2

KATYA

I ran through the forest as fast as my legs could carry me. There was nowhere for me to go, and there was no one to accept me but I was running.

The forest was deep and thick, there were tall trees everywhere. The sun was shining brightly since it was early noon.

Arden had set me free, one of his men came and opened the gate before leaving. He believed his daughter was still alive, what a fool!

A part of me hated that statement. Arden wasn't a fool. Perhaps he couldn't bare to watch me get killed.

Perhaps he truly loved me.

I was contemplating these things when I heard ruffles behind me. I was now drinking water by the sea which was after the forest. I planned to go to the next pack to seek refuge and hide until my next plan.

Turning around, I saw a masked man walking toward me. Remembrance took me by the horn, exploiting me. Memories flooded my head as I saw the tall, and huge man walked toward me with a sword in his hand.

“You told your men to set me free, why are you here?” I asked looking at him as he walked toward me. My heart beat fast as he came nearer and nearer. His calculating eyes watching me.

“Did you come here to kill me?” I asked before scoffing.

“Why do you wear a mask when you want to do evil?” I asked. The day he forced himself on me, he was wearing the same mask.

Arden came close to me, he snaked one hand behind my waist and pulled me closer. My eyes went into his familiar eyes and the memory of him digging himself into me that day came back.

Almost immediately, I felt a sharp object pierce my belly and I groaned as the blade slid through effortlessly. I looked into his eyes as blood spurt from me.

Painfully, I held his shirt and groaned.

Please stop the pain.

Stop it.

All the pain I had ever felt came all at once, which made my tears roll out of my eyes.

Damn it!

My hands slip off his shirt as I fell to my knees. Arden removed his sword from my belly at the same time and I whined before looking up at him. Again, he brought his sword down and plunge then it into my belly, the same spot.

Arghhh

I moaned in pain.

Death waved at me from afar. Pain turned my body to its abode, and I watched my blood spurt out of me like tap water.

Suddenly, everywhere became blurry but I could see many colors like a rainbow. Is this was death was like?

Perhaps the moon goddess was trying to make my death a remarkable one. Probably to compensate me for all the pain I had gone through.

Katya, it's okay, we are finally going to be happy now.

I lied to myself, smiling as the angel of death spread out its arms ready to escort me to the afterlife.

* *

It was dark at first until I felt kicks in my belly. Antagonizing pain welcomed me back, I kept feeling pain all through my body - spreading across.

Kick!

Kick!

Kick!

It kept coming all over. It didn't spare any part of my body, it felt like it wasn't just one kick but two and three and four, and many more.

Blood!

Blood!

Blood!

There was blood everywhere as I opened my eyes, it wouldn't stop rushing out of me, and as much as I wanted to scream out in pain, I couldn't.

Make it stop.

Make it stop.

Please, it was too much for me to bare.

“Should you even be alive? You look ugly and you're worthless. If anyone loved you, you wouldn't be abandoned in this school on government funds!” Another kick came but this time I didn't feel it.

No, I felt it but not in the way I felt it previously. I saw some girl across me, and then my eyes widened when I saw a girl on the floor, blood oozing out from her. She looked tired and weak. Taking in my environment, I saw that I was on the rooftop.

I recognized the girl very well, I knew her because this girl was a part of me. She developed in my womb for seven months and eventually came out of me. She was my daughter, Chelsea.

“Stop hurting her!” I screamed with tears in my eyes before running to the scene. I crouched in front of her and wanted to touch her but all my hand took was the air.

Then I tried again, and again until I got frustrated. Tears grew in my eyes because I couldn't touch my daughter.

“You ugly wench, you should have died in your mother’s womb. You could have gone to school for disabled but you chose to come here, why?” Another kick hit my daughter in the belly and I cried, slapping the air in frustration.

“Stop, please stop. Make all these stop!” I cried looking at the bullies in front of my daughter. At this point I was helpless, I could only beg for them to stop.

This was what the mid-wife warned me about, she said my daughter wouldn't live a good life but I insisted for her to be kept alive.

I promised I was going to take care of her.

I asked her how school was, I checked on her every day but she kept telling me school was okay. Chelsea, why did you lie to me?

Chelsea.

The bullies kicked my daughter repeatedly and blood kept slipping out of her mouth. Looking to my right I saw hot iron, buzzers and the likes. Without anyone telling me I knew they had used it in my daughter.

How come I never knew this? I checked her body everyday, how come I never knew?!!

“What are you going to do after this Chelsea? Are you going to use foundation to cover the marks again because of your mommy? Aww, mamas little baby!” Another of the bully mocked which was the final straw.

I got really mad.

How dare you bitch!

I stood, my hands balled beside me and I was ready to have someone’s head to the ground.