[Chapter 1]
THIS IS AN UNEDITED DRAFT OF THE 4 FIRST BOOKS OF THE PAINTED RED SERIES. THE FINISHED EDITED BOOKS WILL BE RELEASED ONE BY ONE. (1st book is Lust and Torture, it is currently uploading.)This draft does NOT INCLUDE additional chapters of the newly edited books.I upload it again just to have it here and see my progress in writing over the years, please understand that this is not the final outcome of the series.
A/N: This chapter might be a little rushed, and it might be out of place, but I didn't know how to write better back then, I wish the editing made it readable.
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After some hours I reached home. My mum hugged me tightly and we had dinner together while talking about how my weekend went.
She asked all kinds of questions and I told her what had happened with every little detail.
Except for what was happening with him.
I didn't like talking with my mum on this matter because she'd think I like him.
•••
Three months ago.
•••
Days, weeks, and months passed. I was still worked up by the words that man told me.
Either way, I never stopped talking to the people who made me feel like family.
I was not ungrateful like that, nor did I fear for my own life. I didn't fear him for killing me, I feared him for keeping me alive. I didn't fear him for torturing me physically, I feared him for torturing my mind and heart.
I was in my bedroom now, a new day welcomed my moodiness. Waking up has always been hard for me, maybe it's because most of the time I sleep late. It doesn't matter though because I have my 'ring-ring' mama to wake me up, she's better than any alarm.
I did my morning routine, brushing my teeth, dressing up, and all that.
The weird thing is, it doesn't take me more than 15 minutes to get ready. Maybe because I am in a rush and I always leave a few minutes before the bus leaves for school.
The bus stop isn't that far anyway. There is also a small candy shop next to it so I sometimes buy something, since I never eat breakfast, maybe I should start.
I've always been lazy about everything.
Going to school feels weird, even though I like studying, the people I see get on my nerves most of the time.
I never liked the environment it has.
Thank god I have my friends though so times pass easily, but something had changed since the last time I was abducted, mostly Natalie seems to have changed a lot, and I think something's going on.
Anyway.
I can't say I am the best student but I am smart enough to pass with 17 to 18 out of 20, with my laziness it is a real miracle.
What can I say though, things are getting worse in my life anyway. I just want to graduate, find a stable job, and be with someone that I can love.
Like every person does, but who am I kidding love? A real joke.
I went to the station and got on the bus. The last part isn't easy at all, so I just think I'll skip it for now, or forever.
The girls in my school always talk about the feelings they have towards boys. This is ridiculous for me to hear because most of the time they don't even know the guys, and it's not like I'm judging, but it's obvious they're lying just to get attention.
I am not a very sociable person and I have always taken everything to heart, which was very hurtful. Or to put it right, I used to do so.
I changed these past few years though, I lost many friends but gained trust from the ones that matter.
Being in the last class seems hard for everyone until you finish it.
It was already summertime.
A while later when I arrived at school, Natalie, Mason, Amelia, and Elijah were waiting for me.
They are my besties, we know each other since kindergarten. But all of us can be very annoying, I admit.
"Huh, this bitch still remembers us!"
Natalie spoke up first when they noticed me.
Natalie is a 1.70 heigh girl while Amelia is 1.60 like me. She has light brown eyes, Amelia has dark brown eyes.
They are happy girls and we went through a lot together but stayed with each other.
"Baby!"
Amelia smiled at me. She is a sweet and quiet girl while Natalie is exactly the opposite, she is a naughty one.
They hugged me and nudged me once more about the 'lost' accident I had months ago.
"Beth, darling! You're lost again?"
Mason mocked me once again.
"Shut it a**hole."
And there was Elijah always at my rescue.
The boy's height is around 1.80. Their personalities can be called complicated, but they too are smart and experienced at many things. They're just... How do I put it nicely... Immature?
"Let's go inside, guys."
I said giggling at their playfulness.
We aren't in the same grade as everyone but we hang out with each other after school most of the time.
I rarely go home before 6:00 PM. My mum trusts them, they all know her, everyone knows each other's parents.
"Heya bitch, where have you been."
Natalie asked, but before I could answer properly, Mason butted in,
"What's up, Beth? Wherever you were, next time take me with you. These animals were bulling me again."
"Hey! Did you miss me that much?"
"It's been over two days, bitch. Of course, we did."
Natalie rolled her eyes.
Amelia came up at me once again,
"Hug! I missed you, Beth."
