Chapter 1

“Caroline?"

Just as I was about to apply my final coat of eyeliner, I was interrupted by my uncle Mr. Xander's voice, shouting my name. He brought me a stunning gown and told me to get ready. We'd probably go out to eat for lunch.

It was my twentieth birthday today. Orphanage life was far away from where I am right now. It was a cramped space, about the size of a small closet.

Because they thought I was a psychopath, they kept me in solitary confinement. Just a nice way of saying I beat the snot out of everyone who irritated or annoyed me. Everyone called me a monster, including myself. When I was eighteen, a man who claimed to be my uncle showed up at the orphanage and introduced himself as Mr. Xander. He insisted on being descended from my father's family.

The results of a basic background check confirmed the suspicions. To be honest, I still had my doubts. He explained that he had taken care of me when my father died, but I ran away from home at the age of four, and that's how I wound up in an orphanage, where I spent the next fourteen years.

Since the day I walked into his apartment, I've been overcome with joy at the prospect of creating a family of my own. I wasn't confined to a tiny room, and Uncle was always polite to me.

“Coming.”

After a retort, I re-applied the lipstick and put it back on my vanity before exiting my room. As I walked into the living room, I couldn't help but notice the man seated next to my uncle.

On the sofa in front of them, I nervously smiled and sat. I saw the unusual artifacts on the coffee table as I passed by. Two sticks, a bizarre map, and what seemed like a pen were all that was left. Seeing as how I knew my uncle was a magician and fortune teller, I was unsurprised. He had a perfect track record of making accurate predictions.

When I raised my eyes, I noticed he was smiling brightly at me. "Caroline, this is Mr. Carter, an old acquaintance of mine.”

Nodding, he gave me a slightly contorted smile. Clearing my throat, I felt my skin crawl as he stared at me. "Hello.”

“It feels great to meet you, Caroline.”

My uncle and I exchanged glances during the awkward pause.

“Caroline, will you help me out??” When he saw my befuddled appearance, he took a breath. “For a few whiles, can you take him to your room?”

A few seconds later, my stomach plummeted and my breath became labored. “Why?” was what I asked.

Even though he was clearly irritated by my asking, I didn't care.

“For a spell, I need him to stay in your room for a time. Mr. Carter could get hurt, and I don't want that to happen.” My uncle explained.

Having no other way, I brought the man to my room, not wanting to offend him, and being far too trusting. I heard the door shut and lock from the outside as soon as we were both inside.

To my disbelief, he locked the door! “Why did you lock the door?” I shouted aloud.

Mr. Carter smiled and sauntered toward me without saying a word. In a matter of seconds, he turned off the lights. I could see him leering over my body as if he were some kind of wild animal. My heart slammed into my ribs as I clenched my hands and stumbled backward in fear.

“I will scream if you get any closer!”

With each step he made, my mind was ringing with alarm bells. His scowl turned into a wicked grin.

“Uncle!” I cried.

Suddenly, Mr. Carter leaned over and grasped my buttocks, and I sobbed in terror. “Uncle, please help me!”

There was no one here. My shouts only made the man's smile grew even broader, and he didn't even bother to move. I held my breath and understood that my uncle had orchestrated this, which made me feel disgusted. Why?! I don't understand why he did this.

I was pinned against the wall by the evil man, and I went into a frenzy. All I could think about at the time was getting my pepper spray and squirting it in his face. Just wiggling my fingers, I couldn't get any movement. That's when I heard the familiar voice in my head, and I was paralyzed.

“That's right, bitch.” He said, “I'm still fucking in here.”

Ever since the orphanage, I haven't heard him speak. I didn’t know how he came to live in my head. What I did know was that he scared the living shit out of me. He used to give me nightmares and tell me about the atrocities he had witnessed in Hell while I was imprisoned in the orphanage.

He always made me feel ugly and unwanted because of how I looked. Whenever I stood in front of a mirror he would laugh at what I wore, the freckles sprinkled on my face, or the way I tied my hair. And the worst part was that he would target my body to inflict the maximum pain.

In one of our numerous arguments, I destroyed all my mirrors, making it impossible for me to see myself on them. Because I had a family now, I felt he had gone away.

But not at all! He reappeared.

Despite my best efforts, the demon kept me from engaging in combat and causing this jerk to writhe in anguish beneath my feet. He was savoring my agony, what a bastard!

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as Mr. Carter's hand went between my thighs. My entire body was covered with goosebumps. 

Finally, I could move and walk. 

Eventually, my skin stretched to the point that my veins enlarged and my nails grew into claw-like shapes. This, on the other hand, was a first. Was this something the devil was responsible for, or was there something else going on?

