Scorching Desires

Isabelle's image of her naked body lying on top of her cousin's was projected for the whole family to look at.

"She forced herself on me." Her cousin Sam's voice broke as he uttered, pointing shakily at Isabelle.

'Wh-at?" Stuttered Isabelle, her throat closing up on her. Her face was hidden by her hair in the photo, but you could tell it was really her. She didn't remember ever stripping or doing anything sexual with her cousin.

"Don't even try to deny it; we can all see it!" Sam's father banged his fists onto the table, holding Isabelle's wide eyes.

"I-I...no." She fumbled with words, her mind and tongue betraying her when she needed them the most. Her hands shook, she lost grip, and the glass in her hand fell in front of her feet. Her mind stuttered while her systems paused, trying to comprehend what she was seeing. Her thoughts tried to catch up, to make a sensible connection of the image displayed.

"How could you Isabelle? How the fuck could you do something like that?" She didn't know who asked the question; all she saw were blurred images. She remained rooted to the ground while her mouth opened and closed without letting any word out.

"I-I...I don't remember doing that." She finally managed to force the words out in a stutter.

"You mean you don't remember attending Morgan's party?" Sam raised an eyebrow. They had attended a party days before the get-together at her and Sam's mutual friend.

"Well, let me remind you then." Sam smiled maniacally.

"You claimed you saw a spider in the guest room and wanted me to go kill it so you could rest up. Like the good cousin I am, I followed you, and unbeknownst to me, you had a syringe full of a sedative and Viagra. You lied that the spider was behind the door, and when I leaned to look, you stabbed my neck with the needle. The rest is pretty self-explanatory, as you can see." Her eyes burned up, and her mind jumbled with thoughts as she tried collecting memories from that night.

She had woken up the next day with the memories of that night filled with gaps. She had assumed it was because she was pretty drunk. But she couldn't remember going anywhere with Sam that night.

"No, no, no." She shook her head, swallowing saliva past the lump in her throat.

"You dragged me beside the bed and abused me, without knowing that there was a CCTV inside that room. You should be lucky that I haven't handed the tape to the police, because if I did. You would be looking at a minimum sentence of 25 years." The man spoke with no remorse, winking at the shivering girl when the others weren't looking.

"Am I?" Sam smirked, pressing a button on the remote that revealed another picture of her on the projector.

Why can't I remember? Isabelle thought, swallowing saliva thickly to soothe her tingling throat.

"Sam please stop." With the little energy she had, she ran to her cousin and fell at his feet.

"I wish I hadn't believed your little facade." He lowered his voice, his lips curling upward.

"P-lease switch it off." She begged, clutching at his feet. She couldn't believe she had been reduced to a good for nothing woman. She had seen the contempt on everyone's faces, the disgust as they frowned at her.

"'I will." He smirked evilly, kicking her hands away from his feet. "After they all see your true colors," He pointed at Isabelle and proceeded to press another button, moving on to the next picture. At that point, none of the people present looked at the big projector. They were looking at Isabelle embarrass herself further.

"Remember how I complained last time we got together that Isabelle was making advances at me and you brushed me off?" Sam turned to Isabelle's parents, staring at her mother particularly. Isabelle didn't like where her cousin was steering the conversation. He licked his lips while he rubbed his hands together.

"Do you believe me now?" Sam smiled victoriously. For someone who had allegedly been sexually abused, he awfully seemed to be enjoying it all.

"Do you see that I had been right all along?" She wouldn't admit it, but I always caught her glancing inappropriately at me." Sam stated, spreading his arms as if he were enjoying the confusion on everyone's faces.

"You know, I'd never think that way about you. For goodness sake, we are cousins!" Belle threw her hands in the air, hoping that her older cousin would drop the game he was trying to force everyone into playing. She wasn't about to go down without trying to prove her innocence.

"It's too late for your convincing tongue, or... are you worried that your parents will disown you after this?" Sam mocked.

Isabelle dragged herself up and shakily turned to head towards the backdoor. She needed to recollect herself before she crumpled down in front of everyone.

"Not so fast, Belle." She scowled at the nickname Sam used. She hated when he called her that; he wouldn't stop despite her forbidding him countless times. She ignored him, heading towards the backdoor in short and fast strides. She wished she had just stayed at her apartment, watching comedies and filling her stomach with snacks.

Before she could step her feet on the door step, she heard a clank, a few curses, and her name being shouted. "Isabelle Blue!"

Her father's voice boomed in the open area, making her whip her head so fast that she almost broke her neck. He stood at the foot of the table, his chair knocked down and pieces of his broken dinner plate scattered on the table. The older man's face turned red, his shoulders rising and falling.

"What the fuck are all these?" He sneered, revealing his upper teeth. Isabelle closed her eyes and allowed her shaken-up brain to work. She knew there and then that she was being set up. Only one question ran through her mind at the moment, though.