Dear Angie.

Chapter Eight

13th June 2007

Dear Angie,

Marius sent me a text today. 'Ophelia is in the lily pond'. I wanted to ignore the text, to throw my phone out of the window. I wanted to throw anything that serves as a reminder of last night to be thrown out the window. I do not know what I would have done if Marius came to school today. Thank God he decided to stay at home.

I don't know how to face Ma. If there is a god or an higher order, he or she has blessed me with five more days before I have to meet Ma. I am thankful for the tornado that delays her flight.

I should never have come to New York, Angie.

Love,

Lia.

14th June 2007

Dear Angie,

Marius came to school today. He sat next to me, smiling at me knowingly. I tried so hard to avoid him, but he was there wherever I went. I thought that I had caught a break at Chem. He was quiet.

Unfortunately, we had a new Chemistry teacher, and she was asking us to fill up a get-to-know-you form. I found the questions a bit too personal, but there was one that made me pause. It was a simple question: What do you want most in this world?

I  saw Marius pause too before scribbling down an answer. I saw the raw and truthful answer he had turned in to the teacher. I want her.

Her. Who was her? Was he referring to Claire? Lydia? Some girl in school? I shouldn't be concerned. This isn't any of my business. He can go ahead and do whatever he wants.

In fact, it is best that he does not return my affection. As I've said before, he's a distraction. He's a brilliant scientist, but I'm not stupid, and I will not let my emotions get in the way. I will not. I do not care if we change the history of mankind anymore. I can do it by myself.

I am sick of losing control. I am sick with confusion. I am sick of Ma. I am sick of failing. And this time, I'm going to do what I should have done when I had that dream. I have the passports. All that is left is the notes in my locker.

I will get them. Then I will leave.

Good night, Angie. Sleep well. A new life awaits us both.

Love,

Lia

15th June 2007, 9.30 am.

Dear Angie,

I have it. All my notes. I have everything.

It's time to go. I'll write when I'm out and settled. In case anything happens, I just want to say that I love you.

You are my sister, after all.

Love,

Lia

10.17am

Dear Angie,

Marius is... I'm not quite sure how to phrase this, Angelissa. I suppose that the only appropriate way to say this, is that Marius has blackmailed me into staying in New York. And he is currently prowling in my living room, angry...

I was about to leave, Angie, I swear. I had everything planned, but Marius decided to pop out of nothingness and appear in my front door. And the way he pushed open the doors, I could tell that he was not happy.

I have never seen him in such a state. He is usually so calm and collected, but what I saw was barely controlled anger, and it both thrilled me and frightened me that I could inspire such anger.

Then he very coldly told me to get back inside the house. Once he was certain that I would not bolt anytime soon, he told me, rather calmly, though I could see the monster behind the facade, that if I were to runaway, he would tip off the police about Fiona's body... And if I dared to set foot out of New York, he would hunt me down and drag me back.

I could almost paint him, Angelissa, dark, brooding and furious.

Stop. Stop. Stop. I have to stop thinking like this. I don't even like art.

I'll write when I find out a way out of here.

Love,

Lia

11am.

Dear Angie,

Claire is here too, and I can hear both her and Marius talking in the kitchen. She came in earlier, telling me not to break Marius's heart. God. Could... no... It isn't possible. Marius is Marius. The cold, unfeeling scientist who is a complete mystery, yet ever so...

Stop 

I'm going crazy. 

12 pm

They're gone. This may be a trap, but at the moment, I don't care anymore. I'm out of here. I have everything ready, Angelissa. I love you. 

Love, 

Lia

Yup, I carelessly wrote this, because THE FREAKING CHAPTER GOT DELETED HALF WAY AND NOW I HAVE TO REWRITE IT AND I DON'T WANNA SO I'M JUST GOING TO FINISH NINE. 'KAY, BYE.