The next time anyone sees me is a little after nine o'clock. I time it so well that I walk in just as the stupid lottery music stops playing. Then I hop on to the 'feel good' train and position myself to shout 'everybody out'. This is such a crazy, emotional time for me. One minute the train wreck gets postponed, the next it's back on again. I'm never sure whether to laugh or cry anymore. So I spend most of my moments staring into space with a tense grin. Other times I stare back at myself from the mirror and let laughter flood behind my gateways. Sometimes it comes out as tears. But I mostly just sit there and stare at what hides behind the image. For some reason, it never wants to show itself. Come bet I make it rush out after I win this freaking money!
Hazel doesn't know what to say. The results surprise me for the first time ever. It comes down; zero; zero; zero; zero; zero. Even the power ball disappoints. This is Matron Caine's fault. I left enough herbs to go around. But she just had to trim it down to get her revenge, didn't she? I was this close to making a comeback. That old witch is so damn evil she can't stand seeing me or anyone else prosper. She rigged it; destroyed my one chance of escaping this rotten place. Now I'm stuck in this hell hole forever; or at least for the next week. All my forevers will end in seven days. Oh, how can anyone be so cruel? Why can't they let me hit twenty-two with grace and pomp like the famed daughter that I am? The next day I can bear. But not my birthday, for goodness sake! Dammit! Just let me have a moment to exhale this poison from my lungs.
No such luck. Matron Caine finds me there an hour later, exactly one hour before the front gate gets locked down. At the moment, my shoulders can't brace her snide remarks, so I make an attempt to exit quietly. However, she's not one to facilitate graceful exits.
"Where on earth are you going?"
"Away from here," I say irritated. "Wouldn't want to haunt your hallways."
"You know, it's that filthy attitude that has you exactly where you are."
"And here I was thinking it was my undeniable charm."
Her jaw hardens like she's about to dig into me. Then last minute she decides against it.
"When are you going to convert those coins into dollars and pay something on your bill?"
"Soon," I reply, not turning around. "It'll be my birthday present to you."
YOU ARE READING
NINE TIME MACHINES: Do you want to undo your entire life on planet earth?
FantasyThere is a war coming! In it, Lilith and the impostor God must battle for all human minds on earth. But one girl can stand in the gap for all humanity. However, to prove worthy for this feat, Mary must begin shadow work to take the mark upon herself...
