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"Get back here now! Don't make me call you again! Your punishment will only get worse the longer you stay out there!"
I didn't bother looking back, I knew I had to get away... from him, from them.
I was at a disadvantage because of my condition, but I am either going to escape or I am going to die trying.
It started out normally. I grew up in a happy household with my brother and our parents. To anyone else we looked like a typical family. But it was all a lie. My father and my brother treated my mother and I horribly. They beat us, chained us, and let their friends have their way with us. From a very young age I learned to listen, but no longer.
I was wounded after fighting my brother off, but now that my father and mother were both dead I stood a better chance and had nothing to stay for.
My lungs were burning and the wind was whistling in my ears. I wasn't the fastest person in the world, but I was smart. I knew this place too, like the back of my hand. The problem was I had only ever gone to the end of the forest, after that I would be lost.
Most of me was normal, I have long brown hair and blue eyes. I am very short, at only five feet. I was born with a condition though, one that makes me vulnerable to illness and unable to have children. But, the worst of it is that my skin is burned and slashed beyond repair. My only saving grace was that my face hadn't been wounded.
Even now the fresh burns rub painfully against my clothing, the bandages must have soaked through again.
They called me a monster and said that no one would ever love me and I believed them. I believed them because I couldn't even look at myself and because they were the only people I knew. I was home schooled and basically lived as a servant.
I often talked to the animals, though I knew they couldn't understand me because I had no friends. I was alone, especially after my mother died. On her death bed all she could do was apologize to me for bringing me in to such a horrible life, but I knew it wasn't her fault.
"Get back here and maybe we will take it easy on you! You know you can't get far!"
My brother was always a monster. Dad trained him from an early age that women were inferior to men and only useful as playthings or slaves. He picked on me with words at first, but it didn't take long before he also was rough physically.
There was nothing seemingly special about me and I gave him no reason to hurt me, but I was convinced he had no heart and no soul.
I had finally reached the edge of the forest and I had no idea where to go. I didn't have time to think about it though, so I ran forward anyways. I kept pushing myself, if I can just find a place away from him I could have a chance at life, even if it was alone.
"You don't even know where you're going! You'll die out here if you don't come back with us!"
I didn't believe him, I couldn't. He may be related to me, but only by blood. I could never be as cruel as him.
My dress kept catching on the branches, tearing my skirt and scratching at my scarred skin. Thankfully the scar tissue blocked most of the pain and I had a high pain tolerance after everything.
My lungs begged me to stop as I sucked in air rapidly. My legs shook beneath me, exhausted from the run. I pushed until I saw the edge of a cliff. I had no choice but to stop before I ran over the edge and I felt a horrible feeling in my stomach; dread.
"There you are silly girl! Now come back with us," my brother stood before me with his friends and other horrible men. "You have nowhere to run or to go to, don't be a fool!"
I looked at them and then looked over the edge of the cliff. There was water below, but it was a very long drop and I would likely die on impact.
I told myself I would escape or die trying so I guess it is my time. Before my brother could say anything else I spun around and hurled myself off of the cliff. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer as I waited for impact
