Page 55 of His Eternal Claim

The lights come back on. And she isn’t alone anymore. My scream dies in my throat. Figures stand behind her. I think they’re doctors. White coats soaked in red. Faces blurred. Skin peeling. Mouths stitched shut. Eyes… their eyes are black.

Empty. Dead. “No…”

My body thrashes. The restraints cut deeper. Blood pools beneath my wrists. And I can’t do anything.

“No…”

My chest hurts. Everything hurts. My wrists. My throat. My tummy. My head. Especially my head.

I pull again. And again. And again. But the straps don’t break. They only bite harder.

Why won’t they break? Why won’t they let me go? I’m good.

I’ve been good.

Mama says good girls don’t cry.

Good girls listen. Good girls smile.

Good girls don’t make messes.

So why am I here? What did I do?

No. No crying. Big girls don’t cry. Papa says I’m brave.

Papa says his little moon is stronger than all the stars.

So why do I feel so small? So… so tiny.

My eyes burn, but the tears still come. Sliding into my ears.

I hate crying lying down. It makes me feel like I’m drowning. I look at the people behind Aunty Aris again. And I wish I didn’t. Because they don’t blink.

Papa says people blink. Papa says monsters don’t. My breathing stops. My heart beats so fast it hurts.

Thumpthumpthumpthump.

What if it breaks? Can hearts break? Do little girls die if their hearts break? I don’t want to die. I haven’t fed Mr. Buttons today. My bunny will miss me. Mama will be angry if I don’t come home. …Will Mama come?

Mama.

Mama will fix it. Mama fixes everything. Mama kisses bruises.

Mama brushes my hair.

Mama sings when I can’t sleep. “M-Mama?”

Please.

Please come.

Please.

I’ll be good.

I’ll eat my vegetables.

I’ll stop hiding my peas under the table. I’ll stop colouring on the walls.