Broken and Bruised

Cat: My eyes got big, "He asked you what you wanted to do?" I thought of my own master who never asked me anything and rubbed my wrist again.

Aribella - I nodded, "Yeah, don't ask me why. I think he's bipolar."

Cat: I cracked a smile, wow, I haven't done that in a while.
"CATALINA!" the call came from the otherside and I jumped to my feet.
"I'm sorry, I have to go." I ran out the door.

Daniel: I glanced at Sam and Catalina, she's getting more jumpy every day. I realized. I wonder how much longer she'll last.

Aribella - I glared at the retreating vampire that was leaving with Catalina. I hated him for hurting her, she seemed so weak. No one deserved to be hurt like that. I knew that from experience. I sighed.

Daniel: I stood and stuffed the picture in my pocket. "Aribella? Are you done?"

Aribella - "Yeah, coming," I said and walked out, this time being sure I wouldn't walk into him. I was still ranting in my head about how Catalina didn't deserve to be hurt like that. I fidgeted with the ring that I kept on my left ring finger. I always did that when I was nervous.

Daniel: I glanced at her face then the retreating figures of Sam and Catalina. "She probably doesn't remember anything different than what he's done to her." I said softly. "That's why I don't take them that young, she's only 14." I stopped and pulled open the door for her.

Aribella - "Yes, because it's so much better when you remember the good times," I said sarcastically. But the funny part was that I knew exactly what it felt like to never remember being treated any differently. Leave it to me to be kidnapped by a vampire a month after getting out of an abusive relationship. As my friends said, I was attracted to danger.

Daniel: I smiled a little welcoming the sarcasm. It was a distraction from the burn in my throat, blood bags didn't work as well as fresh. "So what's that ring for?" I asked sitting on my bed.

Aribella - "It started out as a gift, then it was a token of love, then a mark of ownership, and now it's a reminder," I said checking off all the things I thought of this ring as.

Daniel: I raised an eyebrow, "That's a buzy ring." I stuffed the picture back in the pillow case.

Aribella - "It spread all that out over a period of two years," I admitted. "Two very long years at that."

Daniel: "I hear a story, are you willing to tell it?"

Aribella - I thought about it then nodded, "I'll tell the generalized version." I said. "Pretty much what happened was... I fell in love with someone I didn't know even though all my friends warned me not to. I never did listen to them. Anyway, it took me three months before I could see that he was emotionally abusive. When I tried to leave he threatened me. Soon after that I was stuck in an abusive relationship, a physically abusive one. About two months ago I ran away from him and started going to therapy. A month ago I was released from therapy with a miraculous recovery. I didn't think of him again until you came into my life." I admitted.

Daniel: I frowned, "I remind you of him?"

Aribella - I shook my head, "No, I don't think so." I said and then mumbled, "But you make me crazy. I started hearing his voice ever since I entered the park with you."

Daniel: I thought about it, "I'm sorry."

Aribella - I shook my head, "It's not your fault I'm hearing him. Although I'd love to blame you."

Daniel: I nodded in understanding, then hesitated. "Your aunt that you told me about, Sammie, is she still alive?"

Aribella - "No," I said slowly. "She was murdered."

Daniel: My eyes darkened, "Did you ever find out who did it?"

Aribella - I shook my head, fear beginning to shake me as I thought of the note that was left by the killed. "No, h-he left a no-note though."

Daniel: I narrowed my eyes, my fist clenched. "What did it say?"

Aribella - I continued, "It was addressed for me. It said, 'Don't make the same mistakes or you'll end up the same way.'"

Daniel: I glared at the ceiling and took a deep breath, "Don't worry about that." My eyes lightened and I looked back to her. "Did she ever mention a boy, she would have called him..." I struggled to remember my old name. "Isaac."