One Person Can Make A Difference

This is where it all started for me. My first story. Although I could never think of a better title and I still can't now 5 years on. I dreamt of a young girl being kept in a abondoned building in the middle of nowhere, being thrown around like a rag doll and being treated badly by people who don't really care for her. But one day she manages to stand up for herself and breaks out of the place and gets a happy life. 


I used to dream this happening for a while and thought it was a sign to write a story about it. It took a long time to develop the characters and the place. I made them on the sims which made it easier to write about. I do that with most of the stories that I do, which don't involve mythological creatures of course. I finally finished this just last year. One of my finished projects.  Maybe I cant write a script for it, I think I would like that.


http://www.protagonize.com/story/one-person-can-make-a-difference 

Prologue 

World peace, something that nearly every human being wants. People to care, and treat others with the same respect. It does not matter who you are or where you are from, everyone should be treated equally. If you have a dream or something you really want, go for it, it may change your life forever. As you read this, imagine that YOU are this character.

Why do we have to live in a world full of hatred? Where there are so many selfish, self-centred and self-absorbed people?  Some people go to drastic measures just to get what they want. Being held at gun point, strangled and having a knife held to your throat. What has this world come to? And why is it that some people have to judge you before they even know you? Is it because they were a victim once in their life?
 

All I ever wanted was a life. To be someone, to be loved and to be respected. But I had nothing. Well... I was clothed and sheltered, I respected that. But they never fed me, I had to sneak out to actually get some food, then I would get caught, and would then be punished. I had to live with it. No one really cared for me. I had to live with it. But one day I stood up for myself, for everyone. I thought I would regret it, but I didn’t. It made me someone, people loved me and people respected me.
 

But hey, people say the truth really does hurt when it comes out.

Chapter 1: Torture and Pain Awaits

Here in my large, dull and lifeless room I sit on my bed with my head in my hands. The heat in here is absolutely unbearable. It feels like someone has put me in an oven and left me here to die. Hours and hours I have been sitting here in this scorching heat suffering and choking. In a quick progression for some cold air, I throw my black baggy t-shirt off. There is no difference. It is still blistering hot. I let myself fall back on my bed. Now, I find myself staring at the ceiling, which seems millions of miles away. I now turn to my mood necklace for something interesting to look at. Years and years I have had this on, it is impossible to take off. Yes it seems weird, but all have tried, all have failed and all have given up. Right now I am blue, I am relaxed, for now that is.

I hear footsteps approaching, and I sit up in alarm almost panicking. I then grab my t-shirt and put it back on. Sitting up against the wall with my knees up to my chest and my arms around them, the feeling of insignificance and fear surrounds me. The door blasts open and a slight breeze enters the room. At the door stands Kay, her long brunette curly hair lies on her shoulder. She is wearing a 3 quarter black top and black jeans.

“Good morning,” she says in a cheerful tone with a smirk on her face. I have now entered hell. 

           Chapter 2: Hell Right Outside My Door 

Staring at the floor, I keep my mind off Kay. Trying to think away from bad thoughts and the fact that Kay is standing in the doorway I close my eyes. I feel her presence coming closer to me, the smell of perfume fills the air around me. She is now hovering over me. I open my eyes, and look up. She is standing there looking rather unimpressed. 

“I suggest you put this on – “she says throwing my overall in my face “Before I put it on you myself and drag you out” I obey her rules quickly. “Move” she prods me in the back. All happy feelings and emotions now drain out of me. I now feel nothing; there is just a large empty space in my body, which feels absolutely nothing. As I walk out of the room a crowd gathers below me. The mentors are gathering below me. It’s like they are coming to see Kay hang me.

The smirks on their faces, the way they are looking at me and the fact they are whispering and laughing makes me quiver with fear. I feel Kay put a hand on my shoulder. She might as well just hang me, just so I wouldn’t see them taunt and mock me. Someone steps forward making themselves visible, and put a foot on the stairs below me. It is Emma, the head, she runs this place. She is wearing a red t – shirt and denim jeans. She flicks her long blonde hair back to reveal her dark highlights. She makes sure that people are doing what they are told, when they are told. And if not, they make a walk of shame to the slammer room.

“Well well well,” she announces. “Look who has shown themselves this morning” I stare at the wall in front of me, trying to forget about the crowd below me. She now starts to make her way up the stairs. I feel myself moving back automatically, and Kay’s grip becoming tighter. Taking a deep breath in, I prepare myself for what is to come.

“So what are we today then?” she asks taking a hold of my mood necklace. Avoiding all eye contact I continue to stare at the wall ahead. “Ooh blue, relaxed are you, don’t think you will be for long Sara” Sara is my name, said Sarah, simple, short and I like it. Emma leads me down the metal, rickety steps. All eyes are watching every step, every move that I make. A gap forms to the right of the group. She is taking me down the mentor corridor, to her office, something bad is going to happen and I know it.

As I walk down the long, never-ending corridor, I turn to see Danielle following us. She is wearing a black-strap top with light jeans; she flicks her long blonde hair back to reveal her devilish smile. A cold chill shivers down my spine. We then turn left down the next corridor. It is like I am walking towards my death, Emma leading and Danielle making sure I don’t turn back and run. 

We now turn right, the last corridor of the building.  I can see the door, the door that leads to freedom, joy and life. It is only and Emma and Danielle that are in my way of leaving. I daren’t knock Emma aside, because I know what she can do to me. Halfway down she stops outside a door, her office.

“In,” she orders opening the door. I go in, and her desk is towards the back of the room. It is neatly organised with papers and utensils, behind the desk is a big, black swivelling chair. In front of the desk is a wooden chair, a chair of which I am extremely familiar with.

“Sit,” Emma orders me. I sit down on the wooden hard and uncomfortable chair. I sit slouched making myself look comfortable and relaxed, but deep inside my heart trembles with fear and dread. I clench my fists in my pockets which are gripping all my emotions and feelings right now.

“Now Sara, I think – no I don’t think – I know you have Danielle’s phone so please hand it over before so I don’t hurt you,” she says holding her hand out. I just look at her hand as if it is a rabbit sitting, staring at me wanting something. Rubbing my lips together I look at the ceiling. Ah, the good times with Danielle’s phone, listening to ringtones, playing games, going on the internet, deleting contacts... and then the battery died.

“Sara,” Danielle yells walking over to me. She grabs me, and throws me over to a wall. “I know you’ve got it,” she unzips my overall and puts her hands in my shorts pockets. Then, coincidentally pulls out her phone. “See, see” she waves it around. “Why won’t it turn on?”

“Battery died,” I say in a low tone.

“You really infuriate me you know” she tugs at me which makes me fall over.

“Oh dear” she now hovers over me, like a vulture waiting to pick my bones.

“I could seriously stamp you to death right now” she doesn’t particularly look impressed.

“Go for it” I look at her, and she stares back, ready to attack me. Screaming and cursing, she knees me in the face and leaves. Blood drips from my nose and I don’t seem to particularly care.

“Oh dear me, Danielle’s not very happy, now I suggest you leave before I cause any damage to that – pretty little face of yours,” Emma says sarcastically smiling.

I open the door and look to the right at the door. Freedom, joy and life are about 100 metres in front of me.

“Hoi,” someone says from behind me. I quickly swivel round to see Amy. Her long black hair lies on her left shoulder; she is wearing a navy strap top with dark jeans. “Come on” she grabs my arm and drags me with her. As I am being dragged away I watch the door fade away in the light, and I merge into a dark and dreary world of misery and torture. She then stops; I then turn around slowly to see the crowd of mentors still standing there. 

Chapter 3: Mentors Take Over 

All eyes are now watching me. Oh how I wish the floor would just eat me right now. I feel small, vulnerable and weak as they sneer and insult me. Avoiding all eye contact I walk through the gap and quickly run up the stairs. Slamming the door I march over to my bed at the back left of the room. I fall onto my bed digging my face into the pillow. This is now the part where I cry my eyes out. Trying to forget that I am in this place I close my eyes as tight as I can. All I get is bad memories in my head of being hit and cut off from the rest of the world. Under my pillow I feel something small, with a wire. I pull it out to reveal my IPod.

This is the only friend I have in the world. I can relate to it, songs about life, happiness and freedom. Putting the headphones in, I turn it on and then shuffle songs on. The first song that comes on is, if everyone cared, by Nickelback. What a great song, I make myself comfortable by lying back and put my arms behind my head glaring at the ceiling. I close my eyes and see myself going into another world.

In the sky I stretch my arms out and do a flip in the sky. Smiling, laughing and rocketing about I look below to see Emma and all the mentors below me. I see this for a good time to mock them. Flying low and dangerous I go near them. The song gotta be somebody by Nickelback surrounds us. I sing along throwing threatening movements towards them below me. I feel more powerful, dominant and superior to all of them!

Their arms jump into the air in a desperate attempt to catch me. None of them are close; I take twigs off trees nearby and throw them down at them. They try to dodge them, but fail miserably as I laugh aloud. Oh the fun I am having now is immense! Above everything I hear something, in quick movements I look in all directions to see what it is. In frustration I grab my head and the noise is coming closer. Part of the music is now cut off, “Sara”

I automatically sit up. I turn right to see Kay and jump due to shock.

