Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Chapter 4 pretty girl

I awoke with pain. My weary head resting against the cold hard floor, and my small blanket doing little to protect me from the chilly draft seeping through the floor and the cracks in the walls. I felt sick to my stomach as last night's images flashed through my mind, causing me to shiver more.

I groan as I sit up, rubbing my eyes from sleep, before stretching my aching muscles in an attempt to alleviate the pain. But as I look around the room, I notice that it is different.

They moved me.

I then remember how my father had informed me that I would be moving to a new place, because he needed my old room for storage. I sigh as I take in my new room. It was much like my old one, no bed, no decorations. Just a 6 by 10 room with a barred window.

I find the strength to stand, and take a moment to try to relax my aching body. My legs feel wobbly, and my abdomen feels sore, but I've been through this before, so I can do it again.

Tattered, dusty curtains hung over the window, and I immediately ripped them off to look out the window. The gentle sunshine found its way in my room and tickled my face.

I loved the light. I hated the Darkness, because that's where predators lurk. But, how can one know Light without the Darkness?

I need to find another job.

I make my way into a bathroom, and I find that is is cramped and smaller than my bathroom in my old room. I shrug, and turn on the water. It spits out muddy water for a bit, until finally, clean, cool water comes out. I splash my face with the water, and place my hands on the counter, slowly finding the strength to face myself.

The mirror is cracked, distorting my features. My lip is swollen, my eyes are puffy and red from lack of sleep and from the many tears I have shed. Dark circles have made what seems like a permanent home under my eyes, and deep bruises paint my cheeks. My chocolate brown hair is matted and oily, and I open a drawer, finding an old wooden brush and some makeup.

The man unworthy to call my father makes me wear makeup, because he doesn't want me walking around having his artwork on display for all to see.

I work through my matted hair, and finally, it becomes smooth and straight. Too bad it looks so oily. Next, I apply makeup and watch as the imperfections on my skin disappears slowly. Nobody knows what hides under my makeup, it's as if I'm wearing a mask.

You got this.

I head out the door, looking around observing that I am in a different place. Luckily, I know this part of the city like the back of my hand, and it wasn't that much far of a walk towards the local stores.

I stopped off at a little, run down grocery store with a "Now hiring" sign hanging outside their window. The sign was crooked and hanging on by one corner. It looked pretty....gross. But who am I to complain?

I walk inside, where an older man stands, maybe he's in his 60's. He has graying hair and a wrinkled face. He wore the clerks uniform, so I approach him.

"H-Hello?"

No answer.

"Uhm...sir?"

No answer.

"H-hello?" I try again.

Finally, he snaps out of his gaze.

"Oh, sorry, pretty girl, I was just too busy checking you out." He says. His voice grungy and dry, sending shivers up my spine.

Why are all men perverts?

"H-have a nice day s-sir." I say, quickly exiting the store. Men only bring pain, and they make me nervous.

I walk to a record store, and enter. I see a younger man organizing his records in a neat pile.

"Hello there. I saw the sign outside your door." I say quietly. He turns around, facing me. A calculating look crosses his blue eyes as he strokes his hairless chin thoughtfully.

"I was wondering if-"

"Nope." He cuts me off.

"But you didn't even let me fini-"

"Nope."

I feel my frustration rising and my patience running out.

"Why can't I have-"

"Because I said no." He says shrugging.

I furrow my eyebrows as anger starts to rise. I've had enough people throw their crap into my life, and I'm sick of it. So, I did something I have never done before. I let him have it.

"Look buddy! You don't need to be such a jerk. I saw a 'Now hiring' sign outside your door! And would you stop stroking your chin like you have some manly beard? Everyone knows that you are not a man yet, therefore, your lack of hair on your chin!" I yell.

He folds his arms across his chest as he gives me the death glare. And for a moment, I thought he was going to kill me.

"A girl like you wouldn't be able to handle this job." He throws at me.

The nerve of this guy!

"Fine, I wouldn't want to work with someone like you any way!" I spit out.

