Runaway - A DEVIL'S NIGHT FANFICTION (PTBR + ENG)

Chapter 38 - Nini

Trigger warning:

Veiled pedophilia.

Four years ago...

I look at my cell phone, trying to control my anxiety as I listen to my mother talking to one of the museologists on her team. The summer exhibition was about to start and there were a few parties scheduled by Thunder Bay's high society this month. Except for how cold and comfortable the room was, I wouldn't judge anyone for choosing to have a cocktail party there in the middle of July.

"Mom, please, I'm late! Professor Forester is counting on me to help him!" – I try once again to get her attention, but she just extends her palm upwards once more, asking me to wait until she has finished the instructions she is giving so that they can be passed on to the others.

I take a deep breath, exhaling heavily. I was tired and nothing was going according to plan this summer.

In my desperate quest to stay at home as little as possible, I agreed to help my mother with the preparations for her newest exhibition and at the same time, Forester asked me to work with him on the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream that he intended to put on in August. To my misfortune, I couldn't even consider saying no to either of them, which was shitty as well as exhausting and I was scrambling to find time to have fun and meet up with Ivar, Mads and Tavi.

They were, however, very excited about the Fourth of July party their family was organizing and had already promised me that I would attend.

When I finally managed to get my mother out to the car, she put a huge folder in my hands and asked me to analyze which of these works could be excluded from the exhibition, as the exhibition time was being incompatible and three works should be relocated out of the main path of visitors.

I loved it when she relied on my vision for this kind of thing and I know that this was her way of apologizing for the delay she was causing me.

The delay, however, occupied less than half my mind, since we had left home early and I only had some juice in my stomach.

"So, do you have any idea what you want to do on your vacation, since you want to stay in town?" – she asks, nudging my waist. "I can't believe that for the first time we won't be traveling, Nini. I think I'll stick to my adaptable schedule, because I think you'll regret it. You don't know how boring this city can be."

If you could have some real friends here, one who knew you and saw behind the curtains of our perfect family, you might understand. That's what I want to say, but I stay silent, sticking to my decision.

It was true that before, at every opportunity, Mom and I would travel to some country that had a vast art scene and I had already seen more places than any other child my age, but all these trips were marked by various cultural outings and followed a strict schedule. We never deviated from the schedule we had, no matter how much I tried to suggest something new or something I'd discovered near where we were staying.

"Don't you have any courses or projects you want to start during this time?" – she insists.

I raise an eyebrow.

"Um, I think I'd like to try to learn some dance professionally and I heard that during the vacations Mrs. Torrance is opening a ballet class for--"

"No," she denied, interrupting me. – "If you want to learn to dance professionally, I'm sure I can find a school near here so you can train. You know I don't want you around any members of that family of degenerates. I'm more than pleased to hear that you've finally understood my order and stayed away from their son, and I wouldn't let you near those people again."