Rise of the Bullied Luna Queen

Hope

"Warning: This book contains bullying, suicide themes, and dark content. Just so you know, reader discretion is advised. Not suitable for all audiences."

~Ruby~

"Why did you apply?" Her voice cut through the silence of the dimly lit room like a knife. My stepmother hadn't waited long after the royal messenger departed before she dragged me into the specially designed chamber meant to inflict torment.

This room, a creation of hers upon her initial arrival at our home, had served as my prison ever since that first night. It became the place of confinement for instances like these—times when I dared to defy her rules.

"I didn't apply," I asserted.

"Liar!" Anastasia shouted, her accusation slicing through the air. "She always coveted attending the school, and her actions prove it, Mother. She always wanted what I have!"

My stepmother laughed hysterically, seizing my hair and dragging me further into the room until we reached the basin of water, a familiar instrument of her cruelty. "I'll ask you one last time, Ruby. Why did you apply to the royal academy?" she demanded.

"I didn't," I insisted, for it was the truth. I had contemplated applying but refrained, anticipating the very ordeal unfolding now.

"Shameless," my stepmother spat angrily, pushing my head forward and submerging it forcefully into the water-filled bowl. The liquid rushed around me, stealing my breath and engulfing my senses.

Struggling under the water, I fought against her superior strength. Her lineage traced back to a warrior, endowed her with power over me. Panic surged within me as I wrestled to breathe. The world became a chaotic swirl of bubbles and muted sounds as I grappled against her dominance. What was she attempting to prove? What did she hope to gain from this cruel display of control?

I should have grown accustomed to this by now, considering it had been happening for years without any rescue in sight. Yet, each time the ordeal unfolded, the same question echoed in my mind—why hadn't I escaped? There was only one answer.

Nowhere to go. No one is willing to take me in. The forsaken realm wolves cared only for themselves, and venturing to the Big City of Eldorin spelled certain death; only those of noble birth were granted access.

When she finally released her grip, I surfaced, gasping for air, my hair clinging wetly to my face. Her expression remained cold and unyielding, awaiting an answer.

"I..." The word emerged weakly as I struggled for breath. "I..." I sniffled. "I didn't apply, ma'am. I never did."

Anastasia, appearing beside her mother, kicked me to the ground. "Liar!" she accused. "I knew when you were discussing with your stupid friend Lydia about wanting to continue your education in the Royal Academy! I heard you right."

Fear trembled on my lips as realization dawned. Lydia, my seemingly loyal friend, was the one who applied to the Royal Academy for me. I vividly remembered her words that day: "If you're invited to Eclipsia Royale, take it because you'll be freed from this life." I never expected her to follow through and apply for me.

"So, you and your stupid friend talk about our family," my stepmother crouched to my level, nails piercing my jaw angrily. "After everything we've done for you, this is your plan, right?" she yelled. "You want to ruin the family!"

"No!" I shook my head. "I didn't know she would apply for me. I..."

She chuckled, rising and making her way to the wooden table at the room's center where she kept the instruments meant for my torment. Her fingers trailed across the knives, and the wooden plank until they rested on the black whip, and then she advanced toward me.

"Please," I bowed my head until it grazed the ground. "I beg of you," I cried out. "I am sorry, ma'am!"

My stepmother laughed sharply. "You are sorry?" she shouted. "After tarnishing our family name and applying to the school my daughter desires to attend, you think I'll forgive you?" Gripping my neck, she lifted my head. "As long as I'm alive and well, you'll never even catch a whiff of the big city, let alone reach the royal academy," she tore my clothes. "I'm going to strike you now, and I want you to count. If you scream, I'll start over. If you don't count, I'll start over. So, the choice is yours, Ruby! After all, this won't be your first encounter with the black whip."

"Please," I pleaded once more, hoping for mercy. "I beg of you, ma'am!" Tears streamed down my face as I continued to plead, wishing for her forgiveness. Instead, the whip lashed across my back, causing excruciating pain. It felt as though my skin was ablaze. I winced and bit my lip until I tasted blood, suppressing the scream that threatened to erupt. "One," I counted.

"Good!" she laughed and struck me again. The whip sliced through the air, leaving a searing mark on my skin. The pain was sharp and intolerable, each strike leaving a fiery trail on my back.

The whip cracked once more, and I stifled a cry by biting my lip. "Two," I managed, the words emerging as a strained whisper.

"Louder!" Anastasia commanded, her voice piercing through the agony, and then she began to laugh. "Did you think Mother would allow you to attend the royal academy?" she mocked. "In your dreams!"

"Th-three," I forced out, struggling against the pain.

The whip struck again, and I battled to maintain composure, to retain some semblance of strength against her cruelty. The world blurred in my suffering, and I coughed up blood before resuming the count.

"Four," I whimpered, my spirit near breaking, yet refusing to yield entirely to her heartless demands. I wouldn't shatter in front of her. For years, my belief that I'd leave this house had kept me going.

The lashes persisted, each one a brutal reminder of her rage. With every count, I felt humiliated and hopeless, knowing she wouldn't stop until she reached her desired number.

As the lashes finally ceased, I slumped to my knees, trembling and shattered. "Sixty-five."

My stepmother groaned and dropped the whip. "You deserve all of this, Ruby. If only you hadn't betrayed this family to your friends, none of this would've happened."

I whimpered in agony, unable to respond as I lay there motionless, tears blurring my vision. The pain and liquid trailed down my back, and I let the tears flow freely.

"I won't let you attend that school," my stepmother declared, grabbing me by the ear and dragging me forcibly out of the room. The sharp pain shot through me, and I groaned, trying to keep up with her pace amid the searing agony.

She pushed me towards the back of the house, her grip unyielding. Dread knotted in my stomach, fearing what she intended to do next. Then I saw my father standing in front of a pile—my luggage, the neatly folded school uniform, and the coveted letter from Eclipsia Royale lay on the ground.

She pushed me down to my father's feet. "I'll make sure you attend that school. You'll never leave this house," she proclaimed, a wicked grin on her face, signaling to my father.

I watched in horror as my father set the pile on fire. A scream escaped my throat, and I rushed toward him, grabbing his legs. "Daddy!" I cried. "Please, Father, stop this," I pleaded.

My pleas fell on deaf ears as he pushed me away. "You always bring disappointment just like your mother," he spat before retreating into the house.

Anastasia laughed, following suit.

"Let's see how you'll attend school without your admission letter and uniform. Tomorrow, tell the royal messenger you're not interested," my stepmother commanded, preparing to leave, but I clutched her leg.

"Why do you hate me so much? What have I done to deserve this?" I implored.

She laughed, facing me again. "Because you remind me of your mother with your purple hair and green eyes. I hated her, and every time I see you, I'm reminded of Maria!" She kicked my hands away and walked away.

Tears streamed down my face as the flames hungrily devoured my dreams, my only chance of escape. My breath caught in my throat as the fire mercilessly consumed everything.

"No!" My scream pierced the air, but amidst the swirling embers, the letter from Eclipsia Royale lay untouched by the flames. It danced within the inferno, unscathed, defying the destruction around it.

A surge of hope coursed through me, and without hesitation, I reached into the fire, disregarding the searing heat threatening to consume my hand. To my amazement, the paper remained pristine, untouched by the fire's hunger.

A laugh escaped me."Yes," I held the letter close to my chest, ignoring my throbbing, red hand marked by the flames' searing touch and my stinging back from the earlier lashes. The pain surged through me, yet amid the agony, I knew my chance to leave was now in my hands. I had to decide whether to leave or stay behind.