Somebody once said that what they loved about my story was that they never knew what was coming next. There are at least three things you never saw coming in this chapter. And yet... I foreshadowed all of them long ago in the story. This is fun! It's so fun messing with all you... I sound something like a non-evil version of Anna right about now.

Chapter 32: Hidden Pasts

Anna put her hand to her mouth and laughed her cruel laugh, "Tell him again Mary."

"I hate you Jack. I never loved you. I was wrong."

This was too fun! Why end it now? Never before had she ever tortured two people by making them destroy each other against their will. This was the most fun she had ever had! Anna laughed once more, "Tell him again and again and again Mary!"

Mary couldn't stand it. How could she keep doing it? How could her mom be so mean to them? Her tears broke into sobs and her agony overwhelmed her. Anna frowned in disgust and lightly tapped Mary on the side of her cheek. Mary gasped in terror. That threat was oh so very real to Mary and she immediately stopped crying. She remembered the last time Anna gently slapped her like so. That night Anna had beaten her so badly, Mary didn't think she'd live to see the morning.

Mary ran her fingers along her side, feeling one of her many scars under her dress. Her body was covered with many such scars from such attacks. First, Anna played around with her for a bit, warming up, she said, for the true punishment. She had put on every ring she owned on her hands and slapped her repeated, cutting into her flesh over and over again. Somehow, even knowing that this was the least of the pains that she would experience that night, did not stop her from crying out in pain every time she was struck. Pain, which was only exemplified by the fact that nobody came to her rescue.

After a while, Mary was made to go wash the blood off of the rings then bring her father's belt for the rest of her punishment. By the time the night was finished, her skin was peeling off in many places, having been flailed loose by the vicious onslaught. But the pain was not yet finished. Anna then rubbed salt into Mary's many wounds, intended, she said, to both prevent infection, stop the bleeding and speed the healing as well as round off the punishment.

Mary only wished that she was as strong as Jack thought she was. But she was nothing compared to her mother. Mary was weak and Anna was strong, "I hate you Jack." Anna began to laugh continuously, a haunting background to Mary's false testimony, "I never loved you. It was a mistake. It was nothing more than a rebound from Grey. I hate you."

Anna laughter stopped, "That's enough Mary. Do you see it now Jack? Is it clear to you? You were a fool to even think that Mary would love you. Your parents didn't even want you." Jack looked up at Anna briefly, confused, "Oh, I see. You never knew, did you? I'm sure you remember that time you visited Mineral Town as a child and got lost."

Jack nodded his head slowly then resumed looking at the ground, "That's when I met the old man who's farm I now run."

"You didn't get lost, your parent's tried to abandon you. I believe it was Harris who noticed them leaving without you. It was the talk of the town. The young boy who was abandoned by his parents. We forced them to go pick you back up and take you with them. Believe me, they weren't happy about it. Mary was awfully young at the time, but I'm sure she remembers. Tell him now."

"She's telling the truth. You were abandoned. I remember you. I didn't know you were that boy, but I remember you back then." She remembered him and that day very well. Nobody had ever told her they were the same people. If only she had known that this Jack was the same boy she met so many years ago. Of all the kids in the town, she had been the only one who was brave enough to go and meet him. Mary had gone to comfort him, but found him blissfully unaware of his abandonment. She didn't want to hurt him, so she didn't tell him the truth. Later that night, when her mother found out about her meeting the abandoned child, Anna beat her. At least back then the beatings weren't as bad.

Anna laughed, "See Jack, nobody has ever loved you. Nobody will ever love you. You will be alone forever." Mary knew that was false, she loved Jack. "Now Mary, it's time to deal the final crushing blow. Take that blue feather out of your hair, throw it to the ground, and grind it into the dust.

Mary pulled the feather loose and held it in her hands, staring at it. The ultimate symbol of their love for each other. Both of them had given so much for each other. Mary whispered, too quietly for anyone to hear, "No..."

Anna glared at Mary and raised her hand threateningly, "What are you waiting for? Do it now!"

Mary wouldn't do it. She couldn't do it. Her mother was wrong. A fire ignited in Mary's eyes. She hated Anna. She never loved Anna. Anna had never loved her. She was so wrong. Jack was right, she did have to stand up to her, "No! Never! You are the one who is wrong Mom!"

Mary screamed as her mother's hand flew down towards her. She could see her mother's wedding ring flash in the sunlight. Anna backhanded her as hard as she could. The diamond cut straight through Mary's face, ripping apart flesh, grinding against the bone. Mary yelped in pain as she was knocked to the ground. She fell face first into the dirt.

Anna stood over her screaming at a fevered pitch, "You little wench! How dare you disobey me?" Mary barely had time to spit out the dirt and try to catch her breath before Anna yanked her back up by the hair. "I swear by the time I'm through with you you'll never be able to sit down again!"