"Sometimes I wish that money could destroy feelings," -C.T

Christine.

Christine Thorn. 

The bane of my existence. The failure of the Thorn family. The would-be heiress to out ever-so-lovely throne. The reason why my life changed so drastically. The very reason why I loathed Sterling with every piece of me. 

"It's so good to see you," She looked better than she did when she was 18. Her skin was clear and her smile was radiant, her black hair up in a bun as she looked at me. "I'd say the same, sister, but all I want to know is what the hell you think you're doing here." I seethed, gritting my teeth as I clenched my hands. 

"You think that you can just up and leave, not even fight to stay," I took a deep breath to reign my emotions in because I had lost control over that chain. "And then slide back in at your convenience?" I heard Davina step in front behind me, but I could see nothing but red. It wasn't fair. "I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but I don't think you have any right to be standing before me, addressing me so casually. Especially when you're the reason why my life is ruined!" I sneered with disgust in my tone. Her smile slowly fell to the ground, much like my will to live when she left.

Suddenly, I was taken back to that very night, May 3rd, 2010 when I was 16 years old. 

"You think that you can come into my house and smoke, snort and inject yourself with drugs that you bought with my hard-earned money?!" I didn't know what happened, but one night, I woke up to loud screaming, so I tiptoed down the stairs. I stood on the stairs, peeking through the railings to see my father in all of his rage, yelling at my sister who was struggling to keep herself sane. 

She didn't look like she normally did. She looked as if she aged ten years with red and black dots covering her arms. "D-dad, please," Her voice was hoarse as her eyes dawdled open and close. "I'm sorry," She started to cough violently, but nothing came up. I bit my lip, wondering what happened to her. Why was she like this?

Suddenly, a loud crack pierced the air as Christine screamed, falling back against the wall with a hand to her cheek. My eyes widened and my feet moved automatically like the rush of thunder. I could feel my heartbeat rising and racing, but I just knew I couldn't let anything happen to Christine. "The sight of you disgusts me," My father uttered in a dark tone as he sneered at her, ignoring the way that I came to stand in front of him.

"Sterling!" I heard my mother yell at him from wherever she was, but I couldn't see her over the hateful gleam in my father's eye as he stared at Christine and I. "Oh?" He sounded amused as he cracked his knuckles, an evil smirk merging his lips. "Looks like you have the little brat to protect you," He said and I wasn't sure if it was this moment that everything changed for all of us, but I was definitely sure that this was the moment that we all realized that Sterling would never be a father to us again.

"Cheyenne, Cheyenne, Cheyenne," My father shook his head as he rolled up his sleeves, crouching down to meet my life. My lips were trembling as the menacing aura around him began to suck me in. Christine's whimpers began to get louder and louder as she clutched her bleeding cheek, her own eyes holding extreme fear and trepidation. My nails were digging into my skin, scraping with every breath I took. 

I had no clue what I was doing, but it was evident that I was no match for Sterling. As ever scrawny and short as I was, he was a thick-built man and he had it in him to take us all out. The look in his brown eyes was feral like he was some untamed wild animal who had a high lust for blood. 

"I guess I should show you where your place lies in this household, hm, don't you think," His eyes were narrowed as he reached to me, slapping Christine out of the way when she tried to grab me. "Cheyenne?" All of a sudden, a tight grip squeezed its way around my throat and I felt my feet begin to lift off of the ground, all air leaving me. "Stop it!" I heard Christine wailing, but I could only focus on the dark scratch marks I left on his forearm as I struggled to breathe.

I was going to die.

My father was going to kill me.

Why was he doing this?

What had I done to deserve this?

His hands felt like ice as they closed in a vise-like grip around my neck. The crazed look in his eyes terrified my soul as I started to feel dizzy. I fought back instinctively, extremely afraid about what was on the other side. My nails dug into his skin, but his grip was unyielding. I lost the ability to think as I felt tears—either from frustration or pure terror, who knew—stream from my eyes. 

I was scared; he was so much bigger than me and stronger than me, but I had to protect Christine. I couldn't let her get hurt, no matter what. I knew that I hated this man, I resented him. As my lungs began to burn from lack of air, I reached for his face and felt my nails once again connect with his flesh. I began to see dark spots across my vision as I became more and more frantic. I felt my arms go limp, my lungs burning ever so painfully as darkness overcame my sight. 

I knew it would be seconds later that my skin would be pale and blue, and I would be lying on the floor dead. Before my eyes glossed over, I could see the fury, the revulsion, the bitterness in those cold eyes of his and that was the last thing that shocked my heart.  

That was probably the moment that I realized who Sterling Thorn really was. He wasn't my father; he was just some businessman who only held love for money. He didn't care about needless things like family as they brought him nothing but a headache. Gone was the man who would play catch with me in our backyard. Gone was the man who promised that I could fulfill my love for painting once I got into high school. Gone was the man who would look at me with pride and joy.

I didn't know who this man before me was. I didn't recognize him. 

