running from my masters

"I need you."

This shit is so boring. It's gone on for far too long, and i didn't expect so many people to be here. I mean there has to be about 150 staff members here from different schools, and they all don't know when to shut up.

"My god shove a pencil in my ear." I groan and Aria slaps my leg. "Any louder? I don't think the people on the plane above us heard you." I giggle and smack her back. "Your fault for forcing me to come."

"I didn't force anything." She retorts and I scoff. "Liar," "Did I threaten you?" "No," "Did I blackmail you?" "No," "Did I hold a gun to your head?" "God I hope not." "Then I didn't force you to do anything."

"Yeah yeah smart ass." I tease as I pinch her in the side. "I swear, the cheekiest 12 year old I know." "And you love me." "That I do." I smile as I tap her on the nose and grab my purse.

"But I'm going outside for a smoke." Aria rolls her eyes and shoos me away. I make it outside and try lighting a cigarette but the wind keeps blowing out the lighter.

I try again and again, until finally, a pair of hands come to my rescue as they crowd themselves around the flame long enough for me to light the end of the cigarette.

I look up, only to see Katy smiling up at me. "Afternoon, ma'am." I smile at her and offer her a cigarette which she refuses. "My my, are you following me, Katy?" I ask teasingly.

She blushes. "No ma'am...I'm actually here for my cousins board meeting." I nod. "I'm here for my niece." She nods and I can tell she wants to ask me something.

"Go on, Darling." I urge and she gulps. "I was wondering, if my cousin and I could sit by you...I just don't know anyone and don't want to sit next to someone I don't know." I look down and only then do I realise there's a little boy at her side.

"Well of course- oh sorry." I say sheepishly as I drop my cigarette on the floor and put it out with my heel. I stop and look down at the boy. "What's your name, honey?"

"Max." He offers me his hand and I smile. "Well, Max. Don't ever smoke in your life, alright?" I say as I take his hand and he nods, a smile on his face. "Good boy." I smile softly and ruffle his hair before holding the door open for the both of them.

I lead them back to where Aria is sitting. "How's it going, sweetie?" I ask and she smiles at me, legs crossed and all. I'll tell you, she's the classiest and maturest 12 year old you'll ever see.

"It's looking like I'll make it into Harvard if all of these imbeciles are my competition." I snort. "Big words for such a small body." She shoves me in the leg and turns to Max.

"Who are you?" "I-I'm max." "Well, Max, nice to meet you." Aria smiles at Max before turning back to the speaker. Through the crowd, I catch a glimpse of somebody.

Somebody who I realise, with a jolt that shakes my entire body, is someone I recognise.

Someone I've been running from.

...

"Darling a Package is here for you!" Irene shouts from downstairs. I turn my laptop off and frown. Did I order something? Because I don't remember ordering anything. Maybe I just forgot.

I jog downstairs and see the package sitting on the table. It has my name and address on it and everything, but doesn't have a sender. And it doesn't look like it was dropped off by a delivering company.

I tear the tape off, curiosity getting the better of me. I rummage through the box, almost convinced it's empty until my hand hits something hard.

I carefully take out the rectangular velvet black box and open it. It's a necklace, an expensive one. It's chain is gold and it has a locket attached to it.

I hesitantly open it, only to find a pin. The same pin I used 3 years ago to cut open my own hand. I drop the necklace, jumping as it clatters into pieces on my table.

...

I answer the door for my food, grabbing my wallet from the table beside the doors. "How much?" I ask the girl who has my food in her arms. She stares at me for a moment, and I stop my movement once I realise she hasn't answered me.

I look up at her, raising an eyebrow. "Do I know you, doll?" I ask sweetly and she quickly regains her posture. "N-no, sorry. That'll be 38.50." I nod and pull out a hundred.

I hear a gasp behind me and Irene comes rushing downstairs. "You got my favourite Chinese?" She asks, wrapping her arms around my waist. I laugh and turn my head a bit to give her a quick peck on the cheek.

"Yes, so you better reward me good later." I whisper to her and she smirks. I turn back to the delivery girl and hand her the 100. "Keep I-"

"Thanks." She says flatly and snatches the money from my hand, shoving the bags in my arms and walking away.

What the hell was that about?

...

I'm leaving the mall with Aria and I's shopping bags. We make our way to the underground parking lot and I unlock the doors of my car. I place our bags in the back. As I'm about to close the back door I see a note on my windshield.

A chill runs down my spine. "Aria, love, get in the car please." Aria does what she's told and gets in, closing the door behind her.

I grab the letter and hesitantly unfold it. I almost drop my keys as I read what's on the letter.

"I need you. My darling girl, come back to me, or you won't like the consequences."

And at the end of the letter sits a perfect imprint of her lips, in her signature blood red shade. The Headmistress of Nevermore has found me.

...

I wonder how
I managed to end up,
In this place,
Where I couldn't get away.
...

Wordcount: 1062