This is it.

I am almost free of Master and Marie.

I don't know whether to rejoice or mourn.

Master has always been there for me. She may hurt me, but I know it is so we can have fun.

I know Master loves me. She is always there for me. Master has never left me. Father leaves me. Master doesn't. Master beats me, but only so we have something to do. It is our thing. She watches TV with Marie and has playtime with me.

Deep in thought, I trace where the silvery, barely visible parallel scars run over my legs. I can't see them because of my leather pants, but I know my scars. My pale skin hides them well, but I know they are there.

I remember well the time I got them.

It was a fun and painful day that day.

My arms were tied up across my torso in a way that twisted them out of their sockets. The rope dug deep into my middle and my arms. Every movement resulted in waves of pain. I love pain, but I know that I don't want to die.

A dirty and foul tasting dock was stuffed in my mouth before it got taped shut with duct tape. One of Father's ties was tied around my eyes tightly to prevent me from seeing anything. But not before I saw Master's new toy.

Father specially had it made for her.

I am not sure what Master called it, but I believe it was called the "Cat of Nines" or something like that. Master seemed fond of it.

It was a whip, essentially. Rope that was divided at the end into nine different thin pieces of rope. Three small knots were tied into each of the nine strands.

Left in my underthings, the toy tore through my exposed skin easily, but not easy enough. The knots dug through my flesh as she slid it along. The nine different strands left nine parallel marks with every strike. Marks that are still with me.

Once Master's arms got tired, she dragged me under the air conditioner.

At first it felt nice. Refreshing, even. But I was left tied up there for days.

I almost died.

The playtime, lack of food, and continual freezing brought me right next to death.

And the whole time I was laughing.

Hysterically.

Our playtimes will always stay with me.

We had so many. There were plenty with plenty of different toys. Master and I spent so many hours together.

They were fun, I think.

They were painful, I think.

They were amazing, I think.

They were awful, I think.

I am confused, I know.

It seems as if I am always confused.

I am jarred out of my thoughts by the sight of my house.

The house I have lived in my whole life.

The house that holds so many memories.

The house that I will always, always remember because it was burned into my memory and brain permanently.

Slowly, I park the SUV.

Unfortunately, North Star said I was only allowed to drive if I promised to be careful and follow all the laws. Even after I agreed and showed them my skills at the track, only Raven, Meanie, Luke, and Corey were willing to ride with me. North Star ended up coming to, but only because he is a strangely overprotective caveman.

I clamber out with the boys.

Ignoring the war in my mind, I swallow and stride up to my door.

Raising my hand, I give the knock that I always do.

After a few minutes, Master opens the old door. She looks me up and down before a look of disgust paints itself over her features.

"Has the little ***** finally come back? Have you finally realized how ****ed up the world really is? Have you finally realized that my way is the only way?" Master sings out in a painfully sweet voice.

The boys crowd around me drawing Master's attention.

She loves me so much, she didn't even notice them at first.

"You truly are a ***** and a ****, aren't you?" She laughs in a condescending manner.

Master says the oddest things.

"Are you Mara Sorenson?" Mr. Blackbourne asks blankly.

"Depends on who is asking," Master answers coldly.

"We are asking," Axel states firmly.

"Why?"

Apparently, that was enough for North Star who shoves past her into the building.

Master growls at him ferociously.

"You will explain your presence. Now!" She roars.

"We are here to decide your fate," Kota says blankly and simply.

Marie stomps down the stairs.

"Is the ****ing ***** back? Will I get a turn wi—Why the **** are you people in my home? "

Marie sees the boys and instantly throws her chest out and pouts her lips.

Weirdo.

Brandon curls his lip in disgust and answers, "We are here with Sang."

"Were you going to hurt Aggele mou?" Silas asks in a menacing and low voice. He crosses his arms across his chest making his bulging muscles stand out even more.

Marie pales slightly before saying nastily, "Why do you want to know? Did you want to join or are you ****ing her?"

Silas lets out a growl that is shocking coming from the gentle giant and the others are one step away from killing her.

"Master, so I still need to be cleansed?" I ask cautiously optimistic.

Maybe she will let it slide and we can let them live.

Master glares at me.

"Brat, you are past the point of needing to be cleansed of your ****ish ways. You clearly have been giving yourself out to these men. No purging can save you now. You have to die."

The boys are furious and barely controlling themselves.

Surprisingly, it is Mr.Blackbourne who snaps first.

He lunged at Master and grips her throat.

Oh, no...

Master grins and plunges a knife into his stomach.

Gasping, Mr.Blackbourne stumbles back.

Master is married to Father and used to be a fighter in clubs.

She is a great fighter.

Moving quickly, she manages to take down Victor before she is restrained by a murderous North Star and Luke.

I am too focused on Master and Marie to pay too much attention to the boys, honestly.

Marie attacks Corey.

Wrong. Move. Marie.

Corey is too gentle. No one will ever hurt my Peep. Ever.

I am furious with Master, but I know that Mr.Blackbourne is strong enough to survive. Corey will survive since she only got in a few hits, but he is too innocent and kind to suffer.

I roar and Star and Sarah both join me.

"Marie!" We yell inhumanly loud.

We lunge at her and pin her up against the wall with our left hand while our right hand holds a knife to her throat.

"You just sealed your fate," We hiss.

Any chance of their survival just ended.

We are seeing red.

"Say our name!" We roar in her face.

" S-Sang, " Marie whimpers out.

"Wrong!"

Pure, undiluted terror fills her face and she stops struggling.

"I-I-Ins-sa-sa-san-ne?" She stutters and stammers out.

"Correct," We whisper with our creepy smile.

Tears are now pouring down her face.

What does she have to cry about?!

"Stop crying, Marie!"

"No! No! Please, don't kill me! Insane, I know you won't!" Marie begs pathetically.

I throw my head back and laugh hysterically.

"You don't know anything!"

"P-Please," She pleads.

Master joins in.

"Don't kill us! We have done nothing but show you mercy and kindness!" Master claims.

"What you did to Sang was not kind or merciful!" We bellow.

"You created us! You broke us! You made us who we are! We are only this way because of you! We are one because of you and your evil!" We rant.

Master's face is drained of blood.

Done with our ranting, we calm down ever so slightly and back away.

"Kill them," We order. "Quickly, though."

Raven pulls out his gun in an instant and shoots Master in the head as Paprika shoots Marie in the throat.

Their now dead bodies thud to the ground.

Why do I feel such freedom?

Such joy?

Such elation?

Such horror?

Such calmness?

Such disappointment?

Such sorrow?

Seeing as there is nothing I can do to help Mr.Blackbourne, I walk to my bedroom and pack up all my belongings in boxes that Gabriel brought.

Marc and Gabriel help me carry the boxes out to one of the vehicles.

Mr.Blackbourne has an arm around Pug and Axel and is slowly walking to us.

The small knife didn't do too much damage because of his thick leather jacket, but I still feel horror and shame that he is hurt because of me. Because of my crappy family. Because I was too scared to stop her in time.

"Mr.Blackbourne, I am so sorry!" I cry.

Mr.Blackbourne, stoic as ever replies, "Ms.Sorenson, you did nothing wrong. I am glad you are free of them. However, you have a few questions that you need to answer."

I nod my understanding and get in the SUV with them and we head back home.

Of course they have questions.

I am just happy that is the only thing they require.

Master, Father, and Marie are all receiving their punishment.

Master and Marie already are dead.

And then there was one.