It’s cold and raining. The water masks her tears, but not the black, blue, and purple sprouting on pale skin. All she has on is an extremely over sized shirt. Thing is it’s not hers and having it on makes her skin crawl and burn. She hates it. The street lamps do little to provide her with warmth, but she’s not so sure she even wants that. Her eyes scan the vicinity. Hoping and praying for some place dark to hide. For now, she’s managed to avoid the usual places she knows her brother will look. The shirt will give you away. You’re his property remember? She shudders as the thoughts run rampant in her head. Louder and louder until she can’t hear anything else. Not the people she passes whispering about her. Nor the cars on the road as they go by. Unable to hear even her own name being called. Until she’s staring up into familiar onyx eyes.

“Get in the car. Now.”

His teeth are gritted. Yet she can hear the aggression in his words. Can almost feel the burning fury hidden by the way the phrases tumble out. Maybe this time they’ll kill me. Her legs are frozen beneath her. Part of her wanting to scream, the other begging her to run. Then there’s the part of her that blames herself. In a way you did this to him. You turned him into the monster that he is. Just like you killed your parents. Brown eyes catch the way his hand twitches, like he wants to hit her. And she know if this were not a public space he would. Most likely beat her until she’s unconscious. Just to do it again when she wakes up.

“Stop wasting your brothers time. Get in the car. We have better shit to do than wait for you to remember where you come from.”

The woman’s voice reminds her of music. Not harmonic, but rich with something she’s not familiar with. Something that draws people in, but Marie knows better. This woman is no angel. Satan wouldn’t even want her. The kind of danger she poses has Marie on edge. All it takes is one word from her. Remember, he likes her more than he likes you and your his flesh and blood. Heavier tears fall from her eyes. Obscuring her vision. She knows that no one will help her. They never do.

“Get a move on little girl. You’re wasting our time.”

Reluctant, shaky legs move her to the car. Her brother shoving her into the back and slamming the door. Brain reminding her that the child safety lock is on and so is the window lock. Meant to prevent her from throwing herself from the car. She’s done it before. Intentionally tumbled out into oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, it didn’t help her get away. You can always cause an accident. Maybe kill all three of you.

“Stupid fucking bitch. Don’t know what the hell you thought you were doing. What the hell did you think would happen?”

She remains silent and he reaches back, hitting her in the face. Blood instantly spills from her mouth and nose. A laugh comes from the passenger seat. Trembling hands can barely contain the mess that’s become her face. Hot searing pain coursing along delicate features. Salt water and blood mix together, similar to water color paint. Still, she’s silent, internalizing her sobs. After all it’s never done her any good. Not when she would plead for them to leave her be. Not even when she’d beg the police to not call him or take her back to that place. And especially not when her dreams turned to nightmares and menacing demons in her head.

Faintly she can hear them talking. The ringing in her ears blocks out most of what is said, but she knows it’s about her. How two people can be so cruel is beyond her. If she had the courage she’d say as much, but she doesn’t. It’s not worth the risk.

“Don’t ignore me,stupid. I’m talking to you. Apologize to your brother. He’s allowing you to live with us you ungrateful whore. Making him chase you around the damn city and shit.”

Apologize? Aren’t you the victim here?

“Let it go, Lisa. I don’t want to hear her pathetic voice.”

Once again the car goes silent. No talking, no radio, or anything. Just the sound of traffic. This is usually how it goes. She runs away and they either find her or the authorities do. And she’s asked to apologize to her brother for misbehaving. Except, she doesn’t see how it’s her fault. All she knows is that these two are determined to keep her locked up in the house with them. Keep her miserable for as long as possible. You’ll never get away. He’ll never let you go. Maybe you should just kill yourself. He can’t ruin a dead body. And it’s what you deserve. Imagine sleeping forever.

Neither expects the shrill screaming that comes from the back seat. Partially strangled by blood. The sound causes him to swerve thankfully, it’s into an empty field. He cuts the engine and climbs out. So does the woman in the passenger seat. Angrily swinging the back door open. She grabs the younger girl by her ankles and yanks her out of the car. Marie thuds against the ground. Her screaming intensifies. With added coughing as red flows freely down her throat. Is this really how you want to die? Out in the open with them glaring down at you? They’ll just bury you out here. The thought barely finishes when she feels a sharp stiletto in the front of her thigh. Along with her side being kicked in.

“You stupid pathetic pile of shit. Shut the hell up.”

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

One of them connects their foot to her head and suddenly she’s quiet. Eyes falling shut a little too quickly for them. They wait, watching her chest stutter with her breathing. Exasperated, Lisa rolls the unconscious girl so she won’t choke on her own blood. All she had to do was shut up. That simple. When both are satisfied that she’s not dead they toss her back into the car unceremoniously.

“I think it’s time we buy a leash and muzzle for her. All she’s doing is stressing you out.”

“Let’s just get home please."

“I’m serious Joseph. At least chain her to the fucking bed.”

“We can talk about it at home.”

Lisa huffs, but doesn’t push the matter. At the end of the day, she always gets what she wants. He’s never been able to deny her. So, she sits quietly the rest of the drive home. Happy when the sleek black vehicle pulls into the open garage. Joseph wastes no time in closing it. Mostly so any nosey neighbors don’t see anything. Instead of carrying his knocked-out sister inside, he drags her by her hair. He dumps her on the floor of her bedroom. Dark eyes look around the space and suddenly he’s angry again. Fury consumes him and he immediately takes all her clothing from the closet. She doesn’t deserve them. Not after tonight. The dresser he drags out into the hall. Even begins removing the bed, propping the mattress and box spring against the wall. Can’t run away if she has nothing to wear. Doesn’t even deserve a bed. You provide her with everything. And this is how she repays you? Eventually, he moves the dresser and clothes to the sidewalk with the trash. And after catching his breath does the same with the bed.

Regaining consciousness is never easy, no matter how accustomed to it she may be. It’s always the same sight, too. Two pairs of never-ending anger. What she’s done to deserve such treatment is only known to them. She’d thrash if not for the weight of her own brother’s body on the lower half of her body and Lisa’s vice grip on her wrists.

“Look who’s finally waking up and just in time too.”

“As if I give a shit.”

An effort to scream is made, but it comes out muffled. Realization that they’ve managed to stuff something in her mouth before she came to. All she can do is close her eyes and pretend it’s not happening. Does her best to try and block out the sounds that come from them. That car accident should have killed you. Death is better than this. Anything is better than this. Maybe next time you’ll come across a serial killer and get mutilated alive. Or shot. Anything but this. Time passes slowly in moments like this. Almost feels never ending. Much like the blooming marks along arms and legs. Demons dance in her mind, a jumbled mess of bleak words and dagger teeth. Muffled screams turn to smothered sobs. Continuing even after her tormentors have left the room. They’ve left her gagged and on the floor. Gently turning her head reveals the missing furniture. No bed, no dresser. He really hates you. Looks like he even took the clothes in the closet.

Being left like this, with nothing, wrenches her heart open; what’s left of it anyway. Her sobbing intensifies. Melding with pleas for them to just kill her already. It all falls on deaf ears. Lisa’s cackling filling the building. Until she yet again sees onyx. For just a second she can see disgust on his face. After which her head is slammed hard against the floor she hears ringing in her ears. Yet it’s more than enough to put her out cold. Please don’t let me wake up again. Ever.