Tell Me I'm Pretty

Let The Games Begin

~Raven~

Snuggled in the arms of Vye, she listened to her soft breathing. Pen was sleep in the next room, sucking on her thumb and holding tight to her blanket.

Vye wasn't sleep, Raven could tell by the way her heart was beating. It was too calm. Usually, it'd be beating fast because she's reliving the moment she killed her brother. It hurt Rave to know this bugged her so much but it was nothing she could do.

She looked up at her.

"Love," she said.

Vye looked at her.

"What is it?"

"Pen."

She didn't say anything at first, but Raven knew what was on her mind. Pen had problems. Too little to care or to understand that what she did is wrong and to have parents who fully support her to help success her mommy into becoming the most prettiest woman on the planet. She was struck with her selfishness at using her daughter to please her needs.

I'm a horrible mother.

"She would have become like this anyway. It's a good thing she learns at an age such as this. Less work for us to do." Vye said as if reading her mind.

"She ripped out his spine. She's only what, five? What five year old knows how to rip out a spine, Vye?"

"Maybe she never liked him. I didn't."

"You don't like anyone, you heartless bastard. She's a murder at heart. Pretty people. That's our aim. The old hag was wrinkly and spotted, and the kid was spot on ugly."

"She'll learn. Think of it as practice."

"Shouldn't she practice on pretty peop-"

"Laura."

She looked up at her. Vye was staring up at the ceiling, her eyes were dark.

"Be careful what you wish for...you might just get it."

Raven looked away.

What did she mean by that?

She sat up about to ask her but saw Vye's eyes were closed.

The conversation had been closed.

Holding her little hand as They entered the building, Raven smiled. This was Pen's first day of first grade. She couldn't be more proud of her little girl. But her mind was on other things. The hallway was empty, the only sound made was the clicking of Rave"s heels echoing off the walls. She smiled.

She remembers her days in elementary school. Crayons, crossword puzzles, story time, movie time. She looked down at Pen, who looked up at her with large eyes.

"You're gonna love it sweety, it's gonna be fun."

"What if no one likes me?"

"They'll love you, you're to adorable to not be."

They stopped in front of her classroom, Rave crouched in front of her.

"If someone is hogging all the attention when the attention should be on you, you play a game with them."

Pen tilted her head, her curls drooping to one side.

"Like how I played with Jim?" she asked.

Rave smiled," Yes baby."

She kissed her forehead and took her hand. Pushing the door open, They walked in with large smiles. Looking into bright green eyes, Rave's smile wavered. She didn't know what she despised more, the welcoming smile.