DISCLAIMER: The following text may be disturbing to some people. It includes things like self-harm and self-hate so if you are sensitive to this kind of thing, I would suggest not reading this particular story.

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Date: 3-4-20

Lexi hissed in pain as the Warden pressed a scolding hot piece of metal to her face. Her eyes were narrowed and a slight whimper could be heard from her. The Warden then removed the metal which he was holding by using pliers and thick heat resistant gloves. "Are you ready to behave, Kitty?" he asked her. Lexi looked down but didn't answer. The Warden pressed the metal to her face again and Lexi yelped, jerking away. "Okay, okay!" she said and the Warden smiled, lowering the scolding metal piece. He stood up straight and looked down at her.

Lexi didn't even know what she did wrong, besides having a bit of fun. She'd crashed an exclusive party; how was she supposed to know it was for the President's birthday? But she'd made it much more fun than it had been before. Before Lexi had entered, there had been classical music playing and just people talking to each other. Well she had changed it quickly. The first thing she'd done was change the music, it wasn't a party if people weren't dancing. She'd then spray painted the walls with the spray paint cans she'd brought. Lexi also brought all the alcohol she could carry; better than whatever they were drinking before. But she hadn't even drank a whole bottle of vodka when the police crashed in and took her back to the asylum. Such party poopers, they never let her have any fun.

The warden spoke into his walkie talkie and almost immediately after, armed guards rushed in. Lexi rolled her eyes, looks like it was time to go back to her cage. "Alright, Kitty. Time to go back to your cage." the Warden said as he and the guards approached her. She was already in a straight jacket, did they really need this whole team of guards? What about the other people at the asylum? But Lexi knew that she was the only one who would sneak out and the most troublesome at the asylum. Even though she was only 17, she was like a vicious tiger. Or a panther.

Lexi didn't even move when they made her stand up and walk out of the room. The party and vodka had made her tired so she didn't feel like putting up a fight today. The Warden smiled when they shoved her into her cage, she hadn't even said a word. "That's a good Kitty." he said with a grin before leaving the room. The guards walked out with him but Lexi knew that four of them would stand right outside the door, guarding it. She lightly touched the side of her face and winced. This wasn't the worst punishment she's gotten. Maybe the time when they sent an electric shock through her head, but not this. Although, this was definitely going to make a mark. Hopefully it wouldn't ruin her perfectly flawless looks. Lexi yawned and curled up on the floor before falling asleep.

* * * * * * *

Lexi awoke and stretched out before standing up. She gently moved her hand along the burn on her face and winced, it still hurt. She sighed and looked around. There was no way she was going to stay inside all day. So she waited for the guards to bring her some breakfast. She shook her head when they left. Although she didn't mind the food here, she would much rather go out and get some real food, maybe even a drink too.

She uncovered the hole she'd dug about two years ago; she didn't know how the guards haven't discovered it yet. Lexi climbed through the hole which lead over by a wall with a window a little ways up. Beside the wall were boxes that held emergency weapons. She smiled and climbed up the boxes and through the window. Lexi wasn't going to take the weapons because it was too easy. Besides, she would rather steal from the public.

Lexi immediately climbed onto the roof using the stairs outside. She loved traveling by rooftop; plus, she could travel faster and wouldn't be cornered. Lexi just skipped along the top of the rooftops until she finally decided where she wanted to go. She grinned and made her way to her escape place, the bar. Of course there were multiple bars in the city, but this one was her favorite. Lexi knew the owner well and was even the bartender sometimes. She always went there whenever she just needed to escape everything and relax. Well, today was one of these days.

Lexi sighed before skipping into the bar. There was a large guy behind the counter cleaning up. He looked up and grinned when he saw Lexi. "Lexi! How's my favorite customer?" he asked her.

Lexi smiled and skipped up to the bar, twirling her hair. "I'm fine, Jimmy. Just the usual escape from everything, that's all." she said and sat down at the bar. "I'll have the usual." she said.

Jimmy shook his head. "Okay, but only one shot this time. You don't need so much when you're so young." he said and turned around to mix her drink together.

Lexi sighed and rested her head in her hand. "Yeah, but you know my birthday's in two weeks, right?" she said to Jimmy. "I'm not that underage."

Jimmy set a cup down on the counter. "I do know that. But if I get caught, This place'll get shut down and I'll have to go to jail. I let you be at least 17 because I know how hard you have it." his eyes widened when he looked at her face but then composed it. "What'd you do this time?" he asked, knowing that she had gotten punished for something.

Lexi laughed and shook her head. "Crashed the president's birthday party, jazzed it up a bit. People these days don't know what fun is." She took a sip of her drink.

Jimmy shook his head, smiling. "Lexi, you're gonna get hurt real bad one of these days, you know that? I won't ever turn you in but one day they might just kill you."

Lexi looked up at him. "They would never do that, you know how they are. They don't like killing people so they punish 'em instead." she heard the music change to her favorite song."

