My Way To You

I can"t move my body but there is a hand behind my head. It"s forcing me to look into someone"s eyes but my vision is blurring. I try hard to focus somewhere else, move my eyes back and forth quickly trying to gather information.

It"s odd nothing looks familiar, it"s scary, I want to get up but it"s starting to get harder to breathe. I start to gasp and cough. Some liquid leaves my mouth and I finally look at the person before me.

He"s crying, his tears are so beautiful but I feel no sadness. My heart is now at peace, I can now hear his voice. "Don"t leave me! Just look at me and stay awake!" he yells, I can feel myself smiling this is what I wanted. I start to close my eyes and let the darkness take me away.

...

It was finally morning and Ariana couldn"t be happier. She had the same dream again but every time she had it she couldn"t help but feel warm inside.

She jumped out of bed and quickly went to her bedside table. There she would start her morning routine. She would pour some water from the pitcher into the bowl and wash her face. She would then pull off her night gown in an uncoordinated dance as the hole of the gown always got stuck around her head.

Once she was down to her undies she would soak a small towel and scrub herself clean. Then grab the same old, tattered, beige dress that was laid over a small chair in the corner. Ariana smiled brightly today, for today was no ordinary day. It was her 12th birthday and her mother left a simple white dress with cross st.i.tched pink flowers across the trim of the dress was now on the chair instead of the old dress.

Ariana jumped in joy as she grabbed the dress and placed it over her tiny body. She spun on her tippy toes as she hugged the dress, letting little giggles escape from her mouth. They sun was now shinning brightly and the rays were now dancing on the floor of her room. She started to dance in between the light patterns and hummed a happy tune.

After she had her fun she got dress and brushed her hair. She loved how her long, black hair shimmered in the sunlight and decided today she was going to wear it in a ponytail. After she tied a big white ribbon in her hair she ran down the steps to greet her parents in the kitchen.

"Morning mother! Morning father! Isn"t today just grand!" she shouted happily. Her mother was busy stirring some wheat porridge over the wood burning stove. Her mud coloured hair was messily tied up in a low bun, her skin was tanned from working out in the fields and her cold grey eyes gave her a quick look, acknowledging her existence before she turned back to stirring the pot.

While her father cheerfully extended his arms outwards and smiled brightly back to his child. "My beautiful Ariana happy birthday to you!" he shouted as Ariana ran into his arms. His brown eyes twinkled as he looked over his daughter. "The dress suits you!" he exclaimed as he started hugging Ariana harder and rubbed her back.

"Thank you daddy! I feel very beautiful today!" she said with a radiating smile. She looked up to she her father"s face and noticed his dirty blond hair grew again as it now curled around his ears. "Yes honey you look very... beautiful." he said in a hushed voice lingering a little too long on the word beautiful.

"Breakfast is ready." barked Ariana"s mother. Ariana quickly pulled herself from her father"s embrace and sat in her chair waiting for breakfast. "Chandra I want to take Ariana to the woods today to show her how to forage." Ariana"s father announced. Chandra"s hand froze midway as she was placing a bowl of wheat porridge in front of him.

"Lester I think it is too soon to take Ariana to go to "forage" in the woods." Chandra said coolly as she moved to serve Ariana next. "Nonsense Chandra, it"s safe to forage in the woods. We have done it countless time and nothing has happened." Lester said as he spooned his breakfast absent mindedly.

Ariana was confused by the conversation. She knew very well how to forage in the woods but the way her parents were talking it made it seem like something else entirely. "Daddy what would we be looking for?" Ariana asked as she batted her long eyelashes towards her father.

Chandra became still and briskly walked to the fridge to pull out a pitcher of milk. "It"s a rare flower that can only be plucked once... many people search for it because it is something so rare and delicious it can drive them crazy just knowing they can have a taste of it. So looking for it is part of the adventure while plucking it is the reward." Lester said with a side smile.

"Oh wow daddy! That sounds amazing! Mom can I go with daddy please!" she pleaded as she looked at her mother who was now placing a cup of milk in front of her father. "Eat your breakfast and then we will talk." Chandra said dryly as she sat down next to Lester.

Ariana loved when her mother sat beside her father because it was the only time her mother would look truly happy. She would spend countless moments staring at her husband with a youthful gaze that it made Ariana envious. It had been many years since her mother looked at her with such joy and warm.