“What’s the matter with you?” she asks in a moody tone.

“Nothing, nothing,” I say turning my IPod off and putting it back under my pillow.

“Learning time” she grabs me and drags me towards the door. As we get there we hear whispers of the crowd still there. They all turn and stare. Kay doesn’t seem to care she takes me down the stairs and a gap forms to the left, we walk straight up and past the slammer room which is on the corner on the left. She takes me right down the corridor the first door on the left is the first aid room, and on the opposite on the right is the learning room.

She opens the door and pushes me in. There are desks neatly aligned, at the front is a desk which Emma, a mentor and makes sure people do sheets is sitting behind. Beside her on the right are six filing cabinets which are in the corner behind her, and there is also a whiteboard which is behind her on the wall. Emma has long bright blonde straight hair which lies on her shoulders, she is wearing a grey strap top with denim jeans.

“Sit,” she orders me. I go to the front desk which is in front of Emma and sit down. “Do” and she slams a maths sheet and pen down. I pick up the pen and look at the sheet. I can see that she gave me this deliberately, it has extra long multiplications. Staring at the sheet I find myself motionless.

“Go on then,” Emma yells. I look up and she and Kay are standing there smiling and looking all happy. Turning back to the sheet I put my left hand to my head and stare at it with the pen in mid air.

“In your own time,” Kay says sitting down beside me. Emma sits in the seat to the left of me and they are now staring at me. They enjoy this, giving me extra hard sheets like this and watch me suffer and do it wrong. Still, I am motionless trying to figure it out in my head before touching the paper.

“God this is taking some time,” Emma says sarcastically leaning back. Anger bubbles up inside me, I can see myself breaking out any time soon.

“Hey I could order a pizza in this time,” Kay laughs laughing. I continue to stare at the paper and grip the pen as tight as I can hold all my anger in.

“Yeah I could pop out for a coffee and paper,” Emma laughs. I grip the pen even tighter and can actually see my hand shaking.

“Oh waiter,” Kay laughs and puts her hand up, “Steak and chips please” they are both laughing together now. Gripping the pen so tight it now breaks in half.

“Oh dear Sara,” Emma says. “You broke your pen; you’ll have to use blood”

“And it’s going to be yours,” I whisper.

“Oh that’s not very nice Sara,” Kay laughs. That’s it, I can’t take this anymore. In anger and frustration I stand up knocking my chair over, and flip the table up.

“Hey,” they both yell. My right hand being the strongest I throw it at Kay and she falls over yelling in pain. Emma goes for me, I throw my left elbow at her and she falls over screaming in pain. Kay gets back up, picking up the chair I knocked over I hit her over the head so she falls over. Hitting her again and again I make sure she doesn’t get up.

“Hey,” Emma screams touching my shoulder. In reaction I throw my left hand at her. She doesn’t fall over, she only slips. Again I pick the chair up and hit her. Again and again I hit her, then, coming to the sense of what I am doing I suddenly stop. I throw the chair at Emma where she lies, unconscious. I look at my hands; there is blood on them, Emma and Kay’s blood.

Turning around I head towards the door. Slowly and quietly I open it, there is not a sound to be heard outside. Still holding the door I shut it quickly and silently. I look in the window and see Emma and Kay lying on the floor covered in blood. I turn around Danielle is standing in front of me.

“Sara what are you doing?” she asks.

“Emma wants you,” I say quickly.

“What and why did she send you?”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself? I stand aside to let her past. She opens the door and goes in.

“Sa-“Picking up a chair nearby I hit her over the back of the head to knock her over. I hit her again and again and again and again.

“Now that is what you call stamping someone to death,” I say at her body. I then stamp it on her back – twice and let go of it. Coming to the sense they would call for help I search their pockets for their phones and put them in my shorts pockets. This time I leave and no one is about.

I put my back against the wall and go left all the way towards the corner. Quickly I put my head around the corner to see if anyone is there. No one is there and not a sound is to be heard. Sprinting down I move towards the right of the corridor and put my back against the wall. This feels like a James Bond film, attempting to wipe out the enemy and get away with it.  

Slowly, I edge to look down the mentor corridor. Again no one is there and not a sound is to be heard. I seem to be quite lucky. Taking a deep breath in, I prepare myself, looking around for a final time I run as fast as I can. Seconds later I reach the top of the corridor; there is no turning back now.  

Chapter 4: Escape Attempt Number 1 

No one is down this next corridor, wow I am lucky today. Again I sprint down, I turn but this time sees Emma the head walk out her office. Panicking, I turn back, I see a door and I go in the room. I have to wait now, for Emma to walk past and hope no one comes in here.

“For God’s sake Danielle,” I hear Emma’s voice. Footsteps can now be heard approaching, louder and louder they become. I hold my breath, they are now fading away. I now wait a couple of seconds to make sure nothing is there. Now, I will go. I turn around, and see somebody standing there, it is Amy.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she asks yelling.

“Err...,” I start to say, but before I can do anything she grabs me and drags me out.

“Right come on, you’re going to Emma” I now struggle to try and get away. She only ignores it; she is used to this anyway.

“Emma,” she yells and her voice echoes down the corridors, this makes me struggle even more. Amy isn’t stupid; she has a very tight grip and is very strong. At the top of the corridor we see Emma emerge. On that note I attempt to push her off, it kind of works, she lets go. I turn around and run to the end, and see the door, the way out of here. 

Using up all the energy in my body I sprint all the way down. As I crash through the doors a gush of wind flies into my face. I have to take this moment in...

“Hey,” I hear Amy screaming. I panic, I grab my head in frustration, and I look around everywhere. Then I turn left around the corner... “Hey” I hear her again. I turn, she grabs me and then pins me to the ground.

“Hoi, hoi calm down” she is leaning over me and using both hands to restrain me. Now, she has all power over me. I make it difficult for her as I keep on struggling. She takes her left hand off me and searches her pockets, then pulls out her phone. Struggling, she makes the grip in her right hand even tighter. 

“Rebecca I need you outside now,” Amy yells into the phone. Quickly, she throws it to the ground, and then grabs me with both hands. “Don’t think for one second you’re going to get away with this Sara, ‘cos you’re not” As I still struggle in her grip I put my head to the ground, I look up to the sky wishing I was up there, flying high.

“You got any handcuffs on you?” Amy asks. Looking around frantically I see Rebecca walk around. I struggle; they both grab me, and then pin me on my front. Grabbing my arms, they handcuff me and then place me on my knees. They put their hands on my shoulders to keep me stable.

“You calm now?” Rebecca asks.

“No,” I say still struggling in their grip. They pull me up and I dangle in the air for a second. I watch the sky as I go back into the building. I see no point in struggling, but I still do as I am eager to get away. We move quickly down the corridors, I keep tripping as I can’t seem to keep up. Now, we reach the corridor with my room, at the end of it Emma is standing there, looking rather anxious.

“Will you come in here?” she asks in a worried tone. Amy and Rebecca exchange looks, and then we walk down. We turn the corner and the door to the learning room is open. Kay, Emma and Danielle are lying on desks, unconscious. Steph is sitting beside Kay, Sam is beside Emma and Rachel is beside Danielle.

“Sara what the hell possessed you to do this?” Emma asks yelling.

“Anger... rage... confusion... the way you people treat me,” I answer.

“Sara they could be dead for all you know,” Amy says trying to make me feel sorry for them.

“Oh really, and I’ll have no regrets doing this” she grabs me by the neck, takes me over to a desk and then throws my face onto the desk. I land spread out on the floor with a bloody nose, I am unconscious.

Something deep inside my body wants to get out. It flips in my stomach and does some U turns. Now, it travels up to my neck, it tickles the back of my throat. Whatever it is, it wants to get outside my body. I can feel myself coughing, and coughing and coughing. It is still in my throat, I can see a white ceiling ahead of me.

I continue to cough and cough. I can feel it moving in my throat now, it jolts forward. Next thing, blood spurts out of my mouth and all over the floor next to me. Again, blood comes flying out of my mouth and I sit up automatically.

“Hey,” someone says nearby. Hands touch me and drag me back to the floor. “Sara, drink this” something is put to my lips, I let it trickle down my throat, then realise it tastes of vinegar. “Swallow it” Obeying those orders I swallow, and then put my head back on the floor. My left upper arm is incredibly itchy. I can’t move my hands; they are bound behind my back and feel numb.

Moving about, I rub my arm against the floor in a desperate attempt to scratch my arm. I do it again, and again.

“Hey,” someone says up above me. I look up, and see Amy hovering above me. “What’s the matter?”

“Arm... itchy,” I say wriggling about.  She unzips my overall, takes some of it down, and I can see a red patch on my arm. It looks weird; it is in the shape of a bullet. Is that possible? The more I stare at it the more I need to scratch.

“Ahh,” I say desperately.

“Right, give me a second,” Amy says getting up, and then leaves. Then, I struggle, I squirm and I wriggle more than ever. I hit a wall, and now I am stuck. Amy then walks in and sits in front of me. She has a little tub of cream; it is small, circular and red. I watch as she takes the lid off and puts some on her fingers.

