Liam Stewart x Reader

2. Tenth Birthday

Months later

I was the night before I turned 10 years old, it didn't feel much like my birthday without Eddie or... Tom.

It had been 3 months since IAAN got Thomas and my parents had moved Eddie to my Grandparents house across state.
It was the night before my birthday, but that wasn't important enough to pay for Eddie to travel back home, My farther had been layed off at work so money was tight. Even though my parents don't show it, I could tell they resented each other for what happened to Tom. Dad should've been home more and mom should of kept closer watch, but I don't think they could've prevented it. Whenever I get to talk to Eddie he says they're just trying to find something to blame other than IAAN, because Tom was happy and healthy.

The night before my birthday, I was bookended by my mom and dad, the air was thick especially when they're not talking again. Mom said something about dad getting a job and he snapped at her.

So we're eating in silent tension, and all I could do was push spaghetti across my bowl and look at 2 empty chairs across from me. Both my parents agreed that I wasn't going to have a birthday party this year, I didn't mind since I hadn't been a party type of person, anyway what's the point not only that Tom isn't going to be there Eddie isn't either.  Also Tom wouldn't be there to help blow out my candles this year.

I went up to bed early because I was fed up with the silence downstairs. I hopped into my moshi monster pjs and slipped into my bed. I fell asleep next to my favorite teddy.

My dream was odd, it was about a class I had 2 weeks before Christmas. Special people came around school giving presentations about death and how the people who die don't come back, this was after the first round of deaths... before Tom left and never came back. And then the dream was about nothing but how Thomas reacted to IAAN, how he took his last breath and the thud that followed.

I woke up, rubbing my eyes, they were wet as if I had been crying.

I could tell it wasn't morning because I forgot to shut my curtains the night before and it was still pitch black outside. I checked my bedside table and it said 12:54 AM.

Happy Birthday Y/N

I didn't feel tired, so I went to check if mom or dad was awake because sometimes they'd be up watching family guy or the Simpsons. I tiptoed into their bedroom and they were dead to the world -fully passed out- the stress from today sure did tire them out. So I slowly climbed onto their bed, I wanted to be comforted. I almost drifted off to sleep and I was inclined to.

No, I'm too old for that now

So instead I climbed down and walked over to my moms side of the bed and kissed her cheek good night (She smelt like strawberries). The instant I pressed my lips there, I stumbled back, a flash of pain behind my eyelids. For a weird second I saw the image of my face leap in a series of thoughts, then it disappeared.

Electric shock? I guessed

She didn't feel it, nor did dad when the same odd thing happened with him after I kissed his cheek. After that I tiptoed back to bed with a head-splitting headache.

It was morning as soon as my head hit the pillow. I woke to my hello kitty alarm and stumbled out of bed. The worst thing is that my headache didn't go away.

I started making my way downstairs and started for the kitchen, walking by the mini shrine for Tom on the way, pressing a kiss on my hand and then pressing my hand to his forehead on the picture of him.

Mom had her back to me, her black hair in a ponytail. She was humming while waiting for toast to pop.

"Morning mom" I said, but I don't think she heard. "Mom?"

She turned around to face me quickly then, startled.

" I don't feel well, can I have some medicine?"

She didn't respond, it took me walking to the table and sitting down for her to respond.

"How-how did you get in here?"

"My head hurts and I feel icky" I told her setting my arms on he table. She came over to me and grabbed me by the arm.

"I asked how you got in here. What's your name?" Her voice sounded strange. "Where do you live?"

Her hand tightened gradually. This was a joke, right?

"Can you tell me you're name?" She repeated.

"Owch, you're hurting me" I whined trying to pull my arm away from her grasp. "Mommy?"

"Where are your parents? How did you get into this house?"

"Mom, Mommy, why-"

"Are you one of my sons friends? Do you think this is funny?" She started to drag me to the garage. "I promise I'm not you're mother, you just have to tell me where you came from"

"Mommy I live here!" I was in tears. "I live here, why are you acting like this!"

When my mom looked at me, she didn't see me, no I wasn't invisible, but she didn't see her daughter.

"My husband will know what to do, he can drive you home, wait there- don't move." she walked out and locked the door behind her, she didn't even turn the light on for me.

I curled up into a ball and started crying, I knew for a fact that my dad wouldn't be coming to help me, he wasn't home, he looks for jobs during the week and only comes home on the weekend only to leave really early on a Monday morning.

It was Monday, but it was late in the morning, dad left hours ago.

I could hear mom on the phone, she was talking to someone, she sounded worried, I think it was dad.

I felt like hiding, but my body wouldn't let me move and inch. Moments later the garage door rolled open blinding me with light. I squinted and it seemed like my head was going to explode from the pain.
A man was on the other side of the garage, he coaxed you out of the corner.
It wasn't until my bare feet touched the freezing ground, the man grabbed me by the collar of my pajama top and dragged me to a van.

===<3===

A/N
Whoop second chapter done~
I hope you liked this chapter even though it's mostly me summing up a chapter from the book.
Next chapters going to get into y/n in Thurmond :D

~C.J 💜