Page 16 of Monster in Disguise

My eyes widely roam about, wondering what's about to happen. The man carrying me throws me on the floor and they both leave.

I bring my knees close to my chest and link my hands over them, slowly rocking myself. It's not over. I know, with everything in me, that it's not over. I'm here for a reason.

I don't know how much time passes, but suddenly the door to the room opens. Father comes inside, dragging Mother by her hair.

"There he is."

Her eyes are blank as she looks at me. She doesn't react. Father's fingers tighten in her scalp, and even then, her face doesn't betray the pain she must be feeling.

"Now, son. I'll teach you how to treat a faithless whore." He purses his lips for a second. "It just happens that she's your mother. Are you going to interfere again?" He looks straight at me as he asks this.

I can't help but shake my head. Again... and again.

"Good... Good. Why don't we put that to the test?" He flings Mother to the floor and slowly rolls his sleeves up.

"First, you never want to stain your clothes." He explains with an evil smile as he grabs a large cross from Mother's altar.

"Blasphemy..." my mother finally utters as she stares at the cross in Father's hand.

He gives her a bored look, waving the cross around before hurling it onto her face with the flat side. Mother flinches in pain, and I can already see the blood falling down her face.

As if that's not enough, Father grabs her collar, and in one movement he rips the material from her body. Her scarred back is on full display, and he doesn't waste any time in aiming the cross onto her back time after time, until her cries become screams.

"See that, boy?" He turns to me, and I can only watch, stuck as I am in my useless body. I'm rocking even faster, and tears roll down my face as I watch the bloody scene in front of me.

"Liliana, dear." Father makes a tsk sound. "This is a lesson for your boy. Why don't you behave?" He grabs her by the neck and tosses her towards the altar. Mother stumbles and her hands catch onto the altar table for support.

"Yes. Just like that." Father hums in approval. He casually strolls over and, gripping her nape, forces her face down on the altar. Using one hand, Father lifts her skirt and stuffs it around her hips. Somehow I know I'm not supposed to see this.

Mother is... bare.

But I'm stuck. I rock even faster, my sobs caught in my throat.

Father unzips his pants, and he turns to me. His hand is gripped around his penis.

"Watch and learn, boy. This is how you treat a whore." There is so much venom in his voice...

He turns around and mounts Mother from behind. There's only a pained sound coming from Mother's mouth, but Father is quick to push her face down onto the altar.

He keeps moving over her, grunting every time.

I don't want to watch this.

I don't want to see this.

But I can't move.

I keep rocking.

At some point, I think I must have zoned out, because I hear Father say a few more unintelligible things before leaving.

I try to focus... Mother is breathing hard as she drags her body to the floor.

"You... it's all your fault." She keeps repeating, dragging her knees up and imitating my posture.

"Monster!" she says as she rocks herself, just as I was moments before.

"I'm sorry." The words are barely audible, but I say them anyway.

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