The Secret Demons

Chapter 1: Watched

(Charlotte) Charlie's POV:

I closed my eyes in bliss.

I finally escaped. I finally escaped. I finally escaped. Those three words repeated themselves over and over in my head as I clutched my pendant and quietly watched all the trees flash by, not even being able to make out any distinct shapes. They came and went in a second, only their lush green colour making it clearly into my bright blue eyes. Many people said my eyes looked like deep oceans of clear water with beautiful azure crystals that sparkled brightly, but I had always preferred green eyes, especially since they were rarer I thought absent-mindedly. My pale fingers lightly played with my crow pendant, tracing the black enamel outlying of the wings, feeling each individual shape of the feathers, sending memories of my mother into my brain like a flood invading my brain.

-FLASHBACK-

I was in my room at home that had peach coloured walls covered with posters and pictures of my family and my various pets I had kept during my life. My mother's eyes were identical to mine, but I remember she always said that mine were brighter and prettier, yet I was sure she just said that out of love for me, I thought as I looked into them, not noticing the gift in her hands until a couple of seconds later. The gift was a small, silver chain necklace that had a black pendant in the middle that was nestled in mother's palm. Only when I looked closer at the centre where a reflection caught my eye did I see it was a crow with its wings outstretched and a single onyx crystal set as an eye.

"Mommy, what is it? It's so pretty!!" The ten year old me gazed at the jet black crow and it's small onyx crystal near its beak that glistened mysteriously in the moonlight pouring through my bedroom window. I looked at her mysteriously blue eyes that I could get lost in and always only shared deep affection towards me as they closed, making room for her wide smile that always somehow made me much happier, no matter what the situation was.

"It's something Mommy wants to give to you - it will remind you of me when I can't be there someday. It will protect you forever and always Charlie. Take good care of it for me will you?" Her eyes showed clear signs of sadness that I couldn't really interpret clearly being so young, but I was brought back to Earth from my young confused thoughts by her smile and I simply brushed it off and smiled back just as brightly.

"Really? Yay!" I cheered, overjoyed at the aspect of a present and something new I could hold on to and cherish. "I will Mommy!" I hugged her happily, feeling my soft white bed mattress bounce in protest to my sudden mini jumps of joy, and she hugged me back.

"Thank you. I will always be with you in this and in your heart. Remember that." She whispered softly into my curly red locks and I could've sworn I felt something wet slide down the back of my neck and a sniff near my ears. I nodded and after a couple of minutes, I fell into a deep sleep, unaware that that was going to be the last clear memory of her and her never ending love for me.

-END OF FLASHBACK-

I sighed. That was one of the last memories I had of my mother at all. She really was the only one who loved me that much, and still holds that position in my heart as the only person who has ever truly cared for me.

I recall crying for days in my room when father said she had passed away and committed suicide. I never let go of the crow pendant, as it probably sped up the duration of my depression considerably. To be honest, a part of me deep down inside had a feeling that it wasn't suicide. Not at all. How she did it was never explained. Why she did it left me dumbfounded too - she was so happy and she had family, friends, a decent job. I couldn't see a reason. I couldn't see any at all.

The intercom blabbering out of the speakers in what sounded like full volume in the corners of the cabin snapped me out of my thoughts. It was only about ten minutes until my arrival, so I began to pack my little bits and pieces scattered on the pull-out table in front of me so I could leave as soon I could. I took my mechanical pencil in my hand and twirled it idly whilst gazing at the sketchbook in front of me. So far, I had begun to draw a sketch of a train speeding its way through the countryside, using details that caught my eye during the ride, but I felt like it was missing something. I really wanted to finish it, so I put everything else lying around in my hand luggage, which happened to be my fave red and black sports bag which held my gym kit as well. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to let my mind be free and receive inspiration, but found it very hard due to the murderous stench that I couldn't identify that polluted the entire cabin. And I swear to god I was dying it was so bad.