Vector
"Vector, get your ass in here right now!" A loud, familiar voice thundered from down the hallway and I stiffened, dread settling over me.
That was Hans, one of my two older step-brothers.
My heart was pounding hard with fear and nervousness as I pushed off the bed and balanced myself with the help of my old walking sticks, my stomach in knots.
It never meant anything good whenever my brothers ordered me to come into their room at night. If they weren't interested in beating me to a pulp tonight, then it meant they were interested in playing that sick game with me whereby they'd force me to undress and…
A harsh breath left my throat. I couldn't dare to keep them waiting.
My eyes caught the envelope on my bedside table and I picked it up, warmth filling my chest as I pressed it against my cheek. All this suffering was gonna be over by tomorrow. This letter was delivered today from the palace and the letter was an official invite from the royal family for me to officially join the royal kitchen as a chef.
I've always had exceptional talents relating to cooking since I was little, and although my crippled state hindered me a lot, I strived hard and was determined to achieve something with this talent of mine.
Aside from my crippled state, it was rumored that my late mother was a murderer, so most people avoided me like a plague.
After feeling hopeless and stagnant for years, an opportunity to showcase myself presented itself, the palace opened vacancies for new chefs because the queen hasn't been pleased with what the old chefs' food for months.
Although I was laughed at for daring to participate, the queen ended up falling in love with my own meal out of all the contestants.
Since then, I've received so much praise from the villagers that it was hard to believe it was real.
This envelope in my hand was physical proof that indeed, all of that was real.
My life is gonna change tomorrow. I wouldn't have to live here with my step brothers who make my life hell. I wouldn't be constantly mocked and ridiculed by the villagers anymore, cause I'll move into the palace tomorrow morning and officially begin a new life.
When my other stepbrother, Gary, called my name, I rushed out of the room fast, gripping my sticks tightly until I was knocking on their door.
"I- I'm so sorry I'm late." I breathed out as the door got pulled open and I was yanked in.
"Are you really?" Hans demanded and I flinched.
"I- I am." I whispered and they crackled.
"Is the new fame already getting to your head? Think you're better than us now?" Gary asked harshly and I gasped while quickly shaking my head, my heart pounding fast.
They surrounded me like hawks. Two step brothers. Older, stronger, cruel. They used to be nicer to me until after our father died a decade ago, then they turned to these evil people overnight.
I was more like a cleaner and a chef in the house right now, and they sometimes starve me of food cooked by me as punishment when mad at me.
"Oh, but it clearly is. I can see it in your eyes. You think you're now better than us." Hans pressed, grabbing a handful of my hair and yanking until I cried out.
"T- that's not true." I whispered but I got backhanded hard.
"Shut up! Stop lying! If you're being honest, you'd not have accepted that invite from the palace. You did cause you planned to desert your own family."
I experience different kinds of suffering everyday. How did they expect me to refuse the offer?
"I'm so sorry." I whispered desperately, hoping they'd not beat me until my bones break tonight.
That was what I said the most in my entire life. Always apologizing.
Sorry for being born.
Sorry for existing.
Sorry.
"You're not." Gary bit out before kicking me so hard, I lost hold of my walking sticks, making pain shoot through my body.
A sob caught in my throat.
"You should have instantly rejected that offer! We fed you, clothed you and housed you. And this is how you repay us? By deserting us?" I was kicked hard in the ribs and I cried out in pain, tears spilling down my face.
"I won't desert you, I promise. You're both my family, I'll never do that." I insisted desperately but they refused to listen and instead proceeded to beat me until I struggled to breath due to the pain shooting through my body.
Hans stormed into my room, got the envelope and shredded it, announcing that I was never gonna leave them no matter what.
"You think you can escape? You'll never be able to. You'll be with us forever." Gary gritted out while pulling hard on my hair.
By the time they were both done, I was a mess on the ground, sobbing and falling apart. I was beyond shattered and right now, I wasn't just crying because of the pain, I was mourning the loss of the future that was just in my grasp before it got brutally ripped by my brothers.
That letter contained my pass into the palace. Now that the entire content of the letter has been shredded, I'd never be allowed into the palace no matter what. The royal family would just assume I rejected the offer, not knowing my brothers were the cause of me not showing up.
I couldn't breathe. The thought of me being forced to keep living the rest of my life in this kind of situation was too heart wrenching and terrifying.
There was no hope in my future anymore.
When I finally dragged myself to my bedroom, I pulled out the box containing all my herbs and pulled out the blue bottle. It contained poisonous seeds and without hesitation, I dumped the whole thing in my mouth.
There was no use in living anymore.
I'd rather die than continue to go through this every single day. I was beyond exhausted.
I have no friends, no one would miss my absence anyway.
As my eyes began to grow woozy, I laid in the bed, thankful that I had picked a painless death.
All my troubles were gonna be over in a heartbeat, then I'll finally know rest for the first time.
Goodbye, world.
I blinked slowly, my head splitting as I struggled into a sitting position.
Didn't I die? I wondered within myself as I looked around.
Nothing looked familiar, and that was what had confusion settling over me.
My walking sticks were nowhere in this room.
My old, unpainted room was painted a dull purple.
My tiny window with a ratty, old curtain was instead a tall glass window with sleek looking black curtains.
What's happening…?
I glanced down at the bed. Beside an unfamiliar looking pillow, a pen and paper sat, like someone was writing in it before falling asleep.
I picked the paper up and read.
'My prince who radiates warmth that challenges the sun. You live in my heart and I can't wait for a part of your body to start making acquaintances with my eager hole…
I squinted, my face hot. What the hell?
'I love you, my prince. I might not be able to provide heirs for you as a mere human, but I know I can provide you pleasure you've never felt anywhere before.You and I are meant to be. I've been saving myself for you. Pure and untainted. I'm yours to touch, to claim, to…'
I abruptly stopped reading, my mind reeling and my eyes bulging.
Was this a… love letter?!
I wrinkled my nose. That was more like a desperate cry to be picked for free…
More papers were peeking from underneath the bed and I pulled them out, quickly glancing through it. My shock tripled. Each paper was filled with more letters, each worse than the previous one.
And the more I read, the more some of the sentences in those letters felt familiar, like something I've read before.
A loud knock came, startling me out of my skin.
"Get your useless self up, Varney! The shop won't open itself! Haven't I warned you to always be up before I come to wake you myself?!" The voice was sharp, feminine and it sent fear shooting through me. Who was that woman?
My eyes widened and I looked around in confusion.
There was no one in here except me.
Was she referring to me?
My mind reeled again when the woman yelled again, sounding angrier before the door abruptly busted open.
"You stupid child, you're dodding again? What about the shop, Varney?" She marched forward and grabbed my hand, yanking me out of the bed. I struggled to speak but no sound came out.
This woman was clearly mistaken right now.
"Excuse me, ma'am… you're mistaken, please…" I cried out as my eyes darted around fast. I was supposed to be dead after taking those pills and I don't understand anything happening right now.
"I don't know who you are or what's happening, but I'm supposed to be dead." I added, trying but failing to pull my hand free.
"Or, am I? Is this the afterlife? Are you an angel?" I asked before frowning. Are angels supposed to look this angry?
And do those kinds of crass letters about lust and holes exists in heaven?