Left Behind

0.4 The Scientist, Coldplay

In all of my 25 years of living at the Hollywood Ghost Club, I had only seen Mr Covington in extremely formal situations. So to see him sat on my dressing table stool which was significantly too small for his body is a very amusing sight. For me at least. My humour sobered up when I saw his face. Oh no. I was sat crossed legged in a rabbit onesie on my bed but even that wasn't enough to break the tension.

"I asked one thing of you today River." Covington said quietly. I looked down at my bedspread.  I was about to apologise when he continued to talk. "Instead of being able to follow one simple instruction, like an idiot, you completely ignore me." Ouch. Now that has made me angry. I shot up off my bed. 

"How dare you. I do everything you say. I have for 25 years even though you kidnapped me and took me away from my family. I wanted to see the boy that Willie liked but you banished me too my room." I yelled.

"I took you away from your family? What family? They threw you on the streets like a mutt. I was the best thing that ever happened to you." He stood up and towered over me. I was shivering but I refused to back down this time.

"Yeah I may have not been living with my biological family but I had others. I had Reggie and Alex and-" My voice caught in my throat. I was so close to crying but I kept going. "I have never meant anything more in my entire existence when I say you ruined my life." Something about his demeanour changed. If he was intimidating before he was absolutely terrifying now. 

"Come with me now." Before I had an opportunity to reply, he grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room. The party was still in full swing, and I was still in my bunny onesie. I heard Willie laughing, but it was soon cut off when he saw my face. 

What's wrong? He mouthed but I just shook my head. Covington dragged me out of the performance hall into a room I had never been in before. 

"Where are we?" I asked quietly. He ignored me and carried on pulling me through different hallways and rooms until we got to an extremely large door. He swung it open and stepped into the street. 

"Hold onto my arm" I barely had anytime to react when the view in front of me disappeared and morphed into a new sight. It was my moms house. I felt bile in my throat. 

"Just so you're aware they can't see you." He said before stalking up the drive, pulling me behind him. He knocked on the door and stood silently while he waited for a response. Suddenly the door swung open and a girl who looked to be about my age opened the door. 

"Hello?" She said looking kind of creeped out. 

"Hello there. Is your mother in?" Covington replied. The girl turned around and disappeared into the house. A few moments later an extremely familiar face showed up. My mom. My eyes filled with tears.

"Hello there. I believe you had a daughter?" Covington said in a very pleasant voice. Confusion filled my moms face.

"You just met my daughter. Lilah?" Every word she says feels like a stab in my stomach. He shook his head.

"I meant River Beckett. This was her house wasn't it?" Realisation dawned on her and her faced smoothed out. 

"I'm sorry you must have the wrong house. I don't know anyone called River." Tears started to pour down my face. Covington stood back and she shut the door. He looked down at me but I couldn't meet his eye. I knew my mom never cared but to pretend that I didn't exist was a whole new level. I heard him take a breath and I closed my eyes. 

"Now you know that I didn't take you away from your family. You never had one to begin with." My stomach was in knots. 

"Can you just take me home." I blinked and we were outside of the big door once again. I kept my head down and made my way back to my bedroom. I could feel Covington close behind me, directing me every now and then making sure I didn't get lost. When we got to my bedroom door he grabbed my elbow, much softer this time.