Treated

Chapter 2

This one's for Sammy.  'Cause she's an epic Team Grimmie person!

It's a 'lil shorter than I would have liked, but here it is anyways.  

**

Mum and I lied on some pukey pink blankets that we had stained with tears in a heap crying out eyes out. "I love you baby" she would say over and over again in a frail voice as she embraced me.  "I love you Hope.  No one can ever take that away from me, and from us."  She itched her eyes that were now red and puffy.  A single tear ran down her face bringing a glob of purple eyeliner with it, leaving a streak. 

"Who do you mean by us, mum?  My voice came out scratchy and weak.

"Honey," She sighed "Your family...they're still out there in the dining room waiting.  For you.  We planned a huge Welcome Home party for your return.  We waited a few months so you could get comfortable.   So come out there and enjoy it.  Go now.  I need to clean up.  I'll be out there in a few minutes."

To my suprise, everyone was still waiting, speechless with their pebble eyes fixed on me as I cautiously grabbed the chair.  It let out a loud screech against the tile floors.  An elderly woman sitting next to my father cringed and covered her ears, showing her only three yellowish colored teeth.  It was probably a safe bet that she was my grandmother, and just the sight of her made me want to cringe myself.  Instead I plastered a toothy grin on my face.

"Erm. Hi?"  I slumped way down in my chair as I mumbled through gritted teeth.

"Wowie!  You must be so proud of her Kurt."  The old woman nudged my father as we allpretended we didn't notice how her arm giggled when she moved it so abruptly. "She's got your New York accent!"

My father put on a fake smile just like mine and nodded.

"Wow real original dad.  You totally jacked my fake smile."  I mumbled as I rolled my eyes.

"What was that sweetiekins?  I'm hard on hearing so try to speak really loud for yourGrandmother, okay?" 

"Nevermind!"  We both shouted in unision.

A vague sound of heels clanked against the floor.  She must be back.  Lovely.  For some reason everyone applauded as she entered the room.  Holding the edges of her skirt, she did a quick curtsey before sitting down in the seat next to Gramma. 

My 12 year-old sister Lucille adjusted an oversized bow on her head that must have been bought especially for the occasion, and applied some pink lip gloss before running around the table to kiss my mother, leaving a glittery stain.  When she scampered back around stumbling over what must have been high heels.  Her perfectly manicured nails grasped a glass of water, and she banged it with a spoon yelling "Attention guests of honor, this banquet is for my sister.  Cheers to her for being the longest test subject to survive with a chip!"  The table shot her deathly stares, and then focused their pebble eyes back on me.

With a loud clank she cursed and dropped the glass which shattered into a million pieces as she smashed her hand over her mouth.  Of course, she pulled it away to wipe off the remaining lip gloss from her hand. 

"WHAT CHIP!?! WHAT DOES SHE MEAN BY TEST SUBJECT?!?!"   I felt my face turn bright red as I screatched to the point where my voice cracked.  Everyone looked at eachother as they panicked not knowing what to do, or say.  "TELL ME.  TELL ME NOW!" 

"She deserves to know." A voice from someone at the table broke the silence.

"Fine." Mom sighed. "Well Hope, don't ask any questions until the end. Okay?"

I nodded.

"Well, how should I say this? Let's start off by saying you were used in an experiment..."