Psychos

2. Griffin

One year earlier

I walk down the second floor hallway, ready to flop on my bed after a long day at soccer practice. I stop by my little sister Bree's room.

She sits on the floor with her head leaning against the wall. Her giraffe print diary lies open beside her. A piece of paper is scrunched up in her balled fist.

"Are you okay, B?" I ask, leaning on her door frame.

Bree looks at me sadly and smiles. Dark circles rim her eyes. She looks too old and tired for an eleven year old.

"Yes, Griffin," Bree says. "Just tired."

I nod. Ever since she started theater camp, she's been coming home quiet and exhausted. I guess acting really wears you out.

"Well, I'm gonna crash. Mom will be home from her hospital shift at eight, so I'll make you dinner and pack your lunch for tomorrow, okay? " I say as I head towards my room.

I never heard what she said, just the thump of a window closing.

No one saw her again.

The doctors say I went downhill from there.

Now

We sit in a half circle. A girl with huge doe eyes taps her foot anxiously against the floor. Next to her is a girl with honey colored skin and dyed red hair cut in an uneven pixie, staring daggers at Doe Eyes. Holes dot Pixie's ears, nose, and lips where her piercings were removed.

A man with unusually big lips and wire rimmed glasses is in the middle. We're a strange collection of weirdos in folding chairs and wheelchairs.

One spot is empty.

"Hello, boys and girls. I'm Mr. Lucas, but you can call me Robert," Big Lips says slowly. He over enunciates each syllable, as if he is speaking to a kindergarten class.

"One of our patients is running late, so how about we tell each other a little bit about ourselves?" Robert says. "Do we have any volunteers?"

A broad shouldered Latino raises his hand. "I'm Raphael, but you are my amigos, so you can call me Rafe. I'm about as straight as Queen Bey's hair, so watch out, bastardos," he laughs, looking right at me. Pixie smirks.

Awkward.

Robert clears his throat. "Alright, anyone-"

He's interrupted by the doors being swung open by a stiff looking old woman. She has eyes that remind me of a bird of prey. A hawk, maybe.

"Excuse me. Our apologies for not being on time," Hawk Eyes sniffed, glaring at the girl wheeling herself in.

My eyes widened. Holy shit.

She must have been around our age-around sixteen-but she was small. Her petite frame doesn't seem to belong with the bulky wheelchair. Her straight hair-not quite blonde but not quite brown-spills over her shoulders.

I had the urge to pick her up and cuddle her like a Teddy bear.

"Looks like I have some competition for your heart, lover boy," Rafe says loudly.

Heat crawls up the back of my neck. I can see pink blossoming on the girl's cheeks. She's like a dainty little flower--

Damn it, Griffin. Look what you've gotten yourself into.

A/N: I hope you're enjoying Psychos so far, my little Villains and Villainesses! Like, comment, and follow of you want more chapters released!
            Kisses,
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