Twilight Hollow

Continuing from where were up to.  The story isn't over yet.  I'm still working on typing it up so I'll be updating below.  I recognise it's not perfect yet, but I'd like to get it all typed up to make it easy for me to edit.

She glanced at the clock on her bedroom wall for what seemed like the hundredth time today.  It was 4:45pm and the numbers swam before her eyes.  She was sweating heavily and gasping for breath, as she swayed dizzily from the vigorous exercises she’d been forcing herself through for much of the afternoon.

Lydia allowed herself a glass of water.  Gulping it down greedily, she laid a shaky hand against the sink to brace her trembling form.  Gradually the room came back into focus.  Leaving the kitchenette, she hurried into her bathroom and stripped bare.  She turned on the shower and sat beneath the flowing water, scrubbing her skin hard.  The girl was pink and raw as she towelled herself try several minutes later.

Still in the bathroom, it was 5 o’clock now.  She cast the towel aside and stepped nervously onto her scales.  Focusing intently, she awaited the result.  Thinking of all the work she’d done, she was sure she’d done more than enough.  No.  She weighed the same as she did at 5 o’clock yesterday.  “Not good, not nearly good enough.  How is this even possible?”  She questioned herself.  “I did everything right.”  She despairingly turned away from the scales, only to find her own face staring back at her from the mirror opposite.

“How dare you!” the girl glared.  “How dare you let me down like this?  You horrific, fat bitch!  No one will ever love you while you’re so damn fat and ugly!”

A single tear rolled down Lydia’s cheek.  She angrily wiped it away, but another promptly took its place, and another.  She tried to argue, and defend herself.  No explanation would ever be good enough.  Beaten again the girl collapsed to the floor, drew her knees to her chest, and sobbed as quietly as she could.

“You’re weak Lydia.  Straighten up and follow my rules,” the voice in her head announced.  “Then you will be skinny and pretty, and maybe even popular!”  The voice grew colder, “Do what I say from now on.  Stop breaking the rules.  I’m not playing games anymore!”

Her knife had found its way into her hand once more.  Blood spilled as a small neat “X” was carved carefully into her hip.  “Strike one.  You have failed me once.  I’m serious now.  Three strikes and you’re out.”  Lydia nodded obediently as tears once again blurred her vision.