I go to turn on my heels when a sudden wave of nausea hits me. My legs suddenly start shaking, and my body starts trembling. I collapse onto the floor as the strength in my body leaves me. Everything starts to slowly fade, but I can still hear the man's voice.

"Crap! Now what am I supposed to do?" The man says, lightly tapping my body with his foot.

Gee, I don't know, maybe call an ambulance?

He loudly sighs, as if he's pondering.

Finally, I hear him talking to someone else.

"Yeah...a girl passed out in my store. I don't know man, this is like the third person this week! She's probably high or something. I'm at the record and music store."

Slowly, things become foggy and I find myself losing the battle the Darkness that swallows me whole.

* * *

I awake with my heart pounding in my chest. My breathing is labored, and everything is dark. However, there is one, large darker shadow that stands out among the darkness. It is terrifying. Its a large man who seems to be wearing a black cloak, similar to the one the Grim Reaper wears.

He steps out of the shadows, revealing a crooked face, and evil, red glowing eyes. And for some reason, I just knew, it was my dad.

I scream at his terrifying face.

"No! Get away from me!"

He edges closer.

"Stop!"

He takes another step, smiling, revealing his teeth that look like razors.

He takes his huge hand and swipes across my face, ripping most of the flesh off. I scream loudly as a dose of pain spreads like a wildfire across my entire body.

Suddenly, everything is starting to fade.

My beast of a father vanishes, and in its place, is blinding light.

"The patient is awake team!"

"Don't touch me!" I plead.

I feel hands hold me down as I kick and scream. I must get away from him, they don't understand!

"I-It hurts! Get away f-from me!" I cry out. Tears stream down my face.

"Doctor, what should we do?" A voice asks.

"Sedate her. We cannot examine her in this state."

"No, please!" I beg.

I have to stay awake! I'm not even safe in my sleep.

I feel a prick in my arm, and I feel dizzy. My limbs become slack as I feel the hands that were holding me down loosen. I try to keep my eyes open, trying to stay alert, but I can't.

Because I don't even notice when I let the drugs take me into a deep, thankfully dreamless, sleep.

* * *

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I wake up to the sound of a heart monitor, and I slowly crack my eyelids open taking in my surroundings.

Where am I?

The walls are painted a light blue, and the floors are white. A simple little table with a lamp sits at one corner, and some chairs in the other corner. I look down at my arm, to find an IV sticking out of it, which is connected to a drip. I'm also aware that I'm wearing a hospital gown, and I frown realizing some of my only clothes have vanished.

My body aches as usual, but I notice that it feels better.

I catch movement from the corner of my eye, and in walks a nurse cautiously, as if I am a deer in the forest she doesn't want to spook, for one wrong move could send me bounding off into safety.

"I see that you're awake." She says, giving a sympathetic smile. "How do you feel?"

I'm...in the hospital? How?

"You look a little confused. The drugs will do that to you." She says with a small laugh, trying to lighten the obvious tense situation.

"You see, you collapsed at the Records store, and the manager called us." She explains.

Oh.

A look of remembrance must have crossed my face as she says, "Now I see that you remember. May I ask what your name is?"

"M-my name?" I ask, becoming nervous. My identity was something people shouldn't know.

She nods slightly.

"Dakota." I say, looking away from her.

"Last name?" She asks.

I have to give her a fake last name.

"Johnson." I lie.

She writes it down on a little clipboard.

A blonde man walks through the door, wearing scrubs and a stethoscope.

"Hey, I'm Doctor Michael, how is my patient doing?" He asks, approaching me in the same cautious way the nurse had done. The nurse proceeds to exit, leaving me alone with a strange man.

My heart beat quickens, and the monitor starts to beep faster.

"Shh, I'm not going to hurt you." He says gently.

That's what they all say.

I gulp, trying to relax, but the thought of them discovering who I am scares me, they already saw my bruises and scars, and must be dying to ask the signature question.

"I just have a few questions." He says, sliding a chair closer to me and sits down.