"Chandra I hope you know there is nothing to discuss. I will be taking Ariana to the woods so she can be properly taught." Lester said sternly before he shoved a spoonful of the porridge into his mouth. Chandra dropped her gaze to the table top and intertwined her fingers. "I understand." she mumbled begrudgingly. She lifted her head and shot Ariana a cold glare. "I guess you can go."

Ariana"s heart soared. She tried to imagine what this flower looked like as she shoved her food into her mouth. She started to tape her shoes together in a happy rhythm while she chewed.

After everyone finished eating Ariana helped her mother wash the dishes while her father nursed the cup of milk at the table. Once they finished Ariana grabbed her small messenger bag and waited by the door. "Daddy I am ready to go!" Ariana shouted as her aquamarine eyes sparkled with excitement.

Lester chugged back the rest of the milk and walked up to his wife. He kissed her forehead and whispered "I love you... see you tonight." Chandra caught his hand and placed it over her cheek. She caressed it for a few moments and then kissed the center of his palm. "I love you too." she whispered back.

With that Lester turned to look at Ariana waiting at the door. He smiled and took three steps forward before his eyes rolled back and he fainted onto the floor. Ariana started to scream as she ran up to her father but her mother stopped he from touching him.

"He is not yours to have!" she shouted as she pushed the young girl backwards. Ariana was confused and looked up to her mother"s face. Chandra scowled at her, grabbed her arm and dragged her outside to the front of the house. Soon she placed two fingers into her mouth and let out a high pitched whistle.

Suddenly a purple carriage came racing up to their tiny, wooden house. A curvaceous, dark skinned woman with long, silver hair hopped down from the from the driver"s seat. She wore lilac, short shorts, a white, ruffled blouse and a lilac, pirate corset coat with gold ringlets and black lace.

She brushed her hair back arrogantly with a flick of her wrist. She looked at Chandra then at Ariana with her green eyes. She scoffed at the pair before she opened the door and slightly bowed. A fair skinned, n.o.bel lady dress in a sea of red and gold trimmed ruffled dress stepped out of the carriage. Her dress was low cut, showcasing her plump b.r.e.a.s.t.s while her long, black curls spilled over her shoulders.

Her plump red lips turned upwards into an evil looking smile while her dark blue eyes gazed at the pair happily. "My aren"t you just a pretty little lady. Just like you said Chandra she can easily grow up into a seductress." she said as she reached out and clutched Ariana"s chin. Tilting it left and right, trying to view every angle.

"Mommy?" Ariana asked fearfully as she looked towards her mother. Chandra looked at Ariana with disdain "You"re wrong Lady Zula! She is already a seductress, she tried to steal my husband"s love from me! Just pay me what you owe me and take her away!" she said angrily.

Lady Zula let go of Ariana"s chin and looked back at her driver. "Rin give the nice lady her pay." she ordered nonchalantly. Rin grabbed a pouch from behind her and tossed it towards Chandra. "150 gold coins for a young virgin." Lady Zula announced before Rin grabbed Ariana and tossed her into the carriage.

"Mommy?! Mommy!" Ariana started to shout from the carriage. Lady Zula sat right beside Ariana and held her back. Rin closed the door and jumped back into the driver"s seat. She pulled the reins and had the horses move forward. "MOMMY!" Ariana shouted as loud as she could while the carriage moved further and further away from her home.

"Child stop your crying. It"s true your mother has throw you away but you are going to start your new life with me. If your smart and play your cards right you will become the top girl at my brothel house!" Lady Zula said excited as she laughed into the air.

Ariana"s eyes became wide with fear. She heard stories about the brothel house from her school friends and knew what it meant to be sent there. She started to scream at the top of her lungs and tried to escape from the carriage. Suddenly the carriage came to a hard halt. Causing Ariana to loose her balance and be tossed forward.

Rin opened the carriage door and grabbed Ariana"s collar. She dragged her forward and punched Ariana in face. Ariana suddenly went limp and Rin tossed her back towards her seat. "I"m sorry for my rudeness Madam but I couldn"t take the racket anymore." she said lazily.

Lady Zula smiled brightly and nodded her head in acceptance. Rin bowed and closed the door to the carriage. She hopped back to her seat and had the horses in motion again.