Some nights[open]

I look at the mirror in front of me, my light brown hair falls just above my shoulders and my eyes narrow. the house I'm currently residing in is quiet, everyone's asleep, everyone that is except me. I can't sleep, the nightmares that plague me make it unbearable to even close my eyes. The bed I lay in is uncomfortable, I can feel the springs underneath the paper thin sheets, they dig into the soft skin on my back and I'm reminded of the many things that poked me during the horrible procedure that rendered me incapable of speech. How I hate the people who did that to me. Unable to lie in my bed, I decide to get up and seek comfort in the only member of the masters family who will comfort me, Octavius. He's the son of my master and is three years older than me. His soft snores are comforting as I crack open his door and creep in, my feet barely making a sound on the lush carpeting that covers every floor in this house, actually its more like a mansion, its huge. Octavius must have excellent hearing or he can sense me because the moment I draw near, he opens his eyes and looks at me, bleary eyed from sleep. After a moment, he recognizes me and sits up. "Can't sleep?" he asks, his eyes sympathetic. I nod and he moves over to make room for me. Even though I'm an avox and he could technically boss me around all he likes, he's taken on a very protective role of me. He knows I can't talk and even learned sign language to communicate better with me. I sit down next to him and he puts an arm around my shoulder. I wonder briefly if its just a gesture of reasurrance or possibly something more. No, you can't think like that, he's not allowed to like you. Plus how could he ever love an avox I scold myself silently.

For a long time we just sit there, in silence, the only sound is the soft whistling of our breath as we breathe. I want to say something but I know I will never be able to tell him what I'm thinking. The stupid capitol made sure of that. After a few more moments, I suddenly hear footsteps coming down the hall. "Avox! Where are you!? Get out here now!" an angry voice says. Fear courses through me. The master is drunk. More than likely I will be beaten for things I haven't done, that is how it always is. His voice gets even more angry as he continues calling me and I have no choice but to leave Octavius and go out into the hall to face whatever punishment he has planned for me.

As I step out into the hall, a hand grabs my hair and my head is yanked back. I let out a gargled cry as the masters hand comes down on me. He keeps hitting me, obviously in a drunken rage, and I crumple into a ball to protect myself. Octavius tries to stop his father but its futile. His sons interferance has only angered him more. I feel kicks everywhere; to my back, my stomach, my head. I can feel tears coming out of my eyes as the punishment for something I didn't even do continues. Blackness starts to invade my vision and I wish for oblivion. No, that would be too easy, to just fall into nothingness, no pain, but an avoxes life is never easy, as I've learned from past experiences. I can hear Octavius crying as his father continues to beat me until I feel as if every bone in my body has been broken and my face is dripping with blood. His father, having calmed down, stumbles away and I can't take anything else. Octavius is at my side in an instant and he gently lifts me up, carrying me into his room.

The next morning, I find that I am too sore to get out of bed, the beating from the night before was severe and bruised me up pretty badly. I wince as I try to get up and manage to get to my feet. Downstairs, I can hear voices. They sound as if they are arguing about something but I can't quite make it out. I sign the question to Octavius and he shrugs. Two sets of footsteps climb the stairs and my owner along with someone I don't know stand before me. "Avox, this is your new owner." He says without looking at me or Octavius.