Masks Always Fall

Chapter 34

As my eyes fluttered open to the dawn light, an uneasy pit formed in my stomach at the inevitable day ahead. Glancing around at the familiar room where I'd taken refuge these past weeks, I spied Zahara's sleeping form across the way and frowned.

Would I ever see her smiling face ever again? She was like the little sister I'd never had, and leaving her to Mikayla's bullying tormented me nearly as much as returning "home."

Zahara stirred then, blinking sleepily at me. Her smile both warmed my heart and twisted the knife deeper - how could I abandon her to face this place alone? But Emory needed me more, a girl I'd barely knew yet felt fiercely protective of all the same.

Sitting up silently, I pulled out my phone to find a message from Julianne waiting - of course, she knew exactly when I'd need an confidante most. Her request to see me before facing my demons lifted my spirit slightly. At least I wasn't embarking into the abyss utterly alone.

Rising quietly as to not disturb Zahara's rest, I began preparing for the turmoil ahead.

Mikayla blocked my path to the bathroom, arms crossed tight as she judged me with disdain. Clearly she aimed to start trouble before my departure.

Worn past patience, I confronted her coldly. "Seriously, what is your problem with me?"

She sneered back contemptuously, "You think you're so perfect, yet here you are in a group home like the rest of us."

Something inside me snapped at her insinuation. All the fear, grief and pent anger fueling my resentment spilled over.

"You think I asked to be here?" I hissed through clenched teeth. "You think I wanted to be beaten until I couldn't walk, then dumped with strangers who never gave a damn about me?"

Mikayla's eyes flashed, taken aback by my outburst's brutal honesty. She had no idea what demons drove me, no comprehension of the depths I'd clawed up from to find this tattered semblance of family.

"And when I did find people who cared," I continued in a trembling voice, "they only got ripped away again too."

My gaze bored into hers, daring challenge as grief threatened to overwhelm defiant walls.

Mikayla's eyes hardened as her walls snapped back into place. "We've all been through shit, Emma. That's why we're all here," she spat.

"But the thing is, we don't walk around here thinking we're God's gift or something." She took a challenging step closer, peering down at me.

I held my ground, matching her icy glare though my voice shook with freshly stirred emotion. "I never thought that. I just want some peace before I leave."

Her brow arched with derision. "Yeah, running back to Mommy and Daddy like the good little girl. Must be nice."

Anger flared at the dismissive jab. "You don't know anything about them," I growled through gritted teeth.

"I know they screwed you up bad enough to land your ass here. So don't act like you're so much better than the rest of us!"

My hands clenched, fighting the urge to shove past and escape this tormenting confrontation.

"Aw, did I hit a nerve?" Mikayla cooed mockingly. "Maybe you deserved everything that happened to you after all, little miss perfect."

A red haze descended over my vision as those twisted words pierced deeper than any blade. How dare she presume to judge what she didn't understand at all!

Before I knew it, my fist flew out to collide with Mikayla's sneering face. She staggered back with a shriek, hand flying to her nose as blood welled between her fingers.