Thelittlegirlwhoforced out thank yous between sobs died right there under the stars peeking through the storm. As if the swamp knew how much I wanted real stars shining above me.
I never deserved the shit that was given to me.
I deserved more.
I deserved a family that would love me.
My fist landed hard enough against his chest that I could hear the hollow thud in his ribcage. I ignored the throbbing of my bloody hands. The sweet satisfaction that I could dish out even a sliver of what he’d given me won hands down.
He sighed with disappointment, but didn’t fight back. Like I was nothing more than a screaming toddler refusing to leave the candy aisle.
As if he ever experienced that, he always bought me candy in exchange for my silence.
“Are you done?” I wasn’t even a big enough threat for him to put his hands up.
I swung my foot up, aiming right for his pride and joy. The stupid little prick that made him shred me to pieces.
He finally reacted, jumping back to dodge me. He was so focused on his cock he forgot his face. My fist slammed into his nose. I felt every crack and snap in the bone as I followed through with hatred that should have struck me cold. Instead, I reveled in the spew of blood that arched through the air. His scream of agony were the sprinkles on top.
The relief that lifted off my chest was better than any drug. Better than donuts after starving for three days. Better than Rot’s cock.
“I hate you,” I screamed loud enough to make my throat strain.
I needed more.
I tackled him to the ground, straddling his chest, punching his face over and over again. All the exhaustion from earlier faded away as my blood pounded in my ears.
My knuckles splintered and cracked, but I was beyond caring about that. If I could make him cry even a fraction of the tears he made me shed, it would be worth it.
Blind with rage took on a literal meaning as my sight grew blurry. It took me too long to realize that was because hot tears had flooded my eyes, and poured down my cheeks to blend in with the rain.
“You needle dick, arrogant–”
A fist slammed into my stomach hard enough to cut through my rage. My stomach flipped upside down until I leaned off to the side to vomit in the mud.
I should’ve puked on him.
A roar of protective rage exploded within me, but all I could do was try to calm my tender stomach.
It made me realize exactly how close he was. That he’d been creeping in the distance, while I had the upper hand. Now that Ididn't, the water in the distance splashed loudly as he barrelled toward us.
Gale took advantage of my distraction to toss me off of him, pinning me stomach down to the ground with his heavy weight. My head hung over the edge, just over the water. “Is that how you treat people who give everything to you?”
The nightmare of drowning. It all made sense now.
“Fuck you!” I yelled.
He pushed my head into the water, but his voice was loud and clear. “I made you, Talia. I hand crafted you into the perfect woman.”
Train them young. Right? You sick fuck.
I don’t know what crawled up your ass, but I suggest you adjust your attitude.”
He’s only done this once, because his wife caught him and had me removed from the home. She said due to marital conflict the house wasn’t conducive to child-rearing, but she’d eyed me with a silent apology when the social worker put me in the car.
I’d been too young to understand. I cried. I’d been there the longest time I’d ever spent in a house. It was the only home I knew. I begged her to let me stay.
She’d saved me.
