Vicious Cycle - ((ADELIA))

This isn’t canon… yet. OuO

((TW: ableist language, blood, gore, assault, violence, harassment, abuse))

Characters: Adelia, Daniel

Words: 2500

The sun was low in the sky, and Adelia was officially off the clock. She had been scheduled to close the boutique that evening- normally Leanne or another manager would be closing, but they were all occupied with prior obligations. Leanne trusted Adelia to be able to properly close the shop for the night, flattering Adelia enough to accept the responsibility of it for the night. However, Adelia was less than enthusiastic when she’d learned she would be closing with Daniel.

As she expected, Daniel was nothing but a nuisance. Since the day they had met, he ceaselessly attempted to court her with insistent flirting and other gestures that she was soon irritated by. Having to be alone with him was even worse, and as always, he was nearly unbearable to be around. When clock finally struck ten o’clock, Adelia could not have been more relieved. She paced into the office, taking her purse down from the shelf. She began to rummage through the purse as always, just to ensure that she had everything that was supposed to be there. However, whilst she was checking her bag, she heard a soft click behind her. It was indisputably the sound of the door. A chill ran down her spine, and she slowly glanced over her shoulder, her fear soon confirmed. Daniel was standing in front of the door, a mischievous smirk on her face. Inhaling sharply, she fully turned towards him.

“Did you leave something in here, Daniel?” Adelia asked, making sure to sound as nonchalant as possible. He gave a slight chuckle in response, shaking his head.

“No, not entirely.” he murmured vaguely. Adelia furrowed her brow- he seemed to be acting a bit… different than usual. It immediately raised a red flag, and she took a step backwards, a flat expression on her face.

“Well, if you would, I would prefer if you moved so I could leave.” Adelia directed him, an unamused look flickering in her icy blue eyes.

“You know, Adelia, I don’t think I can do that.” Daniel informed her, and Adelia felt her fears began to realize. Her chest tightened, and she rolled her eyes, trying to shrug him off.

“You’re not very funny. Now please, move.” she asked again, reaching for her purse. Contrary to her direction, however, Daniel reached behind him, turning the lock on the door so that they were further secluded from the outside world. Her eyes narrowed, and her hand rested on her thigh, where her knife was hidden. She still carried it with her- she simply couldn’t be without it, even if she vowed to never use it. It was the oddest of security blankets.

“You look a bit tense, Adelia. Is something the matter?” he asked tauntingly. This is the exact moment he had been waiting for after all this time. She was just easygoing enough that she had let her guard down. And now? Now it was time for him to do what he’d been planning for so long.

Adelia’s shoulders began to tremble uncontrollably, and she pursed her lips, glaring at Daniel. She feared for what he was going to attempt. Even though she could easily take him down and end his threat, she found herself terribly conflicted. She had sworn away violence- that wasn’t her way any longer. She couldn’t afford to let herself be bad. She was good now. And yet… if she so chose, she could protect herself in an instant. Though would she be justified simply because it was in self-defense? She wasn’t certain- for most people, the answer was yes. For her, she feared any form of violence to come out of herself, even if for her own protection. It was while she was engulfed in these thoughts that Daniel took a step forward.

“Giving me the silent treatment? How cold. Tell me, Adelia. Do you really not remember me?” he asked suddenly; the question was such a surprise to Adelia that she couldn’t help but express her shock, eyebrows raised.

“Pardon?” was all Adelia could think to say. Daniel then gave a twisted grin, breaking into a fit of snickering. This frightened Adelia, and she felt her hip hit the desk as she took yet another step back, her whole body now trembling. As she walked into the desk, her purse fell off, and her cell phone tumbled out. That was it- her cell phone. If she could just call Jinta, or Leanne, or anyone…

Daniel quickly caught onto her plan, and darted forward to snatch up the cell phone. Adelia raced him to it, and the two of them collided, with Adelia tumbling backwards, falling against the desk while Daniel picked up her phone.

