Room 221 || Lucaya

Searching For Her Soul

MAYA'S POV:

"Where are we going?" I whisper irritably, gazing out the window at miles and miles of empty woods during sunset.

Lucas stares intently on the road, grinning at my basic question. "To find Maya Penelope Hart."

To find?

"I'm right here," I retort back.

He sighs heavily, still not looking directly at my face. "You know what I mean..."

"No, I don't know what you mean," I mutter into the sleeve of my sweater, my head resting upon my hand.

"Just take a little nap, we'll be there in about an hour," Lucas coos gently at my whiny, mopey attitude.

I don't even argue back. There is no point in fighting with Lucas, he always has a way to convince me into whatever he wants. For the rest of the car ride, I lay my head against the car window, and fall asleep.

"Maya! You came home!"

"Of course I did, sugarplum, how could I not?"

"Maya Penelope Hart, where the hell have you been?"

"Stop calling me that. You know I hate my middle name!"

"Too bad, your mother picked it, not you. Go to your room, it's late."

"Then why is she up?!"

"Because she is worried about you! Now go, now."

"You're not my father, you can't tell me what to do."

"Maya..." A voice whispers delicately, interrupting my dream.

Dream? No, I don't get those anymore.

Now it's all nightmares.

"Don't touch me!" I scream viciously at the top of my lungs, jumping up from the car seat.

I look over to my left—it's just Lucas. Lucas with a terrified, frightened look upon his face.

"Shhh... It's just me, Penelope," he coos softly, lowering the volume of the radio. I calm down slowly, my heart beating so rapidly I can not even breathe properly.

The radio plays a tune that resonates deep with my heart, one that seems as if it was written about me: "Hate to ask, but what's it like to leave me behind? I won't be, no I won't be like you. Fighting back, I'm fighting back the truth. Eyes like yours can look away. But you can't stop DNA. No, you can't stop DNA."

"Why is he yelling?"

"I don't know, baby. Why don't you go and get some sleep?"

"Maya, I–I'm scared... Can I please sleep with you tonight?"

"Of course, sweetheart. Go up to my room, I'll be with you in a second."

Bitter, salty tears stream down my cheeks, leaving them stained red and blotchy. Heat radiates off my face as the lost energy leaves my body, causing me to grow warm.