As she gets closer I attempt to back off, but she puts her other hand on my shoulder. She puts it on my skin, and it makes a sizzling sound. An adrenaline rushes throughout my body. Sitting up straight my body stiffens.

“Hey, hey,” Amy says. “Look at me Sara, just look at me” she puts more cream on, and it sizzles again and dissolves into my skin.  Looking around the room, I hope for something to jump out and help me.  The burning, the adrenaline rush and the sizzling keeps on going, I can’t take it anymore.

“Sara, Sara,” Amy calls my name, I turn and look at her. “Just look at me, that’s it, look at me” she puts some more on, but this time is different, it is cool and refreshing. I look at it, it is still red but it is not itchy. Now I feel great, “You ok?” I nod my head. “Ok, come on stand up” she helps me stand. She uncuffs me and I feel a hint of freedom in the air. We walk out of the room and turn left; we then turn around the corner. Danielle emerges from the mentor corridor, and she doesn’t look to happy.

“H - ,” she starts to say. Panicking, I go to turn back, but Amy stops me.

“Sara go to your room,” Amy says pushing me. Avoiding eye contact with Danielle, I sprint up the steps into my room. I don’t shut the door; I keep it ajar and sit with my back against the wall behind my door.

“Amy I swear I’m going to kill her,” I hear Danielle yell.

“Look right – I know but you’re going to have to keep it down,” Amy says.

“I’m going to get her back – “

“Here you know if you touch or even go near her Kate’s going to find out”

“I don’t care – I actually don’t care right now Amy – “

“You know what Rachel’s like, she tells Kate everything”

“Rachel?”

“Yeah – desperate Rachel, she’s bound to find out and it’s not worth it Danielle”

“Oh God” I hear loud footsteps. I guess she is walking away. There is a pause. I look through the gap between the door and the wall, they have gone. Carefully I shut the door without making a sound. Lying on the floor I face my bed.

Tears stream down my face. Oh how I wish to live a different life, to be loved for, to be cared for and to have a family. But I have nothing except this room. This hot, large white room filled with nothing. Footsteps can be heard outside now. I crawl into the corner and curl up in a desperate attempt to blend in with the wall. The door opens, I hold my breath, and it could be anyone, Kay, Emma or even Danielle. They come closer to me, I stay perfectly still.

“Sara,” they say, I realise it is Amy. She touches my shoulder and sits next to me. “Sara, hey” I continue to stay curled up, and close my eyes. “Sara, please” she takes a hold of my hand. Is this a sign that she cares? Should I respond?”Sara” I slowly lift my head. “It’s ok I’m not going to hurt you – I guess you heard me and Danielle talking?” I nod my head. “It’s alright; she’s not going to get you”

“Ah,” I moan. She puts her other hand on the back of my neck.

“Sara – can you tell me what Kay and Emma were saying before?” there is a pause between us, I take a deep breath in.

“They were – taking the mick ‘cos Emma gave me a hard sheet” I rub my eyes on my knee.

“It’s alright, were they being nasty to you?”

“Yeah” and I nod my head.

“I’m going to look after you now Sara, instead of Kay it’s going to be me” then she brings me close to her, hugging me. This is the first time anyone has done this, for once I actually feel loved and cared for.

“Ok, I’m going to get you some food – you haven’t eaten for three days” Amy says getting up. I watch her as she leaves, and then I crawl to the door. In a desperate attempt to get to the bathroom I jump the rail and slide down the pole like a fireman. In the bathroom I put my hands both sides of the sink and look in the mirror. I look a complete state, bits of my ponytail are sticking out at weird angles, my eyes are red and I look like I have seen a ghost.

Quickly, I go to the toilet before my bladder can burst. Then, I take some of my overall down and look where that red mark is. It is still in the shape of a bullet, and a little bit itchy. Looking at it makes me want to scratch it, so I do, and it feels better. So I scratch, and scratch and scratch it. Then I see something different, it looks like black ink or a bit of a tattoo on my arm.

I scratch the rest of the area where the red is. Now, I am looking at a bullet shape tattoo on my arm. Is this even possible? How could I scratch some skin off to get this? Is there even an explanation for this? 

Chapter 5: The Bullet 

Realising that Amy could be back any second; I zip my overall back up, go out the bathroom and climb up the poles to my room. Walking over to my bed I kick my shoes off, go on the bed and cower in the corner. The door then opens, and in walks Amy carrying some things.

“Hey,” she says, I got here just in time. As she gets close I can she is holding two bottles of water, two packets of plain hula hoops and two galaxy chocolate bars. I know that some of them are for her, then suddenly realise how hungry I actually am. She sits next to me and makes herself comfortable.

“Sara, come here,” she says edging towards me. She unzips my overall, and pulls down the t-shirt on my left arm to reveal the bullet. I look away to avoid eye contact. “It was itchy wasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I mumble nodding my head. “You’re going to tell Emma aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not going to tell her anything – come on eat” picking up the bottle of water beside me, I analyse what it says. Vittel, in red writing and has a blue cap.

“Sara, drink” I obey her orders, I unscrew the cap and let the water trickle down my throat. It is refreshing and feels like a part of life has re entered my body. As I finish the bottle I feast my eyes on the packet of crisps. Ripping it open some of them fall on the bed.

“Hmm,” I whisper and Amy laughs. I pick them up and eat them, in seconds I eat the whole packet. Now, I turn to the galaxy bar. This time, I open the packet carefully, and eat the bar in one. I lie back feeling full.

“That ok?” Amy asks.

“Yeah,” I say looking towards the door. I could walk out, but I daren’t.

“Sara” she gestures that she wants me to go over to her. So I edge close, she puts one hand on the back of my neck and the other on my shoulder. “Later on Emma’s going to – “

“No,” I say twitching, but she holds me.

“No, no, not that Emma - she only wants to talk to you”

“She’s going to hurt me”

“No hey – she only wants to talk, nothing else”

“You know what she’s like – she’s going to do something”

“Hey, Sara, she’s not going to hurt you, she will come up here any time soon and I’m going to stay with you ‘cos I know what you’re like” We smile at each other. At that moment the door opens and Amy pushes me back and I fall back on the bed bouncing back up. Emma walks in, and shuts the door behind her. She walks over to us and kneels on the ground, as if she was going to talk to a baby.

“Sara, can you tell me what Emma and Kay said before?” she asks, trying to sound all nice.

“They... they were taking the mick ‘cos Emma gave me a hard sheet to do – and laughed at me” rubbing my lips together I try not to cry, and Emma stares at me blankly.

“Really, are – are you serious?”

“Yeah – I - I thought they were planning something – but - oh I don’t know” I dig my face into my hands again, trying not to cry.

“They were saying to me she was making the comments” alarmed at this, I sit up.

“What – Kay – she says anything – she threat- oh whatever” and again dig my face into my hands trying not to cry.

“What – Sara – what tell me?” there is now a pause between us. Do I dare tell? Kay would kill me if she found out.

“Sara,” Amy says taking my right hand, “Sara come on” there is still a pause... dare I?

“It’s Kay she threatens me,” there, I said it.

“What?” Emma and Amy say at the same time.

“She says things like – you’re going to kill me – and I should stay up here all the time, now she’s saying you’re planning to murder me – “ I can’t say any more, I curl up, and this time cry into my hands.

“Right – I’m going to find Kay,” Emma says. A take a deep breathe in, and wipe the tears away on my arm. I look up; both Emma and Amy have left. Oh no, Kay is going to get me now, and I know it. Slowly I stand up and put my shoes on. Turning to face the wall I put my hands on my head and close my eyes.

“Hoi,” someone yells. Alarmed, I turn to see Kay walking over to me. “Sara what the hell did you tell Emma and Amy for?” she grabs my neck and drags me out the room.

“Ah, I didn’t tell them anything,” I say.

“Don’t lie Sara, didn’t I teach you that?”

“No – you – “then she pushes me, face first onto the metal steps. Tumbling down the steps I get battered and bruised and then land on a wall, facing Kay. 

“Kay what the hell is the matter with you?” someone yells. Looking around frantically I see that it is Emma on the right of me.

“Sara are you ok?” someone asks, I turn left and see it is Amy.

“Yeah,” I mutter.

“Look right – she fell bless her- ,” Kay says slurring her words, I think she is drunk.

“Kay, we saw you grab her neck and push her,” Emma yells.

“Oh I wouldn’t do that to my own – oh look at her,” Kay says walking down the steps.

“Kay you’re drunk – come with me,” Emma grabs her by the arm and takes her down the mentor corridor.

“I’m not drunk,” Kay’s voices echoes. I go to stand up.

“Hey, hey,” Amy says pushing me back down. “Right ok, I’ll get you cleaned up” she helps me stand, takes me around the corner and the first door on the left, the first aid room. She opens the door, and lets me in first. There are cabinets in front of me, I turn left and at the end of the room is a black leather sofa bed attached to the wall and above it, is some cabinets. On the left attached to the wall is a sink, and some counters.

“Sit down,” Amy says touching my shoulder. I walk over to the bed and sit down; she goes into a cabinet above me and pulls something out. She has pulled out an antiseptic wipe. “Ok, stay still and this won’t hurt”

“Ok,” I mutter backing away a little. She puts it to my face, I twitch.

