Chapter 1

Aribella P.O.V

It was another cold dreaded morning for Aribella as she woke up screaming because of the same dream that has haunted her for many years. It was a new tormented day for her so she hated mornings. It was 5am in the morning and she barely got any sleep at night because she was starving. Her stomach grumbled, just as she got up to go to the bathroom. The loud snoring of her father could be heard all through their small house. The bathroom was just across her room. As she walked the floor board creaked, she tried to tiptoe as she knew the consequences of waking her father up from sleep. She quickly tiptoed into the tiny shabby bathroom, with the sink and bathtub all rusted but it was still neat. She quickly had a bath and changed into the clothe she had brought into the bathroom, it was a medium-sized thin strap black faded and tattered dress that reached just below her knees. Just as she stepped out the bathroom, she was yanked by her hair. "You little bitch, I searched all over for you, where's my breakfast?," she looked up only to be met by the angry face of her father. "How do you search all over in such a tiny house," she thought. She just couldn't get used to the pain, even after suffering years of abuse from her father. She kept mute while staring into his deep blue eyes. "Answer me," he snarled at her. "I just woke up and went to have a bath," she answered emotionlessly. Looking in her eyes you would see no life in them. She hardly smiled. "You're just a lazy good-for-nothing," he said while shoving her out the way and strolling into the bathroom . The next second an angry stomping is heard as James ,her father, is angrily walking out of the bathroom . He yanks her hair again but this time even harsher. "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WATER IN THE BUCKET," he thundered . "I used it to take a bath," she said calmly and immediately she said those words she was slapped by her father. Her ears were ringing because of the impact.

"How dare you, what am I supposed to use to take a bath?," he asked looking infuriated but a bit calmer than before. She felt the urge to tell him to go get his own water from the river. The only way place to get water from is the river. She hated going there because the river was steep and the chances that someone could fall inside was high, what made it even worse was that the river was deep.

She couldn't swim. No one would want to teach her as everyone in that village hated her. She always dreamed of a world where she could be free and everyone would be nice to her. But sadly their called dreams for a reason. What she didn't realize was that she stood there gawking at him while lost in her thoughts. "Why are you still standing here, go get me water from the stream, " he screamed at her and she quickly scurried away.

"And make sure you give me my money when you get back, " he called after her. "It's my money, "she muttered as she left the house after grabbing the water basin. She hated herself so much because she saw herself as a weakling who couldn't run away from her abusive father. When she got to the river, she saw two girls, she identified them as Gianna and Haley. Those two hated her with a passion and she had no idea why, she did nothing wrong to them. Today started off on the wrong foot for her and she didn't want anymore trouble. She silently prayed they would ignore her but no, they couldn't miss their precious chance of torturing the poor girl. She walked quietly so that she didn't disturb their chatter. " Snap" she looks down only to realize she had broken a twig. The two heads in front snapped to her. "How clichè, " she said to herself. They had devious smirks plastered on their faces. "Am I the most unlucky person in the universe or what, " she thought to herself. "Go grab our basins, " Gianna said to Haley who went to grab their basins from the place where they were sitting. "Go fetch some water for us, " Gianna said to Aribella dropping the basins in front of her. "I'm sorry but I can't do that today, my father is very angry and impatient, " she said back to them. She felt disgusted for calling James her father. "How dare you," Gianna screamed at Aribella. "What gave you the guts to think you can disobey me, " Gianna said while moving closer to Aribella who didn't realise she was right next to the river. As she attempted to move back one more time she fell into the river. "Aaaargh, " she screamed as she fell inside. "Help, " she screams hoping someone would take pity on her. "Don't you think we should help her, I'm sure she's learnt her lesson already, " Haley whispers to Gianna.

"No, shut up you coward, let's go we'll fetch this water later on, " Gianna shouts back to Haley. Without as much as a backward glance they left Aribella who was still flailing her arms in the water begging for mercy.

She was losing breath. With a last shout for help, she saw darkness.