"As you probably were aware, you are pretty beat up. You injuries can be traced back to years of trauma." He says, actually sounding.....concerned?

"I need you to be honest with me. Who did this to you?" He asks gently.

They're onto me. I can't do this.

"W-what do you mean w-who? I was struck by a b-bus." I say.

What a genius excuse. He'll totally buy that one. My mind argues.

He just shakes his head. "Your injuries don't match what you're saying. You're safe with us, you can tell us." He says.

"Please just l-leave me a-alone." I say, my voice shaking.

Why do I have to sound so emotional?

He sighs in defeat. "I will send the nurse to come check up on you."

He leaves, and I am left alone. I quickly rip the IV out of my arm and slowly get up from the bed. If I stay here any longer, they will surely investigate me. To them, I'm just an unknown beat up girl, and I can't have them investigating.

So, I did the only thing I know how to do in my life.

Run.

My bare feet touch the cold, hard floor, and I swiftly make it across the room and to the door. I peer out of my room, looking both ways. Nurses and doctors scurry down the halls, seemingly busy with other emergencies.

I calmly walk out of my room, not wanting to catch anyone's attention. I follow the large exit signs, and I find myself nearing the doors leading outside. But, of course it wouldn't be that easy.

"What are you doing out of your room?" Someone, probably a nurse, calls after me. I wouldn't know who, because I suddenly bolted, becoming nervous. The nurse calls for back up, and that just panics me more and urges me to run faster. I push past other people, in my attempt to get away. I see the doors of my escape.

So close.

And finally, I barge past them, nearly falling as I do so.

I run across the parking lot in nothing but the hospital gown on. Surely, people in the city will be suspicious if I walk around with a hospital gown on. I still hear the shouts and raucous behind me, as the hospital tries to catch their escaping patient. I knew the hospital's security is probably involved in the chase, and I knew I needed to hide somewhere.

I spot a nearby alley to hide in, and I quickly dive into it, the darkness concealing me.

I pant desperately, trying to catch my breath. My body slightly aches, but it feels so much better than it normally does.

Too bad it's just going to get beat up again.

I stay hidden in the alley for I don't know how long, but I know that my dad is going to pissed at me for being late. Hopefully I can sneak in and change so he doesn't have to see the hospital gown and get suspicious.

I make it to the run down building known as my new home, and open the creaky back door. The creak rings through the house, probably alerting all that their thing has arrived.

I step through the door cautiously, and then quickly flying up the stairs, weaving through the dark, eerie hallways, finding my room. I dive in quickly, and shut the door.

Clothes. Clothes. Clothes.

I dig into the old wooden dresser, and find a torn hoodie and some old, dusty jeans. I quickly strip, and change, thankful that I escaped successfully. My dad would have just found some way out of the situation and beaten me for trying to expose him.

Without warning, my dad barges through the door, with a...calm look on his face?

Calm?

Calm before the storm.

I start to panic, because he only comes to see me for one reason.

"I expect that you found another job?" He asks.

I shake my head and look at the ground. "N-no they all rejected m-me." I stammer out.

He sends a fist to my gut, sending me in uncontrollable coughing fits. He brings his other fist up to my face and I go flying into the wall. Blood runs down my face as I lay helplessly on the ground. He kicks me square in the ribs hard, and I find myself spitting some blood onto the floor.

He then angrily stomps off, leaving me there alone once again on the cold floor. He leaves the door wide open, which means an open invitation for any gang members to use me how they please.

And all night long my cries of pain and pleading rang through the house as men violently pinned me down and had their way with me.

By morning I couldn't move a muscle. My entire body ached, and I cried out in pain at the slightest movement. My clothes were torn, and I was curled up half naked. My body shivered violently, bruises and large, fresh wounds tainted my once pure body. My throat was sore and raw from all the screaming.

I felt the darkness consuming me slowly, and I welcomed it as it slowly enveloped my body, wrapping me in its cold, deathly embrace.

This was it.

Or so I thought.

Because little did I know, that not all heroes wear capes.