"Stop it, Sterling!" I heard Davina slap him as hard as she could and the grip around my throat was released and all of a sudden, I found myself falling to the ground like a cascade. I was sputtering and wheezing, feeling crushing pain around my throat as my mother clutched me in her arms, fear written all over her face. Everything was burning and I felt like I was plunged into a tub of scalding water. Sterling did nothing but shook his head with a roll of eyes, turning to face my terrified sister as her weak and straggly legs fought to keep her upright.

"I've had enough of you and your antics, Christine," Sterling growled lowly as he pushed his glasses up his face. "I'll give you two choices. You can either stay here so that you can retain care over your younger brother and work for me, or you can leave and we never have to see you again." It was such an easy decision. Why stay here? She had nothing left except me. 

He clicked his tongue, no remorse in his tone as he awaited her decision. "Make your choice. Either way, you'll see hell." He taunted, knowing full well that her life would be miserable with whichever she made. He didn't care for her, not like he used to, but he was going to make sure that one of us fulfilled his wishes. 

Christine looked from him to me, a tear leaving her blue eyes as she bit her lip, making her choice. "I'm sorry," She mouthed to me as she hobbled her way towards the door, taking everything she could've possibly owned and I let out an agonizing scream, realizing what she did.

I stared in powerful horror as I watched her retreating back exit out of my life for good.

With quivering lips and a quickened breath, I returned back to the cold reality. "I wanted to come back and see you, you know?" She shrugged, her eyes hopeful and willing, but all I could see was deceit and all I could hear were lies and blasphemy. "You're way too many years too late, sweetheart," I narrowed my eyes, shaking my head. She looked much healthier and happier and I had to admit, I was quite envious with the glee that her body seemed to hold. It wasn't fair. Not at all.

"Well, good for you. It seems you've got yourself all cleaned up and free of the drugs. Do us all a favor and leave like you did eight years ago," I cut my eyes at her one last time, mad at myself for even once considering her to be my role model. "You're dead to me. The Christine Thorn I knew died when she decided to leave me behind." I wouldn't admit it out loud, but a part of me died too.

She got to leave and she got to live her life, but everything else fell to me. A part of me was mad because she forgot about me as if I meant nothing. The other part of me was mad because I never got the chance to tell her that it didn't matter.

I turned on the balls of my feet, ignoring the sound of her tears falling to the ground. She didn't hesitate to leave me behind eight years ago, so I wouldn't hesitate to leave her standing there. My hands were shaking so hard and tears were filling my eyes. Why? Tears were inferior at this point. Compartmentalize, I repeated my mantra in my head, realizing that it wasn't working by any means. I was at my limit and everything, every single memory was out there in the open.

"Hm," Sterling stood in the doorway, cracking his neck, his eyes swayed with indifference as they landed on his daughter, then on me. "How interesting," He sounded as if he didn't care that she was back. Why would he? She used the majority of his money to go and get high with her heroin buddies. As far as he was concerned, this was the least she could do.

I went to storm past him, not wanting to deal with him since all of my disgust and hatred pooled to the very top of my mind. All of a sudden, I felt a stern hand grip my arm as he turned down to look at me, a grim look in his eyes. I knew that this wasn't some sort of comfort because he was the real reason why everything went to trash.

"Don't think that this hinders anything, Cheyenne," He whispered darkly to me and I lost all rationale that I had as I slapped his hand off of my arm, glaring at him with the utmost hatred that I could muster.

"For once in your god damn life, try to act like you care as a father!" His eyes widened as if he didn't expect me to retaliate. I was so sick and tired and now that the reason that I was the way that I was showed up, I could not deal. He literally could not read the emotions in the room or the situation and yet again, he made it about him and his stupid fucking business.

"Wait, don't!" I growled as his eyes narrowed. "The last time you did, you almost went to jail because you tried to kill me. I don't know who you think you are, Sterling Thorn, but I am not your god damn pet!" 

I bumped my shoulder against his, storming out of the room to go up to my room. I had enough. Just one thing piling up on top of another. I busted into my room, unable to see clearly. Was I crying? Don't tell me I was. I never cried. 

I fell against my bed, feeling powerless all of a sudden. I could feel my breath coming out erratically, but I wasn't even sure I was breathing. 

I was losing control. I could feel it. 

"1, 2, 3," I whispered to myself as I rocked against the edge of my bed to keep my spiraling emotions from making themselves known. I could feel the anger rising to the surface and I was not going to be able to pinpoint what was going to happen if I let it go.

"It's okay, Cheyenne," I felt arms wrap around my neck and my head was pressed into a pair of boobs, ones that I recognized as Tara's. She rubbed my back and I had to admit that she was probably the only person that I felt safe with. I mean, I even fell asleep in her presence, something that I never did with Vivi. "Heh," I chuckled, feeling myself calm down. "You're always coming to save me," I whispered, wondering what drug I had to be on to consider Tara to be a friend now. 

She snickered in my ear, clutching me to her tightly as if she was afraid that I was going to disappear into thin air. "You're right, it seems," She wasn't stuttering anymore in front of me, which was great because I was the only one who granted her permission to talk. Not that she needed my permission, anyways. "And," She pushed my sweaty hair out of the way, her heartbeat relaxing me.

"I always will."