Some small tweaks to the previous chapters, I realized I kept switching from past tense to present tense very randomly and it just didn't sound right...
Chapter 4
She never understood the point of the grooming's; making her sit before the mirror and stare at herself as some strange woman with green hair and eyes that are many shades lighter than her own plays with her hair. Pulling it up and twisting it so that it can be pinned and adorned with barrettes to the top of her head. The woman smiles insanely and gently washes the tear stains from Anna's cheeks; as though she is being prepped for a play or dance recital.
As though she should be excited for what is to come.
Automatically Anna blocks out the woman with the acid green hair and stares at her own reflection, trying to recognize the green eyes that stare back at her.
Sometimes, for mere seconds, strange colors will bedazzle her reflection, changing the color of her irises ever so slightly.
A touch of blue here, a flash of hazel there, a fleck of brown, a bit of gray; but the color that brings the tears back silently to ruin her fresh make up is the sparkling ruby red that dances across her irises now, burning like hot embers.
Instantly she squeezes her eyes close; trying so hard to shut out the memories only to have them push back with more force than ever before. They flood the front of her mind, as clear as if they had happened only moments before. She remembers his smile, the feel of his fingertips; the warmth of his breath as he whispers in her ear. Just as suddenly as she remembers these simple things, he stands before her in her mind, a smile on his face.
"Don't worry chere. I'll get us out of here. I'll find an exit and we be able to leave here and never hurt again."
She grits her teeth; not opening her eyes, blocking out the reflection in the mirror.
"I won't leave you here. I promise"
Her shoulders slump and her chin drops to her chest.
He promised her. He wasn't supposed to leave her alone. He was supposed to save her. But that was before he had been taken away from her. That was before...
Before she had killed him.
She takes a deep breath and exhales; willing her tears away.
It won't be long now. She is ready. The strange woman places a warm hand under her chin and directs her to look at herself in the mirror. Always she stares at the sad, sad angel that looks back at her. White and auburn ringlets frame her thin face, smoky eyes that now reflect an icy blue look seemingly dead and lifeless; those same eyes flick to hands that clasp each other tightly in her lap. Gold bracelets adorn her small wrists and suddenly she is wondering; how old is she? How long has she been in this strange place? How many people has she claimed as her own?
The door opens and she stands automatically, the soft hem of the simple, yet beautiful thin white dress brushes against her bare ankles.
Anna smiles at her captor and lifts her chin, exposing the thick metal collar around her delicate neck.
The man grins as he pulls the key from his pocket. He's amused by her forwardness.
"And who do I have the pleasure of talking to today?" he asks as he softly cups her chin in his icy latex covered palm, red eyes glowing as he searches her eyes.
Anna watches from inside her mind as someone else takes over her voice. Someone much stronger than herself, someone who seeks to protect her even after Anna had brought the end to the woman's tortured life.
"Why, Mr. Sinister, please don't tell me that you don't recognize me."
The man raises an eyebrow at the icy tone that leaves her lips.
"My dear Emma, trying to protect our sweet Anna are you?"
"Someone has to."
He smiles and strokes his chin as though in thought, but does not say anything more.
SMACK!
She is suddenly on the cold hard floor, the cheek his hand has struck stinging hotly with pain as tears well up in her eyes. Green eyes. Emma is gone, leaving Anna to stand up to the boogey man all on her own.
"No one can protect her."
He yanks Anna up by the wrist and unlocks the collar, letting it drop to the concrete floor with a loud metal clatter. Her hand reaches up and gingerly touches the chaffed skin underneath.
He tsks.
"We'll have to put some cream on that after you're done." He says to her matter-of-factly as he grabs her by the elbow to lead her out of the room.
There is no more chatter between them, no more concern over superficial aesthetics. The boogey man simply marches her down the dim hallway, the hum of florescent lightening the only sound to be heard.
He stops at a door and pulls out another key. Her chest feels heavy; she can't remember how to breathe as the panic in her heart begins to set in. She doesn't want to see what lies behind that door; doesn't want to claim another person's personality.
She sways and begins to tremble, trying to pull away as the fear grows in her, but the boogey man's grip remains tight around her frail arm. She closes her eyes as tight as she can, trying to close out the world around her. The psyches close in around her, she feels herself drowning within them. Who is she? Where is she? Why is she here?
Anna.
Her eyes snap open, is that her name?
Anna.
Yes, that is her name. She is Anna.
Don't be afraid, Anna. We will find you. We will save you.
The door opens, a dark skinned girl younger than her sits in a metal chair, her hands are strapped to the arms, her mouth is gagged and her brown eyes are shining with tears and outright terror.
Anna's eyes widen and dart about the room frantically as it begins to shimmer slightly in a strange glow.
WHAM!
The girl's head snaps to the left, eyes squeezed tight in pain, a red mark settling on her right cheek.
The boogey man grabs the girl's chin and shakes his bony white finger in her face.
"Bad Dani. Very bad girl. You know better than to use your powers here."
He leans back and spreads his arm out to Anna, flashing his razor teeth.
"You don't want to scare away your beautiful angel now do you?"
Anna tenses. She hates how much he enjoys this; how he smiles and revels in their pain and misery and parades her as some savior to his victims, knowing full well that she is the end the of them.
How long has the other girl been here? Been strapped to that chair? How much blood has the boogey man taken? How many incisions has he made? If Anna focuses, she can see the thin white lines on the girl's arms.
Dani's head slumps forward; the last hit was the one to break her. Anna can see the submission in her eyes. She looks up, stares at Anna, transfixed; perhaps believing that she is a real angel. The girl's last hope of escape.
Dani's eyes meet Anna's and they beg her to end it.
Make the hurt stop. Make the pain go away.
Anna breaks away from Dani's stare and looks to the boogey man with wide eyes, waiting for him to pull out the syringe with the sedative. The sedative that will relax the girl, make it less painful for her and easier for Anna.
The boogey man smiles.
"Not this time Anna."
Oh god. Oh no. No. Nononono.
Anna takes a step back. Then another. And another. Until she hits the solid metal door and gasps.
He wants to see what will happen if her victim is sober; aware of everything that is happening to her.
Not again. Never again.
But, of course, she can't stop it from happening. Can't control her powers.
The boogey man grabs her wrist and pulls her forward; makes her stand before the girl strapped helplessly to the cold metal chair in the middle of the room. He leans over her and gently pulls the gag from Dani's mouth.
The girls stare at each other in stunned silence. Then Dani opens her mouth to say something.
The boogey man presses Anna's hands over the girl's balled fists before any sound can leave her lips and both girls gasp.
Her name is Dani. Danielle Moonstar. She is Cheyenne. She is a mutant. And at this moment she wants nothing more than to make the pain stop.
She wants to die. She wants the torment to end.
It hurts and Anna wants to let go; the pain is almost unbearable, but even through all the pain Dani is confused and tries to fight. The transfer is not going fast enough; not for him. Not for the Boogey Man.
He pushes her head forward suddenly, forcing her lips to meet Dani's in one final deadly kiss.
Anna, hold on, we will find you. I promise, we will not leave you.
Then the room goes white.
xXx