A Child of an Ugly Star

Chapter 1

I stare ahead but don't really see anything. My throat feels so dry it's cracking like mud in the sun. My stomach hurts like it's been poked full of needles. I don't have the energy to move anymore or make a sound. I keep drifting in and out of sleep restlessly. I don't know how much time is passing anymore. I just want the pain to stop. It's keeping me awake though.

I can't get my thoughts to go faster than a snail's pace. Only one thought is permeating my head. "I'm hungry. Very hungry." I think I could eat anything right now. I don't care what it is. The next living thing I see I'm going to eat because I also don't really want to die.

Above me I hear the door open. I bring my eyes into focus and look at the stairs. Footsteps are coming down it now. It takes almost everything I have to sit up. The chains around my wrists and ankles make a metallic clank as I drag them across the ground. I'm still struggling to sit up when the person on the stairs reaches the bottom.

My uncle stands there watching me with a scowl. He looks disgusted at me. To my disappointment he didn't bring any food with him. Not that I should be surprised.

"How are you still alive?" He growls at me.

I look up at him and feel my heart sink. It's going to be an exceptionally bad visit today. I'm not sure I have the energy or strength to take anymore. This really just might be it this time.

"Get up!" He orders me.

I shake my head since I can't speak. He turns red and his eyes blaze with fury. He grabs the chains attached to my wrists and yanks me up. I try to get my legs under me in a way they could hold me up. Even leaning against the wall though I know there's no way I can remain standing. The moment he lets the chains go my knees give out and I slump to the ground. Just get it over with. I sigh inwardly.

He yells in anger and kicks me over and over, slamming his foot into my side. I curl up in a ball trying to protect my head and neck. I curl my knees up to my chest trying in vain to protect my more delicate organs. I try not to cry out in pain because it only makes him angrier. He kneels down and pulls my arms away from my head to start punching my head. I'm not strong enough to stop him. All I can do is close my eyes and wait for it to be over. I can taste blood in my mouth and dripping down my face.

Finally he throws me against a wall and sits back. "Damn it you monster! Why won't you just die already?" He yells at me.

I lower my arms to peek over at him terrified. He has tears in his eyes and is glaring at me with hatred. I know why he hates me. It has to do with my mother who was his little sister. When she died she left a letter saying it was my fault and I should never have been born. If it wasn't for me she wouldn't have died. I'm aware it's my fault she's dead so I'm not mad that he blames me. That doesn't lessen my fear of him any. I still don't want to be hurt because of his grudges.

He yells and slams his fist into the wall beside me. He cries out in pain and cradles it to his chest. I didn't hear anything break but it probably does hurt a lot. His knuckles are red and bloody from hitting the stone. He grabs my face and pushes me against the wall. He's covering my mouth and nose soI can't breathe. This is probably one of my least favorite sensations. If I wasn't so hungry I would have the strength to push him away. Now though all my pushing is too weak to get him off me. I strain every muscle in my arms trying to push his arm away. Every muscle in my neck is trying to twist my head away so I can breathe. But I'm just not strong enough.

I can feel my body running out of oxygen. I panic instinctively so I struggle more desperately digging my nails into his arm. I stare at his angry face as my vision seems to start graying out. I get my mouth open a bit and try to bite down on his palm. All that's getting in my mouth though is the blood from his injured hand. It's way too salty and doesn't taste good at all. But it's the first edible thing I've tasted in weeks.