Descent

Chapter 24 ~ Rotting.

I wake sometime later to Dana shaking my leg.

At first I'm worried it's Rosik and my reflexes show my stress as I shove myself off of the bed and land on the ground harshly.

Once I squint up and see my cousin staring down at me my mouth opens in a small O shape but no words can come out as the pain from all the earlier events in the day hit me even harder than before.

I feel as though my muscles are stiffened permanently in fear and as I push myself onto my feet I find that it's a struggle to keep my back straight, I can already feel a knot forming in the centre of my back just by stretching.

"You look like a mess." Dana softly whispers and I lowly chuckle at her brutal honesty.

Her eyes assess me from head to toe and she allows a small frown to pout her lips, obviously not pleased with my state.

I open my mouth, to explain the marks, to explain my morning, just to unload a little of this emotional baggage but Dana holds up a hand firmly.

"I don't want to know Katie. Just remember that you chose to leave the safe floor." Dana states with no real emotion and my eyebrows crease as her words sink in.

With tears building in my eyes I nod harshly, shaking my head and allowing my curls to mask the hurt and guilt.

"Rosik will want dinner soon, do you want to help me make it?"
Dana continues and as I peek a glance up at her I'm shocked by how much the coldness is ageing her.

She looks nothing like your average sixteen year old, this place has hardened her and I can't help but feel naive in her presence.
But in her reality I am.

"I know that you're forced to go upstairs at night Dana." I softly say, not wanting to sound too judgemental or harsh but instead I come off sad and Dana crinkles her nose at my misguided pity.

"It's not a big deal." Dana tries to shrug off and she spins on her wheels, heading towards the door.

"I'm sorry." Is all I can offer at this point.
My apology is as weak as I am right now but it's the least I can offer.

Rebuilding our relationship, condemning myself to be around Rosik and essentially risking my life by being here is just the foundation of what is needed to truly make up for what I have taken from my cousin.

It's a small price to pay considering that I took away her early teens.

"Sorry?! What makes you think it's forced?" Dana cuts back and I sit back on the bed, finding standing too tiring at this point and I flinch from the anger in her voice.

"Dana, I understand that you may be tricked into thinking certain ways but I can help you. This isn't right."
I attempt to help her see reason, she has been conditioned to behave a certain way just to survive.

She needs to realise that she doesn't only have to rely on herself.
I'm here.

"You understand nothing. You're a frigid virgin. I bet you don't even know what it's like to cum." Dana spits out, her back still to me and her words spark a fire under my ass.

"Dana!" I yell as she turns the door handle and before I can release my torrent of harsh, disciplinary words she rolls her way out and slams the door behind her, taking my anger and consuming it herself leaving me feeling empty.

Grabbing the nearest pillow I don't hesitate to lift it to my face and I scream loudly into it.

Over and over, my tears softening the fabric and it sticks to my face as my muffled screams grow weaker and weaker.