Hello readers and welcome back to chapter 8 I hope you enjoy it thank you for reading. Warning this chapter will be the darkest one written yet but fear not there is light at the end of this tunnel.

Chapter 8 Scars

Later that evening

Salem was in her bed sleeping, when she heard someone sneak out of the room, salem opened her eyes to have a look and noticed cinder's bed was empty, curious by this she slipped out of her bed and went to check on her. Salem exited the room and started wandering the hall eventually coming to a familiar balcony, this time however this time it was cinder who was standing by it. As salem approached she could hear the faint whimpers of a crying coming from cinder "cinder?" salem said quietly; cinder quickly spun around surprised by the sudden voice but almost instantly relaxed when she seen salem "oh hey salem" she sniffed as she spoke.

Salem had a concerned look "are you alright cin?" she reached out touched her arm, cinder tried to put on a smile "yeah I'm fine salem" salem gripped tighter "you're not fine, I heard you crying, i'll ask again, what. Is. Wrong?." Cinder could barely contain her emotions she tried once more to persuade salem "really salem I said I'm f…" cinder was interrupted by salem taking cinder's head and laying it on her chest as while stroking her hair, salem didn't say a word, she didn't have too, for that was the last barrier cinder had.

Cinder started wailing into salem's chest, salem said nothing, only continued stroking her hair letting cinder have her moment. After a solid minute of crying salem pulled her away wiping a tear from cinder's face "better now" cinder sniffed "yeah thanks" salem gave cinder a small smile "so you ready to talk now, I have a feeling it's about earlier" cinder was stunned "yeah it is".

Earlier that day

"miltia malachite and cinder fall to the middle please" professor Goodwitch announced, salem tapped cinder on the shoulder "you've got this" cinder nodded with a smile and headed to the arena. Once their cinder sized up the other girl, she had her red and black dress that went to her knees with black shin high combat boots, her weapons were claws with no apparent ranged weapon.

Cinder smiled at the girl "lets have a great match" miltia scoffed "whatever" they both stood at there respective places awaiting the countdown. Once the match started miltia charged cinder first with a series of quick slashes with her claws, cinder was able to dodge enough of the attacks for an opening she jumped back trailing her whip they played this back and fourth until cinder yanked her whip, wrapping it around miltia's leg tripping her up, she hit the ground hard.

With miltia in cinder's control she started to spin dragging miltia along, cinder spun faster and faster causing miltia to lift like a centrifuge and with a twist of the wrist she let go of miltia's leg sending her careering into a wall. There was a series of 'oohs' from the crowd. Miltia picked herself up "tch, not bad girl" cinder started spinning the whip above her head making a satisfying sound.

Miltia was unimpressed by this performance suddenly she jumped up and just before she would have descended a burst of wind blew from her feet blasting her higher effectively double jumping, while in the air she tilted her body, so her head was pointing at cinder, cinder observed ready for an attack. Miltia used another burst of wind at her feet firing herself like a torpedo at cinder with her claw pointed at her, cinder saw the attack and sidestepped it but not before the claw tore the sleeve of her blazer.

Before the sleeve could fall off, she clutched her arm and fell to her knees shouting, "I surrender!".

Everyone was stunned by cinder's surrender even the professor had to take a second "why are you withdrawing miss fall, cinder stood up clutching her torn sleeve "I'm sorry" then proceeded to bolt out the door, fast as she could.

Present time

Cinder pulled back her sleeve to reveal a scar that ran all around her wrist like a bracelet, salem let out a faint gasp as she looked at it, but then something unexpected happened, salem began tracing the scar with her finger, cinder went bright red "s-salem what are you doing" salem broke from her apparent trance "oh eh nothing, it's just it's a beautiful scar" cinder didn't know how to respond to that "what do you mean its beautiful, its hideous plus its…" she paused, salem looked up "its what?" cinder looked at salem nervously "can you keep a secret" salem stopped tracing and held her hand "you can tell me anything cin" cinder nodded "ok then follow me" and with that she pulled salem into the nearest bathroom.

