7 Voices

~The voices in my head are normal. They can help, they can hurt. But everyone has them. You, me, does it really matter who?~

The girl was running. She seemed to be giving a good chase at the very least. Dalash smiled. He didn't think this girl was her, but he was getting closer. Pity, the child in front of him had to die.

Innocent or not, she saw him. He couldn't have a report of his description to the police after all.

•

Waking was miserable. Now it literally everywhere hurts, even inside. What made him do it? Was my mother not putting out enough? No, they do it like rabbits everyday. I hear them constantly, making it easier to sleep. It's not the first time he's done it. It's the second time.

_So don't allow a third to happen. Fight back Penny._

What the....

_You are the strongest person I know. You can get through this._

Okay. What. The. Hell? Am I going crazy? Probably if I'm hearing voices.

_You're not going crazy._

"Oh really? So I'm just hearing a random voice in my head? Is anyone else seeing or hearing this?"

_Really?_

"Penny get out of your room right now," my mother snapped. Great, what could it be this time.

"What would you like, mother?" I tried to be calm. Her snapping at me really only could mean that he told her something.

I exited the room. Hiding would only make matters worse, not like I had anywhere to hide.

"My husband told me what you did last night. How you seduced him, and RAPED HIM!! I taught you better than this, didn't I? I GAVE you a roof over your selfish head, food in your useless stomach, and this is how you repay me? I have been nothing but a loving mother to you, Penny. It seems I haven't been strict enough," my mother was trembling. Why, and what, did he tell her?

"I will think about your punishment. But you will have no food this week other than what you scavenge out of the school's trash." Mother knew about that? Well no surprise really. No human could live off a lemon and stale bread. Plus, kids toss the most food out at school. Their moms sometimes pack things they hate. "Go get the stick. Unfortunately you have school tomorrow, so the discipline I want to give will have to be light today."

Crap. Not the stick. They hang me by my hair, then whip me with a thin stick. It hurts like a whip too.

_I can block the pain for you, if that's what you want._

Uh, what? First I'm going crazy, now I'm a maniac. But, blocking the pain? If that's even possible. Whatever you are. Wait. Now I'm talking to the voice in my head? Guess I really am...

CRACK

Pain exploded on my back. Mother was relentless in her punishment. 10, 15, I can't keep count. It hurts dammit. I have no muscle, it hurts.

Please just make it stop.

_You don't have to beg._

I blacked out.