CHAPTER 16- Realizations

            The following morning I awoke, as Mr. Fredrick made his way out of the house. I sat up and looked at him. He turned and looked at me. His gaze however… chilled me to the bone. Something was wrong bout his look. It was a cold, hating look; but also, a smug look, a look of almost satisfaction. I watched him as he turned and walked out. I sat silently for a short time, and then made my way upstairs. As I reached the top of the stairs, Ember had just awoken, and was walking out from her room. She looked at me and gasped.

            "Ecco! I… morning…Ecco…" she said quietly. She kept her gaze low, and this troubled me.

"Ember? Are you well? Did you sleep alright?" I asked her quietly. She refused to look me in the eyes as she nodded quietly.

"Yeah Ecco… I'm… I'm fine…" she replied as she quickly walked past me, and went into the bathroom. I watched the door silently. The feeling from the night before welled up inside of me once again. My forehead suddenly began to feel warm. I touched it, and the stars upon my brow felt unusually hot.

What by the almighty is going on around here? I returned downstairs and waited for Ember. After a long wait, she finally walked downstairs into the living room. I looked at her curiously.

"Ember?" I asked softly.

"… Yeah Ecco?" she replied quietly.

"Those clothes you wear, they differ greatly today. Why do you wear clothes that cover your hands and arms?" this puzzled me, for normally, she preferred clothes that stopped at her shoulders, or shortly after. She looked at me, and hesitated before speaking.

"It's… cold Ecco. I just wanted a sweater." She looked away from me. I could tell instantly something was greatly troubling her.

"Ember, you are lying to me. Please do not lie to me, tell me what bothers you." I said softly, rising to my feet to walk over to her. She backed away from me. "Ember..?"

"Ecco I'm fine! Please leave me alone!" she said quickly and pulled away. Her actions sent a chill down my spine.

"Ember you are not alright! Please, I can see it in your actions! What has happened? What have I done?!" I reached my hand out to her and she backed away.

"Ecco it's nothing! Please leave me alone!" she cried out.

"Ember please, I beg of you… tell me…" I rested my hand on her shoulder. She suddenly cried out, and pulled away. I jerked my hand back in surprise. "Ember?! What have I done?" I looked at her, and then it suddenly struck me. "Ember… that is the same shoulder I touched the night before. It pains you, please tell me why." She looked at me, her blue eyes showing fear.

"It… wasn't you! I slipped and fell s'all!" She winced, and I walked up to her and knelt before her. She looked at me, now shivering.

"Ember…" I slowly and gently slid the sleeve of the shirt upward, revealing her arm. I jerked back in shock as I saw five large marks upon her shoulder. "Your arm! What has happened!?"

"Nothing Ecco… I slipped and fell, I slipped and fell!" Tears began to fall down her eyes. I looked at her pains face, and looked at the marks. What could have caused… oh… by the almighty… I gasped faintly as I held my hand over the marks. My fingers aligned almost perfectly with the marks, save for they were slightly spread apart farther then my own hands. Ember shivered as more tears fell from her blue eyes as I gently took the other arm and slid up the sleeve, revealing identical marks upon her other arm as well. What… could have…no…the realization suddenly hit me like a sharks tail slapping upon my face. My expression darkened and I became overcome with rage. I focused on the marks and hissed in a low voice.

"What has he done to you…"