memories I have from my childhood, I know that I was never smart. I was slow, and could barely even pronounce my own name, let alone remember my address.

I was never given the chance to learn how to read, write or do complex math. To this date, those skills are but a wish for me. Riley did try to teach me from the little he knew, but he too was a child of the street.

I've always been insecure about it, but my street skills usually made up for what I lacked intellectually, but today that wasn't enough...

Today they were testing my limits.

For the past few days, they were nurturing me. Feeding me, clothing me and making me feel as if I belong, but not today.

"Stand up."

But I was too worn out to follow Erebus's command. Whilst I drowned in my pool of sweat and failure, be stood proud in his black workout gear: black shorts that reached his knee and a black shirt, void from even a single drop of sweat.

He wasn't supposed to be training me. The plan was for him to pass me down to one of his other fighters and let them train me for him, but the stupid boy thought to challenge him. Jake, I believe his name was; a tall, well-built man. He had the same tattoo as us all: a serpent. But despite his strength, he lacked the basic skill of survival which lead to his ultimate downfall by my own, reluctant hands.

"With all due respect boss, nobody can train a girl in combat, especially a girl as weak as her. You must be mistaken." were Jake's last words.

Erebus only had to bat an eye, and suddenly the whole room had guns aimed the man.

It was then that I'd learned never to question any decision made by Erebus.

Two men held Jake down while he begged for forgiveness, muttering sweet nothing that his boss paid no heed to.

Erebus simply stood up, looking me dead in the eye whilst reaching for something from his breast pocket.

Wordlessly, he handed me the knife, nodding in the direction of the weeping man.

He wanted me to kill him, but I couldn't.

"He disrespected you Lace, he thinks you're weak."

I'm not weak.

"He thinks that you're worthless."

I'm not....

"Are you going to let him throw away everything that you are fighting for? Because before I leave, someone has to be dead."

By now I was in tears. I knew what he was implying. If I died here by the hands of a man who thinks nothing of me, Riley is as good as dead.

I was in the same dilemma as I was the last time.

I hardly had time to kill before I saw Jake spring loose, and charge towards me with the intention to kill.

I was weeping, and could hardly see anything through my blurry vision. At first, I didn't even register myself moving till I felt warmth lace my hands.

All I saw was red. Red coating my arms, red lacing the floor, and red gushing out from the chest of the deserving man.

I ran, not worrying about the consequences that may follow. I found a sink and opened the tap more than I should have. The gushing water sprayed on my clothes, but that didn't matter as I washed away the blood from my hands, even though I knew that it will always be there.

While I was away, Erebus claimed me as his own protégé, promising each and every man with even the slightest doubt about me that I will rise among them all. That I will be the one to whom they will all bow to in respect, and admiration. That I will earn it all on my own, and drench all those who defy in oceans of my own rage and their blood.

And it seemed as if he was keen to keep his promise. He began pushing e far beyond my limits, training me more than I could handle and he started moulding me into the woman I've always dreamed of being.

***
Next chapter at 430 reads.

How is the story so far?
Does the storyline makes sense?
Are the links between the chapters okay?

Anything? I need to know? I'm dying with suspense here.

And fml, it's been like  a month and I already have more than 300 reads! That's a big thing for me.

05/12/19