Scars Chapter 2 Don't Let Me Wake to the Dawn

Once my social worker had left from sight Mr. Skuller instructed me to walk inside the foyer , touch nothing and wait while he was in the other room. He took off through a closed door on the opposing side of the front entrance as I took my first few steps inside of the first room. The ceiling was tall and the lighting dim. There was a staircase leading to the up to the second floor. Dusty antique pictures of cruel looking people adorned the walls, each had a golden name plate placed under each. Walking around looking at the many pictures I read the names under my breath. Agatha Skuller, Lucifer Skuller, Scott Skuller, Wendy Skuller; each name I read sent a chill down my spine as I stared at the dead faces and cruel eyes. There was a small table sitting in the center of the room, it held a clear vase of dead roses. The crisp, fallen leaves and petals scattered the table. I wondered why Mr. Skuller never bothered to exchange them for some fresh, red ones. I noted not to touch them for their stems were heavily studded with sharp teeth like thorns.

I heard thick boots on the hard wood floors coming my way from the room that Mr. Skuller had exited through. I tip toed back to the center of the room where my tiny suit case sat and waited. Mr. Skuller finally emerged. His shirt was soot covered, around his nostrils had reddened and his eyes seemed to have glazed over. His hands were surpassingly clean compared to his filthy new appearance. I became wary of him. Something had told me something was not right about him.

“Your room is upstairs, follow me” the words slide from his between his teeth with his slightly forked tongue.

I followed him quietly, for fear if I spoke wrongly I would be punished for it. When we reached the landing at the top of the stairs there was a long desolate hallway. The only thing in the thin hallways was a small table holding yet another dead rose, this one’s thorns had a dark red jam like substance staining the thorns. Shying away from the table I continued to follow Mr. Skuller.

Stopping at the third door on the left, he pressed it open firmly making the door crack when it swung back into the wall. “This is the bathroom, it’s yours to use whenever you feel like it. I have my own for me”. The Bathroom was small with a cracked antique toilet and ancient shower. The tiny sink and mirror had vein like etches in the edges. Each contained what looked like a gold filling from where I stood. As I studied the bathroom Mr. Skuller continued down the hall and I quickly followed.

Next we came to a lonely white door adorning no cosmetic damages. Mr. Skuller pushed it open revealing a small brass framed bed, an old dresser and the window led to a small out look with a view of the whole back yard., other than that the small room was empty and blanketed with thick dust.

“ This is your room. Put your things away. If you haven’t enough room in your dresser make your suitcase a storage place for things you don’t feel like leaving out right away,” suddenly he tightly gripped my wrist and spun me towards him, “never ever should I find you venturing into the other rooms. For you shall be severely punished. Understand?” I nodded my head quickly. My silence made him uneasy and provoked anger.

“What? Are you a damn mute?? Speak!!” he yelled just an inch away from my face shaking my body.

“Y- Yes sir, I- I understand” I bleated. My arm had began to hurt from the unbearably tight grip and shaking.

“Better, I’ll be back to fetch you when I’m ready” He let go of my roughly and walked from my room closing the door behind me.

I watched to door close and noticed something peculiars. It was missing the inside door handle. It looks to have been ripped off purposely. The lack of a door handle for me to get out with caused me to panic. I ran to the door and beat on it frantically I shouted.

“Mr. Skuller! Mr. Skuller ! Please come back! The door handle is missing! I’m trap-” suddenly the door flew up smacking me in the face busting my lip and throwing me to the ground.

“I will never tolerate screaming ! Not now! Not ever! If I hear you scream one more time I’m sending you out that window there!” he yelled pointing to the over looking window.

“But I- I- There was no door handle I didn’t know how I was to -” my face screwed up and eyes welled with tears as I was cut short of my explanation. He surged to me bending my hand back almost to where I could touch my wrist. Screaming I begged him to let me go.

“I told you! I will not tolerate screaming nor will I tolerate complaints!!” He yelled and continued to slowly bend my hand back till I was blind with pain. Once I mustered enough composure to silence my screams of pain he let go giving my hand relief.

“Now put your things away, and don’t make me come back in here” he said coldly and slammed the door as he walked out shaking the entire room. I didn’t move from my place on the floor until the heavy boot steps subsided.

Slowly I fingered my wrist. It didn’t feel broken but continued to hurt from it’s sudden torture. Supporting myself on my other hand I got up and began the slow process of putting my things away. I didn’t have much to put away. Only a few blouses, skirts and undergarments lay in my suitcase. I slowly separated everything into their own separate drawers. I took out my last possession I had in the world. Sparky, my raggedy Dalmatian stuffed animal. I sat on the brass framed bed and hugged him letting my tears stain his grey coat. I laid on my new bed, hating my new home already and cried myself to sleep.