“Sara come on stay still” she puts her other hand on the back of my neck to keep me still. As she wipes the blood away my face stings badly. “There we go - all done” and rubs my nose to finish off. “Come one” I stand up, and she leads me out. As we walk out, something catches my eye, I see Rebecca. Quickly I run around the corner.

“Sara,” Amy yells after me. Then, at the top of this corridor, I see Emma, the Emma who I nearly killed.

“Sara,” she screams. Panicking, I sprint up the stairs and into my room. I slam the door and put my back against it, acting like a barrier. Then, it opens, and I roll to the right hiding behind it.

“Hey,” someone yells. It’s Emma; she’s come back ravenous with revenge.

“Aah,” I yelp. She grabs me, and I hover in the air for a second.

“I swear to God I’m going to kill you,” she yells, but then pauses. An adrenaline rushes around my body, giving me the energy to say something.

“Go on then,” I shout, “Go on, put me out my misery” she only stares at me, looking like she doesn’t want to do anything. “Go on”

“God,” she lets me drop to the ground and then leaves.

“Well hey” I quickly get up and follow her. Outside Rebecca and Amy are at the bottom of the steps. “Go on, you said you were going to kill me”

“Sara... just shut up,” Emma says grabbing her hair in frustration.

“No, no you said you were going to – I’m waiting”

“Sara – don’t”

“Don’t what, come on just kill me things would be better for everyone around here and we all know it”

“Sara – please – shut up – “and now she walks down the steps.

“You shouldn’t say that you will do something and then not do it” Rebecca and Amy exchange looks with each other. “Well someone kill me please” I scream at the top of my voice.

“Sara I suggest you calm down now,” Amy screams.

“Calm down, calm down,” I shout. “You tell me to be calm, you can’t be calm in this place, people telling you what to do when to do, we never get the freedom to do anything, no fresh air no anything and you tell me to be calm”

“Sara,” Amy screams again coming up the steps.

“What – what – what are you going to do?” then before anything else can happen I grab the bar to the right of me, jump, and slide down the pole.

“Sara,” Rebecca screams. Emma goes down the mentor corridor.

“Hoi,” I yell, “I ain’t finished” I see the back of her head, but I can tell she is distressed. “Emma – Emma - Emma” I feel like taunting.

“Sara,” Rebecca and Amy are yelling after me.

“Sara - go back, Emma will catch you,” Emma says turning around.

“Ooh Emma will catch me, ooh what is she going to do throw me in the slammer with Danielle and let me suffer, oh whatever am I going to do?” I ask sarcastically.

“Sara for God’s sake come here,” Amy says trying to control me.

“Ooh I know this, reverse psychology you’re saying to go back but you really want me to go the other way” I point to where Emma is standing, I am quite enjoying this. Walking over to Emma I dodge past her.

“Sara,” Emma says getting angry. “Do you want Emma to catch you?”

“You know it’s funny you say that – ‘cos I do actually – hey I’ll go to see her right now” I back off up the end of the corridor. I glance down, there is no one there.

“Sara,” they all say, wanting me to go back, no chance, this is my time. I am in the second corridor now, one more to freedom. I sprint half way up to get ahead of them.

“Sara,” I can still hear them.

“You’re pushing it now,” Amy’s voice echoes.

“Oh pushing it, just like what Kay did earlier and have the scars to prove it – “ I say, but, a door opens nearby, to the right of me Rachel appears, long blonde hair with a fringe on the right hand side, she is wearing a green strap top with jeans, she likes to reveal herself quite a lot, creepy if you ask me.

“What’s going on?” she asks.

“Emma here, was going to let me go actually – well – she was going to kill me but now she’s letting me go”

“That makes no sense”

“No, no you make – no sense” that sentence actually didn’t make sense, none of it made sense actually – oh well. I turn and sprint to the end of the corridor. Then, sprint halfway down the last corridor and the door insight – wow this is exciting. I get to the door of Emma’s office, the door opens and she walks out, err, I didn’t exactly plan this out.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she asks yelling, these people like to yell a lot.

“We all decided to go for a little jog,” I tell her. Amy, Rebecca, Rachel and Emma head down. They are getting close, I need to do something, and fast. She goes to grab me – but - I grab her. For once I am in control. They all stare, in amazement.

“Sara – get off,” Emma says struggling; I am a lot stronger than she is.

“People here, you will remember this the day that I, Sara actually escaped from you people,” I announce. Pushing Emma into them I turn and sprint out, quote from Pirates of the Caribbean, but I turned it around to make my own. Sprinting twenty metres down I push the doors and I am in the open air, I am free.

Chapter 6: Freedom, Or is it? 

“Hoi,” people shriek behind me. Jumping on the handle on the door I reach for the roof of the building and hoist myself up.

"Ha," I laugh as I am taller than all of them. They all look up to me, I feel like the Queen, superior, and greater than them all.

"Sara get down from there," Emma orders.

"While I am up here I will give you people a little talk 

"Sara!"

" - the way you people treat us is crap, you should place yourselves in our situation to know what it is like, 'cos it really is bad - and if only you people had heart's - which you don't. Now take me for example, I stand out to others because I know what you're doing is wrong and - personally speaking would like to escape which is - what we can all see here"

"Sara, you know Kate's going to find out - what possessed you to runaway?"

"You people - especially Kay saying you're going to kill me and torture me for the rest of my sad and sorry life!"

"Sara, we can sort this out"

"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm doing, sorting it out"

"Please Sara, if Kate finds out she'll have you"

"Oh Kate - Kate yeah 'cos she'll sort it won't she?"

"If you come down we'll talk, we won't use force"

"Ha, I heard that one before, yeah that ain't going to happen" I look around frantically to see if there are any means of escape, I am stuck. Trees all around, and three houses in front, in which Kate, Laura and Zoe live. All of which will do anything they want to me and not get wrong, Zoe being the meanest.

"Sara please, before Kate finds out"

"So let her find out, I'll be long gone when she finds out" I am moving around more frantically eager to get away.

"Sara," they are calling my name now, I panic more. All of a sudden there is a loud shot, and a very cold chill shoots down the right side of my neck. I fall left a bit, but lean on my left leg to keep stable. My head sways around uncontrollably. Slowly, I raise my right hand to my neck.

"Sara, don't pull it," people yell, I ignore it. There is an arrow in my neck, I grab at it - "Don't pull it" they continue to yell. I pull it out, blood sprays out of my neck, it hit an artery.

"Aah," I scream in pain, I am losing blood. Moving around all over the place I sway to and fro. People yell my name below me, I sway... and then fall... a long way to the ground and hit my head hard.

Chapter 7: Do Lies Really Make Things Better? 

My eyes start to open, I can make out something white in front of me. I concentrate trying to think what it is, and then realise it is a ceiling. Hang on, where am I? What happened? Eager to know I sit up straight making my back stiffen, and panic. There is a wall on the left of me, I am in my room. Getting up slowly, I make my way towards the door which is ajar.

“ -  why the hell did you push her before?” a voice says, I make out it is Amy. 

“Look – I – I don’t know, I don’t know – I get drunk - and then push my own niece down the stairs nearly killing her,” I hear Kay say. Niece? What? What is she on about niece? Am I related to Kay? 

“Well now you know not to get drunk again,” Rachel says. Is this true? Slowly I get up, wanting to know the truth. I go around the door and they are looking up at me. 

“Is it true?” I ask. They all look away. It must be true, I am related to Kay, and she is my Aunt. “Is it true?” I ask again. Kay puts her head into her hands and walks away, down the mentor corridor. I turn to Amy and Rachel, wanting to know. 

“Sara -, “Amy says, trying to sound nice. It is true. 

“It’s true – Kay – she’s my Aunt – you – you knew – why didn’t you tell me?” They are both speechless, and I am desperate for the truth right now. 

“Why?” I ask again.

“Sara – this is really hard to explain,” Amy says. Slowly, I make my way down the stairs with Amy and Rachel watching my every move. 

“Sara, come with us,” Rachel says. Before I can do anything they grab my arms, and lead me down the mentor corridors. Is this happening? Is this a dream? I’m going to wake up... and I know I am... aren’t I? These questions all swim in my head. We are at Emma’s office, why are we here? Does Emma have the answers? The door opens and I am pushed in. 

“She knows,” Amy says. 

“Eh?” Emma asks sounding confused. 

“Kay” Emma then digs her face into her hands, she knows. Do they all know?

“Sara – please sit down” 

“No,” I say and break away from Amy and Rachel. I walk over to the left and lean on the wall. Amy and Rachel then leave the room. Staring at the wall ahead of me I try to hold back the tears. 

“Sara this is really hard – yes we lied, but we only did it to protect you – “

“Protect me from what?” 

“From knowing who you are”

“Well - who am I then?” I laugh. 

“Sara – you’re not normal – “

“Well I know that” 

“God – Sara you’re making this really difficult for me just please let me speak... you’ve got... three Aunts here – “

“Three?” 

“Yes three... Kay... Rebecca – and – Zoe, there I’ve said it” What? Zoe? Is this a joke? I look at Emma in shock.  

“What?” 

“Yeah right – there – I’ve said it” I leave off the wall, and then walk out the room. As I walk out I look left, down the long and never-ending corridor. I’m going to have to walk back to my room.

