Author’s Note: I wrote this story when I was 15, there are only four chapters and an epilogue. I will post the epilogue the same day I post the 4th chapter.
Chapter One: My Life
White started to flood into my eyes through the blackness. The light stunned me but I soon recovered. I seem to be doing a lot of that recently. I looked around trying to calm down my and trying to convince myself that I wasn’t dead. But the more I looked around the small, white room, the more I actually wanted to be dead. The table beside the bed I was chained to was full of knives and syringes. The two metal arms above my head had a blow torch and long thin spikes. I was starting to panic but I completely lost it when I heard the footsteps coming to my room. Closer, closer, until the door opened and I was shocked at who it was.
41 hours earlier
March 3, 2016
I scrunched up my nose as I opened my eyes. The smell of too much perfume and hairspray drowned my nose in a disgusting, vile way. I saw my step-sister getting ready for the day. Of course, Miss Daniella Gold had to look perfect for each and every day. Even though she was one year younger than me, she still was the most popular, and preppy 10th grader in all of Newton High School. I rolled off my bed making the awful CREEK sound. Daniella winced and I stood up unaffected by the ear-piercing screech. After our regular good mornings, I took one look at Daniella’s vanity covered with hair products, makeup, and all the other fake maker things and turned away. I quickly got ready and heard my step mom call for us. The twin pair of footsteps raced down the stairs eagerly as I swung my bag over one shoulder and trudged down the stairs.
I saw my step mom at the stove finishing taking the pancakes off the griddle and put them on a plate. And as soon as she placed them on the table the twins, Toby and Aidan, began to devour them. My father chuckled and said,
“Careful boys, you need to save some for your sisters.” They both slowed down and glared and stuck out their tongues at me but changed their faces to look like innocent as soon as my step mom turned towards them. I walked by the table and grabbed a single pancake and then went to my father and kissed his cheek.
“Goodbye dad.” I said then went and put on my shoes,
“Good—“my father began to say until my step mom interrupted,
“Barbara.” I froze knowing that if I ignored her, she would just get angrier. “Sit down and eat breakfast with your family.”
I mentally groaned but turned around and smiled innocently.
“I’m sorry… mom… but Tommy and Ryker are picking me up and taking me to school.” Right then I heard seven honks in a specific order and knew it was them, I turned back to my “mom” and said,
“See?” I said as nicely as I could, to be honest I never really liked my new family. Even after I lost my real mom, I was just content with myself and dad but no, he had to go to Louisiana and meet Angelica Gold and get married. All without telling me. I think I would have been fine with it if he had told me; called me or something.
I was in my room listening to my music that was blaring out of my headphones. I was doing my homework but I could hardly concentrate. My dad was coming home. He went to Louisiana to a conference for his big trucking company he owns. He’s been gone for 5 weeks. I had just finished my Chemistry homework when out of my peripheral vision, I saw my dad’s Honda pull into the driveway. I stopped my music and ran downstairs. Ever since my mom died, all I had was my dad and I was content with that. However I don’t think my dad felt the same way as me. I stepped outside about to run and hug my dad when I froze in my spot where I stood. He was helping out a dark haired woman. Then three kids climbed out of the van. My eyes were huge as I watched the new kids and that dark haired woman look at my house. The dark haired woman I could just tell was judging it inside her head. I stood there until then finally my dad noticed me. He looked nervous but mainly his eyes showed the words, “Be nice.” He came up to me and hugged me. That sort of knocked me out of my trance and I awkwardly; hugged him back my eyes still on the other people.
“Bobbi, this Angelica Gold.” I was smiling but it wavered when I heard my own last name to describe that woman. She came up to me and hugged me. Now I’m not much of a hugger unless it’s my dad, Tommy, or Ryker. So when she hugged me, I just went stiff and wrapped my arms barely around her.
“It’s so nice to meet you Barbara.” I cringed at my real name, as I thought while mentally glaring at her ‘only my Real mom can call me that.’