"Well, you guys greeting me twice or something? What's going on here? Mason, I think you need to finish your project or you won't pass the class! Also, Elijah, did you find another girlfriend for this week?"
Everyone laughed including him, we hugged each other and went for a walk in the schoolyard before the bell rings.
•••
Present
That was what happened three months ago when I came back. They have annoyed me since then.
"Hey, Beth! You with us?"
Natalie nudged my shoulder,
"Yes, yes! Let's go to the cafeteria."
I've been daydreaming a lot since I came back, it's as if it was years ago that I met with that family.
We had arrived at the coffee shop and the time passed easily and school hours were over so we went there because it was our favorite spot
We usually studied there and stayed for four to five hours. I was back at normal again.
Sometime later~
"I have to leave you guys early today. I have to recreate my schedule and didn't have any time these past few days."
I said and greeted them goodbye.
"We will go to the downtown club today will you come?"
Natalie asked me with puppy eyes so I would say yes but I couldn't go, so I hugged them all and left.
When I reached home, I sat down to eat with my mother, after that we watched TV together.
After a while, I went to my room to reschedule what I would be doing every day. Nats only come with me to fighting classes.
We can dance and learn whatever we want there. I chose modern dances, ballet, and aerial fabric dances. I am good at every one of them. When I was a little I only danced ballet, and then came the aerial dance.
Now we make choreographies by ourselves and teach each other and other people too. We had a lot of practice before so we are the best ones in that class.
I and Amelia are the youngest there.
I don't know why we still call it classes when we do choreographies and perform them on stages, anyway.
Thursdays I have dance classes again from 8:00 PM until 10:30 PM, the rest of the time and at the weekends I am free.
After I was done making my schedule I went to kiss my mum goodnight and then went to sleep.
The next day passed by as I had planned it, generally, I am a very strict person and always pre-scheduled my days.
I am not like I was in the Old town, carefree, happy, with people that cared, how I wish I was there, I miss them so much, the beautiful scenery, the plants, the sea, everything.
Talking with them on the phone isn't enough. I didn't even talk with Little Juliet, nor Damian, not that I expected him to want to talk to me anyway.
I was very sad before, getting up thinking like that, it became a routine. I had told them what happened exactly to the girls.
To the boys, I skipped the 'Damian' part.
The whole day passed by and my mood stayed sad and sour.
Wednesday came and I went to school again as always, came back after studying with my friends.
It was late and I went to sleep.
Every time I slept, the nightmares would consume me, this time, there wasn't an exception either.
I was back with my routine.
Months had passed but when I decided I wanted to go back and meet the Yang family, I felt the warning that man had given me, but I did not care what that man thought.
I was not scared of him, not then and certainly not now.
I decided to call Sheila and tell her about my thoughts as I did every day.
"Beth! Baby! I missed you! I know I say it all the time, but when are you going to visit? You can't just hide from him."
Wow there, I didn't even get to say hello. Well, that's Sheila for you
"I know, Sheila. I want to visit you all, the old couple, the kids, everyone."
"You have to make a choice, Beth."
"I do not fear him, Sheila, it's just..."
"It is just he is a threat to you, isn't he?"
"He is something I do not want to face. Someone that I wish I never met."
"But you did, Beth. You did meet him. Things did happen between you and him."
"And I wish they never did. But I assure you, never again. Never will I allow it to become like that."
"Do you believe that, even for a second, Beth?"
"Sheila... Let's just not talk about him anymore. I decided to come to visit you guys and I will."
"YES! That's my girl. Show him you don't give a damn about him!"
"You remember your cousin, right? Also, you are unbelievably annoying."
"Always have been, always will be."
"Great! I'm probably going to go deaf when I reach there."
"That's for damn sure! When will you visit?"
"This weekend."
"Well, that is the best news I have heard in a while!"
We continued talking until we went to sleep.
The weekend was coming and I going to see him again.
My heart was already caught in my throat. It felt like my own body rejected the idea. This is a decision I had to make and I did. It's not like I'm going there for him, or that I will let anything happen.
"It will be fine, Beth. Just relax. You ain't a little girl. You know how to fight both mentally and physically. He got nothing on you."
"He can't touch you. Never again."
It is as if I become the person I used to be, the one that was utterly insane, the one that had to be insane to survive there.
That man makes me become a monster, makes me do things that are far from normal, I fear that things will go down badly if I don't stop them, and I intend to do so.
With these thoughts. I went into a deep sleep, filled with thread and fear.
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A/N: Thank you very much for reading!
I wish you all a great day!