Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue. I do not own, so you cannot sue.
WARNING: THIS ENTIRE CHAPTER IS A FLASHBACK! I didn't see any point in having an entire chapter in italics. Okay so again: FLASHBACK!
"I'm sorry," A sad whisper echoed softly, breaking the eerie silence of the moonlit night. Bathed in the glow of the full moon, a hooded figure crept cautiously through a field of withering buckwheat plants. A gentle rustle came every now and then from an icy winter wind, blowing gently through the stalks. As another gust blew, a shiver ran down the figure's spine. The small figure shifted the battered rucksack on its back and stole a glance back at a large but run-down, white-washed farmhouse. They bit their lip uncertainly. 'Could I really leave? Abandon my home?'
As the dark-clad figure looked back indecisively, a tile slid down from the old roof. Cursing, the figure drew back its hood, revealing two wide, brown eyes fixed on the tile. "No!" The girl mouthed in horror. She shut her eyes tightly and her body became rigid as a loud thump sounded, waking the animals in the adjacent barn. She looked over to the old barn, its hole-ridden roof and chipping red paint. The cows began lowing and soon all the animals were up making loud noise. She willed her body to run, hide – anything, but it refused to budge. She stood there, frozen to the spot like a deer in headlights. Lights came on from the farmhouse and a loud, shrill voice was heard.
"Angela!" It called. Feeling as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped over her head, the girl finally moved, she darted through the deathly crops, her condensed breath forming a dissipating trail behind her. Waist-length rich brown hair held in a high ponytail danced behind and whipped at her back. Thick, brown, leather boots pounded the frozen, unforgiving ground. The girl panted with exertion, but adrenaline pulsed through her, willing her forward to change. She could barely hear the sounds of the front door being blasted open over her rampant heartbeat. She could see the fence. She was so close. Only a few more metres and-
"Angela!Get back here this instant!" She turned her head to look back, silently praying to the Harvest Goddess that they would not come after her. Unfortunately, that single glance back caused her to miss the large rock in front of her. Her left boot rammed into it and she stumbled, falling onto the ground, yelling in reaction. Her ankle twisted and her foot hit the earth at an odd angle. A hiss of pain escaped her lips. Warm, crimson blood oozed slowly from scratches on her knee and hand, but that pain was ignorable. Her foot throbbed in pain and she forced back salty tears welling up in light brown eyes.
"No," She mumbled, clutching her foot tightly. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Anger bubbled up in her, a strange feeling took hold of her chest. "Why couldn't things go right this one time?" Her naturally pale fist thumped the ground and a single tear slid down her cheek. She blinked twice. The anger and bitterness she felt was replaced by despondence.
She could hear the frantic footsteps of her stepmother accompanied by those of her daughters; they were growing louder with each second. "Angela? Come here right now or so help me, I'll-" The rant abruptly stopped when the flustered woman emerged from the unhealthy buckwheat. Her long, beautiful purple hair was wild like her eyes and her cream nightgown fluttered gently in the breeze. She glowered in rage down at Angela with piercing blue eyes.
She terrified her.
Lucinda took in her deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, they held a contained hatred, no longer the burning fury they had been seconds before. "Get up, now." She spat the last word, venom lacing her tone. The brunette bit her lip, looked down at her foot, and looked cautiously up to her stepmother. She yelped in pain as she was forced to stand by a strong hand yanking her hair. She stumbled slightly but stayed upright. Wincing, she limped along after her stepmother who still kept a tight hold on her hair as leverage.
X.X.X.
The brunette remained silent as she was pushed roughly into the kitchen chair. Lucinda stood in front far too close for comfort and her daughters stood back slightly on either side of her. Angela crossed her arms and away from her stepmother's angry sapphire eyes in defiance. Her pale, pink lips formed in a thin line and her chin held high.
"What were you doing out so late, Angela?" The purple-haired woman asked feigning sweetness, even though she already knew the answer.
The young girl ignored her, continuing to glare at nothing. Lucinda's hands formed fists, perfectly manicured nails digging into her palms. She took the girl's chin and forced her to meet her gaze. "I asked you a question. I expect an answer," Her strict tone left no room for argument.
"What do you think I was doing?" The teen spat out, her eyes were narrowed as she looked up to her legal guardian. She relished in the look of shock and indignation on the woman's face.
"I think you were running off. I think you were trying to abandon your responsibilities. I think you were trying to leave us to fend for ourselves and your parent's farm to fall into disrepair. Is that an accurate assumption?" She asked, her tone scathing.
The brunette looked down, a frown marring her features. Guilt began to well up in her chest, making her regret her actions. Her remorse, however, was short-lived and as her stepmother's words sunk in, shame was replaced by anger. "How can you expect me to provide for us?" She yelled, her emotions running rampant. "I'm thirteen for Harvest King's sake! I'm not some slave that you can order around whenever it suits y-"
A hard smacking noise filled the air as she was cut off. Mouth open in shock, she clutched her stinging cheek and looked up. A single tear slid down her now red cheek. The purple-haired woman spoke quietly and slowly, making every syllable crystal clear and her voice was filled with an unspoken threat. "I am your guardian and I decide what is best for you. This farm is best for you. Unless I decide to marry you off, this. Is. Your. Home." She looked away and sighed. Her tone now of forced remorse. "Your parents would turn over in their graves if they knew what you are doing to this farm. What would your father say?"
Without another word, she turned on her heel and left the room with her youngest daughter following her like a shadow. The blue-haired daughter remained for a moment, looking sadly at her stepsister. Sighing, she exited reluctantly, leaving the younger girl sobbing quietly into her arms. She wished she was just brave enough to help.
X.X.X
Angela stood in the bathroom, gazing at herself in the mirror, standing awkwardly from her hurt foot. She was guilt-ridden. The same words kept replaying in her head over and over like a broken record. "What would your father say?" She looked herself with disgust. How could she have done this to her parents' farm? She wasn't taking proper care of it, trying to run away instead of facing her problems head on. What would they think of her, now?
She lifted up the knife she had left lying in the sink. The blade was stainless, sharp and long. She lifted it, firming her resolve.
It was over in one quick, fluid movement.
Long locks of beautiful, brown hair fell to the bathroom floor. She looked at herself again. A small smile tugged at her lips. This was where she would change. She would be different. From now on she would take responsibility. It may not have been her farm, but she would treat it as such. She would make them proud.
X.X.X
"Oh she is going DOWN! Let me at her! Lemme at 'er!" Vivi screamed as she struggled against Gale's iron hold around her arms. "Let me go! When did you get so strong? Let. Me. Go!" She babbled on in blind fury.
"You can't … attack Lucinda," He reasoned.
"Did you see what she did? She slapped Angela!" The grey-haired woman retorted; she was practically foaming at the mouth now.
"We agreed to... only help Angela when she becomes an adult," Gale said calmly.
She turned to him, head whipping round faster than he thought possible. "You're no fun," She stated, childishly. She grabbed her broomstick and zoomed out of the Wizard's home.
"...I can live with that,"
A/N: Well that was a tad on the dark side... Well at least it showed some good ole character development !
Okay so at first this was supposed to be something I did just to help me understand Angela's character more. Then it was supposed to be chapter 7. I actually am having troubling writing the other chapter because it is really just a filler, but don't worry lads. It'll be out soon. Promise!