*Book 1*
*Completed but Editing*
Saphira Colby doesn't actually exist. The memories she comes up with, the family she describes and the appearance she takes on isn't real. It's a disguise. A disguise to hide the real her, the her that's being hunted...
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Chapter 24 "Who Ruined Who?"
Saphira's POV:
I sit with my knees pulled to my chest and head between my legs, eyes squeezed shut and teeth drawing blood from my bottom lip. My fingernails dig into my hands, both keeping me awake and answering the whirlwind twisting inside my chest.
Nate's been passed out for a few hours now, and the sun is well on its way to rising. Monday won't be enjoyable for the hungover teenagers who undoubtedly drank more than they said they would. Then again, Monday's aren't really anyone's thing, so it won't matter much.
I managed to wrestle myself asleep for an hour or so before being overwhelmed with the familiar feeling of suffocation. I had woken to the same routine as usual; dripping sweat and a harsh heart... and an empty, Johnson-less bedroom.
My toes curl into the carpet, bandaged feet pushing me to stand. I pad down to the kitchen, spine tingling with the silence and Nate's heavy breathing. There's faint light filtering through the open window, enough for me to see the kettle and a mug without needing LED.
The first sip sends hell's warmth down my throat, and for a second I wonder what it would be like to wake up at normal times. I imagine I wouldn't be standing in another family's kitchen, with more scars to show than there are spoons. I imagine I wouldn't be drinking hot chocolate at five in the morning, staring down at bloody feet with mild fascination. I imagine I wouldn't be wishing I was living someone else's life, because mine isn't out to make me suffer before I die.
I don't realise I'm crying until something drops into my mug. A little, choked laugh escapes me and I wipe my face, blinking the rest of the water away. Daydreams are meant to make you happy, not miss something you will never have.
A short, sharp knock on the door has me sucking in a sharp breath. I swallow, putting my mug down and unlocking the latch. Emma, Tori and Myra stumble in, giggling and falling over each other, muttering, 'shhh's' as they go.
I take a step back, letting Emma fall to the floor with a thud she'll feel tomorrow. Tori almost trips over the red head on the floor, but manages to catch herself by gripping onto my shoulders.
"Tag, you're it!" she slurs, reeking of something sweet and smokey. The three of them attempt to run up the stairs, but end up trying not to throw a lung over the side of the banister instead. I shake my head, sighing before grabbing my mug from the kitchen and watching the girls struggle to keep everything down.
