Living Hell (2)

Trinity's anxiety takes a jump after hearing the sound and her eyes glance over to the closet. She then glances at the man subtly, trying to gauge if he heard it too. He remains in contemplative thought and doesn't appear to react to the sound. She chooses to believe he missed it somehow. She allows herself to relax a little, but remains tense as a result of the current situation she's in.

"Hmm. So, you're telling me your baby sister has been missing for hours now and you were able to calmly wait before looking for her? Do you really expect me to believe that obvious lie, girl? That girl is deeply loyal to you and attached at the hip. She'd never disobey an order from you."

"I'm not lying! It's true! She's not in her room and I don't know where she is. I just knew if I left and you came to find me gone too, you'd probably worry. I was only thinking of your feelings."

"I see. So that's your story and you're sticking it with it then?" He sighs in disappointment. "Very well then Trinity. You know what comes next. Business as usual for tonight I suppose."

"Yes daddy." Trinity replies in resignation. No matter what was said about anything, it would've still come to this in the end. This has been Trinity's life for six years, with no hope of any relief.

"Trinity," the man starts. "I want you to remember that your suffering is a direct result of your actions. I will teach you again tonight until you understand. This is what happens when you lie!"

The young girl watches from the closest with horrified golden eyes, as her father does many unspeakable things to her big sister. She wants to scream and tell him to stop, but she remembers what Trinity said and so stays silent, as the tears fall steadily from her eyes. She feels sick.

Trinity thought tonight would be the same as any other night, but she now realizes she was wrong. Tonight has become the worst night of her life and she fears things will never get better. She thought she knew pain, but she now realizes she knew nothing at all. She's living in hell, and she doesn't think she'll ever get out. She wishes for someone to end her pain. She wants to die.

Distantly, an alluring voice whispers. "I can save you. Will you pledge yourself to me, Trinity?"

"Stop!" The girl busts out of the closest and makes a desperate plea for her sister, unable to take anymore. "Stop it daddy! Please! You're hurting her! Why are you hurting her?" She cries out.

"Shiori. So, you were here after all. Just as I thought." He gets up from the bed and approaches her with a slick grin. "Though if you'd come out sooner, Trinity wouldn't have had to suffer, you know?" He points to the older girl. "Her pain, her tears…you did that to her. It's your fault."

Shiori looks at her sister and feels immense guilt. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to. I just-, I was scared! Trinity told me to stay inside no matter what. So, I did but…I'm sorry Trinity!" Shiori breaks down in tears, feeling she's failed her sister. "I didn't want you to suffer for my sake!"

Trinity weakly turns her head to Shiori. "Shi…don't apologize. I chose this. To protect you."

"So, she wanted to protect you. That's certainly good big sister behavior. But if she protects you, then who will protect her, I wonder? Isn't it sad she's fighting this all on her own?" He asks.

Shiori looks at Trinity and realizes that she's been sleeping safe and sound every night, while Trinity has been living hell at the hands of their father. "I'm sorry Trinity. I didn't know."

"Shi…it's not your fault. Please don't feel sad for me. I will always protect you. Always."

"Say, would you like to help Trinity out Shiori? There's something you can do to save her."

"I don't want Trinity to be in pain anymore. I'll do anything if she won't cry anymore."

"Anything huh?" he says with mild excitement. "Then shall I teach you how to be a good wife?"

"No!" Trinity finally manages to push herself up from the bed and get on her feet. "No, you don't need to teach her that. I'll take care of you daddy, I promise. I'll do better, so please-."

"Trinity." He says her name with a chilling tone. "Do not interfere with my parenting. You've already forgotten a major rule for a wife. Don't interrupt your husband while he's speaking."

Trinity feels a chill run down her spine, his intimidation strong as always. "I'm sorry daddy…."

"Now Shiori, would you like to share in the duties of being a wife to help out your sister?"

"Yes, I want to help Trinity in any way I can. I don't want her to cry. What should I do?"

"It's quite simple." He opens his arms wide. "Come to daddy Shiori." She does as she's told.

"No! I won't let you!" Trinity charges him and attempts to tackle him down, but having anticipated her actions, he's ready, and grabs her arms, tackling her to the floor instead.

He begins to smack her around, punch her and kick her across the floor as she wails in pain. He beats her until she can no longer stand, all while Shiori shouts, begging him to stop as she cries.

He finally stops once she's no longer moving, her weak, pained breathes the only thing confirming she's still alive. "Now, be a good wife and lie there a while."

He gets up and returns his attention to Shiori, who stares at him with absolute terror. "Now, where were we, Shiori?" He returns to her side. "No need to be scared. I'll be gentle." He whispers as he embraces her tightly.

"Trinity!" Shiori calls out for her sister, but she's unable to respond. She calls out for her again and again in desperation. The man before her holds no warmth of a father, but rather a monster seeking to devour her. "Trinity! Trinity! Trinity!" She continues to cry out endlessly as the pain descends upon her, and her innocence is stolen. Her world becoming forever etched into gray.

~~~

Trinity opens her eyes to a deafly silent room. She realizes she must have passed out. She sits up and slowly starts to regain her bearings. She looks up to see a small silhouette lying in the bed shivering quietly, and it all comes back to her. "Shiori!" She jumps up and runs to her side.

Covering her mouth is all she can do to not scream. The bright and cheerful girl she's always nurtured, now lies in complete shock, her eyes dull and her shine gone. Trinity's greatest fear has been realized and she can only fall to her knees in devastation. "Shi…no…. I'm sorry Shi…."

"Trini-ty?" She says weakly. "It hurts. Everything hurts. Why does it hurt? Why did daddy hurt me like that? Why…why?!" Her tears finally start to fall. "Trinity!" Shiori breaks down now, wailing as her tears stain the pillow. "Trinity it hurts! It hurts! He hurt me!" She's devastated.

Trinity wraps her arms around the girl and pulls her against her chest. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you! I failed as a big sister. I wasn't strong enough to fight him. It's my fault he hurt you. I'm so sorry, Shiori!" Sorry is all Trinity can say as she breaks down beside her, both lost, broken souls.

Once again, that voice whispers into Trinity's mind. "Why do you choose to suffer? Why do you take such a harsh burden on yourself? Will you let him destroy your dear sister too? I can offer you freedom, happiness, and power. You can bring that devil and all the scum of this world to their knees. You can rule them all. Pledge yourself to me Trinity, and vengeance will be yours."