Dalia's Imaginary Friends

Chapter 2: Childhood Continued | Introducing Melanie

Staring at the flowers in the playground meadow. My last few minutes daydreaming about the beautiful purple heathers swaying in the summer breeze is quickly broken by the repeated sound of the school bell blasting in my eardrums.
I could hear the sounds of the school kids bolting through the vast corridor with there pretend smiles and expensive backpacks. The expansion of the corridor is filled with screaming and shouting, making the pressure in my ears to pop.
Finally, I slowly stroll towards the steel glass double doors of the school building carrying my favourite courage the cowardly dog backpack, although it was all worn and rusted, it was the best backpack ever. I anxiously think about should I go home and face the wrath of my parents?
No matter how bad it'll be, I stroll to my parents house, panic filling up in my bones and cold sweat clinging into my neck, I await the dreaded reaction. The atmosphere in the room was thick, I knew my parents we're gonna be furious, I could feel it. I knew I had to act the victim, even if it didn't work.
Alarmingly, my parents weren't home, I guess my thoughts were wrong. I toss my backpack on top of the granite countertop in the kitchen. While I'm taking out my English assignment I notice that the book Matilda I was reading in the Library is in my backpack. I start panicking because I put it back on the bookshelf when school ended...
I ignore it and fix myself a poptart with a glass of milk while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere in the room. I look down at my poptart and notice that there's a red smiley face on it. I quickly discard it in the trash.
Unexpectedly, my mom and dad bolt in through the door with unpleasant looks on their faces. My mom rushes over to me and speaks in an aggressive tone 'Dalia, do you know where I've been? I got a call from your principal saying you attacked a boy named Eadmund? This better not be true missy!'.
I quickly reacted back 'No, mom I didn't do anything, I was playing with my teddy bear as usual. I swear. I don't even know that boy'. She glares at me with a look of suspicion then questions me 'Where is your teddy bear how, Dalia?', I panic inside thinking of an excuse but I think of something which will probably save me. 'Mom.. Eadmund stole my teddy bear from me, I tried to get it back but he wouldn't, he was very mean to me!'.
A look of suspicion quickly turns to sympathy on her face, whilst my dad just stares at me, not buying it. My mom hugs me close to her silk cardigan and tells me it's okay, that she'll get me a new toy. About an hour later, my mom drives to the nearest toy store. I wander around in amazement observing all the magical toys placed on the racks.
From the corner of my eye, I see a medium sized doll secured in a plastic box surrounded by other lookalike dolls. The doll had on a baby pink silk dress with pastel flowers, pastel pink ballet flats and knee high white tights. I notice her strawberry blonde hair curled to perfection and her ocean blue eyes. I knew from that moment I wanted that doll, she had her own unique outfit and appearance that it was difficult to deny buying it.
My mom surprisingly agrees to let me buy it. It was on the expensive side but there were many attributes to it, you got 3 outfits that came with the purchase of your choosing. The doll can do dance moves and it flies in darkness. When I got home, I immediately rip open the plastic packaging, removing the doll from its position. I decided to call her Melanie. I thought it went perfect with her personality, as she can fly in the dark.
Around 3:00 in the morning I get this burning sensation in my throat, I felt like I couldn't breathe. My mom rushes in and immediately tells me what's wrong. I couldn't even speak properly, so she takes me to the nearby hospital. I start coughing up large amounts of blood which captures the doctors attention. Before anything else happens, everything goes black and I hit the ground....
I wake up several hours later, by my side is a heart monitor. It doesn't look abnormal, which I found suspicious. It looks like I don't have school today. I take a deep breath and snuggle back under my silk white duvet. I heard people walking in through the ward, suspecting it's my parents I shut my eyes pretending to be asleep. I overhear the doctor say that there was no diagnosis but that I should be taken to a nearby neurologist. I hear the sounds of my parents yelling at the assistant doctor telling him he's crazy.
I am left under care in the hospital for another day until my mom picks me up. My dad didn't come surprisingly, I didn't question my mom about it, as he's like a ghost anyway. I never understood him. The hospital lent me new clothes as my old ones were covered in blood. They were very pretty actually, a cream blouse with a pastel pink collar, denim jeans and dark blue converse.
Shockingly my mom looked like she was a totally different person, before, her hair was a chestnut brown colour now it's blonde. She is wearing a black hoodie, fitted with black tights and pink flip flops. I didn't know why, but I loved my mom, I didn't question her. I mean, It's a new change for her.
When we get home, I notice Melanie is still in the exact same position as she was when I left. I sigh and hug Melanie close to my chest. I place her back on my white dresser before going back to finish my English assignment. I hear a squeaky giggle, similar to a clowns laugh. I look around and notice nothing.
Around the same time, 3:00 in the morning. I hear an exploding noise outside my bedroom window. I look through the my curtains and see a small figure standing in the distance. I look over at my dresser and notice Melanie isn't there. I start hyperventilating, thinking back to Cookie and if it's all happening again, why me? why...me?
I slowly sneak outside and notice Melanie standing with her back to me. I walk up behind her and notice that there's a blazing hot fire flaming up into the night sky. She has red tears pouring out of her blue eyes, similar to Cookie. I see something in the fire but I can't pinpoint what it is. I say 'Melanie?', She spins her head around and looks at me with deep angst. She says in a low shaky voice 'Dalia..I'm sorry but you are our best friends.. We can't have anyone else in your life that'll make your future a living hell. We are here to help you Dalia. To protect you, to help you. Your mom and dad are.. Well let's just say.. They aren't dead'........