Upside Down Tendrils

Chapter Fifteen

I was thrown into a dirty jail cell, a swift kick to my rear. The last thing I saw when they walked away was Jordan's sympathetic smile. That's when all the gears shifted into place.
This was all Jordan's fault. He knew I had powers. That's why he isn't shocked. He made me trust him, made me love him. The kiss. It was all a manipulation. He didn't actually think I was beautiful. It was all a lie. How could he? I was so disgusted at myself. I shrunk into the corner of my cell and sat down to cry.
--Four hours later--
With puffy eyes, I picked myself back up. My mom was here. To say bye, to tell me she loved me. I didn't want to hear it. The whisper in her voice and the way her smile would forever only be something of the past just showed me that she'd already given up. I was now just a toy for the military. Til the day I die.
I sighed. "Hey Mom."
"Look, honey, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have let you go. I didn't know. I didn't think. I, just-" her shoulders fell and shook as she looked down. "That kid, Jordan. Don't talk to him. Ever. No matter what. The Scoffensteins..."
"W-what?" I stuttered. "Mom, you're not making sense."
"They're bad people, honey. People who will manipulate you and bend you to their will. They will use you. Your dad," Mom paused.
"He's dead." I said.
"Yes, honey, and well. He cheated on me. With Mrs. Scoffenstein, and well, you have a sibling. Rori."
"What, Mom? Why are you telling me all of this?" I asked her, concerned.
Mom sighed. "Rori had powers. Since this was all before you were born, at her Testing, she had powers. They took her away. She should be 17 now. She is in the military. So, if you see her, be nice to her. I still love her. Dad would want me to."
"B-but, he cheated on you!" I screamed. "How can you just let this all be okay?"
Mom shrugged. "It is a long story, sweetie. But, it is over now. Dad and I figured it out. We are okay. Were okay." She wiped a tear. "But, honey, just know this. Rori is tough. She is also family oriented. Let her protect you. Even though she is a Scoffenstein, you can trust her. Find her. You guys could escape. Come back for me." Mom pleaded with me. "Your the only reason I am still here. I love you."
"Mom," I patted her arm. "I don't know about that. But, I love you."
And then, she was pulled off of me. "Emily. No!" She yelled as they dragged her away.