1: THE DEVIL HAD WON

TRIGGER WARNING: CONTAINS SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. DON'T WORRY, THE ABUSE SCENES WILL NOT BE SO VIVID IN THE COMING CHAPTERS.

PEBBLES' POV

DECEMBER 24TH, 2015

Sanguine liquid dribbled down my face and unto my white turtleneck blouse, staining it red. My hand slowly rose and touched the corner of my left brow and I flinched in pain as my fingers brushed against the deep, fresh cut. The warm and sticky substance oozed out in waves. I quickly removed my hand and tilted my head so that my eyes met the ceiling of the tiny closet where I hid. I lifted my palm above my face, my eyes widened in horror as my honey-brown hand was painted with wet, crimson juice.

“Bl—blood, ” I whispered to myself. My teeth were chattering and my heart tightened at the sight of the bodily fluid. I used one palm and clutch my chest. I gripped the front of my blouse so tightly, my knuckles became white. My rear hit the wall as I stumbled backwards. I wanted to scream, I wanted to run, but I couldn't. HE would hear me, HE would catch me, and then HE would beat me.

I gently slid to the floor and hugged my knees to my chest. My eyes caught an old rag that was lying idly on the floor of the small hallway closet. I grabbed it and tied it over my bleeding face. I tilted my head so that it rested on the wall behind me. My eyes closed as my fear ate away at my insides. I swallowed my anxiety as soon as I heard footsteps lurking closer to the door. Adrenaline rushed through my veins, sending my pulse into a skyrocketing frenzy. Beads of sweat dripped from my forehead as the salty liquid now burnt my wound as it soaked through my makeshift bandage. I rocked back and forth, like a frightened child.

God, please don't let him find me. Please don't let the devil find me. I mentally prayed and pleaded. Silent tears gushed from my eyes as I sobbed. I watched in anticipation as the shadow moved closer beneath the door. I swallowed my gasp as I noticed the doorknob slowly turning.

“I know you're in there, Pebbles. I can smell your per—perfume, ” he slurred out. He jerked the knob twice more. “Open this door now, you little whore!” He began banging against the door. My body trembled on the floor, flinching every time he thumped on the door. “Pebbles, if you don't open this motherfucking door, I will kick it in and then whatever I planned to do to you now will be ten times worse, ” he cackled evilly.

Why me, Lord? Why does this have to happen to me?

The banging continued for a few more minutes before I heard a loud thud on the outside of the door. I crawled on my hands and knees then placed my ear against the door. I stayed as quiet as I could and I listened.

He was snoring. I waited a couple more minutes before I opened the closet. There he was passed out in a drunken stupor. Vomit riddled his face. His right fingers were still fastened tightly around the rim of his beer bottle. His left knuckles were stained with blood—my blood. I walked around his sprawled body that resembled a sunbathing starfish. I hurriedly tiptoed to my bedroom and locked the door behind me. I took a warm shower, then cleaned and bandaged my injury properly.

Calling the police was out of the question.

Dressed in a pair of Spongebob pyjamas, I checked the door once more to ensure that it was indeed locked. I slid beneath my covers. I sighed a breath of relief because I knew once the devil was passed out, he would be out for the rest of the night.

My lids were heavy and sleep was only moments away. I entered my dreamland and dreamt of a different life for myself. I didn't get far before I felt a hand clamping over my mouth. My eyes opened wide to find the devil pinning me down on the bed. His hand groped my breast, and I struggled against his dirty clutches.

He knelt in my abdomen, painfully sinking his knee in my gut. He removed his palm from my mouth and dangled the keys in my face. “You forgot I have keys to every room in this house—my house.” His breath smelt like stale liquor and cigarettes. The sour smell caused me to choke. He knew what his breath was doing to me.

A wicked smile decorated his face, then in one swift movement, he captured my lips with his. His tongue fought to part my lips, trying to stick it further and further down my throat. I gagged once more. His mouth tasted like a dirty ashtray. I knew because he forced me to eat old cigarette buds, and then he would have me lick the ashtray clean. He removed his tongue from my throat and I rolled my head to the side, trying everything to get my mouth away from his.

He lowered his head and whispered against my ear. “I'm gonna fuck you so hard tonight, you won't be able to walk straight for a week.” He held his tongue out and licked the side of my face. His breath slapped me across my cheek causing my eyes to water at how malodorous it was. Goosebumps permeated my body, but not the good kind. He used his knee to apply more pressure to my abdomen. Pain ripped through my lower torso and I shuddered at the feeling. He stuck a finger into the waistline of my PJs, and slid it down.

“Please, don't, ” I begged. “I am on my period.” I knew this wouldn't stop him, but I had to try, anyway.

“Now this will make it even more exciting. I know you hate the sight of blood, ” he mocked my hemophobia.

My body went into a deeper, panicked mode. I thrashed against his weight, but he only sank lower on top of me. He ground his crotch against mine and I felt the sickness creeping from my gut. It picked up speed when he ripped my top off, exposing my perky honey-brown breasts. He lowered his head to my chest and took a nipple in his mouth. Hot tears streaked my face.

“Stop it!” I yelled. I tried to push him off, but he was too heavy, too muscular, and too strong. He used his knees to pry my legs apart. I begged and pleaded for him to stop. But my petition was music to his ears.

His member hardened and the sickness I felt grew tenfold. He removed my nipple from his mouth and replaced it with my lips. Spurts of vomit littered his face, the thick liquid invaded his mouth. It looked like the oatmeal I consumed a few hours earlier.

“You are gonna pay for this, you little bitch!” He yanked my pants off. I fought to get off the bed. My face stung as I felt the back of his hand crash against my jaw. A sharp metallic taste danced on my tongue because of my busted jaw. He continued to rip my underwear off. Leaving me naked and cold. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Pebbles. You will forever be mine.”

The words that tumbled from his mouth resulted in another shower of tears to surge from my already puffy eyes. Words that had no meaning to me or him. Words that hurt more than his beatings. Words that made me recognise that I was too tired and too weak to fight him.

My body became limp, and I gave up hope. I gave up on life. I refused to live like that anymore. A small whimper escaped my lips as he plunged his penis into my vagina. He raped me for hours. He did not stop until I saw the dawn break over the horizon. He slipped from my centre, then he collapsed on top of me.

I felt his hot seeds leaking and wetting my thighs, mixing in with my monthly flow. It was then and there I decided to do it - I had decided to kill myself.

The devil had won, I pondered to myself as my soul cried out in distress.