Abnormality in normality.

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝟑: 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖉 𝖊𝖓𝖉✍

ℝ𝕪𝕠𝕜𝕠'𝕤 ℙ.𝕆. 𝕍

The next thing I knew, a loud, piercing scream jolted me awake. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze from my vision, and saw a petite young girl standing in front of me. She looked to be about my age, with long brown hair that clung to her damp skin and wide, startled purple eyes. A towel was wrapped around her, droplets of water still glistening on her body.

The room was stark white and brightly lit, every surface meticulously clean and neatly arranged. The bed I was lying on had clearly been perfectly made until I disturbed it. The brightness of the room contrasted sharply with the chaotic memories swirling in my mind.

As my gaze locked onto the girl, it became clear that she was the one who had screamed. Instinctively, I shot her a hard glare, my eyes narrowing with irritation and residual anger. "If you scream one more time, I will drag out your freaking vocal cords," I said, my voice low and irked.

She recoiled, her eyes widening even more as she took a step back, clearly intimidated. I could almost hear her thoughts: "She's way too scary." Her reaction added an unsettling layer to my disorientation, making the sterile, orderly room feel even more surreal.

The tall woman I had encountered earlier entered the room, her entrance marked by a slow, deliberate clap. Her smile was wide and almost unsettling as she took in the scene before her. Her eyes, sharp and observant, flicked to the girl in the towel.

"Mitsumi, meet... What's your name?" she asked, her tone oozing with a false cheerfulness that made my skin crawl.

The girl, Mitsumi, let out an exasperated sigh, her purple eyes narrowing in frustration. Her long brown hair, still damp, clung to her shoulders as she shifted uncomfortably. "Wait, she doesn't even know her name? What kind of mother do I have?" Mitsumi thought, her irritation palpable in the tense silence that followed.

The tall woman's smile widened, a calculated gesture that only heightened the unsettling atmosphere. Her high heels clicked on the polished floor as she moved closer, her gaze unwavering and expectant as she awaited my response. The bright, sterile room felt even more surreal under her scrutinizing stare, every detail sharp and painfully clear.

"Ryoko," I wanted to say to both of them, but the words caught in my throat as their argument erupted. The tension in the air was palpable, a crackling energy that made me retreat into silence. Mitsumi's voice rose, sharp and edged with frustration, as she gestured wildly. "She stinks, not to mention she slept in my bed. Now it's definitely going to smell like her!" Her accusations flew like arrows, desperate to pierce through the calm facade of her mother, who merely walked out of the room with a dismissive wave. Mitsumi's voice followed her down the hall, a crescendo of pent-up anger and betrayal. "You didn't even bother to discuss this decision with me before making it. You didn't even check whether I would like this idea," she shouted, trailing after her mother, who seemed intent on ignoring her daughter's pleas.

She turned abruptly, her eyes narrowed with irritation. "Are you hallucinating, Mitsumi?" she snapped, her tone icy and cutting. Mitsumi stopped in her tracks, confusion flickering across her face. "Huh?" she managed, her voice small and uncertain. Her lips curled into a sneer. "Since when was your opinion relevant in my matters?" she retorted, her words laced with venom. Mitsumi fell silent, the fight drained from her in an instant. "Besides, that girl has great potential to be a serial killer. Did you see the glare she gave me? On top of that, she made an extremely scary threat to me. What if she kills me in my sleep?" Mitsumi whisper-shouted, her fear palpable. She laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. "Then I will be very grateful to her; she did me a great favor. It's not like you're of any use to me," she stated coldly, each word a dagger to Mitsumi's heart. Mitsumi's eyes welled with tears, and she opened her mouth to respond, but she cut her off with a final, "End of discussion, Mitsumi." She turned to me, her eyes flicking over me with a mix of disdain and command. "Call her in," she ordered, slamming the door shut in Mitsumi's face. Mitsumi came back into the room, her cheeks wet with tears. I looked at her, my heart aching. "Are you okay?" I asked,