Chapter Four
Maeve Illusen was fourteen years old. She was adopted by Karen and Robert Illusen, still left with no idea of who her real parents were. She was a child of inward nature, and was often abused and neglected for this fact. At thirteen years old, Eve had slit her wrists in an attempt to kill herself, but her foster mother had caught her in time to bring her to the hospital. When she got home, Karen would abuse her constantly for no reason, tearing out her stitches in frustration and prolonging the healing process. Eve ran a finger presently along the scar on her right wrist, thick and ugly because of the constant mutilation.
She was in her room, dwelling on memories, her hazel eyes staring forward into nothingness. Her dark brown hair was shoulder-length and completely straight, thinned by stress. Her eyes moved toward the door as she heard the doorknob turn, as if she were extra alert in terms of senses. Karen stepped in the doorway, closing the door behind her. Their eyes were locked. Eve shook her head, usually a good-natured girl, but deeply disturbed. "No..."
"Yes." Karen walked slowly towards the bed, her hands already clenching into fists. Her mouth drew into a thin line, knowing that the girl was disobedient. "You haven't left your room today. You deserve to be punished." She grabbed Eve's arms and threw her to the ground, kneeling as she turned over while practically panting. "You've been bad." She punched her in the nose, enough so that a cracking sound was heard, but the nose itself hadn't been broken. Blood trickled from one nostril, tears seeping from her eyes.
"Please...Stop!" Now getting pummeled, Eve felt a dizziness upon her. She had taken worse beatings than this, but the nauseated feeling grew worse, and suddenly she felt her bones twisting. Screaming as her bones began to reset and adjust themselves, reddish-brown fur began to sprout from her body, covering her as several other changes took place. Her ears came to a point and reshaped themselves, positioned at the top of her head. Her jaw lengthened, her nose blackening, and her eyes reverting to a lupine amber. Her arms and legs became thinner and the same length, hands and feet becoming paws with razor-sharp claws. Fangs of the same attributes replaced her canine teeth, a tail sprouting from her tailbone. She let a loud howl ring from her throat that was inhuman yet so natural as she leaped onto her adoptive mother. Before her jaws could close on that throat to inflict more than a scratch, Karen threw her off, shoving her into a closet and locking the door.
"You'll regret ever betraying me, you little wench!" With that, Karen left the room, Eve passing out inside the tight closet. When she woke up, she was human again, and the darkness seemed to be closing in on her. She banged on the door for what seemed like an hour, but was closer to twenty minutes, screaming her lungs out for help. She knew that Rob wouldn't help her either, and the thought made her start to cry. She screamed for hours on end until her throat grew sore, reduced down to dry sobs, as if she had no moisture left in her body.
For two days, she remained in that closet with no food and no water, spending half the time in and out of consciousness and the other half begging to be let out. Finally, Karen opened the door, turning her back as she walked away. She would have claustrophobia forever. She got to her feet, stumbling to the kitchen and getting herself something to eat and drink. After about half an hour, Rob and Karen approached her, glaring at her. Rob spoke. "We decided you'll be attending private school from now on in New York."
"Pack your bags, you little bitch."