A/N: So, here it is at long last... part 4! ^_^ Thanks for your review, The Offbeat Alchemist... That scene was probably the hardest for me to write so far! ^^;;; Lol.

So... enjoy part 4 of Abuse, and you know the disclaimer, you know the drill. :D


~~~~~Part Four~~~~~

As usual, Jemima's injuries kept her bedridden for three days. During those days, Ralph always went into a depression, for he wasn't allowed to see his twin at all. When she was finally allowed out of bed, it was always Ralph who welcomed her back with a warm, loving hug. He'd then tell her about yet another mission Burroughs wanted them to do, and this time was no different.

"He wants us to kill ten this time," he told her, sitting on the staircase next to her. "He wouldn't let me do it without you -- I've already asked."

Jemima sighed. Great. Another chance for her to screw up... another chance to be beaten. She swore he did this on purpose...

"We'd better go do it," said Ralph, standing up. "Don't want him to be mad at us!" Jemima stood and followed as he left the manor. If only it was that easy... She sighed again and ran after him.

A couple of hours later, they had killed six people. Well, Ralph had. Jemima had taunted and tortured them while her brother had ended their lives. Now, they were on the hunt for their seventh victim.

"There!" Jemima pointed at a young girl, playing alone on a grassy field. Ralph saw the intended and grinned.

"Her?" he asked. "Are you sure, Jemima?"

"Of course I am," Jemima replied. "Let's make her dance!"

The twins jumped out at the girl, who screamed in fear. "Mommy!" she cried, tears streaming down her face.

"No one here, little girl," Ralph sneered, laughing evilly.

"Dance, little girl, dance with my blades!" Jemima cried, jabbing the girl with her scissor blades and laughing. The crying girl jumped around, trying to dodge Jemima's blades, but in doing so, managed to impale herself on one of Ralph's. The twins laughed with evil insanity as the victim's blood ran down the steel, and Ralph tossed her into the air while Jemima leapt up and carved into the dead girl's flesh. They continued laughing as the mutilated corpse landed on the ground.

"Seven down, three to go!" Ralph declared. "Time to kill and torture another one!"

The next hour passed in similar fashion, with Jemima torturing the victims and Ralph killing them. As they stood over their last victim, which Ralph had enjoyed dismembering, they laughed in triumph. Jemima felt joyous. She always loved to come out with her brother and torture and kill others... It always helped her to forget how Burroughs treated her, even if it was just for a moment.

"That's the last one," said Ralph. "We'd better go back and report!"

Jemima's stomach immediately fluttered in nervousness. She suddenly found herself wishing she could tell her brother about everything that was happening to her, about what Burroughs was doing to her... anything to make him not report about her. Only the thought of her brother being beaten as well kept her mouth shut.

"Come on, Jemima!" Ralph exclaimed, starting to walk away. Jemima shook her head and followed him.

They seemed to reach the manor again in no time, and Jemima was visibly shaking as they passed into the building. The twins suddenly saw the maid standing in front of the study doors, and Ralph cocked his head.

"Grace?" he questioned. "What are you doing there?"

"Lord Burroughs isn't here," the maid replied. "He gave me orders to send you two up to your rooms until he gets back tomorrow." Jemima sighed in relief. She wouldn't be getting beaten tonight! Thank God... She wouldn't have to face his wrath until tomorrow.

"What about dinner?" Ralph asked. Burroughs had always been the one to give them their dinner and sit with them as they ate -- an action that always caused Jemima to become so frightened she could barely force herself to eat. Of course, she had to disguise her fear each time so Lord Burroughs wouldn't rage and so that Ralph wouldn't question her. In truth, Lord Burroughs scared the daylights out of her by merely standing near her.

"I will bring it to you," Grace replied. "Now, go up to your rooms."

The twins nodded and started up the stairs. They walked side by side, and Jemima took deep breaths to attempt to calm her erratic heartbeat. The shock and relief of Burroughs not being home when they arrived was enough to make her head spin.

"Are you all right?" Ralph asked. "You look as if you're going to faint." Jemima looked at him. She wished he'd stop asking her that... She understood his concern, but it was just getting annoying.

"I'm fine," she answered, feeling as if she'd repeated herself numerous times. Ralph nodded, and the two reached the top of the staircase and retreated into their rooms.

