Illusions (Alt. Ending)

Chapter 10 (PAST)

FRANCESSA'S POV

Knock.

My eyes widened. Suddenly the silence became more noticeable. Someone knocks on my door again making me flinch. Who's it?

The knock turned into fists. Desperate.

" Cissy, open the door! "

Dad?!

" Cissy open the door. Hurry up. I have to go. " I heard him saying more like yelling on the other side of the door.

Slowly, I unlocked the door and peeked outside. Dad's eyes fell on me. I'd my gaze down on the floor. A very common smell of alcohol came from him but the smell wasn't that strong. He wasn't completely drunk. His gaze stays barely for a second before he forced them away.

" Come down and lock the main door. I've to go. Dave texted me, the lab has caught fire. " And without a single more word, he walked away, downstairs.

I let the air move into my lungs that I was unknowingly holding back. Opening the door wider, I followed Dad downstairs. I walked to the front door when Dad came out walking from the living room.

" Don't open the doors for a stranger. Stay inside. " Saying that he leaves. I looked at his back for a while before he disappeared. Dad hadn't driven car from months. It worried me, if he'll be fine to drive in his half drunk state.

Closing the front doors shut, I headed back to my room. The sound of car engine came from the front yard driveway.

Getting back to bed, I tried to fall asleep but couldn't. Minutes later, I finally gave up and got out of the bed.

I kept checking the clock. It was past midnight. One hour had passed since Dad had left. I hope they stopped the fire in the lab.

The wind was cold that night. It kept giving me chills on my skin. Wearing my cardigan over my night gown I went down. Strolling around I went inside my parent's room. I haven't been here once after Mom left. The room felt like a whole different place. Liquor bottles were lying everywhere in the room. The room stunk of a strong dizzying mixed smell of different varieties of alcohol.

The warmth once there was no more. I couldn't stand there for long and walked out from my parent's room and went down to the lab. I know, Dad is making something. And I was curious to know what.

When i reached, it was all dark. Like always my height prevented me from reaching the power switch board. And I had to climb on the banister and click the switches on.

The moment I stepped down and turned. Dead empty eyes stared straight as an arrow at me. I screamed on top off my lungs.

I whimpered before I slapped my trembling hands on my mouth. My whole body shuddered. Stumbling, I fell back on the stairs. My chest spasmed violently. My eyes couldn't believe what they're seeing.

" Mo-Mom?! "

She didn't moved.

" Mom?! " I called again.

She still stayed the same.

I observed her for few seconds in silence. She's surely had my Mother's appearance. But the person felt different. No warmth. No love. No life. It felt like a whole different person who just happens to have my Mom's face.

Mustering courage, I stood and took slow calculated & nervous steps towards her. I walked across the table closer to her.

She was seated on a metal wheel-stool. Her eyes fixed on the stairs. As I got closer, my heart thumped painfully inside my ribcage.