Chapter 2

I woke up at dawn the next day my true 18th birthday I was finally an adult and in this world that changed a lot of things most people are generally more protective of children and it now felt as though that protection had been stripped from me not that it had helped me before however it was no truly gone. I put a quick log on the fire it was very early morning so I threw on my best dress which was the only one that fit me probably it was dawn so I throw my clock on and went to watch the sunrise. I loved early mornings It was always calm and there were usually birds chirping and all small animals running around. The morning is brisk and I can hear the crunch under my feet as the snow and frost still layers the ground. I make a b-line for the stream where I go to feel quiet and I feel like my birthday I deserver some quiet. I go sit on my usual rock dipping my hands in the fridge water. Ugh, I wish my parents were here to see what I looked like. I hoped they would be proud of me but I’ve accomplished nothing hopefully they would be proud of me for respecting and being kind to people my parents always taught me to never judge and always give people a chance because there is always a whole story to someone and we just walk in during a chapter. Hopefully, this is a new chapter for me I go to shuffle the rocks away to find a pouch I have hidden there for the past three years I lift up the pouch it is heavy and I only have 2 coins to add to it. I count 200 coins last week I spoke to someone in the village there is a small hut on the south side of the village far away from the brothel he would sell it to me for 150 coins its totally unfurnished and doesn’t come with anything. Tonight I will sneak out and pay the man I have already been by and put the firewood there so I will have some for tonight when I move in. hopefully in the next few days I will get a bed and maybe a table for my home but I’m so excited to finally be out. I throw the coin purse in my pocket and take in the rising sun I take a stilling breath. I can't show like anything is off I have to be normal. I’m so happy I do a little twirl and head back to the brothel.

The sunrise has a nice little pink and purple Hughes. Ugh, today my new chapter starts. And I will make my father proud growing up he always said how proud of me he was and he said as long as I stay myself he will be proud of me so this year I want to figure out how I am without all the negative Ness I need to find myself. As I get up I once again hear “be strong daughter of fire” I whip my head around and I could have sworn I saw a tiny pair of wings whip behind a tree. I run over but there is no one and nothing there.

After 5 years could the sprites finally be talking to me again? What do I have to be strong and who is the daughter of fire and why now absolutely not sprites and magic aren’t real it something made up for children. I head back pulling my hood over my hair that I left down it is naturally quite straight however it’s a little wavy because it had been in a braid all night. Gods save me I really am going crazy. My feet are wet and cold so I quickly head back to the brothel. Before anyone knows I left I come in the back door and sneak down to my room I quickly fold all my things so tonight I can make a quick getaway I won’t tell them I’m leaving they wouldn’t let me so I will just sneak out in the night. I quickly check my rabbit fur it's not quite ready so ill have to wait until tonight.

I go to start doing my chores no one is here this morning or if anyone is there not down in the bar area there is some shattered glass, I quickly wipe up the floor is just disgusting to super sticking and smelling it must have been a busy night. I re-stock the bar and clear everything up go to the back shed to bring in more nuts and other small snacks I restock and place them out it's strange that I haven’t seen anyone, yet it's nearing midday and we open in the early afternoon. I ready trays and do a little bit of a deeper clean behind the bar. My aunt finally strolls in she looks strange a little off “good morning” I said kind of quietly “have you spoken to anyone today have you heard anything” “no” I respond I’ve been alone all day “you haven’t had any sprites talk to recently” “you know I don’t believe in sprites” I said turning around continuing to wipe the counter “ I didn’t ask if you believed I ask if they had spoken to you.” She barks at me. “No, I haven’t. why do you ask?” “No reason we need you to clean these floors again the awful quite like yourself get your useless self to work and speak to no is that understood.” “yes” I say going to refill a bucket to do the floors one more time.