“Nice try- but you’ll have to be a bit more clever than that, Adelia.” he reprimanded her before throwing her phone against the wall. It smashed, fracturing and leaving bits of plastic strewn about. Adelia’s eyes grew wide, and Daniel then lurched forward, standing over Adelia. Again, she thought about fighting back. She still could stop him- she could turn this around in a heartbeat. But what would that make her, if she gave in? Caught in limbo, Adelia was too petrified to move.

“Oh, this is just rich. You look so scared, it’s hilarious. You can’t stop shaking, can you? You know it’s over. But you don’t know why- you don’t remember me. Was I just one of countless victims to you, then?” he wondered aloud. It was this that clued Adelia to who he was, and she felt her blood turn to ice.

“You know now, don’t you? You don’t remember me, but now you remember what you did to me.” Daniel scowled, rolling his eyes. “It took you long enough to catch on, you dumb broad.”

Adelia mind was racing- any thought she had to retaliate before melted away as it dawned on her that he was one of her past victims. Just one of the many that were carved in a damp Seattle alley. She couldn’t recall his face; he was just a bit older than her, meaning that when she’d committed the act against him, he had to have been merely a teenager, like herself. Perhaps he’d changed enough physically since then, or perhaps she simply had attacked too many men to remember each one. Perhaps it was both.

“What? You’ve got nothing to say for yourself?” Daniel spat. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for months- no, longer than that. Over a year, I’ve been waiting, you know. To get you back for what you did.” Daniel narrated to her, still towering over her petrified body.

“I’ll never forget that night. When you knocked me down and drove your knife into my back- I didn’t even do anything! I was a bit tipsy, minding my own business, and this pink little bitch comes at me and shanks me. Nobody fucking believed me, either. Nobody believed that some fairy lolita cunt jumped me. My friends laughed at me, and said I was probably just delirious from the alcohol. The doctors didn’t believe me, the police didn’t believe me, my own fucking parents just fucking yelled at me for being out and drinking! But you probably don’t care about it, do you? You’re just a fucking cold-hearted bitch, to do that to anyone. I went to therapy, I saw so many doctors- but dammit, you fucked me up, you fucking bitch.” Daniel told his story to Adelia, and she gaped in horror, hearing the consequences of her actions.

“About a year ago I was sitting at home when I saw you again- on the TV. God knows how some psycho bitch like you got on that show- they probably look for crazies to make the show interesting. But I saw you, and you were pulling that same bullshit, still. I couldn’t fucking stand it. So I hunted you down. I tracked you and did everything I could to get closer. Took up this bullshit fashion business so I could sneak closer and closer. And now… here we are. You dropped your guard. You didn’t recognize me, you suspected nothing… you just thought I was some flirtatious dick- as if I actually was attracted to you. Fuck, every compliment I had to give to you was so painful. As if I could ever find you attractive- you’re ugly inside and out, psycho bitch.”

“And now… now I finally got you. I got you cornered, Adelia. And you’re going to pay.” Daniel concluded his monologue, and began to unbutton his shirt. He removed it quickly, and flashed his back towards Adelia. There, of course, were two jagged scars on his shoulder blades. The angel wings she bestowed upon each and every victim. He quickly turned around, grinning maniacally.

“We’re going to match now. We’re both gonna go to hell, and we’re both gonna have these fucking scars to bear, you bitch.” he informed her. Adelia’s eyes grew wide, and she began to shake her head, her whole body trembling.

“Daniel, no- you can’t-” she was cut off almost instantly but disjointed cackling.

“I can’t? Just WATCH me, Adelia. What right do you have to fight it? You deserve this- you’re just getting a taste of your own medicine. Can’t you take what you dish out?” he shot back before grabbing her by the wrist. He yanked her forward, pulling out a switchblade with his free hand. Adelia folded over like a ragdoll, and Daniel drove the knife down, slicing the seams of her dress. The garment was soon in tatters, falling off of her thin frame. There, as she was bent forward, her back was exposed. It was Daniel’s turn to be surprised when he spotted that she already possessed the very scars he had.

