The Missing Piece (A Lauren Cimorelli FanFic)

Chapter 7

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I jolted up from the cold bathroom floor, my eyes filled with terror. I touched my face to be assured it was only a dream. My eyes felt swollen. I was shaking in fear, but I didn't know why. The dream was so vivid but all I knew is that I was running, running from something. The brightly lit room seemed distant and vague. I sat up with a groan. Why I slept in the bathroom, I can't you tell that. Even I didn't know why I did. I crawled over to the opposite wall to a magazine, as I looked at the cover, the memories began flooding back to me. Anger filled in me and I didn't know what to do with it. Magazine in hand, I unlocked the bathroom door and headed to the kitchen, to find everyone talking over breakfast.

"What is wrong with all of you?!" I screamed, capturing the attention of everyone in the room.

"Lauren… What are you talking about?" Katherine asked with confusion, trying to put a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't touch me, druggie." I whispered harshly, only so Katherine could hear. Katherine extended her arm out and slapped me across the face. She pushed me backwards against the cabinet, not breaking contact.

"Katherine! Let go off her!" Amy screamed.

"How did you find out?" Katherine asked me harshly.

"This." I held up the magazine. Katherine let go off me, being pulled away by Lisa and Christina.

"Where did you find this?" Christina asked me in a low voice.

"Oh. Did you guys not hide it well enough?" I replied with a smirk.

"Lauren. Don't believe any of it. It's all lies. The paparazzi makes up a lot of stuff." Dani tried to talk to me.

"Is everything a lie?" I gave her a glare.

"You weren't supposed to find out this way…" Lisa whispered.

"How was I supposed to find out?" I lashed at her.

"You weren't even supposed to find out. This was supposed to be a clean slate! We were going to pretend that nothing happened!" Katherine screamed.

"So everything in this magazine is true!?" I screamed. No response. "Families shouldn't act like this! What is wrong with all of you? And to think I almost believed every word you told me. That I trusted you. Good thing I didn't. You are all so messed up!" I threw the magazine on the floor and stormed through the kitchen doors into the shared room. I locked the door behind me and pushed the dresser in front of the door. I was filled with anger and I had no idea what to do with it. I walked over to the bottom bunk and sat down. I looked under my pillow and found a phone similar to Katherine's. 

I clicked the middle button and the phone came to life. It kept vibrating about updates and mentions on social media. I ignored it but unlocked the phone. It brought me to the home screen. The background, which was kind of disturbing, was a plain white picture that had words in solid black that said, Please Kill Me. Why would I want to kill myself? I shook off that bad feeling and clicked on icon that said Notes. I scrolled through the notes, there was more than I could imagine. I clicked on a random one, which only had a caption, Let's Runaway. What? I exited out of that note and clicked on the one before that. Nobody understands me. I'd be better off dead. 

What was wrong with me? Was it because of my sisters? I clicked on another one, but it was fully detailed. 

Days until the Safe Haven: Countdown from August 12, 90 days left.

What is this Safe Haven? I scrolled back up to the most recent Note, from October 23rd.

Safe Haven directions: Head Northwest on Rochester Blvd, Take left at Corral Ave. You know that you're going the right way if you see the harbor. Go in the back alley on the first right of the block. Keep going straight until you see the beach. To left is the Safe Haven, where it and Dylan waits for you. 

Come alone. Be there at 7 on November 10th. No later. You'll be happy there.

I'm so confused. What is the Safe Haven? Would it save me? Would it make me happy like it promised? Who is Dylan? 

I shook off that feeling. It probably means nothing. I exited out of the app and went to my pictures. All of them, had the same format as my background. They were all similar, with the same meaning. Death and not being good enough. I turned off the phone and hid it underneath the pillow. Was I depressed? Did I want to kill myself? Was me losing my memory a good thing? Maybe me losing my memory saved me.

"Lauren?" I heard a slight knock on the door. I held my breath, not making any movements. There was another knock at the door before silence. "Kath… She's not in there." I heard a low whisper.

"Just try opening it." I heard Katherine respond back. There was a push on the door before footsteps. 

"Lauren.. If you're in there, we all apologize. Fame changed us, and we regret it. We will do anything for you to forgive us." The voice said quietly. I was tempted to open the door, but I thought against it. They deserve it. 

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What do you think the Safe Haven is? Do you think it has a meaning, or am I just tricking you?

Don't forget to Vote and Comment! 25 votes and I'll update.