captivated in the rain

{*~chapter 10~*}

This is short. I'm sorry but I couldn't write. Thank you for reading!

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"I feel akin to the Platypus. An orphan in a family. A swimmer, a recluse. Part bird, part fish, part lizard. "-Trevor Dunn

Being an outcast in the odd crowd is a pain you can't explain. The only people who could take you throw you out.

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{*~chapter 10~*}

Erika sighed as she waved goodbye to Max. It felt strange as she watched the woman walk away. Not far though as they lived in the same build, just different floors. Max had been reluctant to leave Erika to walk two metres to her door.

Max was a charmer, flirting away like breathing. Erika had been flushed most of the ride home while Max slipped into adult jokes. It didn't make the news of vampires and all that shenanigans easy to digest. It helped though, even if it was just a little bit.

"How was the bookshop with Maxi?" Piped a smiling Poppy as she popped her head out from the kitchen.

"Hmm fun, the owners were sweet and they hired us on the spot." Erika stalked forward.

"Hmm, Olivia is a sweet woman. It's surprising how long she's been married to Eleanor. You wouldn't think they would get along." Poppy pulled the girl to show her the meal.

"I think they're really cute. It's hard to find such accepting woman especially a gay, married couple at their age." Erika rolled her eye's at the amount of food.

"I always pity them, Olivia lost a daughter from her late husband. Her husband had died a month before the baby was before and then her dad. The woman deserves the world and more." Poppy pulled out a chair to sit.

"I'm not really hungry, I'll eat later." She went to flee but her arm was caught in a tight grip.

"Not this time missy. You haven't eaten a thing since you moved here. In this house, we eat at least one meal a day and a snack." She forced the girl onto a seat.

A plate was placed in front of her before she could protest. Poppy was positive in her ability that she was sure the girl would eat most of the food.

Instead, she turned her fave away while scrunching up her eyes. Poppy would have said it was adorable but it worried her.

"You should try it, I promise it isn't poisoned or anything so try it, please?" She pleaded.

"I'm...not hungry. I'll have something later." Erika went to stand up.

"No! Please just eat, even if it's a few bites. Just eat Erika." She shouted grabbed hold of her arm.

They stared at each other, eyes wide. Poppy tightened her grip on the girl's arm as she stared. Erika tried her hardest to move but her body wasn't listening. It felt as if her entire being was made of lead that was anchored to the floor. How she wished the heavy feeling in her chest would disappear with the smell of honey and spices. Erika loathed those eyes that stared into her own as if they were reading her. She could feel the coolness in the air while her arm ached.

Poppy wanted desperately to stop those eyes flickering between the floor and her own eyes. The arm bony and fragile in her firm grip. She could practically smell the pungent fear wafting from Erika in large waves. She resembled a deer caught in headlights except she was being held by the headlights and forced to stay for the slaughter.

The room was cold as the colours seemed to dim. Everything was too far away and rough for her to hide behind, too far, too little.

"I-I'm not hungry, I'll eat later." She repeated her voice quivered.