My aunt full believes in sprites and fae and fairies she probably had a “vision” my aunt was a short and plump lady she had ratty brown hair and deep eyes she was no exceptional beauty but I believe that in her youth she might have looked better but even though she does appear maybe ten years older than her actual age. My uncle had shoulder-length dusty brown hair he was in decent condition for being a terrible drunk. He had grey dull eyes but he was strong I saw him pick up whole barrels of ale. He had a gut no doubt due to the alcohol. He followed my aunt into the brothel he looked pissed but confused as he stormed up to his small office space. I hear things being smashed and yelling I try not to listen. And really make sure to do my chores well I didn’t want that anger turned onto me.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

It wasn’t until late afternoon when my aunt and uncle came out Just as Rosie came running threw the door I did think it was weird that no girls were here yet but I thought we were just opening late my uncle occasionally does that when he’s had a long day. Rosie looked frazzle and afraid which is a looked I had never seen on Rosie before so I think I could be reading her expressions wrong. “leave Rose my uncle says Rosie comes to stand in front of me “fine I will leave but ash Is coming with me” my uncle huffed a laugh “are you insane rose she’s not going anywhere” “she is 18 she can make her own decisions she coming with me” Rosie said it more like a command I had never heard her speak like this “get the hell out of her rose” my uncle yelled Rosie didn’t move she stood her ground in front of me guarding me even though I’m quite a bit taller than her my uncle went to make his way down the stairs as Rosie whirled around to face me I could see at this point the bruise that was forming on her face it looked like she had been crying too but I hadn’t heard or seen and tears “ run to the stream she says as my uncle breaks out into a run my instincts move my feet because my brain isn’t working I’m not processing the words I just start running I hear a cry from Rosie then I made a dumb decision I turned to look back my uncle had thrown Rosie to the ground and was too close to me as I whip my head around to open the door but a firm had grabs me by my hair dragging me backwards.

It’s a sharp pain being dragged by my hair I am trying my best to kick and punch out of his grip he’s holding on so tight. It isn’t until he starts to drag me outside that I start yelling and screaming for someone anyone to help me I’m going to die on my 18th birthday. I’m dragged over tree roots and snow I keep feeling sharp pains as broken twigs poke my legs he’s bringing me into the forest to kill me. Once he stops and throws me to the ground I feel a twinge of hope stupid hope as quickly as my hope came it was gone when his foot connected with my ribs I knocked the air right out of me I didn’t have time to think as is first connected with my cheek. My head is ringing but I zeros in on his words.

“ We have raised you since you were 13” a kick to my back

“We gave you shelter yet you ungrateful bitch” another hit to the face this time right in the middle I felt my nose break and heard it to

“I respect a girl with a bit of fire but you need to be taught,” he says as he stomps down on my leg I think I whimpered in pain.

Get up

Get up

Get up I’m screaming in my head fight him fight back. But I don’t my thoughts stay there just thoughts. he picked me up by my hair holding me to his eye level.

“I was kind to you but after you threaten my wife you need to be taught a lesson.” He punched me in the stomach and the noise that came out was not a noise but just a breath of pain.

“you know I think I understand why you still refuse my offer every year.”

He said no longer punching me I could feel the blood running from my nose and my cheek as he grabs my face

“you’ve never been fucked”

At this moment I realize that he’s not going to kill me he is going to make me wish I was dead. I use what little fight I have left to try and break free of his grasp not that I could get far because I’m almost positive my leg is broken. He lets go of my hair and my face falls onto my stomach in the snow and mud the sun is almost set and I know by the time it's gone down fully I will be forever changed.

As I’m on the ground trying to get to my knees I feel his hands on my back then he rips my dress apart. I can tell he takes a moment to stare maybe he has forgotten what my back looks like. But thanks to him it's full of scars he technically didn’t inflict them himself but I feel his weight come down on me he kisses my back I movement that makes me lose my whole stomach contents. He then whispered

“beautiful”

In my ear, he constantly talks about how much money he made on me that night. I try one last time to get him off me he just flips me over my back to the ground. my face I know is sticky from tears and blood. He takes his forearm to my neck cutting off the oxygen as h does that his other hand comes up grabbing my breast I try to scream and yell and fight him but all that comes out is another small whimper.

My visions starts to go black I’m being suffocated maybe hell kill me so I won't have to experience this anymore. Once again stupid hope. He lets go of the pressure on my neck I cough trying to get any oxygen, not my lungs they feel as though they're on fire as I do that his hands come down on my chest and pull my ripped dress down exposing my breast, he grabs them with his filthy hands. If there was anything left in my stomach it would have left me. I felt so violated so dirty. I felt fire rising up inside me from the rage and pain. And then his hand closes around my throat again he goes down and kisses my jaw he smells awful I’m almost positive he washes once a month. He kisses both my breast my vision going black and spotted quickly he lets go of my neck and reaches for his breaches he un dose his breaches and as I’m horrified with the understanding about what is about to take place what has already taken place I look at his head just as swords severed it from his neck.