Page 193 of Beautifully Reckless
I’m pretty sure I’m losing my mind, so really, the laugh is fitting.
“You’re nothing but their pawn. Don’t you see what they are doing?” I hiss, flashing my blood coated teeth. “They’ve brainwashed you into playing along with their fucked up cult shit.”
“Put the dress on!” she barks, completely ignoring the truth I just threw at her.
“No.”
I say it slowly. Clearly.
“If you won’t put it on, then I’ll get some of the men in the congregation to help you put it on, Abigail.”
“I’m not wearing your shitty church clothes. You can go fuck yourself.”
My mouth has never sounded more like a sailor’s… and I’ve never felt more like me. I don’t even know when that version of me disappeared. But she’s back now, and she’s done playing nice.
I know my situation is bad, but I’ll be stuffed if I let them walk all over me any more. That version of me is dead.
In a huff, my mum storms out of the room, her brown skirt flaring around her as she goes.
With her now gone, I shift my glare to my sister.
“Where’s Tahli?”
“Don’t worry.” Maggie waves me off. “They aren’t interested in her,yet. Not until she becomes alady.” She air quotes the last part, and my heart sinks.
“Where is she, Mags?”
“She’s with one of the church families. Probably doing crafts while learning about the Script of Symme.” Maggie shrugs like it’s no big deal, but it is. It’shuge.
“Maggie, this church is a cult. It’s not a real church.” I take a few steps towards her, but she stands, balling her fists like she’s ready to throw down.
“You’ll say anything to get out of the messyoucreated,” she snaps. “Be an adult, Abbey. Take responsibility for your actions.”
“But Mags... this isn’t normal. What they are doing to me…” I stare wide eyed at my sister, needing her to understand. “They’ve beenrapingme.”
She scoffs. “It’s just like you to spread your legs and moan like a whore but then cry rape when you get caught out. I hope you and that bastard child get exactly what’s coming to you.”
A sob lodges in my throat at her words. My little sister is totally lost to the brainwashing my mum and the church have done.
“No, Maggie. You, Mum, this church, and those rapists are the ones who’ll get what’s coming toyou. Because it doesn’t matter what happens tomeormy baby.” I let my grin slip free, watching her eyes flare with concern as I morph into someone she’s never seen before. “We found a man. Arealman. And he will burn this entire place to the ground and watch until every last fragment of your twisted little world turns to ash. And he’ll do it all inmyhonour.”
Maggie parts her lips to speak, but I shake my head, taking another step closer, and finally her fear shows as she tries to press herself back into the wall with nowhere to go.
“It won’t matter if I’m alive or dead. He’s coming. For all of you. And he won’t stop until the evil inside you is wiped from this Earth.”
My sister starts to tremble, but I don’t falter.
She’s done nothing to help me.
She’s doneeverythingto make sure I’ve suffered in the worst possible way.
I feel no sympathy for her. For them. For what’s coming.
When the door creaks open again, the stare off with my sister severs, and my mum walks in. She’s flanked by two men with eyes so familiar that my blood runs cold.
These men… they were the ones who stormed Ringo’s home. Who shot Jols.
My gaze tracks to the one with a dressing peeking from under the collar of his shirt, and a slow, smug grin pulls at my lips.
