1
ARIA.
"You know, I've been trying to hold back for a very long time but I don't think I can do that anymore."
I had been washing dishes when I heard the words of my stepfather behind me.
Turning immediately, I found him standing by the door with his belt loosened. Thinking he was drunk, I forced a polite smile before returning to doing the dishes.
In one swift movement, I felt his hand on my waist, and when I tried to pull away, his palm smacked my buttocks.
Pain and disgust shot through my whole body. "What are you doing, father!"
"Don't call me that!" He snapped and pushed me against the sink. All of my struggles were futile as he was far stronger than I was. "I am not your father. He died a long time ago."
"Let go of me," I whispered as tears streamed down my cheeks. This has been going on for quite a long time now. I had tried ignoring the signals but it was too late.
He grabbed my dress and bunched it around my hip. "Good gods, I must have a taste of you."
"This isn't right!" I snapped. "Let me go!"
"You have no respect!" He snapped and grabbed me forcefully by the hair before pushing my face down. I hit my forehead on the sink and cried out while still struggling against him.
His mouth was on my skin, kissing as he kneaded my thighs. More disgust flooded over me and not even my efforts at pushing him off me worked.
My eyes caught a knife in the sink. I couldn't bring myself to pick it up because I didn't want to hurt anyone but it was my only option. I wasn't going to let him defile me.
Picking the knife up, I twisted my body around him and immediately sliced through his arm. He screamed and jumped away, looking down at his arms in horror before he lunged at me and hit me across the face.
I fell to the ground, hitting my head against the sink before blacking out into oblivion.
*******
I'd had locked myself in my room for the past five hours, whimpering and shivering as I relived the memories from this morning. I remember waking up on the kitchen floor with a splitting headache and a swelling at the side of my head.
I didn't want to think of it and no matter how hard I tried, the scenes returned, causing tears to burn at the back of my eyes and slip down my cheeks.
It had started as a progressive gesture where he reminded me that I was growing into a beautiful woman and how hard it would be for any man to resist me. Why hadn't I seen the signs? I should have known. I thought all he wanted to do was remind me that I was soon to be married but he wanted me for himself. The thought alone was unthinkable. I couldn't fathom why he did any of that.
Since the death of my mother, all he had done was maltreat me. The trauma was too much for me to bear.
"Aria!"
I stiffened, feeling my heart rate increase. He was calling me now. I couldn't move as I was filled with fear.
"You b***h! Where the f**k are you?!" He banged against the door, causing me to flinch.
Climbing out of the bed, I walked towards the door and pulled it open to see him standing there, his arm bandaged tightly. If looks could kill, I would have been on the floor, dead.
"What have you been doing in there?" He gritted out.
Was he expecting me to give him an answer to that? After what he did today?
I shook my head. "I was sleeping."
His eyes fleeted over to my head, where the swelling was. He scoffed and tossed cash into my hand. "We're out of groceries. Go to the store, get some milk and eggs. Make sure you're back before dusk."
With those words, he walked away.
I hurried out of the house after trying to nurse the swelling in my head. It was going to disappear after a few days, I hoped.
I hurried, ignoring the strange looks from people as they stared at my head. It had to be the swelling and the puffiness of my eyes. My clothes were also torn in odd places. Not even my hand could cover them up.
As soon as I was done, I left the shop and hurried back home. It was almost dusk and according to my atepafath, he didn't want me back when it was dusk. I also couldn't risk the heavy punishment and another possible molestation this time. What if he tried touching me again?
I shuddered at the thought.
As I trudged back home, I heard the sound of horses in the distance. I wasn't too concerned by it. It was a regular phenomenon around here. But as it drew close, I knew it was coming my way so I stepped out of the road and walked by the corners of buildings.
The horses didn't stop running until it stopped before me. I staggered backwards and grabbed my bags, wondering if they were about to rob me. I couldn't fight for the life of me.
But when I looked up, I realized that they were palace guards. I frowned in confusion. What were they doing here?
Clearing my throat, I bowed slightly. "Good evening."
My greetings weren't responded to. The first guard on a white horse which signified that he was the chief guard jumped down from the horse and walked towards me.
"You must be Aria Downy," he said in a deep voice as his eyes raked down my body.
I nodded and stammered. "Y-yes, I am."
"You must come with us."
My first reaction was a frown. "Come with you? Why should I?"
The second guard jumped down from his horse and drew close. Something didn't feel right. That I was sure of. And I wasn't going to go anywhere with them.
"I will not be repeating myself again. You must come with us. Let us go."
I shook my head. "I will not go with you."
Unknown to me, a horse had stopped behind me. Another guard jumped down from his horse and before I could turn, a club hit the side of my head, where my swelling was located.
My knees gave way, and I fell to the ground, blinking as everything blurred out before I blanked into oblivion.
