Atlas Toren -25-

Atlas POV

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I didn’t dare cry out as the blows came. As my brother tightened his grip. As my father smirked.

“I don’t think that’s nearly enough blood- I can still see your ugly face.” He growled, and my eyes widened as he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

“How pathetic. How weak. You can’t even beat your own brother. You’re a fucking waste of space.” I shut my eyes at my brothers remarks.

“Oh? Are you scared? You want me to tell father?’

I shook my head hurriedly, and my brother let out a low chuckle. The door almost flew open, and I gripped onto my brother to stop myself from jumping. A long, leather whip was grasped tightly in my fathers palm, and he strode towards me.

“Father- he shut his eyes, he was scared. I could tell.” My brother’s voice came out as sickly sweet, but it didn’t seem to bother my father. As my father turned to look down at me, his face showed nothing but a silent hatred- that wouldn’t be silent much longer. Clenching the whip tightly, I watched as it dug into his skin, drawing blood.

Ah. Today- today was a very bad day.

Not even bothering to wait for commands, my brother flipped me onto my stomach, slamming me into the ground, before dragging me over to the wall.

He looked down at me with a disgusted expression as my hands were clamped into rusty, bloody cuffs that hung on the wall. I didn’t need to see my father to know what was coming next.

The first strike. I could feel the whip dig into my skin, and the blood rolling down. I bit my tongue to keep me from crying out on the next one.

My mind was a blur- as good as blind, and I couldn’t think straight. My fists were balled up, gripping harshly into the cool metal, that was slowly turning warm. My back would be ruined.

The sound of the whip was almost deafening- but not so loud that I couldn’t hear the rambles of my father.

“You know- this is for the best- there’s not other way you’ll learn. If you can’t withstand this- you’re fucking useless. I mean, you already are, but fucking hell! You can’t do shit!”

The tears that ran down my face had stopped, and the blood on my face had dried.

“No one will ever want you- you’re fucking pathetic! And look at you- you’re ugly as fuck. Even that whore mother of yours looks nicer.”

I tried to shut out his mutters, but they seemed to get louder with every strike of the whip. And every strike my whole body shook. I heard the occasional laugh of my brother, before I felt my father’s hot breath on my neck.

“Turn around.” He growled, and I nodded quickly, before turning my bare body towards them. I suppose he couldn’t find anywhere else on my back to mutilate. He ran his eyes over my body, spitting on the ground with disgust.

 “See- You fucking cut. How pathetic. Cutting? What a fucking coward. No one will ever want to look at you. With all these marks on you-” He spun a long knife in his fingers before trailing the tip over my cuts.

I bit my lip to keep myself from shaking as he looked up at me. He drew himself back a little- and this time I could see as the whip swung back. As the whip made the loud cracking sound. As a small smile of approval crossed my fathers face.

As my skin was dug into, and peeled around the edges. Every time, he would aim for the raw skin. The parts that would hurt the most. I dug my nails into my palms as the pain racked through me. It felt like I was exploding.

Every single time. I began to lose count. I bit back curses at every strike of the whip, not daring to let a sound out. I could tell my face was twisted in pain, and aside from a few small gasps, it was almost silent, save for the slap of the whip and my fathers muttering.

Eventually, the whip came to a rest, and I could barely raise my head from my neck and chest to look up at me.

Ashy hair lay in sweaty clumps on my forehead, and piercing green eyes still stared at my father. Burning with hatred. My mind was almost blank as he came closer.

But as his stench of alcohol hit my nose- it was sharp.,

I knew where I was. I knew I needed to live. I knew that one day this would all end. Just not today. Just not-

I almost gasped as the knife swept through my side. Reopening almost every cut I had even made. My eyes widened a fraction of an inch, and I grunted a little in pain.

“Bitch.” I spat, and he knelt down closer, before ripping the knife out. My cold eyes met his as he drew it back, and plunged it in once more.

My chest was heaving as I panted. As I sat upright. Eyes wide. No. Eyes blank. Everything- blank. But mind racing. Mind processing. Mind slowing down. And understanding where I was.

In the bed. Safe. Colten and Magnus were beside me. I was- I was… safe. My breathing felt more natural as I came to my senses, but a small noise beside me made me sit up straight again.

“Go- go back to sleep” Colten mumbled, and I nodded a little to myself. “Y-yeah” I whispered, slowly slipping myself back under the covers.

“You okay?” He mumbled, and when I didn’t respond, he sat up quickly.

With the moonlight shining in, it wasn’t hard to see my sweaty face, clammy hands. His face morphed into one of worry as he grasped the sides of my face with his hands, pressing his forehead to mine.

“What happened boo?”

“I-” My mind went a little blank at the name, but the nightmare had sped everything up. “Nightmare.” I rushed out, and he pressed his lips softly into mine.

“Emotions, remember? Don’t hide them,” He murmured into the kiss, and I nodded a little. It was slow, and sweet, and my racing brain seemed to slow a little. “You will tell us all in the morning.” He told me, and I absentmindedly nodded. “Okay.”

“Meanwhile, we’ll…”

He dragged us both back under the covers, pulling me tight towards him. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled us as close as possible, and I felt his warm breath on the nape of neck. 

“Go back to sleep” He finished, and I smiled a little.

“I- I love you.” I murmured, and he hummed.

“I love you too, little one. But don’t feel pressured to tell us right away.” He whispered, and I made a small noise of acknowledgement, before yawning tiredly.

“You know,”

I raised my head a little to hear his story. “My- my mother used to sell off my body for money,” he whispered, and I saw his eyes dim a little. “I- we were in debt, and I suppose older women liked the look of me- I only escaped because the police found out. They recommended me to come here. They did the same for you, right?”

I nodded a little. “Don’t- don’t feel bad. It doesn’t bother me anymore. And anyways, I have you guys!” His quiet voice was filled with love and passion, and I snuggled further into him. 

“And you always will,” I murmured.

My eyes came to a rest, and in my ear I could hear him whispering sweet nothings to me.

My dreams were calmer after that. Nothing came up of my family. Instead they- they were all about the guys. About date ideas. About our future. About how I loved them.

That- I didn’t even think that was possible. I still couldn’t really get my father out of my head but- but here I was. He told me no one’d ever love me. And here I was. With eight fucking boyfriends.

And I was happy. And I loved them. And they loved me. And the warm fluttery feeling was back.

And soon enough, as I opened my eyes sleepily, it was morning. But Colten’s arms were still wrapped around me. Like he would never let me go. I let out a small warm smile at that though. Maybe- maybe I really would be okay.

 The others have gone through stuff too- maybe I can heal. Maybe they can help.

My own thoughts were surprising me at this point, and I exhaled quietly, just enjoying the soft morning light and the silence. I could feel some of the others shifting around a little. Perhaps they weren’t awake yet.

Then there’s not reason for me to be. I grabbed Colten’s hand by my waist, rubbing circles into it as I closed my eyes. The quiet noise of the blanket being ruffled, and people breathing deeply was the only thing that filled my ears after that. 

It was peaceful. Nothing like I had ever experienced. And I loved it. I wanted to be able to lie, content, quiet, forever. 

Maybe this is why people fall asleep in others’ arms.

 Or sit close to each other during movies.

 I wish I had tried this sooner. 

My mind was still calm as Magnus drew closer, wrapping his big hands around me too, and I pushed myself further into him, wanting to feel his warmth. 

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