“And these are your new siblings, Daniella, Toby, and Aiden.” I looked over at my dad in shock.
“You got married?” Still in shock, had he been able to replace mom that fast?
“Yes,” making my eyes widen even more. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but I assumed you would be busy in school and I didn’t want to bother you.” He tried to explain but I just felt hurt, anger, and betrayal,
“Bother me how Dad? You couldn’t even text me, I’m getting married? Mom’s been dead for a month dad, a month and you just go and forget about her?”
“Enough!” shaking my head I looked over at my new ‘family.’ My step-mom was looking at my dad dreamily, my step-sister was looking down on the ground, my step-brothers looked like they really didn’t care. Blinking back tears I ran inside and went into my room and locked the door. I flung myself on my bed. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks as I wished for my mom, for these new people to leave and most of all that my dad still loved my mom.
I opened the door and hurried out as fast I possibly could. I swung myself into the side door that was open and said while closing the door,
“Hurry before the She comes out.” They chuckled and backed out of the driveway. As soon as we were out of the neighborhood I breathed out a sigh,
“Was it that bad this morning Bobbi?” Ryker asked me
“Of course it was. There was too much perfume and hairspray in the air and the smell of some food that the She made.” Tommy said, I smiled and put my hand over my heart and gasped,
“You know me so well Thomas.” With a fake gasp,
“I know.” He did a fake bow, well as well as he could while driving. We laughed. Then Ryker turned on the radio and we sang the rest of the way to school. As soon as we got there, I opened the door and took Ryker’s outstretched hand and said in my best British voice (which sucks by the way),
“Why thank you kind sir.” I stepped out with my bag on my back as he replied,
“With pleasure madam.” Tommy rolled his eyes and said,
“You too.” While shaking his head,
“Hey, I don’t see you being a gentleman. You’re just a big meanie.” I said while fake pouting. They both chuckled at my childish behavior, and each of them grabbed my arms and pulled me to the school,
“NO!! I don’t want to go back to that dungeon! Don’t torture me again, PLEASE!!” I have an issue on being too dramatic. It’s how I deal with things. Both of my best friends laughed at me as they took me inside. Tommy and Ryker have been my friends for years. We met when we were only 5 years old.
My mom drove me to my first day in the 1st grade. When we pulled up I looked at the giant building before my 5 year old eyes and thought it was like a giant castle. My mom came over and helped me out of my car seat. Then I clung to her leg as a sign that I didn’t want her to leave. We came to the door, there was a nice looking lady who smiled at me. I looked at her up and down trying to decide if she was ok or not.
“Who might be this beautiful young lady?” I looked away and my mom chuckled.
“This is Barbara and it’s her first day so I don’t know how this will go.” The lady knelt down and said while holding her hand out.
“Hi Barbara, my name is Miss Rhea. Would you like to go have some fun today?” I looked at her for a second before turning away and saying.
“No.” My mom sighed and said,
“Barbara, honey you have to go to school. You can make friends and play games.” She tried to convince me
“We can do that at home.” I said,
“We can after I come pick you up at 3, okay honey.”
“Don’t want you to go.” I said as pearl shaped tears ran down my cheeks
“Hey, hey it’s ok.” My mom told me while wiping my eyes, “I will always come back to you. Always no matter what! Okay?” She said and smiled at me. I slowly nodded and walked forward and took Miss Rhea’s hand. As she took me inside I looked back to my mom for the last time and she waved and blew me a kiss. When we got inside I sat in the corner while Miss Rhea called everyone over to talk.
“Alright now kids. We are going to start today by playing a game.” All the other kids cheered while I looked down not wanting to do anything. As Miss Rhea was explaining what we were about to do, two boys, one with light blonde hair that almost looked white hair and the other with black hair that looked like the crows that cawed at mommy and me when we went on walks, came on each side of me and started talking.
