4: Ava

n the cake?" My stepmother

no way I could finish all of these and still have enough time to

r do you need me to get in there!?" She hissed

on from my chest before wiping my hand on my ragged b

." I said and made to move but

you lost your mind!?" She got up from the couch she had

but she stopped and moti

Mom, I am sorry, I was so busy in the kitchen... I tho

rd was the guttural sound coming from her as

go get it?! You ung

to say but a felt a stinging slap across my face an

d took a cautious

ut there and make sure you get that cake before showing your fac

e and tried to pull up a fake smile as I made my way to

stepmother would rather die than do an

battered dress but I paid no attention to all of that. I was pretty much use

y mother and placed

misfortune but as I grew older, I learne

or the other. We were ruled by creatures of the night —were

t chief regularly sent gifts of humans to the werewo

o for an answer. When he requested someth

nd fun in mocking me. It felt like I was their

ey could mess with withou

a curse on the streets!" Some

s turn to even look at

hop and stepped. I walked to the c

pick up the cake my mothe

yes moved from my toes and slowly made their

re. Didn't anyone teach you how to take

e pain get to me. I swallowed it down

t you. Did you whore of a mother co

es. His wife had been snatched by the chief. He was depressed a

ersto

epmother. Catherin

searched the cupboards like my stepmother's name was the be

alked up to me. He stretched it toward me and I

with a bow before tu

't hear him. Now that I had picked the cake, my min

e found outside in my town. The werewolves had given us a time frame

t dark yet but the sun was low over the horizon. Chills ran up my spine and

t once. I started running, fearing that wh

ared about the condition of the cake. My

ugh the doors with such force, th

r thundered and I

dered what had gotten him so worked up —well

u coming from

knew exactly what he would do

rthday cake... From the —

here I stood. She took the cake from

mpletely useless. Look at the way she lies so effortl

my father trying to und

a second time..." My father warned

was actually asking me. I had told him where I was co

ce didn't completely leave my lips as a heavy blow landed

my face in my hands as tears

your mother sleeping and you go out

ent me father, I am not lying..." I cried b

d and one things we could do with her. Please, honey, let

set

e I showered on her. She was always looking f

protect my face which was the only part of my body tha

days, you can make some good money with her... You do

curled up, waiting for them to leave. In my eighteen years in life, I learned that the worst

only thing we can do is exploit her other more useful parts," my st

ne, I unwrapped my arms around myself and sat up to access my injuries that were when I

the cold air that seeped in wasn't

Someone was watching me. I could have sworn I saw those

and banged the do