Water Lily

Hello all! Thank you for deciding to read my story! Just to let you know, this story is rated M for a reason. It has a lot of nasty language and adult situations that are not for younger audiences.

Copyrights all go to Lionhead and co. … except for my female protagonist. She is mine.

Warning: Chapter one doesn't need much warning. Just language and a lot of angst in this chapter.

Please enjoy!

Chapter One: A Little Runaway

"Where could you possibly go?" an angry, mocking voice sneered, a tone that implied a sense of victory at hand. "You have no job, no transportation, no friends who can take you in, all you have is me." A sarcastic smile showing tobacco-stained teeth leered confidently. "Which means, as long as you stay here you do as I say."

She stared rebelliously at the speaker and blew a cloud of smoke into the already thick air. The reply was easy, eerily natural. "Then I'll kill myself and live in hell. The conditions and the caretaker will be better then what I have here, scuz-bag."

The cigarette was slapped from her hand and two large hands pinned her as her verbal adversary loomed over her. "Just try it. I know you're not brave enough to do it. So like I said, you're staying here and doing as I say until I get sick of looking at your ripped mug."

She flinched at the attack made on the scar that ran from her jaw to right underneath her left eye. The damage had been done not even two years ago by her rapist and a switchblade when she dared to oppose him. Now she not only had the wretched memory, she also had an ugly reminder stamped on her face for the rest of her life. She turned her head toward the window and let out an irritated sigh. "If I pretend to comply will you just leave me the hell alone?"

"Dirty little ingrate." The person holding her withdrew and lit another cigarette. "Just finish the work before sunrise and I won't make you work the rest of the day tomorrow. And stop taking my smokes, get your own you dirty bitch."

She watched the landlord leave the room, then snatched up her still-lit cigarette from where it had been feebly clinging to life. "Wish I could get out of here," she muttered darkly to herself. "But it's not like anyone wants to hire a greasy, poorly dressed waif with a gash on her face." A contemplative smoke ring drifted lazily toward the ceiling as the girl contemplated her options. She could finish scrubbing the floors, walls, windows, toilets, dishes and furniture in the few hours that she had and shoot for a few hours of sleep the next day, or she could try to run away again. Unfortunately, she knew if she was caught and dragged back it would be a week of no food, chained and blindfolded to a wall in the basement of the house... again. She weighed her odds carefully for a few moments, then closed her eyes. "Big brother," she whispered quietly. "What should I do? What would you want me to do?"

One moment, then another, and another one later, and a song gently permeated the walls of the room. It was a song she was very familiar with... Apple Blossom by the White Stripes.

"Lots of girls walk around in tears,

but that's not for you.

You've been looking all around for years

For someone to tell your troubles to...

Come and sit with me and talk a while,

lemme see your pretty little smile.

Put your troubles in a little pile,

and I will sort them out for you.

I'll fall in love with you.

I think I'll marry you."

She smiled as the song closed, a crease dimpling her scar. "Like hell I'm gonna give up and stay here. I'm out,and this time, I won't be caught."

She got up and quietly began stuffing what little she had into a bag made out of an old shirt. Last of all she raided the TV room where she knew there would be random money and a carton of cigarettes. She grabbed seven packs and managed to find about twenty five dollars, not to mention a few valuables like watches and rings and a fully charged ipod. She clambered through a window above the TV, slipped out and landed lightly on the ground, already thrilled with her findings and her escape.

It looked clean outside, so she chanced lighting a cigarette before she started fast-walking down the street. Before she went anywhere, there was one stop she had to make; The Rec Park.

She hopped the fence with practiced ease and made for the lake in the center. She let her hand brush against trees and benches, remembering happier times spent there. When she was much younger, she and her brother would come here at least twice a week to play or smoke n secret, or to just hang out. Then they grew up.

She kicked a rock that had grown in front of her heavily treading feet.

Her brother joined the military as a last resort when no other jobs could be found. He used his income to take care of his little sister as best he could, but there was only so much he could do.

Then December 3rd happened. She had been kidnapped from the same park that she walked through now. She had been raped and almost killed by a man the police never found. Big brother ended up sinking all of his money into the hospital bills and beer. He tried to comfort her, but not even a week later, he was sent overseas, and he was shot and killed.

She stared at the lake from the shore, remembering how she had been here when the police found her and informed her of her brothers death. Now she was older, harder, used to being on her own. But she still wanted to give her respects to the one person who ever cared about her before she tried escaping again. She wandered out onto a pier that led to a small round building built at the lakes center. She pulled the t-shirt bag open and pulled out an unused bullet and a shattered White Stripes Cd. With great care she wrapped these safe inside a military glove and tied it tight with a guitar string. She didn't wince when the metal cord cut her finger on the glove. Then she stood up, holding the lumpy bundle out over the water, waited for more blood to fill her hand, then dropped it with a small shower of her blood.

It sank quickly, five thin red wisps rising from the finger tips as it vanished to the bottom of the lake. She exhaled loudly and sat down, lighting another cigarette and saluting the falling moon with the smoke. "Here's to you, big bro," She said quietly, leaning back and taking a hard drag. It burned her throat and made her eyes water, something that rarely happened. When she went to scrub her eyes an angry tendril of smoke stabbed at her eyeballs, making her fling the burning thing into the lake while cursing her luck.

If her eyes had been clear she might have noticed the way the water grew darker, and how the darkness seemed to be bubbling up from under the little building. If she had been paying attention she might have noticed the low throbbing noise that seemed to rush over the surface of the water. What forced her to clear her eyes and pay attention was the serene, yet powerful voice that demanded her to stand. She leapt up, startled, but not frightened, and hoping a cop hadn't found her. She saw no one, but noticed the darkened water and heard the dark noise that surrounded her.

"What in all of-" she stopped when the voice rent her consciousness again.

"Do not be afraid little runaway."

"Like hell I would be anyway!" she sputtered angrily, gripping the rail until her knuckles were white. "Why? Should I be?" She looked into the water and it looked like a red hand was extended invitingly toward her and the surface of the water.

"Not at all, because today is the day where you realize your destiny."

"Where are you?"

"You have nothing left to tie you to this world-"

"I asked you a question!"

"... so you have no reason not to leave and come to the place-"

"And who are you?"

"... where you were meant to belong."

The words "to belong" crashed through her skull and she found herself crouching in front of the rail, punching the support beam until it broke and splashed into the water. "What do you want me to do?"

"Jump into the water where you dropped your brother's possessions. I will take care of the rest."

"You're not going to kill me, are you?"

"Would you honestly care so much if I did?"

She blinked at this, then allowed herself an amused smile. "Guess not. Here I go. I hope you know what you're talking about, crazy lady."

She looked into the water and saw that the red extended hand had turned into a black, bubbling hole, sending ripples into the rest of the still lake. She smiled and tied bag onto her back more securely before climbing onto the rail and diving cleanly into the rippling water beneath her.

In an instant the ripples stopped, the water lightened, the throbbing ceased and she was lost completely from view to anyone who might have been watching. Everything was still, a bird dared to sing, and the first ray of sunlight shattered what was left of the night.

So there is chapter one! I hope you enjoyed it, thanks for reading.

Spoiler: next chapter we're finally going to get to see our favorite deviant... Yay!