The Devil Child

Chapter FOUR

"Well, now I do."

Polly stood in the threshold of her bedroom, staring at her uncle and aunt. Both looked weary and confused, but most of all, firm. And if Polly knew one thing, firm meant no.

"Polly, we just discussed this." Her uncle rubbed his head. "I thought you needed time off from school. And your aunt and I, we agree. It's okay to spend some time alone."

After seeing that girl, Polly was determined to find her. It was a strange urge. One she didn't agree with, or condone, but one she was stuck with. One she wanted to explore to see where it would take her. And it was, right now, taking her to public school.

Polly had never been in public school. When she wasn't at church, Polly attended a Christian school, dedicated to teaching the word of God through every study. Polly hated going there, but it was all she knew. Public school was terrifying and daunting, but it had to be better than what she once had.

"Shouldn't I be the one who decides that?" Polly crossed her arms, adding in attitude that wasn't necessary. She, however, needed to get her way. She needed to go to school.

Her aunt and uncle shared a look. "Honey, we want what's best for you. You know that. We just think-"

"Do you?" Polly looked at her aunt and uncle with hard eyes. She hated this - she hated feeling angry at them. But she couldn't help it; she was angry at the world. Angry at the hand of cards she was dealt. "My parents also said those same words. They also wanted the best for me. And Doctor Higgins said he wanted the best for me. So I'm finding it hard to believe those words right now. And I'm having a hard time understanding why you won't let me go to school."

She hadn't talked to her aunt and uncle about her parents. Not since she'd moved in. It was an unspoken rule that it was her choice to talk about them, and when the topic was appropriate. So far, she hadn't even mentioned a thing she suffered through. It was personal. It was horrifying. And worst of all, it would bring pity upon her, pity she certainly did not need.

"Your parents are very stubborn in their ways." Her aunt said softly. "My brother was certainly not the most open child growing up. And I realize now he has not changed as a father. And I apologize for the situation he has put you in, but Polly, we love you. We've loved you since the day we got the phone call that you were born. But, we understand. We understand that trust comes first and it is something that must be earned. So we'll let you go to school with the trust that you will tell us if it's too much for you."

Polly's uncle said nothing, just nodded in confirmation. But still, Polly felt on edge. She couldn't help remembering just what she went through before she got there. How many beatings she suffered through, how many times she was called devil child.

It tore her up inside.

Polly wasn't sure love even existed. She couldn't even love herself, and that was what mattered most. She hated how she looked. She hated that she was attracted to girls. And most of all, she hated that she was different.

Her parents hated that about her too. She'd always known this.

"Thanks. And I'm sorry for how I just acted. That was horrid of me, especially after all you've done. I'm sorry." Polly ducked back into her room, feeling just as horrible as she felt when she found out about Jenny telling everyone about her nightmares.

"You're fine, darling. We're parents, we can take it." Her uncle ruffled her hair, smiling down at his niece. He loved her a lot, and he knew she'd gone through Hell and back. But, she was anything but a devil child.

"I just think moving on would be better. Sitting here, doing nothing, is driving me crazy. I feel like I'm going insane. I just need to move on." And it was true, for the most part. Polly felt trapped, like she was going nowhere. She'd escaped the clutches of evil, but she still felt unmoving, like at any moment her past would catch up to her and simply destroy her. And when she closed her eyes, she felt even more anxiety breathing down her neck, like her own person demon was there, reminding her of her fate.