Chapter 8: Walk Of Shame 

I start to make my way back to my room. Lots of different thoughts are swimming in my head right now. I can't believe this, I'm related to people who have abused, and neglected me. There is a choice of turning back, but dare I? Yet, I continue walking straight on. It feels like someone has ripped my heart out of my chest.

What will happen now? Will we continue living like this? Or will we play happy families? Only time will tell now. I guess I'll go up to my room, cower under my sheets, and listen to my Ipod. It's my only friend in the world. If that was taken away, I don't know what I would do. Probably, crawl under my bed and cry I suppose.

What about the others in this place? Dan? Matt? Beth? Tom? There like me, mistreated, unwanted and not cared for. What will happen to them? I find these mentors intimidating, half the time they get drunk and then tell us they are going to kill us. I've had enough of this, but there's nothing really I can do.

Chapter 9: You Gotta Take A Beating Once In A While

"Hoi," someone yells. I stop dead in my tracks. Who is it? Emma? Kay? Slowly, I turn around and see Rachel, Danielle and Kelly. Oh no, this is going to turn bad, and I know it.

"Come here," Rachel says, they don't look to happy. I quickly run down the stairs, and stand in front of them, avoiding eye contact. Kelly grabs me, and she starts to drag me. Where are they taking me? What are they going to do to me? I find myself now standing in front of the slammer. Oh no. Rachel opens the door, and then Kelly pushes me in. The door shuts, and it feels like they are going to kill me. I turn round, and they circle me, as if they are a pack of lions ready to pounce on me.

"Hope you're ready," Kelly says. I look at her, and see she is holding a pair of handcuffs. Danielle pushes me, and I land in the seat right next to Kelly.

"Let's search her," Danielle says, "I bet she's got something on her" She comes over; Kelly holds my shoulders while Danielle unzips my overall and takes it off me. Now, I'm wearing my black t-shirt and black shorts. She searches my pockets, finding nothing. "Hmm, nothing"

"What do you think I've got on me, a bomb?" I ask her.

"Yeah"

"Wouldn't mind killing meself" then, she smacks me across the face.

"I'm thinking a beating is in order, don't you girls?"

"Yeah, let's hit her," Kelly and Rachel say. Kelly grabs my hands, and slaps some handcuffs on them. Now I am defenceless, there is nothing I can do. Something comes crashing into the back of my head; I fall off the chair and smack my face off the floor. I am smacked in the ribs, hit in the face, and stamped in the stomach in one go. I manage to open my eyes, and watch as a baseball comes flying into my face.

Someone kicks my ribs, someone knees my stomach and someone smacks my face. Opening my eyes, I see a knife coming towards me. I attempt to back off, but someone holds me, the knife penetrates the skin on my face. I am let go, and drop to the ground. Laughter echoes the room, I watch as they walk out and slam the door.

Chapter 10: A Meeting With The Devil

As I lie here, on the cold, hard ground, I cry. I cry, and I cry. My vision is focused on the door, so I can see if someone is coming in. Bad memories come flowing into my head, making me cry more. I move onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. Taking a deep breath in I prepare for what is to come. What will happen now? Will Emma come in? Will Kay come in? Will Danielle come back? Only time will tell now.

The door opens, who will this be? I turn, and my heart drops below my stomach. It is Kate, the upper rank to Emma, I never thought in a million years I would see her. She can do anything she wants to me and get away with it.

"Hello Sara," she says smirking. Moving my head towards the ceiling, I close my eyes, trying to imagine a happy place. I hear footsteps coming towards me; it feels like death walking into me. "Your face is bleeding" thank you, for stating the obvious. I look up, and see that she is hovering over me, it is like a vulture, waiting to pick my bones. "Wanna come back to mine" there is a pause.

  

"No, not really," I say.

"I'll rephrase that, you will come back to mine, so I suggest you get up - "she pulls me up, "And put this on - " she throws my overall in my face, "Cos we are going to have one fun night" she winks, and lets go of me. I fall to my knees, and she comes down to my level. "In your own time that is" I'm handcuffed, I can't really do anything, and my stomach kills. "Get up" I don't move, I'm motionless and speechless. "Get up" she yells, and then hits me on the head, slowly, I get up. "Out" she pushes me, and I walk fast out the room nearly tripping over. I look right, and see Kelly and Rachel.

"Hello," they both say grinning.

"Hello girls," Kate says. She pulls me back and I land on the wall. "Me and Sara were just going back to mine, weren't we?"

"No," I say not thinking. I shouldn't have said that. Her elbow comes flying into my face, and I fall to the ground.

"If you say one more sarcastic comment, I'm going to impale a hammer into your head, ok?"

"Ok" she pulls me up, and makes me walk.

Chapter 11: Walking With The Devil

"We are going to have so much fun Sara," Kate whispers in my ear. A chill shivers down my spine, this is going to turn bad. We start to walk down the first corridor, it seems like its never-ending, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life with Kate. The very thought makes me shudder. As we walk down, she repeatedly flicks my ear and prods me in the back.

"I can't wait to spend the night with you, who knows what we will get up to, just depends if you're a good little girl or not," she says playing with my ear. Death is coming close to me, and I know it. If only I didn't eavesdrop, none of this would be happening right now. What's Kate going to do to me? Torture me? Hurt me? Or even kill me? Only time will tell now.

Fear surrounds me. Kate is powerful, and can do whatever she wants to me. I look back, but Kate grabs me tighter and knees me in the back. Why am I such a screw up? I wish my life would end right now, only because I'm scared of what Kate is going to do. Suicide is the only way out of this, I think about it everyday...

"Don't look back Sara, you'll only get yourself into more trouble," she whispers in my ear laughing. I can't help it, it might be the last time I walk these corridors. God only knows what she is going to do with me. Holding back the tears I close my eyes and think of happy things. Families sitting by the fire, snuggling up, watching television and drinking hot chocolate. These thoughts only make me want to cry knowing that it won't happen to me.

Now we get outside. Cool air rushes past me and I feel free. I look into the night sky at the stars. It's beautiful. This will probably be the first and last time I will see this. We get to the gates, she swipes something, and the gates open. Ahead of us, is a long road, on the right there are three houses and on the left there are a lot of trees.

"Walk," she says and prods me in the back. She steers me to the first house, she opens the door and pushes me in.

Chapter 12: Unpleasant Night 

It's a nice house. Stairs run up the left side wall and there is a huge lounge and kitchen area. I watch as she locks the door and then puts the key down her top.

"Just to make sure you don't escape... now come on," she says grabbing me and pushing me up the stairs. She opens the first door on the left, and pushes me in. It is a nice purple room, there is a large bed at the back, on the right of me is a big wardrobe and to the left of that, is the bathroom. She pulls me back, and uncuffs me. "If I were you Sara, I wouldn't think about running away because we can damage you, and there are a lot of us and only one of you" she knocks the back of my legs and my head, hard. 

"Ow," I whisper to myself. Pain.... is all I ever feel. I don't know how to love, how to care or how to be happy.

"Up," she says aggressively hoisting me up. Dragging me to the window I half slip, and she pins me against the windowsill. "Sara, I have many reasons to believe that Kay is not happy" 

"Really?"

"Yes really, and for that I am going to hurt you" she lets me go, and goes to her bedside table. What is she going to get? A knife? Or a gun? Or maybe both... I watch as she pulls a crow bar out, oh no. "No pain no gain Sara" she smacks me across the face. And what exactly is she going to gain from this? She hits me again, and this time, I fall on my knees. She comes down to my level. "Your face is bleeding" she pulls me up now. "I believe the best place for you to sleep is outside?"  

"What?" she opens the window, what is she going to do? She pushes me, and I fall back, and hit my head hard.

Chapter 13: Back To Slavery 

Opening my eyes I see a large spider in front of me. Normally somebody would panic and run away, but I let it crawl on my back. I don't care what happens to me now; I wish I could just die. No one loves me, no one cares for me, and no one wants me. Slowly, I get to my feet, and the spider falls off my back. I watch as it crawls into the bushes. Turning around I analyse what is around me, then see Amy standing right behind me.

"Let's go," she says grabbing me, and then drags me out the garden. As soon as we get out she grabs the back of my overall and my right arm, now there are no means of escape. I look back, and see where I could have gone if Amy wasn't there. "Don't look back" she knocks the back of my head. "You'll only make things worse"  

"I thought you liked me Amy," I say. 

"Well.... things might change Sara" the gates are open, and we walk through. As we do I look back, and watch as Rachel and Danielle shut them. Suddenly, anger bubbles up inside of me. I want to break out of this place, I want freedom, and I want to be someone. Now, we enter the building, death feels near, and it's coming for me. If death won't come to me, I'll find death myself, somehow and someway, I will find it. Emma is standing outside of her office door, looking happy, I feel she has something planned.

"Hello Sara, did you have fun last night?" Emma asks.

"No not really," I say.

"And what did you do?"

"I slept outside, on the cold, wet hard ground with a spider on my back. I hoped for it to kill me, but it didn't do anything for it"

"Oh dear, well we thought it's time for change around here Sara. From now on... Amy is your mentor"

"Is she?" Amy asks.

