Chapter 02

The butterfly flitters majestically over the dandelions, each flutter pushing one dandelion seed after another into the gentle wind. The luscious leaves scintillate with a tinge of gold from the radiant morning sun, still moist from the morning mist. Cherry blossoms, lilies, freesias and chrysanthemum flowers adorn the luxuriant landscape; spring, summer, autumn and winter coexist in perfect harmony.

There is no trace of imperfection on this land, where the most paradoxical of creatures thrive in the same cross section of time and space.

As she lifts her fingers to explore this impossibility, a charm of hummingbirds soars through the wispy blue sky, as if to serve a warm welcome to this grand paradise. A nightingale lands on her shoulder and hums a sweet melody, before it takes off, teasing her to follow suit.

Without giving it a second thought, she chases it. She’s running as fast as she ever has, defying all laws of gravity, keeping up with the nightingale’s trail. It chirps brightly while somersaulting through the air so freely, so gracefully. Its brothers and sisters join in the chorus, orchestrating the most enchanting polyphony.

She is absolutely enraptured by the beauty around her, as she pays no mind to the clouds of grey on her tail.

Delilah…

A gust of wind breezes past, calling her name, vying for her attention.

She blazes ahead, her eyes still in awe of her new companions.

Delilah…

They try again, toppling the row of cedar trees behind her, but her mind remains fixated on her friends. She is lured further into this magical haven, where the grass shoots tickle one another for love in the air, where the freesias and chrysanthemum flowers greet the gum trees with a smile.

Delilah… Delilah…

A flash of lightning strikes. The gum trees burst into a furore of flames; hues of tranquillity disintegrate into blackened ash.

Hands descend from the sky, wrapping their fingers around the necks of her hummingbird friends – no! – before their heads combust from the pressure.

Their blood rains on her as she pleads for them to take her instead.

It’ll be your turn soon, Delilah…

An expanse of burial stones erects spontaneously. As the sky continues to weep blood, her sister resurrects in multitudes across the plains. The faces of her sister smile in unison.

She’s crying, screaming – why are you doing this to me? – but the harassment continues.

Mountains turn to volcanoes, and lava runs freely through her paradise.

Soot and flames veil her eyes.

And in the darkness, she swears to burn them alive.

***

She feels a pressure above her, pressing against her breasts, sliding her back up and down the firm mattress. As she slowly comes to consciousness, the silhouette of a balding male contrasts the blurry lights and the grey-scale ceiling – a sudden, burning sensation to her left labia snaps her out of her hazy trance.

“What the fuck –”

“Shut the fuck up, Delilah,” her father growls – she screams in horror – before her voice vanishes beneath the hush of his hand.

The burn intensifies, as his cock persists against the friction.

Mum, please, just this once. Her prayers go unanswered, as his weight sinks her further into the bed – I can’t breathe – her breasts bouncing violently with each shuddering breath of his, the creaking of the unsteady bed smothered by the beeping monitors, blaring sirens, the storm of footsteps and steady murmurs.