Mistress of Stitches

Formal greetings

"GET UP!"  I jerk awake sitting up immediately, and as I do, I collide heads with someone. Hard. I'm rubbing my head, remembering last night and trying to see who I hit through blurry eyes. "Dammit," the person said. "I said get up, but I didn't mean it like that!" All I could do was groan in response. They were on the ground, now in a sitting position, rubbing their head as well. My eyes finally come into focus and I see Maddy. "Sorry," I said. She got up holding her forehead. "Whatever," she replied. Maddy headed towards the door and looked back before exiting. "Breakfast is ready in 10 minutes." I nodded as she started down the hallway. "I'll need ice for this," I heard her mumble.

What Maddy said to me last night, Welcome to your new life, as the sirens and lights were all around us, I couldn't help but think it wasn't new. How killing someone and fleeing from security isn't new to me, I can't remember. Just like how familiar Maddy and Elric are to me. Not like someone I know are like them, it's as if I've met them before. In front of my own eyes, face to face. Talking and being with them like they're my best friends. Yet, I don't know why I think they're familiar.

'Dumbass,' a voice said. In my head. What?? I could tell it wasn't just a voice, it was loud and clear, no echo, it was clearly mine. But not mine. It was a male's voice, and that too, sounded familiar. I am now officially sick of things being familiar.

"What?" I said aloud. I heard a sigh, then, 'Dumbass. I said dumbass, Bunny. I can't believe you dont remember Maddy and Elric, even in a-' The voice was cutoff by Maddy running into the room and telling me breakfast was ready. I told her okay, and got out of bed. She went back down stairs and I slipped on a pair of sweatpants, then headed after her. Only halfway down the hall, I could smell the bacon and eggs, obviously, but hash browns too. The scent got stronger as I walked down the steps and into the kitchen, and I realized how hungry I was.

Maddy was taking a seat, and Elric already in hers. The table was only half set, and I realized neither of them did the cooking. It was some green haired boy. Who was not introduced to me when I first got here. Elric caught me looking and immediately explained. "Oh! That's Cilan, a really good cook and all, we have him around every once and a while since we can't cook." I nodded. Cilan? Cilan? Haha oh, wonderful, Cilan is very familiar as well, how many more things am I gonna find familiar? The dent in this table, if there is one? When Elric finished, Cilan turned around to face me from the stove and smiled. I waved. God, he is familiar, and I hate it.

I took a seat, and Cilan brought the rest of the breakfast to the table and put everything on our plates. "So what is your schedule today? Or is it gruesome again and I shouldn't bother eating for a while?" Maddy and Elric exchanged looks, then up at Cilan. I swear, it was a whole minute until someone spoke. "I thought we went over this, we don't do schedules," Maddy said. Cilan shrugged. "Well, I dunno. It's been a few months since I asked, I thought I'd see if you started doing schedules."

"Whatever, can I eat now?" Cilan grinned, and nodded, then took a seat. We all started to enjoy our breakfast, with lots of chatter. Surprisingly, I even spoke much of the time.

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I looked up at the house, all three of us dressed up in our usual uniform. And I realized, this is my house. "Um, this is my house," I finally said. "We know, there's a reason we're here.. And no, it's not for you to return to your stepmother," Maddy told me. I glared at her. "Then why are we here?" Elric looked at me a smiled. "You'll see."

I got the worst feeling just then, as we started to walk to the front door. A horrible pain, an electric, mechanical noise, I could hear loud and clear, and probably still audible to others. It hurt, and my God, it felt more familiar than anything else. It was like I was some computer or robot, gears inside me running crashing, wires connected and energy traveling through, something trying to fix itself. Both Maddy and Elric looked at me, they heard it. It wasn't loud, I could tell, because it wasn't that loud even for me. I ignored their looks still walking up with them, but I couldn't ignore the voice from this morning, speaking to me again at this very moment.

'She's in your room,' he said. I didn't want to seem insane, but I probably already was from the start, so instead of out loud, I spoke in my head. "What?" Another sigh, just like this morning, this time slightly annoyed or tired or "Give me a god damn break." 'Your mother', he said. 'Your step mother, I mean, is in your room. Not your actual room, the one you've been forced to live in.' I was so confused, yet I understood it completely. I knew what I was doing here. I'm showing Taylor I'm more than what she can see. I'm not hers. I'm not her daughter, and she can't control me. I don't realize it until I feel the pain. I've balled my fists, my nails digging into my skin with anger.

I've sped up a little, Maddy and Elric having to catch up, one of them grabbing my arm. I can't even remember who was on which side, but I don't care, I ignore them. I am furious, I don't even think to knock or ring a doorbell, this is my house, my father's house, and not Taylor's house. I open the door and Maddy and Elric have predicted the perfect day. Taylor is the only one home.

She sees me and she has shock and fear on her face, startled by the sudden entrance. But only for a second and then she grins. The one grin I know by heart, the one she only uses on me. Fowl, ugly, mean, telling me I'm the most worthless thing. The one she puts on right before she hurts me.

Maddy and Elric have entered behind me smiling wide. They say and do nothing, letting me do my job and I grin as well, locking eyes with Taylor. My usual possessed and insane grin, so familiar. Even with my smile, I am enraged. My finger nails are digging into my skin so much I think they're bleeding. And a familiar feeling comes over me, not painful, not even enjoyable, I don't even feel it, but I know it's there. The glowing electric blue that forms on my body depending on my situation, is on my wrist, and I feel it in my left eye, where it's been since I was nine. I feel the sword in my hand, heavy and unable to be picked up by others, only light weight to me, literally mine.

I can tell my eye is glowing, my hair already around my face, my grin so wide, my teeth clenched from anger, Taylor has stopped. She's completely terrified, but I can tell she still thinks I'm pathetic. I let out a small giggle and before I know it, I'm sprinting at her, my sword raised, professionally. I'm shrieking with laughter as I swing the sword at her, every time hitting her body. I am all over the walls and the ceiling, back to where I've started. My step mother is gasping for air holding her wounds. This is only a warm up for me. I sprint at her again, jumping into the air, then suddenly everything is still.

I'm stuck, looking down at my step mother mid-air, as she looks up at me terrified and defenseless, frozen, and so is Maddy and Elric. Everything has stopped, and the room is turning to glass, a mirror. I manage to get out of my pose and onto the ground. Someone grabs my shoulders and they speak. "We have been here far too long, Bunny." It's the voice and he steps in front of me. Blonde hair, short to his chin but long for boys, electric blue eyes, and dressed in a white and gold suit a prince would wear. Shohei, the spirit who possesses me, the one since I was nine. And it all comes back to me. I remember why Elric and Maddy are familiar. They are my friends. My best friends. And Cilan, my boyfriend, the murdering and sword from Mortal Kombat, my literal job. But the life with Taylor is true, this is one of the things I've wanted: to get rid of my step mother. But I can't. My father is too blind to notice, and he loves her, and I can tell she loves him as well.

Shohei lifts my chin slightly with his hand. "Are you ready to go back?" And I nod, wanting to get out of here, I hate it. he takes my right wrist in his hand gently touching the glowing blue symbol on it, and everything turns black.