"Yeah, do what you want with her" and she goes back into her office.

"Come on" Amy grabs my neck and pushes me along. 

Chapter 14: Ready To Kill 

As we approach my room we see Kay come around the corner.

"Sara go to your room," Amy says pushing me onto the steps.

"No," I say. Kay runs back round, Amy follows, and then I get up. I run to the wall, and see them turn the corner at the end. Again, I run down, and watch them enter the dining room. Without thinking of what the consequences to my actions will be, I go into the dining room. There are a few mentors around, anything can happen in here. Near by there is a knife, I pick it up, and hide it under my sleeve, I made sure no one saw. Kay and Amy went to the left; most people have turned to watch me.

"Sara, what are you doing?" Amy asks.

"Dunno, thought I'd follow" I say walking up to them.

"Come on" Amy comes to drag me; I quickly duck under her and go towards Kay. Kay is now sitting in the chair in the corner of the room. I sit in the chair next to her.

"Kay, I feel that we need to talk..." then, without thinking, I pull the knife out.

"Whoa," people say. I am grabbed, and pulled to the floor. The door blasts open, and we all turn to see Emma coming in.

"What the hell is going on here?" she yells.

"Sara..." Amy yells knocking the knife out my hand. "Thought that killing Kay would solve everything"

"Really? Well we can solve our problem by putting Sara in the slammer" I look up and see Sam and Amy hovering over me and keeping a tight hold, in case I try to run away. 

Emma now walks over to us. "You alright Kay?"

"Yeah," Kay says.

"Get her to the slammer" they drag me out, I kick and struggle, but it's no use. Now they take me into the slammer, and shut the door.

Chapter 15: Near Death Experience 

As they drag me over to the chair in the right corner of the room, I half slip over. They pull me up, and pin me to the chair. Straps are pulled over my chest, arms and legs binding me to the chair. I go to struggle, but they are extremely tight and find it hard to breath. They watch me as I struggle; there is no way out of this. The door opens, and Emma comes strutting in.

"Girls, can I have a little time with Sara?" she asks.

"Yeah," Amy and Sam say, and then leave. The feelings of fear and dread now surround me. She pauses, and hovers over me. I put my head back, and look up at the ceiling.

"What am I going to do with you Sara?"

"Kill me," I say.

"I can't do that"

"And why not?"  

"Cos - "she slaps me across the face, hard. "Don't question me" I watch her as she paces around the room and rubs her head. She picks up something, a plastic bag, and walks over to me. Is she going to kill me? I think this is the moment I have been waiting for... "Sara, I'm sorry" she puts it over my head, and puts her hands round my neck. I breathe in, and it brings the bag to my mouth. Panicking, I move about trying to breathe. I choke, I cough, and I splutter. Now I find myself going into a deep sleep.

Chapter 16: Do I Go To The Light? 

A bright light flashes in front of me.  It flashes more, and gets brighter. There is something about it which makes me want to go towards it. Should I? I look back, pure utter darkness, I look ahead, a nice bright comforting light. I think the light is the obvious place to go. I take a step towards the light.

“Sara!” someone yells. Panicking, I look in all directions, and see nothing. “Sara!” they yell again. Who is that? Where is that voice coming from? “Sara!” there it goes again! I look up, I look down, I look left, and I look right. Nothing. Ignoring the voice, I go towards the light. I run faster, and faster, and faster.

It seems to be getting further away. So I run faster, it seems to be out of reach now. I’m getting out of breath, I try to run faster, but find myself slipping. I fall on my front, I flail my arms in front of me to try and reach the light. I am now plunging in the darkness, the place where I do not want to be.

Screaming, I panic, and try to hoist myself up. It is gravity that is pulling me back. Now I’m falling, deeper and deeper I fall.

I automatically sit up breathing heavily. I’m back in the slammer now, and Amy is in front of me. Panicking, I look about the room and feel tears stream down my face. What just happened to me? Did I see heaven? I will never find out…

“Sara,” Amy says grabbing my face. Is she going to hurt me? Like all the rest? I back off, and crawl into the corner of the room. I curl myself into a ball, and cry into my knees. I was so close to that light, so close, I could have got there. If I didn’t slip, I would have got there. “Sara” I move down on the wall, she’s going to hurt me. The door shuts; I look up a bit, and see she has gone. I lie down on my right, pull some of the overall over my face, and cry into it.

Chapter 17: The Red Dragon With The Silver Sword

My back is incredibly itchy. I really want to go to the bathroom, but I don’t know if I should dare. Slowly, I make my way to the door… I look out, no one is here, and no noises can be heard, all is silent. I look left, no one is there, I look straight up, and no one is there. Taking a deep breath in, I run out, and head straight for the bathroom. I lock the door and sit on the ground.

“That was close,” I say to myself.  Quickly, I take my overall off, and start scratching my back. I look at it in the mirror, it is red, no wonder. Sitting on the ground, I continue to scratch, until the pain goes away. Now it feels good, I stand up, and look in the mirror. I am now looking at a tattoo; it is a red dragon, holding a silver sword. How could this happen? This is now the second time this has happened…

Realising my bladder could burst at any second, I rush to the toilet. Now I feel a lot better. I now realise anyone can walk in here. Quickly, I put my overall back on, and open the door slowly. I jump the bars of the steps, and rush into my room and put the door ajar. I sit behind the door, curl into a ball, and look towards the beds at the back of the room. I guess all I can do now is cry, there is nothing else I can do, and I wouldn’t know what else to do. Oh well….

Chapter 19: Suicide Is Always An Option? 

I lie here and try to think of what options I have. Well there are two, one- keep living this way in slavery for the rest of my life being secluded from others. Two – kill myself. I think I’ll go with my second option, because, who would want to go on living this way?

But now my question is… how can I kill myself? I could use a knife from the kitchen? But someone might catch my on the way there… What about the bathroom? Is there some sort of facility that is sharp there? Well I might as well have a look…

I look out the door… some people are walking by. No, it’s too risky. I must find out a way how to do it in this room. I hit my head off the wall trying to come up with some ideas. But wait… the wall. It’s hard, and could knock someone out. Now I have an idea…

I push the door on its hinges, and go to the back of the room next to my bed. I take a deep breath in, and run to the wall… I smack my nose off it and tumble back.

“Ow,” I say to myself and put my hand to my nose, blood. “Hehe” I stand up, and start hitting my head off the wall, hard. I tumble back, but don’t fall over. Damn, I’m still alive. I take a run up, and smack my face off the wall. Now there is more blood… Still alive, I run again, and this time, knock myself out.

Chapter 20: Is This Love? 

Something is my neck, and is tickling me; I cough to get it out of my system. I can see a white ceiling ahead of me… I survived.

“Oh,” I moan, and turn towards the door.

“Sara…” someone says. I twitch, and quickly move to the corner. It’s Amy. “Hey, hey, Sara… I don’t wanna hurt you” I’m shaking automatically and look around the room to make sure it’s only Amy here.

“She tried to kill me,” I whisper.

“Who tried to kill you Sara?”

“Emma, after you left me in the slammer, she had a bag, and put it over my head” Tears flow down my face and I tremble all over. I can’t help myself; I’m scared she is going to hurt me.

“Oh… I’m not going to hurt you, I’m glad I came in here when I did”

“What?”

“If I came in any later you would have been dead – and here, eat” she stuffs a ham and cheese sandwich in my hand. I just stare at it. “Eat it Sara, please,” I take some off the package off, and then pause. “Sara, eat it, please, you haven’t eaten anything in the past 3 days” Now I eat it without any more conversation.

Chapter 21: I've Got A Confession To Make 

I feel that I have to tell Amy about this tattoo on my back. I couldn’t keep it a secret because someone is bound to find out. Here goes…

“Amy, can I show you something?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she says. I take my overall off, and throw my shoes on the floor. I take my t-shirt on, leaving my strap top on.

“Look…” I pull some of it up. She touches it, and I twitch.

“Oh… your back was itchy wasn’t it?” 

“Yeah, I didn’t know what to do, I had to, I – I just…”

“Sara, it’s ok, I would have done the same if I was you just… keep your clothes on”

“Are you going to tell Emma?”

“No. I’m not telling her anything, she can find out herself”

“Oh, is that a good thing?”

“Yeah it is, she knows you wouldn’t say anything”

“Oh ok” there is a pause, and Amy continues to touch it. The door opens, and Amy grabs me back giving me the shock of my life. It’s Emma, oh no… I go to get up, but Amy holds me back.

“What’s that?” Emma asks she’s looking at my arm; she’s looking at the bullet.

Chapter 22: Hold Me Back

This can’t be happening. I don’t want Emma to know, I want to get out of here now. She starts to walk over, no, she’s going to hurt me and I know it. Amy puts her arms around my neck, tightly.

“How did you get that Sara?” Emma asks standing next to me. I’m not answering her.

“Sara,” Amy says shaking me. I stare at the wall in front of me moving my head up and down. There is no point in struggling, Amy is to strong and I daren’t knock Emma out of the way. I look at Emma, and then the door, it’s open.

