1 Chapter 1 ~ The Beginning 

There was nothing around her but the swirl of musk that enveloped her nose, digging into the very innermost part of her being. Not a single shed of light. Not a whisper carried by the stale air. Nothing.

Her skin was lined with goosebumps. She felt a prickling. Her gut felt wretched as if someone had pulled all of her insides out and put them back in.

A burning sensation began to build. It climbed higher and higher until it reached its peak.

"Blargh." The sound bounced off of one another for what felt like an eternity. It made sure to consume and rack her body until all of her strength, the little that was left, had finally abandoned her. Deserted her, fleeing to a faraway place where she could not reach.

"What a joke…" she chuckled. Her voice was hard and cold, laced with venom.

She rested her head on what she presumed to be a stone floor. The little pebbles poked her sides, revealing the uneven ground that was poorly constructed. Her whole body felt sore. Irritated. Angry.

Empty.

Never would she have thought that they would do this to her. She knew they hated her, however, a slap was the most they have ever done. Not even a belt. But why are they torturing her?

Confusion vexed her mind. It took hold of her and occupied her thoughts.

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I did not hear the sound of hurried footsteps that began to inch closer and closer. Nor did I hear the click of a door being unlocked. Nor the whoosh of the door swinging open. The realization of another presence being in the room didn't hit until I felt the stinging that infiltrated my eyes by the sudden brightness that vanquished the dark.

I opened my eyes and found an unfamiliar figure that stood before me. Eyes that stared at me with disgust. His body was tense and I could only feel how hostile the strange man presented himself to be.

Did they hire someone?

"You are lucky you are still alive," he spat. His face twisted with a scowl, distorting his once youthful appearance into someone who had aged fifty years.

He took out a pill. It was inky in color and was the size of a nickel.

My blood ran cold as he bent down and gripped my jaw harshly, enough to know that a bruise would form the next day. I tried to will my body to move, but it would not listen. It didn't listen when he shoved his grimy little fingers into my mouth and forcefully shoved the pill down my throat.

I gagged on it as he held my nose hostage. I couldn't breathe. Tears started to trickle from the corner of my eyes.

"Swallow."

I was finally able to swallow the pill but it felt lodged in my throat, like a fish bone.

He finally let go of my nose and brought a cup to my mouth and dumped it into my throat.

A brutal stabbing convulsion attacked my body as I tried to breathe and drink the water at the same time.

I heard a frustrated sigh. Then a sudden burst of pain exploded in my side where his foot connected with my body. That seemed to do the trick as everything finally went down and I was able to breathe again.

I took a deep breath as my whole body shuddered uncontrollably.

"You know…" I tilted my head towards him, "you are a real pain."

"If you had just done good on the assignment they wouldn't have to do this. If you work harder and stop causing trouble this wouldn't happen. I don't know why they even keep you around, but I suppose blood is thicker than water," he shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the door.

How does he know my parents? I have never even seen him, not once, so who is he? And why am being punished, I aced finals? I have worked so hard, but for what? I finally got to be on my own for once and this is how they treat me.

"Why, why, why, why, why, why, why… Why was I even born!" I screamed into the empty room. My voice was hoarse and barely came out. Only an audible whisper snaked its way through my raw throat.

Just why?

Everything was for nothing. Nothing. All of the false smiles and make pretend have finally caught up to me.

I observed the filthy room that I was stuck in. White walls that were streaked and coated with layers of dust. Pebbled flooring that was covered in bile. No windows. Just a small box without warmth; without color; and without furnishings. It was a cell.

My vision started to blur at the unwanted waterworks. Finally, I succumbed to the dreariness and fatigue that hit me like a truck.