Ocean

Letting the cold hit, me as water dripped down my back, I stared in the mirror. It had been a while since I looked at myself. My skin was pale and ghostly like the snow that was still on the ground. My eyes look sunk in as the rings of dark reds and purple never seemed to leave. Looking in the mirror brought tears to my eyes. My figure defined by the slight protrusion of my ribs. The yellowing bruises that took weeks to heal. The pale scar markings from the pain I had endured.

Soon. That I what I had been promised. Soon, but not yet.

My eyes drifted from my refection to the golden locket, sitting in its intricate box. Reaching out I ran my hand over it slowly. I wanted to wear it and hold them close to my heart, but not today. Today I was seeing Lucas. He would for sure destroy it.

Lifting it gingerly out of its box, I slowly opened it. There they were, smiling at me like they always had. I may not have many memories of them, but I cherish them more then anything in the world. One day, I will see you again. Not yet, but soon.

"Ocean?" Hayden's voice rang through the door, starting me from my thoughts.

I grabbed the towel and rapped it around my hair before pulling my clothes on as quickly as possible.

I opened to door to see Hayden sitting on the bed phone in hand. He glanced up as the door opened.
"Are you ready to go?"
I nodded slowly pulling the towel from my head and grabbed my bag as I headed to the door.

The journey to work was made in silence. He pulled into the parking lot just as a familiar car pulled up and parked. I tensed slightly in anticipation.

"Ocean." Lucas greeted as he stepped out of his vehicle. "Come along." He looped an arm around me grasping my shoulder more tightly then necessary.

Lucas stood in front of his desk, staring at the wall behind it. "So," Lucas didn't even turn to look at me. "Enjoyed your little break did you?" Something about his tone was different then before.
"Good because it was your last." He finally turned to me a smile on his face. Not a kind smile, a vicious one. One that would scare even the strongest of warriors.
"So, tell me, why you have been late with all your work?" Lucas stepped forward. I lowered my eyes to the ground. He took another step closer and grabbed my chin.
"You will look at me when I speak to you." Although his voice was steady, his anger seemed to radiate off him, this grip on my chin tightened.
"Now we had best get you home to prepare for the dinner this evening." His voice was cool and collected but his eyes were the furthest from.

I knew I wasn't going home, in fact I was going away from home. I followed Lucas downstairs to his car. I sat in the back seat as I was always told to do. I wasn't going home, I was going to hell.

As we pulled into the drive of the looming mansion, I felt the air in the car change. Lucas seemed excited. He almost seemed Happy.

The thought scared me. I glanced at the time as the car came to a halt. It was barely midday. Which meant only one thing. The scars on my back almost felt like they were burning as I slowly followed Lucas into the cold house.

"Leave your things here" Lucas was happy. The cruel smile that twisted his face made me sick to my stomach. And yet here I was. There was no escaping.
Not yet.

Leaving my shoes at the door, I followed up the winding stone stairs, the cold floor stealing what little heat was left in my body.

Winding down one hallway after the next, we finally arrived at a plane looking door. I lowered my head, knowing what was inside. Hearing the lock click and Lucas moved to open the door, it took everything in me not to run. I knew I could run but I would never outrun him.

What followed was the most painful time yet. The blade tore the scars that had once formed. Deeper and deeper it ran. It tugged at my mind as I slowly felt myself descend into madness.

When this happened, I would try to leave my mind. Today was hard. The many, many years of practice seemed to be wearing off the longer the time between lasted.

Finally, my mind collapsed.

Into the field of flowers. A field of Marigolds and Bellflowers. Bellflowers had always been my mothers favorite. Today something was different. The bordars of the field were covered in thorned plants. Thick rosebushes with black flowers. They seemed to be closing in.
Slowly.
I reached out to touch the petals of the ever looming black roses. I had never seen anything of the like.

"Ocean." Lucas's voice echoed in my mind as I missed the petal and a drop of blood slid from its thorn.
"Ocean" Lucas repeated louder. it shock me from my state.
"Get up." he spoke harshly as he stood waiting by the door.

I hopped up and grabbed my things stepping out. As he closed and locked the door he spoke.
"You have 15 minutes to make yourself presentable. Get to it."
Head down, I scurried away to my old bedroom.

Taking what little bandage I had left, I wound the top of my torso to help the bleeding before looking around. I had nothing left in here to help look presentable.

I slipped the green sweater I had with me over hoping it hid the bandages well enough, before heading into the bathroom to splash water on my face and wet my hair to help with frizz. I looked in the mirror and did a double take. I could have sworn my mother stood before me. I splashed water in my face and looked again. Nope just my own refection stared back at me.

"OCEAN" Shit. Lucas was mad.

Shaking off the tricks my mind was playing on me, I ran downstairs to the door where Lucas stood waiting for me

This was it.