The phantom's daughter

Chapter twenty

There was a young girl sitting on her bed, she has to be at least six or seven years old. She smiled kindly at Victoria. "bonjour." she smiled speaking with more Cockney in her accent than Oliver Twist. Victoria leaned against the doorway. "I'm Jamie."

"bonjour mon ami, I'm Victoria." she smiled back. The little girl motioned for her to come in and sit next to her. Victoria walked in closing the door behind her. "I'm sorry if I interrupted, I didn't know that there was someone in here." Victoria apologized. Jamie raised her hand.

"it alright, I don't mind having to share my room." she scanned Victoria head to toe. "I like your mask. Are you going to a party?" she asked curiously. Victoria sighed and shook her head. "then why?" she asked.

"so I can't scare people away." Victoria avoided eye contact with her.

"why would anyone be afraid of you? You seem so awfully nice." she smiled kindly.

"you see when I was born, I wasn't like the other children. I was... different than all of them." Victoria choked up a little.

"different?" she inched closer to her, but Victoria backed away. "different how?"

"you don't want to know." Victoria shook her head. Jamie stroked her chin.

"Hmm, if I tell you something I've never told anyone, then will you tell me?" she asked. Victoria thought for a moment.

"seems fair." she nodded. Jamie moved her hair from her shoulder exposing her back so Victoria could see. Multiple scabs and burns covered her back. Victoria almost began to cry.

"who did that to you?" Victoria asked in horror.

"my mum." she replied simply. "when ever I'd do something wrong she take her lit cigaret and push it onto my back."

"that's horrible. I wish there was something I could do to help you." Victoria frowned sadly.

"that's my story, now why do you wear that mask?" she questioned. Victoria hesitated for a moment.

"promise me you won't scream or run away?" Victoria asked, Jamie stuck out her pinkie.

"promise." they intertwined pinkies. Once they let go of each others pinkies, Victoria untied the back of her mask, letting it fall onto the bed. Jamie stayed quiet for a while, studying Victoria's face. "that's strange..." Jamie finally spoke.

"what's strange?" Victoria asked, putting the mask back on.

"you say there's something wrong with you, but I don't see anything wrong." Jamie smiled, her voice humming with innocence. Victoria completely lost it and pulled little Jamie into a tight hug.