Lorelei and Cora

Chapter 6 Lorelei and Jaylen move in with Ella, and Lorelei returns to school.

Lorelei's POV

I woke up in unfamiliar surroundings, feeling disoriented, but found comfort in seeing Cora asleep. Panic set in as I feared that my father or her mother had sold us into servitude. "Cora, where are we?" I asked as she yawned awake. "In my childhood bedroom, Lorelei! You and your dad moved in last night. David took us home at 11 PM, and he put you to bed since you were out cold. I'm guessing you needed the sleep after everything with Jaylen!" Cora explained, and guilt washed over me. "I haven't slept well in ages because of my father. He has hurt me countless times. I'm sorry your mom ended up with him. I just got out of the hospital a month or two ago because of what he or his friend did to me. Thankfully, it wasn't a pregnancy!" I confessed, and she turned away, clearly affected. I regretted making light of such a severe situation, especially since my father got her pregnant. "I'm truly sorry, Lorelei, for everything you've endured. I'm relieved you weren't impregnated, as terminating a pregnancy can be excruciating. When I told our friends about my experiences with Jaylen and my mom's boyfriends, Marinette coldly said that she, Roxy, and Renee didn't see me as a friend anymore. As they turned away, Renee texted, concerned that I might be pregnant because of Jaylen, stating she still considered me a friend. The day before her message, I felt changes in my body and rushed to the pharmacy for a pregnancy test, an abortion kit, and headache medication. I took the test the next day, confirming my worst fear—I was pregnant. As I sat in the bathtub, preparing to use the kit, I suffered a miscarriage; the pain surpassed anything Jaylen had caused. I still have the kit, Lorelei, just in case. "He's trying to get me pregnant again, and possibly you too," she said, sending a chill down my spine. "I wish it was a pregnancy, as I contracted syphilis and was unwell for two months. By the way, my father said something about you before he raped me by saying, "GIRLS YOUR AGE CAN GET PREGNANT!!" "He told me right after you and your mother left," I said. Cora's face went pale. "Lorelei, Jaylen mentioned me? I can't handle this!" she exclaimed, clearly panicking. "I understand, Cora, but at least we have each other now. We won't face this alone anymore, and I'm glad we're sisters." I said to her, feeling a bit calmer, "I'm glad we're sisters, but let's get an extra hour of sleep. We wake up at 8 AM on weekends and 6 AM during the week since David drives us to school at 7:30." Cora nodded and closed her eyes, and I soon followed, still sleepy.

I woke up an hour later and heard the bedroom door open. For a moment, I expected my father to walk in, but instead, a stranger entered, and I felt a surprising sense of safety. "Good morning, Cora and Lorelei. I'm Leslie. My job is to wake you, clean your room, and ensure you eat. Your parents want to see you both as soon as possible," she said before leaving. I felt the weight of my new reality settle in." Behold the three grand doors in our chamber! To the left is the bathroom, in the middle is the hallway, and to the right is the wardrobe, now stocked with new attire for you and Jaylen. Leslie and David have also gifted you new toys, a princess bed, and all the essentials you need to thrive. They have even consigned your old belongings to the flames, erasing all traces of your past," Cora proclaimed. I quickly went to the bathroom, eager to explore my new wardrobe. As I admired the exquisite garments, my heart swelled with delight. I chose a stunning red dress and added a golden bracelet and necklace before changing in the privacy of the bathroom. "Are you ready to go to the dining hall, Lorelei?" Cora asked, her voice a mix of nerves and excitement. "As ready as I can be," I replied. We walked through three hallways and down a staircase to a grand door. My father was on his phone, and Ella was adjusting her appearance. "Good morning, girls! Lorelei, you can call me 'Mom' if you want!" Ella chirped. My father added, "Ella, is it okay for them to use our names? That's how it is in my family, right, Lorelei?" I replied, "Only if that's alright since I've always called Dad Jaylen." Cora interjected, "Guess what, Lorelei? You're going back to Crestwood High tomorrow!" She said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. I couldn't contain my joy and broke into a grin. "Ella, that sounds fantastic! Thank you!" I said eagerly. "You're welcome, Lorelei! I hope you have an amazing first day back at school. Remember to call me 'Ella' and him 'Jaylen'!" she replied, her smile infectious. "Thank you for enrolling me, Ella, and Jaylen!" I said gratefully. "Don't forget to pick up your books from the office tomorrow!" Ella called as Cora took me on a tour of her sprawling estate. I admired the grandeur and