Jemima laid on her bed, holding her blades up and watching the light from the lamp reflect off them. Her wounds hurt, but it was just the dull pain she had learned to live with. Was there ever going to be a day where she wasn't in pain? No, there wasn't, she realized... not until Burroughs was out of her life, and that wouldn't be for a long time, if ever. She just had to resign herself to it... She sighed. That was easier said than done.

"Jemima?" came Grace's voice from outside the door. Jemima tossed a blade at the door. It stuck, and the door opened to reveal Grace with a tray of food. The girl sat up as the maid walked in and set the tray on the bed, then yanked the blade out of the door and set it on the table. Jemima looked down at the tray.

In one corner was a bowl of creamy, white soup; in the other was a small plate with buttered bread. The main course, in the middle of the tray, was several slices of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and -- Jemima grimaced -- green beans. Gah. She hated green beans... she hated practically all vegetables. She sampled the soup to discover it was clam chowder. Her stomach growled, pleased, and Jemima began greedily eating the soup.

Grace smiled and left the room, and Ralph came in a moment later.

"You're already finished?" Jemima asked, swallowing and cringing as the hot soup stung her throat. Ralph nodded.

"I eat fast, remember?" he replied, smiling. He then took his hands out from behind his back. "Brought you something!"

Jemima looked up and smiled as she saw two chocolate muffins in his hands. "Where'd you get those?" she asked incredulously.

"Went and stole 'em while Grace was in here," said Ralph. "Better thank me!"

Jemima finished her soup and grabbed one of the muffins with her blades. She instantly devoured it, savoring the delicious sweet taste. Licking the crumbs from her lips, she began eating the chicken and looked up, her mouth full. She saw Ralph smiling at her and knew she must look ridiculous. She swallowed, and she watched Ralph's face fall as his dark eyes traveled down her body and discovered the wound on her stomach.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing at it. Jemima looked down, then looked away.

"Nothing," she replied, concentrating on her food. "Just accidentally cut myself, that's all." She felt her brother's gaze on her as she ate her way through her meal.

"Why do I have a feeling that's not the truth?" he finally asked.

"Well, it is, all right?" Jemima said, her tone defensive. She began eating her bread, leaving her green beans untouched. Ralph sighed and sat on the bed in front of her.

"You never eat your vegetables," he said, a teasing note in his voice. Jemima looked up at him, a piece of bread hanging out of her mouth, pleased that he'd dropped the subject. If she'd let slip, there was no telling how he'd react.

Her twin began eating her green beans, and Jemima finished her bread. Ralph stuffed the muffin in his mouth just as Grace walked in again.

The maid sighed as she looked at Jemima's tray. "Ralph, you ate Jemima's green beans, didn't you?" Ralph nodded, and she continued, "At least one of you likes vegetables." She picked up the tray and said, "It's bathtime tonight. Jemima, you're going first. Bathroom now."

Jemima sighed as Grace left the room. She hated baths, especially when she wasn't allowed to bathe herself. This only occurred when Burroughs was gone, and Grace tended to make the water too hot and would pull her hair as she washed it.

"Have fun," Ralph said, smirking at her. She glared at him. He knew how she felt about baths, and loved to tease her about it.

"Oh, yeah," she said sarcastically. "You bet I will." She rolled her eyes and left the room.

Later, as she stood in the bathroom, Jemima looked at herself in the mirror. She stripped off her clothes and turned around, craning her head over her shoulder to attempt to see the reflection of her back. She grimaced at her appearance.

Her body was covered in scars; her skin marked in numerous places. She touched the healing cut on her shoulder and flinched; even after three days the thing still brought her pain. She sighed, turning back around and taking her hair down from its usual somewhat-complicated hairstyle. Shaking her head so her black hair rippled down to its full length, Jemima looked in the mirror again and studied her eyes. Fear buried itself in their dark blue depths, and the glimmer of hope she'd been looking for was nowhere. She hung her head and sighed.

Look what he's turning me into. Look what I'm becoming.

The rattle of the doorknob suddenly startled her, and Jemima quickly rushed over and jumped into the empty bathtub. Immediately afterward, Grace staggered in, carrying two large buckets of water. Jemima looked and noticed the buckets were steaming as Grace closed the door, and she said, "That water seems hotter than normal, Grace..."

Grace walked back over and picked up one of the buckets. "I'm sorry, Jemima," she said, preparing to tip it over. Jemima's eyes widened as she saw the reason for all the steam. Boiling water...

"Lord Burroughs's orders."

She then poured the entire bucket onto the girl.

Jemima screamed.