“Sara can you tell me how you got this?” No, I don’t. Taking a deep breath in I prepare for what is to come. Amy loosens her grip; she thinks I’m not going to do anything. Sorry Amy, I take my right hand out her way, and smack her in the face.

“Ahh,” she screams. I throw my shoes and overall out the room, I punch Emma in the face, and run out the room. I shut the door, and grab the wheel. I wheel it all the way to the right, and keep a hold of it. What have I done? With all my might I put it as tight as I can. No one is around. I put my shoes and over all on. Footsteps are approaching. Panicking, I slide down the pole and into the bathroom I go. They go past, I look out, and now no one is about.

Right, this is it, I can actually run away. This is my moment, I feel free. Thinking of all these happy thoughts I run out. I look down the first corridor, no one is here, and I sprint down. I look the down the second corridor, no one is here, and I sprint down. I look down the third corridor; I see Danielle and Kelly a few feet up. I smile to myself, I have an idea. They glare at me as I get near them.

Chapter 23: Escape Attempt Number 2

“Sara what are you doing here?” Kelly asks.

“Apparently Emma wants me,” I say.

“Emma went to the dining room – “

“Why are you alone?” Danielle asks.

“I dunno” they both look at each other. “What?”

“Come on” and they both go towards me.

“Well hang on” I quickly duck under them and jump behind them.  

“Hey,” they yell. I start running backwards. “Sara come back”

“Na, make me” they look at each other. I turn and sprint.

“Hoi” Crashing out the doors a gust of wind flies past me. Kate is up ahead, I didn’t really plan this out.

“What are you doing?” Kate yells. Looking back I see Danielle and Kelly gaining on me. I throw the door and it knocks one of them back. I turn left, and sprint to the corner where the walls are high, surrounding the building. Throwing myself to the ledge, I grab it and go over head first. I manage to land on my knees and facing the ground. That was close. I can hear voices from the other side of the wall, and they sound angry.

I scramble to my feet, and start to sprint through the trees and bushes. Freedom is in the air around me. I smile as I run faster and hear the wind whistling in my ears. This is absolutely amazing, I’m free finally!

Chapter 24: The Chase Is On 

Engines roar behind me and people scream. This means war now. Cars race in front of me, and some people get out, I skid to a stop. I look behind, some people are there. Going left is my only option, to the open field; I have a feeling I’m going to be shot… that’s good.

I sprint into the field ignoring the screams from behind me. As I get into the middle, I slow down, and look at the three houses. Zoe and Laura live there, they will be watching me from behind the curtains. I bet they have a gun to.

“Hoi,” they scream, I turn and sprint on. I’m not going to stop until I find somewhere to hide. I get to the trees and try to blend in with them. As I continue the voices grow louder. I can tell they are getting anxious, I now have a feeling I am going to be caught.

Something races through the trees; I see it’s a van and stop dead in my tracks. About five people get out the back and head towards me. Oh no. I sprint, and fight through whatever gets in my way.  A gunshot echoes throughout the field, it hit my neck, and I fall face first to the ground.

Chapter 25: Still Alive 

My eyes start to open, and I make out a white ceiling ahead of me. Pain is throbbing in the left side of my neck. It feels like someone has stuck an arrow there, and is pushing it further into my neck. This is unbearable, but I know I have put up with worse pain than this before.

“Ow,” I moan, and fall onto my right side. Staring at the door I find myself crying. My body feels heavy and hurts every time I move. The only part of my body I move are my eyes. I see the door move, and Amy comes in. Is this a good thing? Is she going to hurt me? My heart beats faster and I find myself breathing heavily.

“Hey,” Amy says coming down to my level. Her voice is comforting and caring; I feel this is going to turn out well. She touches the side of my face, and I twitch, I thought she was going to hurt me. “It’s ok, I’m not going to hurt you” I wish that killed me. Something cold shoots up my left arm, and now I find myself sitting up.

“Ow,” I moan again. Putting my head into my hands I cry. Oh how I wished that bullet killed me, it would have put me out of my misery. I wish I was dead, I have no purpose in life, and I’m not going to get out of here. Right now the only thing on my mind is my incredibly itchy legs.

Chapter 26: The Blue Guitars 

I pull my trouser legs up to reveal two large red patches on my legs. Tears trickle down my neck and onto my overalls; I don’t bother wiping them away. I go to stand up, but Amy holds me.

“Sara,” she says. I let her push me back down. “What do you want?”

“Bathroom,” I say wiping my mouth on my sleeve. As I start to shake all over I am eager to get to the door.

“Hurry up” and I leap towards the door. Voices can be heard near by. I slide down the pole and jump into the bathroom. I look in the mirror; my ponytail is sticking out at weird angles, my face is red, I have about three scars and I’m still crying. Pulling random cupboard doors open I search for some hairspray. I pull some out, and fix my hair. Now I pull my overall off and go to the toilet.

“That’s better,” I say washing my hands. I sit down, and analyse these red patches on my legs. This is now the third time this has happened. It is just strange, I wonder how it happens. I scratch at them, and continue to do it. Now I find myself looking at two blue guitars. The door is pushed a bit, and Amy walks in. She is gob smacked. How do I explain myself? She locks the door and sits in front of me.

“Oh Sara…” she says as if she was expecting this to happen.

“I’m sorry,” I say apologetically.

“It’s ok, I would have done the same if I was you” she goes to touch them, I twitch slightly, and her hands are soft, warm and comforting. I now feel safe around Amy.

Chapter 27: The Truth 

The door is knocked repeatedly, making me jump.

“Sara, open the door,” Emma yells. I look ay Amy not knowing what to do. I get the sudden feeling the door is going to break, and Emma is going to kill me. I watch Amy as she opens the door; I quickly back off to the wall. Emma looks at me, and stops dead in her tracks. She looks round at Amy, who is now locking the door. Making no eye contact I hold my knees close to my chest and take a deep breath in.

“Emma if you want to talk to her I suggest you calm down ok?” Amy asks her.

“Fine” She now sits down in front of me, God only knows what she is going to do to me. “Sara, there are a lot of things you don’t know - no, Amy I can’t do this” she gets up, and then Amy holds her.

“Look Emma, if you won’t tell her I will”

“No – fine, Sara the only reason you’re stuck in this dump is because you’re retard of an aunt is too scared to see you. She thinks we treat you with care and you’re all happy families – Amy let me out” and she pushes Amy out the way and walks out, Amy then follows her and shuts the door. Is what Emma just said true? Or a pack of lies? I guess I have to decide for myself now.

Chapter 28: More Truths

The only way to find out is to follow them. I get up, and see them and catch up.

“You couldn’t have put that any more bluntly could you?” Amy asks yelling.

“Look - right, I’m going through to much right now with Kay – “

“You’re going through to much? What about Sara? What about all the pain she’s gone through?”

“Amy can we please talk about this elsewhere?”

“No, I don’t care if everyone can hear, if I’ve been living with her for the past fourteen years I think I know how she’s been feeling and what’s going through her head”

“Yeah I know that, and Zoe put me in charge of this place for some strange, weird unknown reason. Then her, Kate and Laura are off out there all the time getting drunk or whatever”

“Zoe doesn’t get drunk she’s depressed over Sara. Depressed about the fact she can’t talk to her own niece, she’s scared, she doesn’t know what to say to her. She thinks the past is all behind us, she thinks we feed and clothe her – the most depressing part of it is that she thinks we’re nice to her” someone walks from around the corner, it’s Kate. Thinking she might hurt me I back against the wall.

“What the hell is going on?” Kate asks aggressively.

“Just thought I’d tell Sara the truth since Emma’s not”

“Can we take this conversation elsewhere?” they all stand and stare and exchange looks with each other. “Sara come on, your room” then I climb the bars and jump into my room, I sit on my bed. They come up shortly after.

Chapter 29: The Whole Truth

They are standing in the middle of the room exchanging looks, are any of them going to say anything?

“This was just going to come out one day wasn’t it?” Kate asks sighing.

“Yeah it was do you want to be the one to explain it to her?” Amy asks yelling.

“Fine, yeah, I will. You see Sara, you got three aunts, Zoe being the eldest thought it would be a good idea to put you in a place where you have no freedom, and why? Because she doesn’t want you to know who you are. You got no parents, they died when you were a little baby, and we don’t care about you. Well… Zoe does, if she found out what we did to you, she would kill us,” Kate yells.

“Have you been drinking?” Emma asks Kate.

“Who cares if I have? No one, that’s who. And Sara, the sad thing is that Zoe thinks that we’re nice to you. Ha, and I bet you have the bullet to, if you used that brain of yours you could kill us all. But you won’t, because you can’t bring yourself to do it, just like Zoe you are. Come on Amy, I’m taking you back to mine” Kate grabs Amy by the shoulders and pushes her out. Emma looks at me and then follows.

What just happened? I have a lump in my throat now, and tears start to drip down my face. I don’t know what to feel right now. Depression clouds over me, and I lie down staring at the ceiling.

Chapter 30: Standing My Ground

I can’t just lie here feeling sorry for myself. I need to get out of here, and I need to stand up for myself. But yet, I only know what will happen to me if I will. I sit up, I’m going to do it, I’m going to make myself heard, and I don’t care for the consequences. They can take my freedom, but they can’t take my dignity from me.

