Page 63 of Cryptic Curse

Hiding it was the act of a lifetime.

Until my father calls me into his office one morning.

I’m wearing a hoodie and sweats.

Some people say my father is good-looking, and I guess objectively he is.He’s tall, broad, well-built.Strong facial features, raven-black hair with silver threaded through it.And eyes as dark as my own.

But to me he’s ugly.

Monstrous.

If my mother were here, would she allow him to use me the way he does?

He never touches me himself, of course.In his eyes, that would be crossing the line.

In his warped mind, though, letting his friends and associates use me is perfectly acceptable.

“Yes, Papa?”I say.

He doesn’t even look up from whatever paperwork he’s scrawling on.“Why haven’t you bled yet this month?”

“I just finished my period last week,” I say.“You know that.You keep track of my calendar.”

He does, except when he has a particular friend or associate who enjoys the blood.

Luckily for me, they haven’t been around the last three months.

“The maids have been checking your garbage cans.”

“Then they should see that I’ve used tampons and pads.”

He finally looks up, his eyes even darker than usual, and a scowl twisting his face.“You think you’re quite clever, don’t you Daniela?”

My nerves shatter under my skin.I’ve been leaving bloodied pads and tampons in my trash.First I was cutting myself on my inner thigh to do it, but more recently, I’ve been asking the local butcher for animal blood.

“Take off your hoodie,” my father says.

No problem.I’m not really showing yet.

I pull the black hoodie over my head, fold it neatly, and lay it on one of the chairs in front of my father’s desk.

“And now your T-shirt,” he says.

He’s seriously going to make me strip in front of him?My father has never sexually abused me, though he’s beat me on occasion.

“Now, Daniela,” he says, his voice stern.

I pull the shirt over my head.

I stand in front of him wearing only my bra and my sweatpants.

“The bra, please.”

“Papa…”

“You heard me.”

Then he presses the buzzer on his desk.“Send Dr.Sanchez in now, please.”

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