One: Her fate

Aria’s POV

I hid behind the door, with my palms clamped tightly to my ears to keep off the agonizing screams of my mom, as my dad pounded her with his fists like she was a mere doll, a slave to be subjected to his maltreatment. But even with my palms covering my ears, I could still hear her muffled screams and every one of them tore at my heart, pulling my heartstrings taut. I swallowed a choked sob because I couldn’t let it out. I knew how it always ended, whenever he was interrupted by the sound of another except hers. He’d turn his fury on me.

I bit down hard on my bottom lip to muffle the sobs that were threatening to break free as I watched him continuously beat her until I could see blood pouring out of her nostrils and her mouth. She was curled in a small ball, taking all of his assault and I couldn’t watch anymore. The guilt was eating at me because I was the reason she was in that situation. If she hadn’t tried to save me from his claws, she’d be fine.

Drawing in a shaky breath and swallowing my sobs, I stepped out of the back of the door with shaky legs.

“D-dad, it’s enough, Please let her go,” I murmured in the strongest voice I could muster, but as though my words had fallen on deaf ears, he ignored me and continued punching her, like she was an opponent he had to kill. Another painful wail left her lips, tearing at my heart. I moved closer until I could reach him and gently tapped his shoulder blade.

Like a possessed man, his head suddenly whipped back in my direction, his menacing gaze landing on me.

“P-please, let her go,” I murmured, in a barely audible voice with my heart slamming hard against my chest.

I didn’t need to be told to know I had successfully made myself his prey, but at that moment, I was ready to do anything just for him to let her be. He snarled at me, suddenly curling his blood-stained fingers around my slender neck and tightening his hold. He rose to his feet, lifting me high above the ground to stare down at his huge frame, while I clawed at his fingers to let me go as he was quickly cutting off my air supply.

“You little bitch!” he snarled with gritted teeth. His crazed eyes getting darker, his canines peeking out from the sides of his mouth as he bared his teeth. “You’re responsible for all of these,”

I shook my head in agreement, needing to do and agree to everything he wanted, just to save my miserable life and that of my innocent mother.

“I… I’m so-sorry,” I croaked out, still clawing at his fingers but his hold only tightened more, until it felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore.

“I’d teach you…” 

From my peripheral vision, I saw the sharp dagger in his other hand that he was slowly raising and the rate of my erratically beating heart sped up more, as it slammed hard against my chest, and a fearful chill ran down my spine, causing goosebumps to break out of my skin. It wasn’t the first time he’d used a knife on me but it was always rare and I was never ready for it.

I blinked back the tears that were forming in my eyes because I’d come to know he hated any sign of weakness. I couldn't let him see my tears. It’ll only spur him on.

“D-dad, please give me another chance. I promise I’ll… I’ll be a good girl,” 

My words were met with a menacing cackle, his dark brooding eyes gleaming with mischief and malice.

“Of course, you’ll be a good little girl as soon as I discipline you, you dirty little whore!” he barked and the arm holding the knife suddenly swung up and I felt the slice of pain across my thighs. A loud ear-piercing scream lurged out of my throat from the unexpected pain that engulfed me but as soon as the noise left my lips, I shut them, biting hard on them to keep shut as tears welled up in my eyes, sliding down my cheeks.

A loud cackle greeted my ears.

“I’ll mark you until you’re ugly and you stop bringing shame to this household,”

He raised his hand again, intending to stab the knife into my shoulder but a soft whimper fell into our ears before we both looked down to see my mom holding onto his arm to prevent him from cutting me again.

“George, please…”

I could feel the anger radiating off my dad as he suddenly dropped me on the hard floor and whipped in her direction. The next thing I saw was him raising the knife and stabbing it into her chest. A scream tore out of my lips, followed by a sharp pain in my back, and suddenly, it felt as though I was being pulled from the floor, and I landed on the hard floor again, at another end of the room, just as my vision began to blur and a bright light shone into my eyes, almost cutting off my vision…

“Wake up, bitch!” I felt another hot searing pain in my stomach and I suddenly jerked awake, my eyes flying open. I jumped back on my bed, moving to the far end but hot pain engulfed my entire being, making me wince.

I blinked back my sleepy haze, to see my dad looming over me, a menacing look etched on his face with a belt in his hand.

“You good for nothing little slut. It’s past dinner time. Do I have to always remind you to do the only thing you’re good at? To make my food? Is this how you want to live when you get to the outside world?” he barked, rounding the bed to my side, and advancing on me but I was quick to scamper out of the bed, ignoring the pain I was feeling.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from years of being at my father’s mercy, it’s to always be on the run whenever he is in his mood. If I stayed still, he’d tear me to pieces before returning to his senses.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I muttered, while advancing towards the door, ready to bolt at any slight swing from him.

“Of course, you’re always sorry. Is there anything you do better than to utter those meaningless words?”

I swallowed, trying my best to stand still on my weak legs. I must have zoned out due to the pain that was slowly encompassing my entire being because the next thing I felt was him pressing me tightly against the wall with his body, and his fingers curled around my throat. My palpitating heart increased its rate as I struggled to remain still, knowing any slight movement could trigger more punishment and possible assault.

“It seems I’ll have to teach you again, how to be an obedient little girl,” 

His breath that stank of alcohol hit me, sailing into my nostrils, almost making me choke on my breath, coupled with his fingers that were slowly tightening around my neck.

My heart raced faster.

Please, don’t do it. I inwardly repeated these words like a mantra, hoping that whoever ruled the universe or maybe even the moon goddess would save me this one time and I’d be more careful in the future. 

While still holding me, his free hand slipped between us and I heard the sound of his zipper but suddenly, as though my prayers were answered, the doorbell rang noisily. He frowned deeply, quickly pushing away from me and shoving me aside as he strode out the door to get to whoever it was. I couldn't be more grateful to that visitor as I inwardly said my thanks to the moon goddess while I quickly scurried to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.

My heart was still racing and a dull ache had begun to form in my head from how fast I’d bolted out of bed when I’d woken up. But compared to the pains from all the previous beatings I’d received that week, they were all just a minor twinge that would ebb away.

I moved to the fridge and opened it just to see what I could put together. We were out of groceries and all I could make with what was available was pasta. Quickly, I took out the available ingredients and got to work, still ignoring the pain that was constantly shooting through me from my legs and my head.

About thirty minutes later, I was done. It seemed my father’s visitor was still around and I knew better than to interrupt them. I returned to my bedroom to sleep but with how violently I was woken up from the short nap that had extended into a deep sleep that robbed me of time, I was too scared to fall asleep again and fall into the waiting arms of my predator. Thus, I wore a hoodie over my tank top and shorts and slipped on my sandals before sneaking out through the back door for a short walk in hopes that my dad would be fast asleep before I returned.