I felt more powerful than I'd ever felt before, and it was an incredible sensation. I felt like I could kill ten men at once. My body was shaking with the intense changes and when an excruciating agony shoot up my spine, I sighed and let out a tiny groan.

Because he was so preoccupied with unbuttoning my shirt, Mr. Carter didn't notice how I was changing. My heart was pounding and I genuinely wanted to stab him to death. I snatched his hands and pushed them behind his back, causing him to fall backward.

“You're a scumbag!” He fought to release his hands while he screamed in agony. I pushed him against the wall and grabbed his neck with both of my hands. I had a grin on my face. Even from a short distance away, I could sense the intensity of his anxiety.

“W-wrong what's with you? W-what's up with your bloodshot eyes?!” The man coughed as I tightened my grip around him. “Let me go, please.”

Pleading, he grabbed something off my vanity and slammed it against my head.

I swore and, winced in pain. I stopped the blood by pressing my hands to my forehead while I let him fall to the ground. With all his might, he dashed to the door and pounded on it in despair. He collapsed out of the room when the door finally opened. The door lock sounded again. I breathed a sigh of relief and turned on the lights to have a look around. I examined my reflection in the mirror to determine what had transpired. I froze in fear as I looked in the mirror.

Now, there were hairs all over my skin and it was unyielding as a board. My veins were protruding, and my eyes, which were once hazel, were now a bright red.

“She's a monster!”

It was Mr. Carter on the other side of the door expressing something to the effect that I overheard. In any case, I had a distinct impression that someone had touched my hair. It was that type of warmth I had been craving for all these years.

Despite the fact that no one else was around, I had the distinct impression that someone was staring at me and saying something inaudible to my ear.

"I'm sorry. I am responsible for everything that is going on in your life right now. I am sorry.” And it was the last thing I heard before I slumped to the ground, unconsciously.

When I woke up, my nostrils were immediately assaulted by the strong smell of disinfectants. A monitor's bleep frightened me as my eyelids opened, making me squirm. With my foggy vision, I looked around the empty hospital room. My eyes hurt even more because of the bright white walls and fluorescent lighting.

My neighbor, Rhia, who despised me for no reason, was getting a flask out of her large suitcase as I turned my head slightly.

Aren't you celebrating my demise a little early?

I thought and tried to stand up with a low groan, then the next second, was immediately startled by a scream that pierced my already throbbing brain.

Turning in the direction, I noticed Rhia's amazement and scared countenance.

“Oh, my goodness! "You're a ghost?” She let out a squeak.

I pulled my legs out of the bed and took a peek at my swollen, bare feet. I was struck by a rush of dizziness and the want to vomit.

“Why... aren't y-you dead?!” She cried out.

Please, for fuck's sake, shut up. When my forehead became unbearably sore, I stared at her and reached up to rub my head.

Asked, "Disappointed?"

I snorted and then looked around the room, disgusted by her foolish expression. In the small closet, I found my clothing, so I prodded up to go to the bathroom.

I wanted to get rid of this damned hospital robe. It irritated my skin and added to my discomfort.

“The doctor and the nurse arrived some time ago.’ Rhia mumbled as I passed her. “T-they claimed that your heart had stopped! The question is, how are you still breathing?”

As she took a sip from her flask, I watched her face fade into a gloomy hue. Sighing and pinching my nose bridge in irritation, I realized she was more likely depressed than astonished.

“Why are you here?” I asked, controlling my rage.

“We were running out of sugar. So, I went to your apartment. The door was wide open, but I couldn't see your uncle, and in your room, you were sprawled out on the carpet. Almost dead.” She responded.

He ran away.

My Uncle!

At the mere mention of it, I was sick to my stomach. He only brought me back because he wanted to benefit from my return pushing my life into jeopardy. What a travesty! I was fooled into believing that this man cared about me and actually loved me.

Inhaling deeply, I walked into the bathroom to change into my clothes. Water was my last beverage of choice as I prepared to leave the hospital room.

“Hey, Caroline, where the hell do you think you are going? It's...”

I slammed the door shut behind me and ran for the exit, without wasting any time on Rhia.

As quickly as possible, I had to leave this horrible environment. To put it bluntly, I couldn't afford to pay the hospital bills. In addition, there was no one to help me pay.

When I said no one, I meant it. Like real hard.

There is no one in my family. There are no other acquaintances. There was no one who cared about me in this whole dang world.

Stupid. I was simply stupid. My uncle's return had given me the impression that I had a companion. I had faith that my dismal existence would improve. There was, however, no substantial change. Just that my nightmare had turned into a fucking shit show now.