It was a reasonably large communal bathroom with constant hot water flowing into the bath with plenty ventilation to filter out the steam, so everyone could see clearly. Salem went red when they entered, she couldn't help think dirty thoughts, but it only got worse when cinder spoke "salem would you sit on the bench" cinder pointed to a nearby bench, she only nodded, face crimson, she sat down on the bench looking at cinder.

Cinder walked towards salem but stopped about five feet away "you have to promise you won't tell anyone about this" salem started furiously nodding cinder sighed "I'm serious salem say it" salem stopped and looked into cinder's eyes "I promise" cinder smiled weakly "good". Cinder started slowly unbuttoning her blazer, first the cufflinks, then down the middle, taking it off to reveal a white long-sleeved shirt. She started unbuttoning the shirt when salem clamped her eyes shut unable to stop her mind from undressing cinder herself, in truth this helped cinder undress faster a couple of moments passed then cinder spoke "o-ok o-open your eyes salem please" salem slowly opened her eyes and her face went from red to white.

She couldn't process what she was seeing, first off cinder was in her underwear and bra, second.

Cinder was covered in scars.

They were everywhere, white lines randomly covered her body, her legs, her hips, her stomach, her arms and feet, salem imagined more hid behind her lingerie, her ankles had bad abrasions like someone had clamped her ankles with something. Salem gasped and began tearing up "what happened to you… if you don't mind me asking" cinder looked at her and gave the saddest smile salem had ever seen "I was tortured" salem's eyes went wide with anger "who would do this to someone" salem's knuckles were white, cinder kept her sad smile "I will tell you…" she paused "a monster".

Three years ago

Cinder was at her home in Vacuo with her parents telling them how her studies were going, her words were filled with joy "so the professors told me if I keep going like I am I'll be accepted into beacon in no time" both parents smiled with pride, her father put one hand on her shoulder "that's great to hear, we are so proud of you cinder" he then rubbed her hair and everyone laughed.

Suddenly there was a commotion outside, followed by shouting and screaming, the father looked concerned and went to check. He opened the door just as a man ran past, he grabbed his shoulder "what's wrong" the terrified man turned to the father "its that polar demon! she's here" the father's eyes went wide with shock turned to his family "we're leaving now!".

"what's wrong dad" her dad turned to cinder "a very bad person is here and we need to get out" just then a voice came from behind him "well that's no way to talk to someone who's right here" he turned around to see a tall red headed woman with a pony tail, she wore white body armour that was now stained with blood, a black skirt that went to the top of her knees and an open black trench coat with a fur collar, she didn't seem to be carrying any weapons.

She moved into the house the father backing away as she approached suddenly cinder stood in front of her dad with her arms stretched out "leave us alone you bad lady!". The woman raised an eyebrow then laughed "hahaha to think that a child has more backbone than the you" just then cinders' mother and father rushed forward grabbed cinder and hunkered down the father snapped his eyes to the woman "please leave us alone"

The redhead started laughing hysterically "I'm not going to do anything" she paused, looked at the girl with a malicious grin "she is" cinder flinched when she spoke, the woman pointed her finger at cinder and the metal buttons on her blouse pulled her towards the redhead, the father tried to grab cinder but the polarity was too strong and she was ripped from his arms and stopped just in front of the woman.

The woman crouched down to the girl "so what's your name girl" cinder was terrified at this moment the only she could think of was replying "c-cinder" the woman let out a happy gasp "that's a really nice name, my name is Pyrrha lets be friends shall we" cinder was terrified but nodded Pyrrha smiled "great, now as my new friend I want to ask you a question" she looked at the parents "you two come here and get on your knees" the parents didn't argue but pleaded as they knelt down "please don't hurt her".

Pyrrha ignored them and turned back to cinder "so which one?" cinder looked confused at Pyrrha "I don't understand" Pyrrha grew a massive grin and whispered in cinder's ear "which of your parents should I kill" cinder's eyes went wide, she fell to her knees stuttering "I… I… c…" Pyrrha tilted her head raising her voice "hmm I can't hear you, I'll ask once more which parent should I kill I'll give you thirty seconds or I kill them both" the parents heard this and recoiled in horror, the father spoke up "pick me sweetheart, you two get to safety" Pyrrha grinned "ah a volunteer but unfortunately its not up to you, is it" she looked at cinder "well, times a wastin'" Pyrrha lifted a knife with her polarity and slowly started spinning in one second revolutions.

