RE:WRITTEN

007: Truth Roulette

"Girls, you don't know how long I've been waiting for the right time to tell you any of this."

Both Violet and I look at our Momma, silent. I don't know what to say. Everything seems to spin, and I can't get my head straight. I'm so confused.

"Mom.. if you say you're from Destiny, then how are we here?" Violet asks.

Momma looks at Violet.

"You know how you're half siblings, yes?"

We nod.

"Before I was expecting Amai, and when I was with Amai's father, we decided to come here. For exploration reasons. We found that the Normal was safer than Destiny with the Corruption spreading. We wanted to raise a family together, and we wanted to be safe.

"Some time after I found out I was pregnant with Amai, we heard word from an old friend in Destiny that the Corruption had been getting worse. They needed extra hands to try and combat it, but I couldn't go back to Destiny. Instead, Amai's father went back to fight for both of us, and before he left, he told me he'd be back."

I start to tear up a little. I think I know where this is going.

"Did he not come back?" I ask.

Momma's eyes also have tears in them. Her lips quiver a bit. "No, sweetheart. Your father, who was also from Destiny, didn't end up coming back. The Corruption killed him."

I put my face in my hands. I had never heard much about my father before this. I always just assumed he wasn't in my life anymore, and I never asked why. Now that I know, I wish I didn't. I feel pain, loss, and I didn't even know him.

"What about me?" Violet asks. "Am I full Destinian like Amai?"

"No, Violetta." Momma says. "When I decided to stay here... about a year after I had Amai, and after a lot of support groups to get help with being a single mother, I ended up meeting your father. Violet, your father is from this world. I've always known that you were half-blood Destinian."

I look up to Momma. "But what about us being... Written? What does that mean?"

"You girls are like me in that sense. I came here with your father, Amai, by a portal. Only the Written can travel between Destiny and the Normal. No one else can do that. You have powers, and those are accessed by the Written Charms you were given today."

I look at Violet. She looks at me, and I see her frown.

"I know it's a lot to take in all at once," Momma sighs. "Believe me, I was once in your shoes too when I discovered that I was Written. I never thought that this would be the way we had this conversation, but I guess it's better now than never."

I look at Momma. "But why did you lie to us? We're your daughters. You know you can trust us."

"Baby, I know." Momma's eyes meet mine. She brings up a hand to rub her face, wiping her eyes as she sighs. "I know I can trust you both. But you need to understand... I couldn't tell you everything when you were little. You wouldn't have understood..."

I sigh. "I..."

"We wouldn't have understood?!"

I look over to Violet, who shouted at our Momma. There's a glare in her pink eyes and a scowl painted on her face.

"Mom, how can you say that?!" She yells. "The only way we could have understood is if you even told us in the first place. It doesn't matter when you would have told us!"

"Violetta..." Momma inhales to try and stay calm.

"Mom. You lied to us!" She gets up. "Why should I trust you?! What if there's really no danger in Destiny?! We could have been exploring this whole time."

"Violet." Momma looks at her. "Do not. That danger is real. Trust me please. I don't want to lose you, too."

At that moment, Violet looks at her jewelry box. "Well... you shouldn't have lied to us." She picks up the ring with her left hand, slowly placing it on her right finger. "You kept this from us! I could have been making you proud with this information, Mom. You can't keep us caged forever!"

"I was never trying to cage you!"

"Whatever. I'm done with this."

As Violet storms out of the room, I immediately get up. I rush to Momma's side, putting my hand out.

"Momma, it's going to be okay. I promise." I say. "Don't listen to her. She's just upset."

"Sweetie... I saw this coming. You and your sister are Written. I've always known this, and I could sense your energies when you were both very young. It just seems that her energy is starting to manifest in the way I feared it would."

"Momma?"

"Amai, your sister isn't like you. Her energy isn't like yours, and it never has been. I knew she would do this..."

I shake my head. "I have to stop this... She can't do this!"

I immediately run towards Violet's room. My heart races as I see the door open. I lean on the door frame, sighing. I see her grabbing some items that I can't currently make out, but I don't care. She's still here. Violet hasn't left.

"Vi..." I whisper. "Come on, you can't really be mad at Momma. She was just doing what she thought was right."

"Shut up, Amai..."

"Come on! Look at the positive! At least we know now!"

"SHUT UP!"

I'm silenced as Violet screams at me. Her dagger eyes narrow as she starts to walk closer to me, pointing at me. Her lip curls.

"I'm not you, Amai. Okay? I'm not the positive cheer girl who sees everything as a good thing. We were lied to! Does that not concern you at all? How are you not even a little upset with this? Our whole lives, we've been lied to! We could have known the whole time, and then maybe we'd have been more prepared when we received these. Your positivity and charm can't make this better for me!" She throws her hand up with the ring. "So don't tell me to look at the positive, okay?!"

My back slams into the wall as Violet shoves me away. I recollect myself as she starts to run down the hallway, and I bolt after her.

"VIOLET, COME BACK!"

She runs out to the backyard. As I run through the backdoor, I see Violet looking at her ring. The ring on her finger lights up. She stares at the ground.

"Take me to Destiny!"

In immediate response, an opening appears on the ground. Violet looks back at me, a snarl at her lips. Momma runs up beside me.

"Violet! Do not go through that portal! You don't know what will happen!"

"Sorry Mom," Violet looks away. "I want my spotlight. And I'm through with being lied to."

The portal snaps shut as Violet jumps down. She disappears. I let out a scream, holding my mouth as tears start to pour down my face. Momma puts her arms around me as she lets out her own cries, holding me close in her embrace.

Slowly, I pull out my phone. I speed-dial Sakasu. It rings for a few moments, and then I hear a giggle.

"Amai! What's up?"

"'Kasu, you need to come over. It's Violet. She... she-" I choke out.

There's a bit of silence on the other side. What is she doing right now?

"Okay, hang on, girlie. I'm coming, and I have back up." Sakasu says before she hangs up.

Momma looks at me. "Who did you just call, sweetie?"

I look at her. "Sakasu. And apparently she's bringing friends."

My Momma sighs, then nods.

"Let's head inside. I have a feeling we have more discussions ahead of us."