Jimmy nodded. "You're right. Now, why don't you go dance and have some fun?" he said to her.

Lexi smiled and took another sip of her drink before standing up. "Good idea. Call me if you need help with anything!" she called to him and made her way over to the dance floor.

Lexi didn't hesitate to dance when she got onto the dance floor. She could always just dance all of her problems away . . .

"Hey, what's that on your face?" someone asked.

Lexi's eyes snapped open when she realized it was Felix Henderson and she saw him and his gang looking at her. Felix and his gang practically owned this place. They decided who was let in and they were the best dancers. Lexi had been bullied by them when she was younger until she showed them up in a dance battle. Ever since then, she had been their favorite. It wasn't just for her dancing, but for her looks, too. She smiled. "Hey, Felix. Just another of the Warden's punishments. Wanna own the dance floor together?" She asked and stepped towards him.

Felix stepped back and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Not with someone with an ugly face like that." he said and his gang laughed.

Lexi looked confused but she smiled. "Come on, didn't you say I was the best dancer besides you?" she asked him.

Felix chuckled. "I did say that, but that was before. The second best dancer can't be someone that ugly. Get out of our bar." he said to her.

Lexi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Why? I-It's just a burn . . ." she started to slowly back away, her smile vanishing.

"Yeah, one that messed up your face. Get lost, or do we have to make you?" Felix challenged.

Lexi shook her head and she stopped backing away, standing her ground. Determination shone in her eyes. The people at the asylum taught her to never care what people think and to just be herself. She could take these guys in a fight. "No." she said.

Felix cocked an eyebrow as he and his gang walked towards her. "Really? You think you can take all four of us?" he asked her.

Before she knew it, Felix's gang had surrounded her with Felix facing her. Lexi narrowed her eyes, she'd been in plenty of fights before. If she could win those fights and take the Warden's punishments, she could handle these guys. Although she hadn't fought more than one person before . . . "I know I can." she said determinedly.

Felix smirked and let out a small chuckle. At that chuckle, the three guys in his gang advanced on her. Lexi jumped up to dodge them but they grabbed her legs and yanked her down. She crashed to the ground but dug her nails into their arms, which made them pull away. The gang members leaped onto her and Lexi fought back but she was too outnumbered, and they managed to pin her down. She growled and Felix stepped forward to stare down at her. "Still think you can beat us in a fight?" he asked before forming a fist and bringing it into contact with Lexi's face. Lexi flinched and writhed around, trying to get free; but the gang members were too strong, and they hadn't had a shot before this.

Jimmy heard the commotion and rushed over to them "What did I tell you?! If you're gonna fight, do it outside!" he said and pushed the gang away. They let go of Lexi and backed away. Lexi slowly stood up and glanced at Jimmy. "Thanks." she huffed.

Jimmy nodded. "You should probably leave though. Just until you get calmed down." He murmured to her. Lexi nodded and turned, heading for the door. Those guys were jerks, anyway.

"Yeah, and stay out! We don't allow ugly people like you!" Felix said before he and his friends laughed.

Lexi just walked out without saying another word and climbed quickly up to the roof. While she was climbing, she paused when she saw her reflection in the window and her eyes slightly widened. That's what she really looked like? The burn was really that bad? Lexi reached a trembling hand up to touch it and when she moved her hand across it she winced, tears falling from her eyes. She was so ugly . . . how could the Warden do this to her? How could he ruin her face like this?

Lexi reached the roof and started running. She didn't know if she was running to the insane asylum or away from it all. Her emotions were so conflicted she couldn't think straight. She couldn't be this ugly . . . she wouldn't believe it!

The next thing she knew, she was arriving at the asylum. Her eyes widened and she then realized why she was here. Lexi watched for the cameras and leaped through the window. When she landed inside, she stood up and saw that the room was filled with guards, the Warden standing in front. "Shit . . ." she mumbled and backed up, stumbling into the boxes filled with emergency weapons. When Lexi fell, some knives fell out. She looked down at them and sighed, grabbing one before standing up.

Lexi looked into the Warden's eyes. "There's no need to punish me anymore. No need to lock me up and make me starve. I understand everything now." she held the knife up to her throat.

The Warden's eyes widened and he lurched forward. "Lexi, no!" he cried out. It was the first time in a very long time he had used her real name.

He was too late. By the time he reached Lexi, the knife had already slashed through her throat. "Goodbye . . ." she whispered before her eyes closed and her legs gave way. The Warden caught her and he shook his head. He never wanted anyone at the asylum to be killed, especially Lexi. He wanted only for them to learn their lesson. He had worked on Lexi the most because he felt she never had a chance. She had always been influenced by the people around her and now she would never know the truth.

The Warden bent his head and tears dripped down his face. "I'm sorry, my daughter . . ."

I hope you enjoyed the story! What did you think of the ending? This is an AU so none of this actually happened as Lexi would never commit suicide. This was an assignment I had to do at school and we had to write a short story so I wanted to make it longer than the rest.

~ Spirit