Each spin of the knife was driving cinder crazy, how was she supposed to choose, between the two people she loved more than anything because if she chooses one she might as well be the one who kills them, she looked at her parents were shouting and arguing about which one she should choose, Pyrrha just kept grinning as she spun the knife, cinders mind was a mess "choose mam, choose dad, choose mam, choose dad, mam, dad, mam!, dad!..." Pyrrha spoke breaking cinder from her thoughts "times up"

Cinder gasped as she looked at her parents both smiled at her and spoke in unison "we lo…" was all they could say before the knife slashed both of there throats almost at the same time and dropped to the floor. Cinder screamed at the top of her lungs, tears blinding her as she cried, Pyrrha was laughing hysterically, she loved the sound of blood gurgling in a dying persons throat. She stopped laughing and turned to leave "well this was fun kid; I'd say let's do this again buuut…" she just snickered as she walked out "wait!" cinder screamed at Pyrrha as she charged her with the same knife Pyrrha just used to slaughter her parents.

Pyrrha just laughed as the knife bounced off her body armour "wow you aren't broken yet, hmm I wonder how much it would take to break you" cinder flinched as Pyrrha turned around picked up a piece of pipe and struck cinder in the temple knocking her out, she laughed as she picked her up "this is going to be fun"

Sometime later

Cinder awoke in a dark room, she couldn't see, panic immediately set in, she tried to walk but her ankles were apparently shackled as it made a 'chink' sound when she moved, she started crying the loss of her parents topped with sensory deprivation was too much for her to handle. Suddenly the sound of an iron door creaked open, followed by footsteps and a gasp "ah your awake good" the familiar woman's voice echoed around the room cinder shouted, "where am I!" this was met with laughter "why your in my home" she finished as she turned on a light, blinding cinder, she winced in pain as her retinas were assaulted by light.

After a solid minute cinder's eye began to adjust her eyes went wide when she was in a ten by ten square iron room with a single table next to the door with various objects laid out on it, knives mostly and a metal whip.

Several months later

Cinder was in her room like she always was running her fingers over her newest scar, the pain was the only stimulant she had. For months now Pyrrha would come in the room for a couple of hours and whip her for fun, knives were only used when cinder did something Pyrrha didn't like, despite being a complete psychopath she was surprisingly elegant wit her cuts, always making sure she didn't cut a vain.

The first hew weeks were hell for cinder, the pain was almost unbearable, and it would get worse if she pleaded. But now she was starting to look forward to it, it was the only time of the day she could feel something, anything to relieve her maddening boredom but even the pain was starting to get old. just like clockwork the iron door would grind open with Pyrrha entering the room with her usual smile, cinder would instinctively move forward until she was at the chains length and eagerly awaited her mistress "good morning cinder, how are we today" cinder creepily smiled at Pyrrha "I'm great mistress, are you here to punish me again"

Pyrrha laughed but shook her head "no not this time" cinder let out a disappointed sigh "what why not" she tried to pull herself closer, but the chain wouldn't budge, her ankles began to bleed "please mistress! Punish me!" Pyrrha started laughing hysterically "what kind of punishment would it be if I gave you what you wanted child" cinder dropped to her knees, head down, she then spoke in a soft creepy tone "so you won't punish me?" Pyrrha nodded "that's correct" cinder snapped her head towards Pyrrha, tilted her head, eyes wide with insanity "then I shall punish you"

Without thinking cinder's feet ignited, the heat was so strong it melted the iron bracelets, Pyrrha was startled by this and took a step back but she was way too slow, cinder jumped at Pyrrha, wrapping her legs around her waist, causing them both to fall on the floor with cinder on top. Pyrrha tried to struggle but it was no good, cinder had planted her knees into her shoulders making them inoperable. Cinder let out a crazy laugh "hahahahaha! its my turn to punish" for the first time in Pyrrha's life she was scared.