Later I awoke in the dark room with my stomach growling. I sat up and looked around straining to see through the velvety darkness. My first impulse was to yell for Mr. Skuller then remembering the torture I bared earlier, I kept quiet. Tucking my knees to my chest, I waited.

Finally there came the dull thud of those heavy boots. The closer they came the more my heart raced for fear of what may happen next. The door slowly creaked open letting the darkness be pierced by a thin line of light. One mammoth sized hand reached in through the door way and flipped the light switch, illuminating the room with light.

“Come down stairs, it’s time for dinner” He said staring at me with a blank expression.

I got down from my bed and followed him quietly. I noted that he was clean, and his eyes were no longer glazed and nostrils were no longer cherry colored. My silent obedience pleased him as we made our way down the stairs, through the foyer and into another door way. The kitchen appeared to be just a normal kitchen with a sink, a table and chairs, refrigerator, cupboard, stove and what appeared to be the door to a cellar. On the table sat two plates, each piled with food. Mr. Skuller sat at one side of the table and following suit I at the other. He stabbed his fork into his food quickly and precisely as if it were going to run away from him if he did not shovel it down quick enough.

Next to him laid a large mean looking knife. The razor sharp blade stared menacingly up at me. I could not figure out why the knife lay there when there was nothing in site that was in need to be cut. Slowly looking around the kitchen as I nibbled the food I noticed it was the only knife in there. The some of the dish tasted decent and others tasted like rubber. Remembering the “no whinnying” policy I kept my mouth shut and ate on ignoring the protest of my taste buds.

Mr. Skuller finished his plate as I was only half way through with mine. As he stood he gathered his plate and chugged his drink. He walked by me and collected my plate and water glass emptying my food into the trash before I was through. I looked at the food drop into the trash as my stomach pained for it wanted to finish eating. I sat in pure protestant silence.

“Well, well, well. I guess someone doesn’t like my cooking does she. She didn’t finish her food. Waster” He said those words coldly. “Michelle do you know how much I hate wasters?” he asked menacingly as he walked back to the table and fingered the lonely knife.

“No sir” I said quietly, fearing the worst.

“Wasters get punished Michelle. The punishment is good, for they will never waste again” Mr. Skuller raised the knife high and poised it above me sitting at the table. My eyes grew wide and I bit my lip looking away as the knife whistled down toward me cutting the stale air. A thud sounded as the knife drove itself in between my fingers laying spayed out on the table. My heart had stopped, I was barely breathing. I could feel the cold steel against my flesh.

“ Let this be your warning” he said as he wrenched the knife out of the table. “ Return to your room. Get ready for bed” and with that he turned from me and headed through another door.

I raced as fast as my feet could carry me back to the tiny room, taking precautions not to let my door close and imprison myself. I grabbed my night gown and tooth brush and crept to the bathroom trying to be as quiet as I could. I looked around in the bathroom and found a towel and wash cloth but no soap or shampoo any where. So I turned the water one and stood under the faucet for a moment then stepped out wrapped in a towel.

There he stood, watching my every move. He leaned on the door frame staring me down. I froze with fright and wished he would leave me alone. He eyed me up and down in my towel daring me to speak out against him. When I didn’t he finally spoke.

“Michelle, have no shame. You belong to me now you will do everything I ask you to or you will be punished. There are some things I should never have to tell you, things which you will do obediently and without question. I have few rules everyone must be followed to a “T” or else you’ll be severely punished. Never scream, no whining, no questioning , especially my authority. And lastly don’t speak unless spoken to. These are the back bones of my house hold with other rules. Step out of line and I will gladly put you in your place,” he paused and walked toward me, he rested his hands on my bare shoulders still eyeing me, “ I control you. You have no pleasures in life, there are only my pleasures. You have no fun, there is only my fun. You have nothing… Understand?” He finished bringing his voice down slowly from normal speech till a whisper poisoning my ear.

“Yes I understand” I said staring at my reflection in the mirror blankly. The next event was unexpected, while he was down by my face he slid his chalky lips against my cheek leaving a dry disgusting kiss. Instinctively I pulled away from him. For my action I received a swift back hand to my face which spun me into the toilet knocking the air out of me as I lay facing away from him with tears rolling down my face.

“Don’t ever make me do that again Michelle” He scowled and stormed away.

Why is this happening to me? What have I done? I thought silently to myself as I laid in bed after getting into my night gown. Curled next to Sparky I let the tears flow freely, silently weeping my woes to the stars as I stared out the window from my bed. A crystal tear melted into Sparky while the stars twinkled brightly outside my window. I feel asleep praying, Dear God, please don’t let me wake to the dawn. Take me home tonight, please! I beg you.