Ophidiophobia
Second chapter. WARNING: SWEARING, DARK CONTENT, MATURE SEXUAL THEMES. –basically it's not light reading and Gin is a twisted bastard.
Winter had given way to spring and Rukia enjoyed the change in the weather, the warmth had persuaded flowers to bloom in the small Zen gardens dotted all over Seireitei. Rukia stood in one of these green parks on her lunch break, she didn't have anyone to chat or eat with at the squad and Rukia couldn't face going "home" until she got at least ten hours break. The air was slightly sweetened from recent rain
The small girl was watching the butterflies flitter peacefully from blossom to blooming flower. To her the gaily painted wings were like falling petals in the breeze, tremulous, transient and fragile. They were as beautiful as painted silk and as delicate as rice paper.
Rukia's big violet eyes follow a small white butterfly as it darts in and out of flowers, cartwheeling through the air and soaring over plains of grass. Nostalgia washes over her like a tub of warm water. She used to watch similar spectacles in Rukongai and always admired their freedom. The magnificent wings carry the bug over to the railings of a porch. A foreboding shadow looms over her and the suns warmth and light is lost behind clouds and a slender towering body.
"Ain't they pretty?" A slick voice drawls from behind her and fears jolts through Rukia. Whirling around the noble girl is confronted with the man who she fears even more then her emotionless brother. His mouth stretches into that of a snake and his silted eyes seem to pin her soul down. He smells of blood.
She can't move when Gin takes hold of her robes by the collar and draws her closer as. She takes panicked little steps backwards as he arches over her.
A butterfly floats past, blissfully unaware of vileness, and Gin's hand strikes out fast as a snake and snags it from the air. It flaps desperately between his thumb and pointer finger, a creature of beating wings and hopeless pleas.
"Come with me Rukia-chan." he commands. Gin releases he robes and walks away from her but she stands still. "I ain't goin' ta ask you twice." His voice carried woven threat and authority of a Captain. Rukia obeys.
He leads her to a plum blossom tree which is yet to flower, buds remain twisted closed. Rukia cannot understand the intent behind these actions until Gin stops her at a low hanging bough that bears a jagged, terrible, wiry spider's web. There is a dark little knot in the wood just below the death trap and Rukia knows that that is where the arachnid dwells. Gin raises the butterfly before her frightened eyes and Rukia watches as it pleads silently, helplessly.
Run, leave, get away.
"Please I have other meetings to attend."
"No Rukia-chan I feel ya should be given a lil' bit of a lesson about the world, jus'ta hep you along."
Gin leans forward so he presses against her back to place the butterfly into the lethal snare with the upmost gentleness. Sickening. It contorts and flaps but only tangles itself further into the threads; Rukia bites back tears when she sees its writhing has triggered movement in the dark cavern the spider inhabits. One, then another, black limb emerges, covered with barbs- as if the poison and fangs are not enough.
It jitters across the sliver stands and stops. Rukia reaches out to try, help, protect.
"I wouldn't or it'll be yer dainty lil's fingers next." His voice is dripping vile venom. With a brutal pounce the sharp angled body hooks onto the white soft creature and paper-thin flesh is pierced.
"Can ya see the way it dies Rukia-chan? How it writhes in torture from the poison." He takes her chin into his large clammy hands and forces her closer.
Slowly moment becomes occasional and weak. Gin jerks her face around when she tries to turn her head away. Tears dribble down her cheeks and over his fingers.
"Please?" she begs, voice tormented and whimpering "please don't make me watch..."
"But it's nature Rukia-chan. The natural order o' things. Some people are predators an' some-" his long fingers clamp down on her jaw causing pain to grind along the bone.-"Are prey."
He releases her to reach out and heedless of the spider pluck the twitching insect from its bondage. He brings it close for her to see then releases one of her hands so he can force the other out in front of her. Too scared and horrified to move Rukia can only watch with wide-eyed terror as he slowly and sickeningly takes both wings and tug them apart. One white glazed petal tears and the other comes away from the tiny twig like body completely. Rukia chokes on a sob; Horrified into absolute submission. Gin then gently takes her hand and places the ruined scraps of butterfly into her palm where it sits mutilated and limp. Rukia hopes for mercy's sake that it has died. Gin then curls his fingers around her hand and forces her hand into a fist. Rukia feels something deep inside her soul turn cold as the remains of the butterfly are a pulverised dampness in her tiny hands. Gin drops her hand and she doesn't open it. He is still smiling and gently careless her face with his murderous hands.
Crouching down and leaning in close he hisses against her mouth. "I could rip ya, Rukia-chan, in half just like that little unfortunate creature. I would hold yer lil' life in my hands and crush ya because yer prey."
The young girl shivers uncontrollably, willing to do anything to escape this monster. Please, please! Someone help! And then he pulls back and stands to his full height, blocking out the sky.
"I'll be goin' now but don't be forgettin' what I've taught ya!"
Rukia trembling with crushing terror, opens her palm, and cries.
-X-X-X-
To be continued...