Cinder took her hand and placed it on Pyrrha's face, covering her eye she tried to plead "please let me go cinder", cinder just shook her head, suddenly Pyrrha felt her face getting warmer where cinders hand was, it then dawned on her and she started screaming "no!, no!, no!, no!..." cinder paused then smirked her hand caught fire and she started burning Pyrrha's face, she let out a blood-curdling scream for a good minute before passing out from the pain.

Cinder looked at the half-charred face, the eye was completely destroyed but she was still alive. Cinder just watched her for a good minute before standing up, picking up her favourite toy (the whip) and walked to the door before she left, she turned to the unconscious pyrrha "play times' over" and walked out.

End of flashback

Cinder was pacing while she was telling salem the story, once she had finished, she stopped in front of salem letting what she had just said sink in. Salem was just absorbing the information not quite sure who to react she gave cinder a look that begged more questions. Cinder sighed "after I escaped I eventually found myself back to my town, I was long presumed dead at this point though, but the academy I was studying at heard what happened and they took me in, and for the last two and a half years I've done nothing but train my body and mind though as I redeveloped my personality I started to fear my scars or rather feared what people would say if they saw them, which has now turned psychological to the point I can't even show my arms to people with the exception of you, who has now seen the whole picture"

Salem's eyes went wide with this revelation she looked up at cinder "148" cinder was confused by salem's response "148 what?" salem elaborated "148 that's how many scars you have" cinder froze she couldn't believe salem counted her scars she took a moment to compose myself "so addressing your first comment, you see my scars aren't beautiful they are hideous"

salem shook her head "you are wrong" cinder looked at salem confused "huh" salem stood up from the bench, looking straight into cinder's she eyes, she continued "you see I do find your scars beautiful, don't get me wrong I'm not saying the cause or the application of the scars are beautiful, what I find beautiful is the story your scars tell, 148 scars tell me 148 stories of how you survived, through every pain, every new scar you received you lived so what I find beautiful about your scars is through all the pain you suffered… you lived to tell me"

before cinder could react salem leaned in and planted her lips onto cinder's embracing her in a kiss. Cinder was taken completely by surprise as salem kiss her, but she found herself reciprocating. It didn't take long before both were passionately kissing one another, salem's tongue started moving as if it had a mind of its own but paused just outside cinders mouth as if asking permission, with a soft moan from cinder it was granted. Salem's tongue danced around the inside of cinders mouth before finding cinders tongue and devouring it.

Insert love scene

The two girls were both in the bath relaxing despite it being stupid o'clock at night, cinder had her head on Salem's shoulder while salem stroked her hair they both stayed like that for a little while, cinder turned her head to look up at salem "did you really mean it when you said about my scars" salem lightly chuckled "I really did, but that's not all" salem sighed "cinder I must confess that I like you a lot even the very first day I saw your beautiful amber eyes it made my heart flutter" cinder sat herself up and stroked salem's face "not as much as I fell for your pair of sapphires, the day you quite literally fell for me and our eyes first met, it was the most human I had felt since my abduction" Salem cuddled into cinder "you know me too" cinder was confused "what do you mean?" Salem's tone dropped then sighed "it's only fair I told you, since you told me your story".

Salem began telling cinder about the night salem's parents were abducted and she went into great detail, a solid thirty minutes later salem finished by telling cinder what happened in the forest two days ago. Cinder was shocked to hear this and surprisingly was crying for salem "oh my Oum that's awful, so what will you do now" Salem sighed "get stronger I guess until the day I confront silver eyes" she then let out a happy sigh though "in a strange way I'm glad how this turned out" cinder let out a sigh of confusion "huh" salem chuckled "what I mean is if nothing had happened I would never of met you and in turn never had the best experience of my life, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you for existing"

Cinder's eyes welled up in happiness as she pulled salem in for a tight hug "thank you for making me feel human".

The two embraced in another kiss before leaving the bath, they got their clothes and headed for bed hand in hand.

That's the end of chapter 8 I hope you liked it.