Chapter 109

Mia

It was midnight or early in the morning. I wasn’t sure which, but as usual, I found myself opening my eyes, a cold shiver running down my spine. My heart started to race as the fear inside me made itself known, taunting and feeding me with thoughts of a disgusting beast full of horror and revulsion that made me sick—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Soon, it would start. Soon, it would appear, this monster. And soon, I’d start screaming inside my head until I was exhausted, until I was numb from the pain. Then I’d push the memory of the horrendous episode into the deepest part of my mind, locking it away along with so many others, never allowing it to see the light of day again.

I raised my eyes to look at the window where a scatter of moon rays sneaked into the small dark room. The pale light seemed cold, detached, and soulless. The longer I stared at the colorless luminosity, the more I craved the warmth of sunlight. God, I wanted the sun to rise. I wanted to see the beauti