“Go away!” I screamed at the girl in the mirror. “Go back to your Master!” Fists pounded. “You’re his!” I shouted. “Not me!” I screamed, scorching the hell I lived in. “Go away!” I banged and punched and kicked.
And she did.
Her face shattered. Her body splintered. Her scars broke.
Glass disintegrated around me, crashing to the floor, obliterating the girl in the mirror, hiding her unsmiling face, hiding her ugly scarred body, hiding her marked flesh, hiding who she belonged to.
Still, my fire flared, burning my body, my fingernails scraping at my back, peeling the flesh I wanted gone but couldn’t reach.
“Not yours!” roared from my throat. Blood-soaked hands flew into my hair. Pulling and tearing, stinging my scalp. It did nothing. It wasn’t enough.
I charged the other mirror.
Strong arms locked around me.
I reacted. Kicking. Punching, Scratching. Slapping.
Still, they didn’t release me.
My chest ached. My body throbbed. My skin stung. My heart hurt, wanting to burst through my ribcage. I welcomed it. Needing it to tear me in half. To bring me the darkness I craved.
Those hands tightened around me, threatening to squeeze my life out.
“No!” I sobbed tearless cries, my hands flailing, my fingers ripping skin. “Not yours!” I screamed. “Not yours!” I fought their hold. Somehow, I turned around, and my hands went wild. I felt rigid muscles beneath my palms, my fists. I didn’t care. I struck where I could. I wanted out. I wanted Mama.
Someone grabbed my wrists, his warm touch searing my skin.
You’re mine, kitten.Mocked me.
Reminding me, he’d marked me. I fought harder, twisting my body, trying to get away. “No!” I screamed.
I can come just from smelling your pretty blood. You’re mine.
“Not yo—”
Icy water hit me, choking my words. I gasped, trying to breathe, my chest fighting for oxygen. My arms flailed to get free, my screams dying to ragged whimpers. “No,” echoed in my ears.
Then, I heard it. “I got you, love,” that voice again, it pulled me in. Then I felt it. A gentle beat beneath my fingers, vibrating through my cold body. Darkness stole my thoughts, filling my mind with quiet. No sounds. No visions. No taunts.
My heart settled. I let it soothe me.