“Hi, I’m Ryker, and this is Tommy.” I looked at the blonde hair one who spoke and whispered,
“Barbara.”
“Miss Rhea always has us work with other kids. Wanna be our partner?” Tommy asked while smiling a big tooth gap grin.
“Sure.” I said shrugging. Hoping that 3 o’clock will be arriving soon. then suddenly I heard Miss Rhea say,
“Ok, go!” I focused back on this world as Ryker grabbed my hand and we ran after Tommy.
“Come on Barbara!” He said to me.
“What’s going on?” I asked confused, why and what we were running from? The boys sighed while we hid behind the castle in the corner.
“We have to tag all the other kids but if we or you get tagged, you have to freeze and only one of us can unfreeze you.” Tommy explained quickly to me while Ryker kept look out.
“So why are we sitting around doing nothing?” I asked, a grin spreading across my face. The two boys soon joined me.
“We’re not anymore.” Ryker said as he jumped up and ran and tagged two kids who had their backs turned, and quickly ran back to us. Ryker nodded at Tommy who then nervously but still fast ran out into the opening. He only tagged one kid but was tagged himself so he froze in his place and looked over at us with a sheepish grin.
“You get him, I’ll watch your back.” I told him. He nodded and ran out to get our frozen teammate. As soon as he touched Tommy, they were both tagged again in front of a small play set. I sighed and was about to run out until a ginger kid found me and I quickly ran. I ran through all the toys and jumped over the play sets knowing that if I got caught, my team would be out. I was behind a small fortress when another kid came on the opposite side of the ginger. I looked quickly at them both and jumped inside the fortress. I squirmed and crawled my way through and once I found an opening I jumped down. Luckily Tommy and Ryker were? I tagged them both and we ran across the room. Soon there were only about five kids left. We nodded at each other and ran out. I tagged the ginger that was previously chasing me. When I looked up, I saw Ryker get two kids. Tommy crept up on the other kid who had cornered me with the ginger and froze him. The last kid looked helpless seeing that his teammates were all frozen with three kids in front of them. He tried to get Ryker but Tommy and I quickly tagged him and we had won! After the game was snack time. My new friends and I were sitting in the fortress, I had crawled through and we were just talking. We had just finished laughing at the joke Tommy had just told when Ryker turned to me.
“Okay, Barbara, I think you need a nickname.” My face scrunched up which happened when I was confused.
“Why?” I asked. It was true that I didn’t like my first name but I was a little scared at what these two would think up.
“Because Barbara is too formal. Plus I want to.” Ryker answered while Tommy nodded.
“Okay, what did you have in mind? Nothing crazy though.” I said agreeing with them.
“Hm… Barbie?” Tommy suggested and I frowned in disgust.
“I am not going to be called a doll.” I said while Ryker nodded.
“She’s right, Barbie isn’t right for her. How about Bonny?” He tried, I quickly shook my head. Then Tommy suddenly had a huge smile and snapped his fingers.
“I got it! Bobbi.” He exclaimed. Both the boys looked at me and I thought about that name. After a second or two I smiled,
“Bobbi,” I tried it out, “I like it.” Ryker and Tommy high-fived feeling victorious while I giggled and could not wait to tell my mommy and daddy about my new friends and my new nickname.
I smiled as the boys finally got me into the school and placed me in front of my locker.
“Thank you Tommy and Ryker.” I said, smiling cheekily. They both rolled their eyes and Tommy said,
“Just get your stuff so we can get to class.” I nodded and opened my locker. as soon as I opened my locker, I felt like someone’s eyes were on me. I looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. People messing around, grabbing things for class, but no one was looking at me. I shook off the feeling and slammed my locker and walked with my best friends to class. But still, once we reached our Algebra 2 class and sat down, I still felt like someone was watching me. But the only people who were looking at me were Tommy and Ryker. This stare felt different, more hard, more… cold. I tried to tell myself that it was nothing but I couldn’t shake the feeling. Was someone watching? if so, why? And who?
