Chapter 4
The hospital fluorescents were brutal, stabbing at her eyes.[]
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Vivienne lay wrapped in bandages, burn marks from the oven still raw
The door open. Dominic and Cameron walked in.[]
cross her skin.
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“Hope you learned something.” Dominic loomed over the bed, voice cutting like glass. “That was just a taste. Torch Leona’s stuff again. and we’ll get creative.”
Vivienne kept her eyes on the ceiling tiles.
No point in words anymore.[]
The door opened again. Noel appeared with a soup container, all sunshine and smiles. “Hey there, sweetie. Does it hurt? I made you some soup to help you heal.“[]
As she spoke, her fingers found Vivienne’s bandaged arm and dug in hard.[]
“Shit!”
Vivienne jerked away instinctively. Noel let herself tumble to the floor, tears instantly flowing. “I was just… God, I was trying to help and you… why are you so mean to me?“[]
“Vivienne!” Cameron grabbed her wrist. “When are you gonna stop being such a bitch?!“[]
Dominic’s expression went arctic. “Cut off her pain meds. All of them. And the IV. Let her think about what she’s done.“]
The nurse reluctantly pulled out the tubes. Vivienne curled up as agony hit, but didn’t make a sound.[]
0
Discharge day was their parents‘ and Leona’s “death anniversary.“[]
Dominic and Cameron dragged her to the cemetery like always.[]
Every year brought fresh hell.]
This year’s torture: crawling up the nail–studded steps on her knees, one prostration at a time.[]
Before, Vivienne might have fought back.[]
This year, she has become numb.[]
She dropped to her knees without expression.[]
The nails punched through her kneecaps like butter. Blood painted the steps as she bowed, crawled, bowed again…
Dominic and Cameron watched approvingly. “Finally showing some class.“]
By the time she reached the graves, her knees were raw meat, nails slick with blood and tissue.[]
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“Say you’re sorry.” Cameron’s voice was ice]]
Vivienne knelt before the headstones, voice barely there. I’m sorry.“]
“Louder!” Dominic snapped.]
I’m sorry.” Like a glitched recording, hollow and mechanical
When the show ended, Dominic and Cameron left with Noel
“Find your own way home. They didn’t look back.
Vivienne struggled to her feet, but didn’t head home.
Instead, she limped on bleeding legs toward the cemetery office.]
“I need to buy a plot,” she told the clerk
J
The guy blinked. For…?]]
“Myself
He looked like he wanted to ask questions, but finally processed the paperwork. It’s yours. Ready whenever you need it“]]
Vivienne was about to thank him when two cold voices cut through the air
“What the hell are you buying a grave for?!“]
She turned slowly. Dominic and Cameron stood in the doorway, faces dark with rage
♡ (
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.