“What the- WHAT THE FUCK!? What the FUCK is this nonsense?!” he shouted, suddenly furious. He released her wrist, only to stand up and kick her to the side. Unable to satiate his rage, he kicked her again, driving his foot into her side. She let out a wheeze as the wind was knocked out of her. She still could not fight back. Even though she was afraid, and she wanted to end it, she couldn’t. Deep down, as deep into the back of her mind as it could hide, there was a sentiment. A sentiment that she deserved this.

“Have you had those scars the whole fucking time?! Is that why you gave me those scars? explain yourself, you fucking psycho cunt!” Daniel screamed, repeatedly knocking Adelia around the floor with his foot. With one kick, her head slammed into the file cabinet, rattling her brain. All she could do was nod in response, unable to form a single coherent sentence as the tears welled up in her eyes.

“You fucking- you’re even worse than I thought. You went through that pain, and you chose to inflict it on others anyways? Fuck, you’re worse than me. You’re the lowest of the low. You’re not even human, you fucking psycho!” he spat at her, scowling. “I wanted to give you those scars- and now I can’t. I- FUCK. Everything is ruined-” Daniel paused, reaching and throwing the desk phone at Adelia. She convulsed, feeling the pain sear through all parts of her body. “Fuck it. Those scars look old. Looks like I’ll just have to do it anyways- re-open them. That’s what I’ll do. That’s it.” he resolved, and Adelia begin to tremor violently, shaking her head.

“NO! Don’t!” she screamed in horror, though Daniel would not listen. He got down, straddling her beaten body and forcing her onto her stomach. Adelia writhed beneath him as he stared as her exposed back. He couldn’t wait any longer. He’d waited long enough.

Adelia continued to wriggle and scream, her blonde curls covering her eyes and sticking to her face amid the sweat and tears. It was just like that night, eight years before. Yet, even though she’d been through it before, the second time was perhaps even worse.

Daniel finally drove the knife down, ripping the blade into her back. The scars re-opened, and crimson blood gushed out of the fresh wounds. He carved into her back, running the knife through the wound even after it was formed- a pain that seared and burned into her flesh. When one jagged line was finished, Daniel carved out the next, repeating the sadistic process with great delight. He laughed eagerly, and Adelia fell limp, the pain overwhelming her.

“How does it feel? Not very nice, is it? Let that sink in…. and don’t get any ideas about turning me in. After all, if you try to go to the police, don’t you think I could just as well turn the tides against you? I’ve done my research, Adelia. Just try me. I dare you.” he warned her as the world blurred around her.

“Now here’s what’s going to happen, Adelia. I’m going to drop you off at home- and I never want you to come back here again. If you do…. I will finish what I started. You will not indulge in this joke you call a profession. You will not call anyone. You will not talk to anyone. You will stay home and you will think about what you did. I’ll know every move you make, Adelia. So choose wisely.” he informed her. “I’m not quite sure if I’m done with you. I think this is too fun to go to waste… but for now, I’m putting you back in your cage- oh, sorry. Your apartment. Not that there’s a difference, now.” he chuckled darkly. Daniel then bent down to pick up Adelia, just as she slipped out of consciousness.

————–

Adelia awoke in her bed, her whole body aching terribly. She glanced around, the memories flooding back into her mind. The air smelled of blood, and as she moved to sit up, she realized it was her own, dried to the sheets she’d been lying against. The sheet stuck to her, glued with the scabbing of her back. She winced, knowing she would have to tear off the layer of skin in order to separate her from the sheet. She was still a mess, in the same condition as when she’d passed out.

As she glanced around, something became apparent. Her apartment had been emptied of everything but the necessities. Her work table was gone, her sewing machine was gone, her television was gone… however, there was a cell phone on her nightstand. It did not belong to her- at least, she didn’t think it did. There was a note next to the phone.

‘Keep this on and charged at all times, in case I want to come and play. -D’

Adelia shuddered, looking at her newfound prison. In a matter of hours, every table had turned on her. And worst of all was the thought that had festered in the back of her mind all along.

She deserved this.