Imprison
- Vienna’s POV -
“Vienna!” I heard my mom’s voice, calling me at the top of her lungs.
I immediately rushed to the kitchen and saw Mom raging with madness. The moment she saw me, she grabbed my hair and dragged me toward the refrigerator.
“Ouch, m-mom. Please... let me go,” I pleaded.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to touch my things?” she angrily said, opening the refrigerator door.
She took out a box, and I saw five cupcakes inside, but one was missing. “Where is it?” she exclaimed, letting go of my hair.
My heart raced in fear; I hadn’t touched it. “I... I don’t know.”
She suddenly slapped me on the cheek. “Don’t you dare lie to me, Vienna! What did you do with the other one? I told you not to touch these!” she yelled at me.
“I-I never did, I swear,” I said, my eyes starting to water.
“Then who did? You’re the only person here in the house who steals my things. I baked these cupcakes for the Royals, and what do you think they’ll say to me, huh?” I could see the anger flaring in her eyes.
I never stole anything, but no one in this house ever believed me. No one. I bit my lip and looked down. I could say nothing. Anything I say means nothing to them; they never hear my pleas, my reasons. I am... nothing to them.
“What?” she exclaimed.
A tear fell from my eyes. “I-it wasn’t me, I swear,” I hoarsely stated, tired of reasoning. What can I say if she won’t believe me?
Then, I received another slap. “You keep denying it, huh? Let’s see.”
She grabbed my hair again, dragging me toward the... “Oh no, Mom, please... it wasn’t me. I didn’t touch the cupcakes, Mom!” I cried.
She tightened her grip on my hair, making me scream in pain as she pushed me into the basement and slammed the door shut.
“You bitch! Stay there until you learn from your mistake!” she yelled in anger.
“Mom, let me out of here. Please...” I pleaded again, banging on the door, but I knew no one would hear me. Even if they did, they chose not to.
“Never give her anything until I say so!” Mom yelled throughout the house. I knew she was talking to my sister and Dad.
“Mom...” I whispered as tears streamed down my face.
I leaned against the door, crying in silence. What did I ever do to deserve this? I was obedient. All I did was serve my family, but none of them ever showed love for me.
“Hmmm... the cupcake is so sweet. Want a bite?” I heard my sister taunt from the other side of the door.
I bit my lip, ignoring her. I knew she stole it, but no one would ever believe me. All her mistakes had been blamed on me for as long as I could remember. I was beaten by Mom and Dad because of my sister.
I heaved a deep sigh as I looked around the basement. It was so dark in here. I walked to the corner, sat down, and hugged my knees, quietly crying in the darkness.
Life... I am already used to being in this darkness. It’s better to stay in the basement than in the house. One mistake and Dad will beat me. If I fight back against my sister, Mom and Dad will hurt me.
I have nowhere to go. Even the werewolves in this pack are disgusted by me. They think I’m cursed. I’ve accepted the fact that I’m just a slave in this family because they aren’t my real family. Dad adopted me to be a slave. I should be thankful because if it weren’t for him, who knows where I’d be now. Maybe... I’d already be dead because no one... wants me.
Rumors say I killed my own family—that I burned them. When I was nine, I was found outside a burning house. Everyone inside died, and I was the only one left alive. Since then, people have hated me... no one has accepted me. I was just a child lurking around the pack for countless days, drinking from the river and eating fruit I could find in the forest. If I asked for food, people just... got mad at me for no reason. One day, Daddy Aldrin saw me and took me in to be their slave.
I’ve been a slave ever since I was a child, and now I’m 19. When Mom gets mad, she brings me here and locks me up for days, sometimes a week, without food. I’m only given water once a day.
Did I really kill my family? I don’t remember anything. All I recall is standing outside a burning house. But if I killed them, I deserve this—I deserve more than this suffering. I’m willing to die to pay for my mistake, but... how? How could I have killed them? I keep remembering the past, but nothing comes to mind. Who am I? Am I really cursed?
I wiped my tears. Nothing will change if I just cry. Another week of hunger.
I’m turning 20, but I haven’t met my wolf yet. I still have the abilities of a mere werewolf, but I can’t transform. I doubt myself sometimes. If I’m not human, not a werewolf... then what am I? I shook my head. I couldn’t be a vampire because if I were... I’d already be craving blood.
- One week later
If Death could see me, I’d already be dead.
The basement door opened, and my eyes slowly fluttered, unable to see clearly from the sudden brightness. My body felt so weak that it was hard to move even a finger. My lips were so dry that I couldn’t open my mouth without feeling pain.
I heard something placed near the door, but I couldn’t see clearly. I closed my eyes again to regain my sight. “Mom said to eat this, and then take a bath. This room smells so terrible, yuck. Make it quick so you can clean the house,” I heard my sister say before walking away, leaving the door open.
Eat... a week without food didn’t kill me, but it weakened my body. How can I eat what they gave me if I can’t even move?
But... I have to live. Something is telling me that I need to survive.
