Author's Note: Not really supposed to be working on this while actually working, but what the hay? I think it's turning out decently. Warnings for this chapter: Nudity, mild language, disturbing themes, reference to violence/death
I opened my eyes at long last, screaming as loud as I was able. I was panting, drenched in my own sweat. I took in a long, shaky breath through my mouth, and clutched my body one piece at a time, as though making sure that I was entirely there. I was leaning against a large wooden box, and as I now finally realized, I was completely unclothed. I examined myself uneasily, regarding the scars which tainted my body at nearly every few inches of skin. I shuddered uncontrollably, both from cold and unpleasant memory.
"So, how did you enjoy your little trip to the past?" I jolted my head up, using an arm to cover my breasts, and pulling my legs tight together in an attempt to hide everything below the waist. Pegasus only laughed at me; I could see him clearly now, sitting on another brown box, opposite mine. His quirky smile had returned. My body shook, and he finally gave me another pitying glance.
"That's pretty damn harsh for the first memory you give back," I snarled, sniffling once. I determined I must've started crying mid-vision. Pegasus nodded slowly, stepping down from his perch. He walked over to the cage, and retrieved a small stack of clothing from inside of it. He threw the clothes at me, and I quickly shifted through them using my unoccupied hand. There was a plain, black tank top, a pair of black jeans, and appropriately dark, matching undergarments.
"They're nearly identical to the clothes you were wearing when I decided to retrieve you. I thought you might want something to cover up," he said, a slight hint of question in his tone. He turned his back to me politely, and I hurriedly shifted, pulling the clothing on. I coughed on purpose, giving indication to him that it was alright for him to turn back to me. He did so, and walked over to my side. "I'm sorry, but that seemed an appropriate first memory to provide." I looked at Pegasus with distaste, and I would've probably killed him then and there, save for the fact that I wanted answers. And he held the sole copy of keys to those answers.
"So what happened to them?" I asked, my tone bubbling with rage. Pegasus cast me a curious glance, looking for clarification. "I mean, what happened to those men from my memory? The ones who killed my family, and…and raped me…" My voice became weak, trailed off. He sat down beside me, as if trying to comfort me. His presence only caused a rush of adrenaline to spread through my body, but I once again pushed away the desire to attack him. Instead, I calmly asked, "Were they caught?"
"No, they managed to escape the crime scene, and continued committing acts such as that for the next several years." I quickly became enraged, turning to slam my fists into the wooden crate behind me. Once again, I surprised myself, and Pegasus, with my strength, as both fists penetrated the wood, causing splinters to fly about. I continued until my hands hurt more than my injured shoulder, blood dripping from multiple sites where large pieces of wood had become stuck in my skin. I watched the red fall down to the tips of my fingers, dripping onto the floor like little rubies. The sight of blood fascinated me, but I quickly turned my head back to Pegasus. He grasped one of my hands, and began to remove the lengthier pieces of wood from the skin.
"Were they eventually caught?" I asked, fearing the answer. Pegasus did not look up at me when he gave his response, continuing to remove the splinters from my hands.
"Yes, they were." A particularly long piece was removed, and I squinted in pain at it was. I sighed thankfully, and met Pegasus with the first smile I'd dare show since this whole incident had begun. He cleared his throat before admitting a final detail. "In fact, you killed all three of them, not two days before your thirteenth birthday." A silence fell over us as he continued to pick at my bloodied hands. I listened to the only sounds in the room: a mouse scurrying about, the tiny slivers of wood falling to the concrete floor, the wind whipping against the side of the building. I should've been ashamed of my actions; any normal person would've been ashamed at committing murder, even if it was against someone who'd wronged your family. But I did not feel shame. Instead, I felt joy, seeping through my veins like some sort of disease, relieving the pain more effectively than the painkillers had.
"I killed them?" I mused, wanting to hear him utter the words again. Pegasus met my tempting stare, and cleared his throat.
"Yes. You killed them." The ecstasy of hearing that phrase again ran rampant through my body, making my back arch in pleasure. Pegasus seemed a bit frightened at my reaction, but I could not help it. Those bastards had gotten what they deserved. I swallowed hard, coming down from my high, and met Pegasus' stare.
"How did I kill them, Pegasus?" He nervously answered my desire for the truth.
"You shot them. You blasted them to pieces, as they had done to your brother." I grinned like an idiot. Pegasus frowned in response, lifting a hand, and slapping it across my face. I was shocked, and I rubbed the pain suddenly burning in my cheek. I glared at him, and he stood, leaving my second hand unattended. I began to pick out the chips of wood myself. "You should not be reacting like that so soon," he breathlessly muttered. "It astonishes me that you've returned to that state of mind already. No matter," he said, turning toward me again. He pulled the ebony hair back, revealing the golden eye. "You just need to be a bit more…sympathetic, is all." There was a flash of light, and then the darkness returned. I slumped over, motionless, and unfeeling.