Prologue

"Some scars don't hurt. Some scars are numb. Some scars rid of you the capacity to feel anything ever again."- Joyce Rachelle

I ran.

My breaths came out in harsh pants, my lungs burned in protest, my body shivered as slow yet sharp staccato of pains shot throughout my body. The pain was numbing, yet it still felt like thousands of needles were being embedded into my skin again and again.

My skin broke out in cold sweat, both from the nausea from days of hunger and the adrenaline rush. The dreary cold winter night didn't calm me down.

Not even a little bit.

In fact, it worsened the pain I was feeling.

"Stop her!" A voice barked from the chasm of nothingness.

No!

I tried to increase my speed. I was already running with all the might I had, but still I tried.

I didn't want to go back to them.

They hurt me.

My body protested, my feet wanted to stop. But I couldn't stop.

I knew, if I stopped, that man would kill me.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry. But I couldn't.

Because if I did they would hear me and they would find me.

My lungs felt as if it was on fire, dried tears that stained my cheeks itched like a nasty bug bite.The freezing winter wind stung my skin as I ran though the intimidating arbor.

At that moment, I felt helpless, I felt hopeless, but still I had to run to survive.

When the agony was becoming unbearable, I bought one of my hand to my mouth and bit down on it, so that the pain transfers to my hand.

My eyes stung as it became blurry....

And then, I started to cry.

Slowly but silently, so that they don't hear my screams of anguish.

I just closed my eyes and let my feet carry me wherever my mind was leading it. I couldn't see properly anymore because of the tears.

If I died, would I be able to meet my mommy?

Suddenly, I felt a sharp prick under my left toe as burning pain made it's way throughout my body. It was like a raging wildfire, destroying every single nerve in it's path....

My first instinct was to scream, let out my pain, but then I remembered that I couldn't scream.

I had to bear the pain.

So, I screamed in my hands.

My body was shaking and I couldn't move anymore. My howl of anguish was trapped inside my body.

I sat in the middle of the muddy road as I cried helplessly. My pink princess dress was soaked in mud. Musky smell of soil hit my nostrils and filled my soul as I awaited my death.

it was only then when I took account of my surroundings.

I was in the middle of a muddy highway. Tall, gigantesque trees stood neatly by the side of the road. They stood there like ghosts. they looked like lost wandering spirit of nature.

I could hear footsteps from distance, I could hear the cries and the laughter of those men. I could taste the danger in the air.

I could already see the future. I could feel my death.

Alas! my death was lurking within just a couple of feets away from me and I couldn't do anything about it. I was manacled and I had to accept my death.

Suddenly, as if like a messiah on a distressful, wretched day, something represented itself in front of me, my gaze halted on it.

A bush. Large enough to hide myself in it.

I almost cried in relief as I crawled towards it, my knees and elbows getting scratched in the process.

As I hid my tiny body in it, I could hear their footsteps nearing.

My heartrate picked up, my bodily pain long forgotten. All I could hear at that moment was my blood pounding through my veins and their footsteps.

Thup...Thup...Thup.

I breathed slowly, fearing that they might hear the sound and locate me.

I could hear their footsteps nearing as they searched the forest.

My breathing completely stopped when I saw a silhouette just in front of the bush.

After some slow agonizing moments, the man moved away.

"FUCK!" I heard a man swearing a few moments later. My whole body was shaking with fear.

"YOU CAN'T FIND HER?! SHE IS SIX FOR GOD'S SAKE! HOW FAR SHE COULD'VE GONE! USELESS BASTARDS! EACH OF YOU!"

I held in my breath. My skin was cut all over from the bushes, but at that moment my survival was more important.

"Boss! I think she's there!"

My heart jumped.

"Everyone, behind the meadow now! Search for her! She needs to be taught a lesson!" That disgusting man barked.

The man who claimed to be my 'father'.

Soon, all of them went the opposite way, where the meadow was located.

As soon as I was assured that they wouldn't come back for me, I let out all the screams and pain in the form of tears.

I opened my mouth and let out a silent scream as I cried.

I was free.

After all these, I was finally free.

I sobbed and cried. I let my body feel then pain again. I let my soul feel again.

I cried for my parents, I cried for my foster brother, I cried for my ruined princess dress that I wanted so so so much, I cried for my hurt left ankle.

I cried for myself.

Suddenly, I started feeling dizzy. My vision became blurrier as another wave of searing pain shot through my body.

I had to get out.

Despite the protests of my body, I forced myself to stand up.

Everything was blurry and dizzy. Everything twirled. Everything looked like a mixture of colour in black.

"One last time", I told myself, "one last time.... You just have to make it to the next village. Few steps and you'll be okay...."

With one limping leg and a burning body, I carried myself.

Few more steps...

I was panting hard.

Almost there...

Through my blurred vision I saw lights.

Bright lights.

"My angel, when you reach the lights, no one can hurt you....." my mommy's voice resonated through my ears.

I just...had to......reach the lights...

But....

I let out a wail and limped through the craggy road. I wished someone would take pity and save me. I wished someone would lead me to the lights.....

"Angel?" The annoying voice of that girl echoed in my empty shell of a mind, "Girls like you are made to be tortured...."

That laugh....

That cruel laugh...

My eyes became droopy before I tried to reach the lights.

Help..... I needed help.....

My body was rapidly shutting itself down.

Help.....

Before I could take another step, everything went blank.