Without A Heartbeat

The silver-eyed man perched in the tree, staring at the flame-haired girl through the frost coated windows of the manor house. It was late, but she was still hard at work, kneeling on the floor in the kitchen and scrubbing with every ounce of energy that she had. She worked furiously, as if she were trying to rub some kind of stain from her soul.

Sorrow filled the silver-eyed man, and he bowed his head in guilt. He didn’t need to take in her scent to know that he had been too late. On that night, he had vowed to save her from the impending desecration of her soul before he saved her life. However, a single glance at her drawn face told him that he had missed his opportunity. It was as if some candle had been snuffed out within her, and all that was left was darkness, cupped inside a hollow shell.

He has already had his foul way with her.

Fury churned inside his stomach, one that was almost uncontrollable in its intensity. He knew that he himself was a bad man, who had done many terrible things to many people. He also knew that despite his divine work, when his painful limbo of existence was finally over, his soul would pay penance in the fiery pits of Hell. However, he had always taken comfort in knowing that his bad deeds were done for a good reason…they were justified. But there could be no justification for Richard Clarke’s actions. He was nothing but pure evil who had stolen the innocence from this poor girl.

For fun.

His hand squeezed against the tree branch, until his fingers had crushed into the bark. He watched as the girl lifted her head and wiped a layer of sweat from her brow. There were tears in her eyes, which she cleared almost immediately afterwards, as if the two things were no different to one another.

She has accepted her fate.

In that moment, the silver-eyed man made a new vow. He had been given orders to continue his mission with renewed force, but he would not abandon this helpless girl. He would not allow her to become just another victim of a sub-human who felt he lived in a blessed world, where his money bought him power and protection.

No, I will continue with my original plan…she fits the criteria Mother gave me. I will rescue this girl from this wretched place, but before then I will give her the power to take revenge on her tormentor. He will learn that no amount of money can save you from those you have wronged. I will allow her to be the one that teaches him this lesson.

I will set her free.