One
As a child, I was docile and obedient. I was my parents second and final child. We lived in a fairly nice house and always had plenty of food. A luxury not many families could manage. Due to my father’s successful hunting business, my mother didn’t have to work an we could still live comfortably. Another luxury not many families could manage. My parents and older brother always showed me plenty of love and care. All in all, we were your typical family. So, why am I here? Genesis will tell me that same, boring story. My parents simply offered me up, free of charge and without prompt. Here murderous villain, take our child, she’s very well behaved. Maybe he threatened my parents and they gave me to him out of fear? He denies it though. Maybe he protected them and I was his reward? That doesn’t make much sense due to my family being well off. Still, I asked and still he denied it. One day, when I’m out of here, I’ll find my family and ask them to tell me the truth. They might be surprised by how much their little girl has changed. Even Genesis seems surprised, although I’m sure it annoys him more than anything. I came here still docile and obedient, but also scared and confused. I’ll be confused until the day I confront my parents. However, I no longer show fear. I refuse to. I’m sure it’s the same for the others. Even his own friends are afraid of him when he’s angry. Not that I’ve ever seen it, I’m always sent away. Then Genesis searches for me, seeking comfort as if I was his lover. I’m not sure why and I don’t ask, not that I care anyway. I already know he’s a horrible creature, I don’t need further convincing. He just attributes it to me being desensitized. His love, on the other hand, is horrifying. Her and her friends torment me whenever they’re around. Galya hates me. Genesis gives me too much attention, Genesis should’ve killed me years ago. She frequently offers to ‘get me out of his way’ if he’s too attached to do it himself. He just tells her to stop messing around. A dark sense of humor, he calls it. But the problem is when he’s not around, when it’s just her and her two, just as horrifying, friends. Galya however, I feel like even Genesis takes her “jokes” a tiny bit serious at times. He rarely leaves the castle without having Wirrin, Coen, or Thaddeus around. When I was younger Galya would play with me, like a cat would a small mouse. Genesis would chalk the bruises and cuts up to me trying to escape, like I often did as a child. Since I stopped attempting escape it’s harder to write off the injuries. That doesn’t stop Genesis from doing just that though. They’ve been increasing in severity as I’ve gotten older. Last week she pinned me against the wall and off the ground by my wrist, breaking my arm and dislocating my shoulder. I know well enough that once the news reaches him, he’ll demand answers. Answers I’ll refuse to give. He’ll get frustrated and the cycle will eventually repeat. Currently, I’m hiding in my favorite place. The library at the opposite end of the castle from his office. I’m tucked into one of the cabinets at the bottom of one of the bookcases. He’ll still find me but at least I feel safe. Everyone is always hesitant to give him bad news anyway, especially when it comes to me. Some of the others have been coming to me with food or updates on things happening in the castle. I was napping when a knock on the end of the bookcase startles me awake.
“Cyan, he’s returned.”
I open the cabinet door to find one of the other kids that permanently lives here. He kneels down by the door.
“Thanks Landon. Is Galya still here?”
He hands me a piece of bread with cheese and sits on the floor next to me.
“No. She left as soon as Genesis arrived. Probably too scared to be around when the good Doc tells him about the latest.”
He gestures towards my casted arm and wrapped shoulder.
“Maybe she won’t come back this time.”
“If only we’d be that lucky, if only.”
Landon sighs and stands back up.
“I have to go. Take it easy, okay? Talk soon Cyan.”
I nod and watch him until he’s out of sight before closing the cabinet door once again. Genesis had been away on business in one of the villages when Galya got me. I had avoided notice for quite a while. Then Thad, one of Genesis’ associates and friend, noticed the dark purple bruising around my wrist. He immediately took me to the doctor. Imagine his shock when Doctor Faum had to pop my shoulder back into place. My stomach churns at the memory, threatening to reject the bread and cheese I just ate. I attempt to shift my position and pain shoots through my arm. No chance of me getting up now until Genesis comes to find me or one of the kids comes back by, whichever occurs first. I close my eyes and lay down my head, getting as comfortable as I can to wait.
