Homesick

3

Alicia's pov
My eyes flutter open and once again I sigh as I realize I'm not home. The first day I thought it was a weird dream I would wake up from. Dream time is different from regular time, things can feel too quick or way too long depending on the events. My nightmares always seem longer, on the occasion that I have them, I figured this might be one of those times.

So when I fell asleep that first night I was relieved thinking I'd wake up in bed next to Delia like I'm used to. Spoiler alert: I didn't. The second day I hoped the same but today, well today was my last straw. Any semblance of hope I had is gone. It's now been a week since I've been here and I feel like I've surpassed crazy town and entered psychoville.

You always hear about people being kidnapped but you never think it'll hit this close to home. Is it even considered kidnapping cause I'm an adult? I guess abduction would be a more politically correct term but that terrifies me, so I'm going to say kidnapped. At first it didn't bother me much, even with that little voice in the back of my head telling me it was real.

Of course I woke up scared because I was restrained but when I faced my so-called abductor I was almost... relieved? Seeing a familiar face amongst the chaos surrounding me brought me comfort. However, the look on her face gave me pause and her first words were the main indicator that her 'visit' had nothing to do with saving me.

I suppose it wasn't her first words, but those that came after. Just like every morning at the same time, the lock on the door clicks and I'm met with her smiling face. "Good morning, pretty girl" she mumbles but this time I don't respond, I actually hope that she leaves but I won't get so lucky and I know that.

"I made pancakes for you today, the small ones, I know you like those" she says as she takes a seat next to me on the basic metal frame bed. It almost feels like a prison—that's not true, because they have more freedom there. I haven't been outside it what feels like months but has only been a few days of course.

"You're really not going to talk to me?" she asks in a sad tone and I give her an incredulous look, truly not believing her words. "You kidnapped me" I remind her and she waves a hand dismissively as if it's an everyday thing to snatch someone from their home. "I saved you" she whispers, "I didn't need saving" I argue and she frowns before taking a deep breath and smiling again.

"You did. You just don't know it yet" she insists, "you're crazy" I quip and immediately regret my words right after. "I am not crazy" I expected her to yell but instead tears fill her eyes which just leaves me even more confused. I don't reply, afraid to say anything else to upset her. She comes closer to feed me but I just stare at her with my lips sealed shut.

"Please eat. You have to stay energized and you need the nutrition" she tells me, sounding like how a mother would. I still don't respond, keeping my mouth shut so she can't take me off guard. "You haven't eaten anything since you've been here, please" she begs and I just shake my head. "God, I'm not gonna poison you" she scoffs and I eye her skeptically.

"Stop looking at me like that" she sighs, "like you kidnapped me?" I ask and she sucks her teeth. "Stop saying it like I didn't have your best interest at heart!" she exclaims, "if you have my best interest, prove it. Let me go" I state. "B-but then you'll leave..." she whispers, "yeah. That's the point. It's what I want and therefore my 'best interest' which you apparently care so much about" I scoff.

"You don't have to be so mean you know" she sniffles, "you took me—remember? I didn't have a choice in that but I damn sure have a choice in how I respond to it" I state firmly and she sighs to herself. "I want to take the restraints off... I hate to see you chained up like this but-but you have to promise you won't leave" she pleads with me as she looks into my eyes.

"Don't you even care that there's people looking for me? That Delia is probably worried out of her mind?? I thought you guys were friends" I ask her and she scoffs. "Ha! 'Friends'? I know you saw how they looked at me" she says angrily but I can hear the hurt in her tone partially concealed by the front of aggression.

"Is that what this is about? Getting back at them for not liking you?? You do realize this will only make it worse, right?!" I point out and she shakes her head. "I don't care about that anymore. I have you... and you like me" she smiles shyly and my eyes widen in disbelief. "Liked you. Past tense" I point out and she pouts like you would imagine a child to if they were denied candy in a shop.

"Why would you say that?" she whispers painfully, "it's a revolving door with you up there, isn't it?" I ask as I point to my head as best I can. "How many times do I have to remind you? You. Kid. Napped. Me!" I exclaim, hoping it gets through her thick skull. "Fine then" she states emotionlessly, standing up with the tray and heading towards the door.

"Diane... don't you fucking leave me in here" I say dangerously, "this is how you want it to be, that's fine with me. I hope you come to your senses soon" is the last thing she says before closing the door. "Diane!" I scream but she doesn't answer and I begin to cry, thinking about how long she'll let me lay here like this. I think about Delia and how worried she must be, not knowing where I am.

What if she thinks I just left her? No, I hope she knows I would never do that to her. Still, she must be worried sick. Not knowing I'm cooped up in some crazy lady's house. Delia was right when she called her 'crazytown', in fact, I think she was being rather nice with that nickname. Both her and Wilhemina tried to warn me but gosh... I didn't realize it would end up like this.