I lay in my bed thinking about everything I had heard. Then I remembered, the note... I got up and got dressed in record time, I thought about leaving a note for Roman, the bastard left in the afternoon, but I thought, what's the point? He doesn't own me, I can go wherever I please. I grabbed my bag and my keys and I was gone.
Once I pulled up to my old house I was flooded with memories and feelings I could barely handle. I got out of the car and walked past the house, which was unoccupied, and down the pathway you could only find if you know where to look. My mother had hidden it well, to keep my father from following us there. It was a long walk and it gave me time to think, whatever happened to my mother... I knew the answer, he had probably killed her once he found out I was gone and there was no way he could get me back. In his own twisted way, he loved me, but not like a father should love a daughter. If you know what I mean. I arrived at my destination and... it was deserted. The huge Oak tree sat alone in a circle of brush and pine, it was a beautiful sight, but it seemed colder now, like the sun didn't warm the grass and the leaves. It seemed darker as if the light wasn't bright enough to reach all the nooks and crannies and light them. I sighs and walked to the tree. I sat down in the little burrow that my mother had made for us, now that I was bigger I realized that it was only small enough for a child. Then the memories came back.
Mother and I were running, father was angry again. Mother pulled me along, keeping a tight hold on my arm, it hurt. I cried out in pain as I tripped and skinned my knee but she dragged me along regardless, mumbling apologies and how everything would be ok. we got to our special place, father was coming up fast, mother hid me in the little hole in the tree, father appeared then and grabbed mother by her hair, "Where is she?" He hissed, mother whimpered but refused to tell. "I'm not asking again. Where is she?!"
"You'll never find her." Mother stood strong. Father roared, he was furious, he grabbed mother's head and I heard a loud crack, then she fell to the ground. Father had snapped her neck. I didn't make a sound, I didn't dare. I just stayed put, I knew he couldn't find me. Instead the police came. Mother must had called them before... When he was in handcuffs and being taken away and came out. Everyone scrambled; had she seen what happened?? I bet the monster was after her! That man deserves to die in prison. That poor girl...
I could hear them all, the thoughts, but I didn't say a word. Just got into one of the police cars and waited.
I blinked and shook my head to clear it, when I came back down to earth, a little box had been left at the foot of the tree. Something was inscribed on it... C. L. W.
C L W? Who on Earth could that b-... Clarissa Louise Wynds. My mother. I felt a tear fall, this was my mother's jewelry box. She'd kept it hidden from father all those years at her friend's house... Her friend... Jesebelle. Everything made sense... all the whispered conversations when I was around, all the visits to Miss. Jessy, all the drunken rants from my father about me "being promised to another" without his permission. Roman... is my mate. No. No, no, no, no, nononononononono. This cannot be a possibility. It simply can't. I could never fall in love with that prick! He slammed his door in my face when I needed him! I needed his support and answers and all I got was another bruise. I sighed and opened the box, there were so many letters, diary entries of my mother's. There was some jewelry but one thing caught my eye. An old looking key. I know what this key unlocks... I put everything back in the box, turned the latch, and ran back to my car. I have some places to go, but first I need that journal.
I unlocked the front door and froze. Do I tell Roman about Miss. Jessy? Er... Jesebelle. I sighed, maybe I should... she is his m-
"Winter!! Where the hell were you?! I was worried sick!" Roman grabbed my arm and pulled me into the house, slamming the door after me. "Did anyone follow you?? Where were you?? What took you so long?? Were you hurt?? What's in the box? Were you crying? Did someone hurt you?!" I just stared at him, dumbfounded. Now he gives a shit? "Winter! Answer me!"
I blinked and shook my head, "I w-... Wait. Why do I have to answer to you? Are you my m-" my throat clenched, "Father?? I don't think so."
He looked at my quizzically, "You were about to say 'mother', weren't you?"
"N- no! Quit asking me questions Roman, I have places to go and people to question." I shoved past him and down the steps.
He followed, questions pouring out of him, "What places? What people? Winter, answer me!"
"No Roman! I'm not answering you because you don't need to know!" I went into my room and looked around, where did I put that journal.... Ah ha! I grabbed it from out of the drawer in the nightstand. When I turned, he was blocking the door way. "Move Roman."
"No. Not until you give me some answers."
"Oh, like you gave me answers when I needed them last night! Roman, you slammed the door in my face! You saw how freaked I was! What the hell?! You fucking prick. Get out of my way or I'll tackle you and break your arm."
He looked a bit scared but didn't back down. "I'm sorry about last night, ok? I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking and-"
"Just cut the crap Roman. I really don't care anymore. It was my mistake. I shouldn't have c-" I was cut off when my jaw clamped shut. My vision was swimming and next thing I knew, everything was black.
***
I saw Winter, mid-rant, fall to the floor. She didn't say a word. Before I could even calculate what was happening, I was holding her in my arms and I was on the floor. I wrapped my arms around her, she started shaking and whimpering, like she was having a nightmare. I wish I knew what these things were. Were they panic attacks? No, I don't think so. I looked and her eyes were rolled back in her head. Christ... what the fuck...
