Marked • Tom Riddle

His Lips

   I was doomed and destined for imminent death. He'd be here soon, there was no doubt about that. I could already hear his steady footsteps growing louder and reverberating off the stone walls as he approached the library. He'd kill me for sure, he'd already warned me about the consequences and I was sure to face them this time. I had to think and I had to be quick about it if I wanted to survive tonight. 

   You see, I had been in my room happily packing my things ready to return home the following morning. Although the Dark Lord had done his duty protecting me, I couldn't bear to spend another second in his mansion's walls, not after what had happened. I needed to return home, to gather what was left of my sanity and piece together the puzzle M had created for me. I had the journal, I had all the answers just laying there under my mattress waiting to be uncovered. I only needed a safe place to do so. All I wanted to do was get a good night's rest and sleep until I was ready to be escorted home, however, it seemed as though Mother had other plans.

   My bedroom doors suddenly swung open and Mother barged in, her arms open wide to grab me. I had thought she'd left long ago, but I'd been gravely mistaken. 

   "Mother?" I exclaimed as she advanced toward me. Her boney fingers dug into my shoulders and she pulled me away from my suitcases and back towards the doors. "What are you doing?!"

   "Did you think I forgot, Karina?" She seethed. "You will apologize tonight."

   As the words sunk in, I panicked against her grip. I couldn't see him, not now, not with my mind fresh with forbidden memories. "Wait, Mother, I c-can't," I searched for excuses, "look at me, I'm in my nightgown, I couldn't possibly see him in this state."

   "You can," she decided, pulling me down the stairs. "Show a little more skin and he might actually forgive you."

   "I forgot my wand. I need my wand!" I frantically thrashed against her grip until she finally gave.

   "Karina!" Mother exclaimed as I rushed back up the stairs. I needed to obliviate my mind and I needed to do it now. Even being outside of my room with my memories was dangerous. I needed only but a moment, a single moment to myself to erase what needed to be erased. However, my journey up the stairs was cut short, because coming down the stairs now was the Dark Lord himself. 

   I froze. We both did. He looked at me, his eyes growing suspicious as he saw the panic in mine. Immediately, I blocked my mind and did what anyone would in my situation, I turned and I ran. Back down the stairs, I ran, passed Mother, passed the final step, and down the hallway until I reached the library. I wasn't safe here, not a chance, but it gave me time to think which was the only thing I could do, think and come up with a plan.

   "What's this about?" I heard the Dark Lord question Mother. 

   "My apologies, Dark Lord," Mother immediately responded. "Karina has something she'd like to say to you and I believe her strange behavior was caused by what she has to say. I believe she finds it difficult to express."

   There was a moment of silence before the Dark Lord finally said, "I will speak to her."

   And with that, his footsteps continued on their path towards me. During their exchange, a plan had surfaced from the most insane parts of my mind. I tried with all my mental strength to come up with another plan, but due to the substantially stressful situation I was in, my attempts were rendered useless. I had all but one crazy plan as the Dark Lord drew closer and I questioned if I even had the boldness to pull it off. But when he entered the room, I knew I didn't have a choice but to persevere.