“For your sake, I hope so. Because if you don’t find out what happened to my little girl, I will send you somewhere worse than hell. Where what Felix did to you will look like child’s play,” His voice drops to a whisper as I fight to keep the vomit down. “And this time, you won’t be in a fit state to fight back”. The line goes dead as I stand their frozen.
What could I have possible done to deserve this life.
To have not a single person care about me. Not only that, but to actively hurt and torture me. Surely, I’m not that unlovable….am I?
I remember before the beating started, when I used to try and get Delphine’s approval by being the best daughter I could be. Yet, no matter what I did, I got separated. When I was hurt or upset, instead of a hug to make it all better, I was sent to my room. When I tried to hold my parents hands the way the held Marlowe’s, I was palmed off onto the nanny. Even Marlowe began to treat me different after watching the others around me. She still flitted in and out of playing the role of a sister, but only when it benefited her in some way.
What made her better than me, more worthy of love?
I feel my eyes burn with unshed tears, but I don’t allow them to fall. I swore down a long time ago that I wouldn’t let them make me feel this way again. But I’m only human, I have my moments.
I swallow the lump in my throat and get back to the task at hand. I study at myself in the mirror and tilt my head at the girl staring back at me. She looks the part of a healthy young adult, but it’s the eyes that give away the void beneath. No light flickers behind them, just emptiness and pain. I shake my head and double check my outfit.
It’s chilly this time of year through the day, but at night its freezing. I decided against my go to skirt and put on my black skin-tight jeans with a few fashionable rips at the knees and thigh. I pulled on a black hoodie, my black leather jacket, red scarf, red beanie and my usual black military style boots. It’s fashionable enough for a rager in the forest but also hides enough for breaking into the record room later.
At least I will be comfortable and can run if need be. I will have to ditch the red hat and scarf before we leave for the main building.
My phone buzzes.
I chuckle. I told Corden not to get smashed until after the mission tonight, but he never listens. One drink won’t hurt. Liquid courage and all that. I need to keep my head together; I don’t just have one task tonight but two.
One. Break into the record room and find Marlowe’s file.
Two. Watch Asher and his band of goonies. There is something there that I need to investigate. I can feel it.
“Wish me luck Marlowe,” I voice into the room before turning off the lights and making my way to Corden.
***
It’s been two hours. Two hours of smiling and chatting to more people than I have in my entire life. Both boys and girls from the academy have come up and conversed with me and Corden about anything and everything, it threw me in the beginning, and I kept my mouth shut while Corden took the lead. But after some encouragement, I started to relax a little, I didn’t talk about me, but I deflected effortlessly enough that no one noticed.
Deena isn’t here yet and as the time goes on, I am getting more and more anxious. She mentioned she had to quickly finish an assignment, but that was hours ago, she should be here by now.
While Corden chats away with a girl from his class I scan the crowd. Orange glows from the five firepits around me, lighting up the area enough to see faces. People are stood laughing, some sitting on fallen stone ruins and others handing out drinks from the many coolers dotted around. Apart from this opening in the trees, the rest of the forest is thick and dense enough to somewhat hide us from the Academy grounds. Not that it matters, apparently the staff don’t care or get involved in the student’s business unless it involves classes or a complaining parent.
I keep looking from face to face and when my gaze lands on a familiar one my stomach flutters. Two different coloured irises lock onto mine and hold them hostage.
Asher.
It’s annoying how handsome he is. Otherworldly. Almost demonic the way the shadows dance around his features.
More annoying is the blonde attached to his arm. He isn’t paying her the slightest bit of attention, but her perfectly manicured fingers trail up and down his jacket, where she clings to his arm like he might run away.
I am not entirely convinced that he wouldn’t if given the chance.
His piercing stare trails over my body as Daylan whispers something in his ear. I break the staring contest with a wink and raise the plastic cup of lemonade I am sipping in the air towards the group. Asher raises and eyebrow and smirks which drags Darcy’s attention. Her focus follow his line of sight and I watch the red hue build from her chest to her cheeks in anger at what she finds.
I decide to poke the bear and blow her a kiss from across the firepit. There is no point in trying to keep the peace with her, she has made it her mission to belittle me at every chance she can get, but she hasn’t tried anything physically, so she looks like she is all bark and no bite. I’m notscared of her at all. I have dealt with real monsters before; Darcy is just annoying. Like a mosquito.
“Bitch,” I hear her mumble before spinning on her heels and heading over to get another drink. Dragging Asher along behind her. I snort at the view. I never pictured him to be a push over.
Interesting.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Deena’s voice pulls me away from the car crash waiting to happen with the academies ‘It’ couple.
“I know I’m late, but I had to finish that assignment,”
She looks flustered and exhausted. The black circles under her eyes are a permanent fixture as well as her gaunt cheeks and pale complexion. She’s wearing all black like we decided on the other night, yet hers are worn out, like they have been washed a million times. She shifts uncomfortably as she pulls the black beanie on her head lower.