Running out I take a deep breath in, I am going to stand my ground. The dining room, that’s where they mostly stay. I head down the steps, Danielle comes around the corner.

“Wanna come to my room?” she asks sucking on a lolly.

“No, I’d rather have an ogre eat my eyes, let a bear rip my stomach out and let vultures pick my bones to be honest Danielle,” I say without thinking, wow, I feel great. I walk past her, and head down the corridor. I need to develop a sarcastic attitude, and fast. Bursting into the dining room, every head turns towards me. 

“Everyone alright?” I yell, what am I doing? “I bet you’re all having fun in here, sitting, talking, drinking having a really good time – “ I pull a ribena out the fridge, and down it.

“Sara what are you doing?” Emma asks walking in.

“Having a drink, or am I not allowed that either”

“Come on, go to your room”

“No, I’m not, do what you want to me, beat me, torture me, hit me, I don’t care anymore and nor do any of you people. All you do day in day out is get drunk and abuse us people cos you’ve got nothing else better to do – “ I jump on the table, and start kicking things around.

“Get her down from there”

“Sara come on,” Sam and Steph say.

“No!” I yell, and jump onto another table. I turn to look at Emma, and see someone else standing next to her, its Laura, the upper rank to Kate. 

Chapter 31: Spilling My Heart Out 

My heart drops below my stomach and I get a lump in my throat. Everyone in the room is staring at me, and yet, I don’t care. Laura looks similar to Emma, blonde hair, same sharp features and has a twinkle in her eye.

 “Nice speech Sara,” Laura says unimpressed. “Please get down from the table Sara”

 “No,” I say.

 “I’m going to ask you again and this time you’re going to do it, or I’ll have you dragged off the table, so please Sara get down from the table”

 “No – “

 “Get her will you” next thing, people come at me from all angles. Panicking, I grab a chair and smack someone with it. I hit Rebecca, taking this moment in I’m feeling sorry. I am grabbed from behind and pulled to the floor, and see Sam and Steph hovering over me. Laura marches over to us, and kneels down to my level. “Think your clever?”

“No not really”

“Hit your aunt, how does that make you feel?”

“Great actually, being lied to for 17 years now abused every day, threatened every day, no love only pain – “ she strikes me across the right side of my face.

“Shut up will you” she looks back. “You see you made her bleed, how do you feel now?”

“Even happier” she goes to slap me, but I punch her right in the nose. I quickly stand up and back off. She puts her hands to her nose, and sees the blood.

“I’m gonna kill her” pushing several chairs and tables out the way I attempt to run away.

“We wouldn’t want that now would we?” someone says from the door way, we all turn, and see Zoe standing there. Sam and Steph grab Laura while Kelly and Rachel grab me.

Chapter 32: The Moment We've All Been Waiting For 

My stomach feels like it’s in my mouth. Everyone stops and I daren’t move a muscle. I daren’t even look at Zoe, because I know she doesn’t know what’s been going on.

“What’s going on?” Zoe asks. “Becca are you alright?”

“Yeah I’m fine, I’m ok,” Becca says, assuring Zoe that everything is alright.

“What happened?”

“I fell; I wasn’t watching where I was going”

“Oh ok, Laura what happened?” Laura and I make eye contact; I can see the innocence glistening in her eyes.

“Becca fell, I fell, Sara fell, it was quite funny actually,” Laura says laughing.

“What happened to your nose?”

“Oh that, I fell face first onto a table, Sam and Steph caught me it was just funny really” I look towards the door, freedom awaits me outside. Rachel and Kelly hold me tighter as they sense I am going to run away. Now I look at Zoe, she has the same facial features as Kay does, I can see how we are all related. I look towards the door, Emma has gone, the coward.

“Why are the tables and chairs pushed over?”

“Funny story, we were just running around having some fun then Sara accidentally pushed them over, when you walked in we were just to put them back to normal” I’m gonna kill her, I’m gonna kill Emma.

“I’m gonna kill her,” I whisper. An adrenaline rushes throughout my body; I push Rachel and Kelly off me. I jump over the chairs and tables and sprint down the corridors.

“Where’s she going?” Zoe’s voice echoes. As I sprint down the corridors, tears flow down my face. I feel so sorry for Zoe, but at the same time I have a vengeance to kill Emma. Bursting through the doors a gust of wind strikes my face. I am staring at freedom in the face. The main doors are closing slowly.

“No!” I yell and sprint to the doors. Jumping through the gap I land on my front.

“Sara,” someone says. I get up, and see Emma standing next to the doors.

Chapter 33: Murder On Mind

“Emma,” I yell running over to her and pin her on the wall.

“Look Sara I know your mad - ,” Emma starts to cry.

“Yeah, I bet you do but first – “the doors start to open.

“Oh no…” I grab her tighter and drag her round the corner. I take her past the trees just to make sure we won’t be heard.

“Where have they gone?” Laura’s voice echoes. I bring Emma down to the ground; she is starting to cry more.

“Sara what are you going to do to me?” Emma asks. I pin her on the ground, with her head nearly in the bushes. I can’t bare to see her like this, I start punching her, without thinking at all.

“Hoi!” people yell. I am pulled off Emma and pinned on the wall. With tears on my face I drop down on the wall, curl up, and cry into my knees. I could have killed her, if I wasn’t pulled off, I would have killed her.

“Emma are you ok?” someone asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine, I’m fine,” Emma cries. They start to walk away, and someone puts a hand to my shoulder.

“Sara it’s me, it’s Amy,” a soft and caring voice says. I put my head on my right shoulder and look at Amy. “You ok?”

“No,” I say crying.

“Bit of a shock seeing Zoe isn’t it?”

“Yeah”

“She really wants to talk to you”

“No… she’s gonna hurt me”

“Hey, hey, Sara she doesn’t wanna do that she only wants to talk to you. If you want I can come with you yeah?”

“Yeah but… this is all just weird”

“Yeah I know it is Sara, Zoe really wants to sort all this out. She know’s that she’s left it to long but she really didn’t know what to do if you talk to her you can sort something out, no one wants to go on living like this”

“Hmm…”

“What do you say then?”

“Ok”

“Good” and she hugs me, making me feel loved, and cared for.

Chapter 34: Zoe's House

“Zoe said to go back to her house ok” Amy says.

“Ok,” I say. Amy holds my hand and helps me up. Walking through the trees I think this is going to turn out well. Or is this all just an act to kill me? Only time will tell now. As we approach her house I’m starting to have second thoughts.

“Sara it’s going to be ok, I’m here” she opens the door and pushes me in. It’s a big house; stairs run up the left hand side wall, a kitchen is in the back left, and a lounge on the right hand side. Zoe is sitting on a sofa opposite the television, which is in the far right corner of the room.

“Sara can you come with me?” Zoe asks standing up, and walks over to us. I back off, but Amy holds me.

“It’s ok, just go with Zoe,” Amy says, and then pushes me towards her.

“Come on, take your shoes off” I quickly take them off, and Zoe pushes me up first. We are upstairs, there are many doors on the right and left, God only knows what is in them. She opens the first door on the right and pushes me in. There is a door on the right which is the bathroom, a big bed is at the back with 2 bedside tables and on the right is a wardrobe. She grabs my front and unzips my overall. “Take it off”

“Ok,” I say, and she helps me take it off. She goes into the wardrobe, rakes through some clothes and pulls out a green strap top.

“Take this off” she pulls my t-shirt, and I quickly take it off. I put the strap top on. “Come here” she pushes me onto the bed. “Sara I didn’t want things to turn out this way, none of us did, I’m gonna put this on you…” she puts something on the tip of her finger, it looks sticky.

“What is it?”

“Don’t ask questions, come here” she puts it on the left side of my neck. A cold shot shoots all the way up my neck, and I feel it go into my brain. All my muscles go numb, and I feel myself go hot and cold at the same time. “Shh” and Zoe puts my head down.

Chapter 35: New Beginnings 

Opening my eyes I find myself automatically sitting up. I yawn and stretch my arms behind my head. 

"Hi Sara," Zoe says wrapping her arms round my neck hugging me.

"Hi," I say yawning.

"You ok?"

"Yeah.... I had a strange dream that you all abused me"

"Why would we do that?"

"I dunno" I get up, and then go into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror I take a deep breath in, my ponytail is sticking out in weird angles and I look a complete mess. I look like I've been dragged through a bush backwards. I quickly go to the toilet and then back to Zoe.

"Coming downstairs?" 

"Yeah" she takes my hand, and we go downstairs. Kay, Becca and Amy are sprawled on the sofa's watching television.

"Where've you two been?" Kay asks.

"Waking up," I say sitting next to Kay. "You know, I had a crazy dream that you all abused me"

"Why would we do that?"

"I don't know" and she hugs me. 

"Zoe I found this at the top of the stairs," Rachel says, she's holding a blue overall, well that's what I think it is.

"What is it?" Zoe asks.

"I dunno, I think it's an overall" 

"Just throw it out"

"Are you going back to school?" Kay asks. 

"No," I say.

"Why not?"

"I've got everything I need here, we don't have any money, I don't see the point in going back and I want to grow old with you people right here"

"Aww that's sweet" and she kisses me on the cheek.

THE END