*this chapter contains a quote from the movie.*
Claudia looked in her mirror.
"I hate you." She told her reflection. "I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you" She repeated. She did this everyday. Before she had the chance to start crying, she turned away and looked at her bare walls. They had once been covered with pictures of her and her friends. She used to be popular and pretty. She had a ton of guys wanting to date her, but she had had only eyes for her boyfriend. Then he broke up with her. She started chatting on the internet to get her mind off of it. Then she did something completely stupid. Something that changed her life. Something that scarred her for life. Something that destoryed her life.
She walked over to her window and watched the boys unload thier car. She watched them for the longest time. Nearly half an hour had passed before she moved away. They had finished and were making their way into the house again. She didn't know how she was going to survive living with these boys. For starters, the two older ones were gorgeous. Sure the youger one was cute, but Claudia had already made up her mind on what she thought about him. A year ago they would have thought the same about her. They would have dropped to their knees and thanked God for letting them live in the same house as her. Not any more though. The scars were repareable, but her family were still paying her hospital bills from that terrifying night... not that she remembered much about it. All she knew was that she wasn't the only one. The difference between her and the others was she had lived. She was told that she was one of the lucky ones. Her parents had found her in time. She didn't consider herself lucky. She had to live looking like a monster that people couldn't help but stare at. Children would point and laugh, some would start crying and mothers would pull their children away, out of her reach, as though she was going to harm them. Claudia also lived in constant fear. Fear that the person who did this to her would come back to finish the job. No doubt he knew she wasn't dead. If he were ever to be caught, she could identify him.. or that would be what he thought anyway. She had no idea on what her attacker looked like. Her sub conscious had blocked the face out apparently. Thats what she was told anyway. She jumped when there was a soft knock at her door.
"Come in" She called out, thinking it was one of her parents. She was shocked when Isaac opened the door and stepped inside the room.
"Hi.." He said, he looked uncertain of whether he should be there or not. Claudia gave him a small smile.
"Hi.. can I help you with anyting?" She asked him. She suddenly remembered the mess her room was in. Ever since the attack, she had locked herself in her room nearly everyday, only coming out for meals and school. She loved to write. Anything. From poetry to songs, she would write fictional stories and she was now doing something very difficult for her to do, but her therapist thought it would help her get over it. She was writting about the attack. she had pieces of scrap paper and notebooks strewn all over the room.
"No no... just came up to say hi... your Mom said it was okay to look around the house and I saw your light on.. I ah... I also want to appologise. What Zac said was uncalled for and he shouldn't have said it."
"Said what?" Claudia asked, pretending that she didn't know what Isaac was talking about.
"You know what he said... I know you heard him.."
"Oh... that... don't worry about that... happens all the time, I guess you could say I'm used to it." Claudia said, picking up the paper and notebooks. She stuffed them into a draw then sat down on her bed. "Anyway, you don't have to say sorry to me... you didn't say it."
"I know... but being Zac's older brother, I feel that I'm responsible for that kind of thing." Isaac told her. He stepped further into the room, looking at Claudia, waiting for an invite of some sort to sit down somewhere.
"Well... you shouldn't. Um... was there anything else?" She asked. She was growing increasingly umcomfortable with Isaac in her room alone with her. She didn't know him. She didn't know what he was capable of. Isaac didn't notice her uneasiness..or maybe he didn't want to notice it.
"What year are you in at school?" He asked her, ignoring her last question.
"Senior..."
"It's a hard year hey? I just finished that last year. Got though with okay marks so that kept Mom and Dad happy." Isaac told her. "But what hasn't made them happy is the fact that I want to put off college for a year. What do you want to do when you finish school?"
"You know...I haven't really thought about that." Claudia said, starting to loosen up. She could see that he wanted to talk to her, find out about her life, about her. But then again, her parents could have put him up to this. With that thought, she instantly withdrew completely from the conversation. She gave him only one or two word answers. She felt bad, as Isaac was really trying to get her to talk, but she wasn't going to and it was obvious to him. He sighed, made an excuse to leave and left. Claudia couldn't help but wonder if Isaac was genuine in his intrest to befriend her. Claudia stayed in her bedroom until she was called down by Angela to come down to dinner. Claudia sighed and slowly made her way downstairs. The dining room was alive with talk when she entered it. She spotted an empty chair and saw with a sinking heart, that it was inbetween Taylor and Zac. She was surprised to find herself wishing that she had been seated next to Isaac. He was sitting across from her. She sat down and Mike said Grace. Once that was over, the two families began to eat.
"What grade are you in this year?" Taylor asked Claudia.
"I'm a Senior.... " Claudia said, not looking at Taylor.. or anyone for that matter.
"Oh... I'm a Junior... well.. at least we'll be in the same school. You do go to Tulsa Memorial dont you?" He asked her. Claudia nodded, looking down at her plate. Diana and Angela exchanged glances. Taylor was trying to be friendly and start a conversation. Claudia felt bad to, but she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye. She noticed that Zac, who was on her left, was sitting as far away from her on his seat as he could. Don't let that bother you Claudia... you don't care what he thinks about you... she thought to herself. The truth was, she did care on what he thought of her.. on what anyone thought of her. Since the attack, Claudia had become very withdrawn. She didn't like to interact with other teens her age, and was always aware of what people may be saying about her. The dinner went on, the boys talked amongst themseleves, including Claudia when they could. It was very late before everyone retired to bed. As soon as Claudias head hit the pillow, she was in a deep sleep.
Claudia unlocked the front door and entered her house. "I'm home!" She called out, making her way upstairs. "Anyone here?". She was half way up and heading to her room. Claudia froze when she heard a voice whisper
"Claudia...... we all must go through a rite of passage.... it must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark....and you my dear.... I haven't finished with." Claudia turned and started to run up the rest of the stairs but it wan't long before she felt the strong, over powering, arms circle around her waist and throat. Trying to scream, Claudia realiesed that her mouth wouldn't open. He dragged her down the hallway and into what should have been her bedroom. It wasn't. The room was lit up with candles only, but there was enough light for her to see the tourtured faces. It was then that she knew she was going to die. No one would ever find her in this place. The room was filled with others like herself, stung up this way and that. Some were dead, others wished they were. One man was crying out in emense pain, but Claudia couldn't see why. He started to drag her towards the center of the room and she kicked at him. It had no effect. His face was a black, blank void. She couldn't make out what he looked like. She looked down at her body and was shocked to see she was naked. This hadn't happened before.. why had she lost her clothes? "Now Claud....don't stuggle... be a good girl wont you.... this wont hurt a bit...". He then bit down hard on her left breast.
Chapter Three
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