I have to... wake up

With trembling fingers, Aria catiously touched her head, probing the swollen, scabbing cut that pulsed with a relentless throb.

A wince escaped her lips as the pain shot through her, each throb making her want to vomit. The ache in her abdomen was nearly unbearable, a searing discomfort that made her feel as though she were being crushed from the inside.

Pulling up her dress with trembling hands, she gasped at the sight. There was a terrible,

purplish bruise on her skin. It was like a dark blossoming flower of pain that hinted at how brutal the beating was.

"Which beast would do such a thing?" she whispered, her voice barely more than a tremor, echoing in the confines of the shed.

Suddenly, a sound broke through the heavy silence, a cheerful melody that rolled in like a soft breeze. The voice of a woman singing, its cheerful notes floating through the air, grew closer by the second.

Aria still thought this was a dream, nightmare to be exact but she still didnt want to stay here till she woke up. She forced herself to her feet, a grimace painting her features as she felt her legs tremble beneath her like fragile reed in a gusty wind.

She stumbled toward the door, desperation fueling her movements, but as she reached for the handle and pushed, a clank echoed from the outside. It was the sound of a chain.

Panic surged within her having realised she was locked in. She shook the door violently, her heart pounding louder than the sound of her efforts. "Hey! Hello! Can you open this door?" she shouted, her voice raw and strained. The singing had abruptly stopped, replaced by an unsettling silence that wrapped around her like a thick fog.

Bang, bang, bang! She hammered against the wooden barrier, the sound reverberating in the small space around her, threatening to splinter under the force of her frustration.

"I know you are out there! Please, open the

door for me! I am hurt... I am bleeding!" The last word came out in a desperate gasp, but no response followed, just the oppressive quiet that seemed to mock her plea.

Aria's mind raced, her thoughts tangling like a knotted string. She had to think quickly. "Argh, arghhhh... I am dying, please help me!" The words tumbled from her lips, coated in a veneer of urgency.

She leaned against the door, mimicking a feeble collapse, her voice cracking as she coughed weakly. "Please," she rasped, hoping the sound would resonate with whoever stood beyond.

Just as her resolve began to wane, the hurried sound of footsteps reached her ears, a glimmer of hope igniting within her. She straightened instinctively, ready to bolt as the metallic sound of a key turning in a lock echoed through the air. The chain rattled and fell away, and in a flash of instinct, Aria thrust the door open, propelling herself into the world outside.

She collided with a figure. It was a young girl, no older than thirteen or fourteen, who had clearly been on the other side. They tumbled to the ground in a heap, Aria landing awkwardly on top of the girl. "Sorry, sorry!"

Aria hurriedly apologized, scrambling to her feet. But her expression froze as she took in the young girl's attire, pristine and stylish, a stark contrast to her own dishevelled state.

The girl glared up at her, fury blazing in her eyes. "You filthy pig! You fucking dirtied my dress! Are you going to pay for it, you bitch?" The words dripped with venom, and for a moment, Aria could only blink in disbelief. Was this brat really talking to her?

"Me?... Are you talking to me?" she managed, incredulity colouring her tone as she pointed to herself as if there might be another person hidden behind her.

The girl brushed her skirt indignantly, the fabric far more elegant than anything Aria owned. Without warning, she kicked Aria squarely in the gut.

The wind rushed from Aria's lungs, and she fell to the ground, the world spinning as black spots danced before her eyes. Pain flared through her and she muttered, "This can't be a dream, this can't possibly be a fucking dream," as she struggled to get up.

"Who else would I be talking to? Is there anyone else here?" the girl shouted, her voice high-pitched and shrill. Aria, still reeling from the blow, let out a laugh that bubbled up unexpectedly. This was not the first time she had been disrespected by someone younger.

Normally, she would use her words to educate juniors, but since this was a dream, why not use the opportunity to teach children some manners? The young girl asked, "You, what are you laughing at?"

"Can you repeat what you just called me?" Aria asked, a smirk creeping onto her face despite the pain.

"What the hell is wrong with you, you stupid

bitch—" The girl's indignant words were abruptly cut off by the sharp sound of

a slap, the crisp crack echoing through the clearing like a gunshot.

The young girl froze, her hand instinctively flying to her face, where a red mark bloomed against her pale skin. She had never been struck before, and the shock of it left her momentarily speechless, her eyes wide with

disbelief.

Aria, on the other hand, felt the burn of the slap radiate through her palm, a fiery reminder of her fragility. She bit down on her lower lip, trying to suppress a wince, the heat in her hand making her grimace as she muttered, "Fuck."

The girl's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice trembling as she stammered, "You... you... you bitch! You hit me—" But Aria was not about to let the words hang in the air.

With a swift motion, she delivered another slap, one that sent the girl's hairpin flying, a small projectile that landed in the dirt like a fallen star. The young girl staggered back, her vision blurring as she saw black spots dance before her eyes.

Aria gritted her teeth, the pain in her palm echoing through her body, but she stood her ground. "Say one more bad word again, and I will slap you... harder this time," she warned, her voice low and steady, though the tremor in her limbs betrayed her.

The girl's bravado faltered, her fierce expression melting away. "How dare you hit me! I am going to tell my mother!" she cried, but Aria could see the fear creeping into her eyes.

"It hurts twice as much for me, you know?" Aria shot back, trying to maintain her composure. "I am doing you a favour. You should thank me for educating you."

Suddenly the young girl's gaze looked past Aria and her expression shifted from anger to relief as she spotted her mother approaching, a basket of freshly harvested vegetables cradled in her arms.

The girl's body language crumpled, her fierce demeanour evaporating, replaced by a pitiful facade. "Mother!" she called out, her voice a fragile whisper, ripe with the innocence of a child wronged. "She struck me! Look, mother, it hurts."

The older woman dropped her basket, the vegetables spilling out. Her eyes widened in horror as they landed in the dirt. With trembling hands, she looked upon her precious daughter, her cheeks marked by the distinct handprints.

The woman's gaze hardened as it shifted to Aria, an inferno of maternal instinct igniting within her. "You beast!" she shrieked, her voice booming with fury as she charged at Aria like a raging bull.

Aria felt a surge of adrenaline, instinctively preparing to defend herself. She had been in fights before. She knew how to throw a punch and take one, but now her body felt like lead.

The woman was a mountain, towering and relentless, and before Aria could react, she was kicked squarely in the stomach, the impact tearing through her like a knife. She coughed, a mouthful of blood spilling forth, staining the ground beneath her.

But blood did nothing to deter the woman's wrath. Grasping Aria by the hair, her grip was merciless, as if she were pulling Aria from the very earth itself. The pain was unbearable, and Aria's vision began to blur as she was yanked upright, the woman swinging wild slaps at her frail form. Each slap felt like a hammer strike, forcing her consciousness to slip further away, the world around her dimming.

Just as the darkness began to envelop her, a voice broke through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Stop, Meera! Are you trying to kill her?"

The woman halted, her fury momentarily quelled by the presence of neighbours who had gathered, drawn by the commotion. They stood, eyes wide, some with smiles of anticipation as they watched the spectacle unfold.

Aria, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness, muttered to herself, saying, "I have to... wake up."