Tears Burning My Skin Novels & Stories

The laugh died completely, turning into a loud, broken sob. The tears came back all at once, bursting from my eyes and soaking straight into the dark collar of his shirt. I didn't mean to do it. I tried to stop it, but the crying just ripped out of me. My whole body began to shake with deep, hard gasps, my chest jerking against his wide chest as I wept. It wasn't because I was scared of the fire anymore. It wasn't because of the fresh, painful burn on my skin, or the terrifying memories of the doctor, my father, and Leone.

But it's not sweat—it's blood, seeping from my pores as the fire consumes me from within. Then the tearing begins. My skin splits open—arms first, long jagged tears that run from shoulder to wrist. Then my stomach, my legs, everywhere at once. It's like invisible knives are filleting me alive, peeling back layers of skin and muscle to expose what's underneath. I scream until my throat goes raw. Until I taste copper. Until no sound comes out at all. "Soon, you'll be with me, my love." Ava's voice drifts down from somewhere above me.

Holding the horsehair brush in my bare hands, I began to scrub. The lye water bit into my skin instantly. Within minutes, the soot and charcoal under my fingernails were burned away, replaced by bright red, weeping chemical burns. The raw cuts on my knuckles from yesterday's iron cauldrons screamed as the harsh fluid seeped into the open flesh. Hot, involuntary tears spilled from my eyes, burning tracks through the grime on my cheeks. But I didn't make a sound. I couldn't. My ruined voice box was locked in permanent silence, keeping my agony trapped inside my chest where no one could feast upon it.

"It’s a chlorine burn. The chemicals in the pool aggravate my skin. I tape it so the friction from my shoes doesn't make it worse. If you wanted skincare tips, you could have just asked." "Stop lying." The harshness of his voice actually makes me flinch. Finn never raises his voice. He never loses his temper. "I saw it, Wrenley," he continues, stepping directly into my personal space. "It isn't a rash. It’s a burn scar. Three jagged peaks, completely interlocking, surrounded by a thick circle. It’s a brand." The floor tilts beneath my feet. A wave of freezing, absolute terror washes over my skin, neutralizing the heat of the Fade in an instant.

Tears are falling off my eyes, and I start to whimper. "N... Are you crying? Why are you crying? I hope you're not crying for David because he doesn't deserve anyone's tears or sympathy." She tells me. "I'm not crying for him. I'm crying because life is so hard. Being black and a vampire has not been an easy journey for me. It still hurts that my parents lost their lives because of racism. Why must we have to suffer the most? This life is so cruel and unfair!" I wailed, venting out my frustration.

The steam billows up to surround me. Engulfed in the steam and grief, with one hand on the wall to brace myself, I tilt my face down, letting the hot water pepper my skin. The burning sensation on the outside only matched my feelings on the inside. I couldn't help it. I let myself fall apart; all the tears I had been refusing to let fall finally made their escape.

My vision bl⁠urred and darkened a⁠t the edges. I w‍himpered w‍ith my forehead pressed t‌o the toil⁠et rim, tear⁠s fa⁠lling into⁠ th‌e mess. Minutes or mayb‍e hours p‌assed. My body j⁠ust shook fro‍m the burn and t‍h⁠e‌ ache inside. When it was over, I‌ coughed weakly and slump‌ed against the tub. My chest heaved, skin pale‌ and clammy.

He breathes next to my ear. I can smell the hot metal from here. The next minute I feel it searing pain on my skin by my lower back. I wail from the pain and my breath is gone. I see white. He then throws silver powder on my wound to prevent it from closing and healing. I scream louder it burns like hell, he just laughs at me. If it ever heals there will be a scar. I throw up from the pain and my tears are flowing down my face.

The smell of burning skin was nauseating and suffocating, making my stomach twist. "Let me go!" I cried out, struggling against her grip. Tears were now rushing down my face as I twisted and pulled, trying to free myself, but she held on firmly. Tessa didn’t relent, even a little. My head started to spin, my vision blurring with the overwhelming pain… before I blacked out completely. _____ My eyes opened slowly, and a sharp, searing pain immediately pulled my attention to my hand. It felt like it had been set on fire, and slowly, I turned my head and looked down at it. The skin there was red, raw, and scabbed, covered in blisters.

A sad smile came to my lips and the tears fell. I screamed awake. The gas smell permeating all the senses. It burned, my skin burned and I saw them, their bodies engulfed in flames. My tears stung and they felt like poison against my skin. Scrambling to my feet I needed to stop the burning. Needed to do something. It fucking stung. It hurt. My heart hurt. Filling the tub with the freezing cold water, I dunked myself in it. I held my breath under the water until the fear started to rise up in me. “Lucas, why…why…” I coughed out between my strangled cries.