Disclaimer: ¡Skip Beat! It's not my property. Skip Beat! belongs to Yoshiki Nakamura just like all her characters. All my stories are going to focus on Alternate Universes, so the only thing I'll take from Yoshiki Nakamura will be the names of her characters and I hope to show the respect they deserve.

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Consumed by the flames Chapter 1

Maria is my name and this is my story. It started a long time ago. So much ago, that I almost forgot it… almost.

I have always lived in a world painted with sadness. In it there's no light of sun, and you can't hear any sound at all. Things like colors, aroma, laughter and joys became lost in time. Little by little I began to lose my mind as I felt the loneliness around me. I felt as the sky crashed over me. I was alone, he left me behind and no matter how much I screamed and cry, my lips refused to let the sound out.

Now as the years past, I waiting silently for my father to return to me. But always wonder, why he was so cruel? Why'd he leaves Maria alone? Was it because I was a bad girl? Was it because I was not worthy of love? Was it because I asked for a lot of toys? Or was it because I killed my mother?

Please father come back and take me away, I desperately promise, to be a good girl and to be worthy of your love. I don't need toys, dresses or dolls. Just take me with you.

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I was a little girl not older than four years when you left, but now I have ten and I'm already began to forget your face. Words do not leave my mouth and the world is only gray. The servants talk behind my back about what an unfortunate girl I am.

One day as I walked the walls of the old and decrepit castle, I look out the window and saw a carriage. You came out as if nothing had happened, as if you had not disappeared for years.

I was supposed to be mad at you. I was supposed to blame you for my sadness. I was supposed to hate you for abandoning me. I was supposed… but I could not.

I did not care, I was just happy to see you again. I ran down the stairs, open the door and throw myself into your arms. Even if you did not respond to my embrace, I hold on to you with all my strength.

I smiled and cried like when I was a little girl and you just took me in your arms and take me inside.

Your face was dark and your lips tense. All the servants who took care of me during all these years came out wordlessly through the doors with their suitcases. In my child mind, I was happy. I thought this meant that you will take care of me. Oh, but I was very wrong.

You take me to the dungeon where you torture me day and night. I lost track of what tools were used to punish me. I didn't even know if I was still alive or was I dead and being tortured in hell.

My eyes lost their sight. My broken bones sounded like pulverize cookies. I could only smell the mixture of rust and metal while my tears fall and wet my dry lips. Why is this so painful? Why are you hurting me?

-I did nothing wrong. Why do you hate me so much? - I scream. But he says nothing.

He just grabbed the whip and started tearing the skin off my back.

-Someone please save me! - I knew that there wasn't another soul left in that castle, but I had to say something.

I've became numb to the pain.

-Please, just end this already- were my last words while he charred my heart into ash.

He was my father, the man I loved the most in this world, he broken me down… and now I'm holding out just to watch him burn.

I wasn't the type to hold a grudge, after all I'm only ten but then again, what ten-year-old has been through hell? Now I'm nothing but rage. Because off what he has done to me, I will not forgive.

My soul abandoned my body. But I didn't feel better. My whole world turned red. There was no remorse in my father's face, only sadness and I doubted that it was because of my death.

To be continued…