Not What She Seems

Don't Believe Them

Father came out from hiding in a room. I looked up at him, my eyebrows messy from rubbing my palms over them repeatedly.
"What a waste of supplies." I mumbled.
"You're right. On the other hand....you succeeded." Father said.
"Uh-huh. I succeeded at failing. Isn't that funny?" I say.
"Yeah, quite." he chuckles.
"It's fine. I'll be fine, though." I comment.
"Yes, yes you will." Father added.
"Sometimes I wonder....what's the point of doing this? Don't you ever get tired? Ever wanna quit? Just turn yourself over, let them do what they want to do to you. You've accomplished nothing so far as to waste your energy and wear yourself out, so why am I doing this? Why can't we just tell her?" I asked.
"Do you know who you're talking about? There's too much at risk to do that." Father responded.
"Well, you can reach her how to keep her mouth shut." I suggested.
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Father quickly replied.
"Very true. Very true." I agree. Father smiled.
"Soon you'll get your break. Well, that is, if this is a good plan you will." Father told me. He was right. All I can do is hope she reacts the way I need her to. Then, "mother" would be able to blame my reasoning for leaving on tension. My fate is in your hands, ******, be a drama queen. Overreact. Do what you normally do. Please, just this once.

*******

I open my eyes to see a chubby finger poking at my cheek. Soon after, I hear a giggle. I sigh, then turn my head to look at the digital clock positioned on my nightstand. The time reads 09:17. It's not even 09:30 and Alton's awake. Meanwhile, Alton, now bored, has moved on to grabbing my ear and messing with my hair. I pick him up and he flails his arms all around while kicking the air, trying to make me put him down again. I plop him down on the side of my bed so he isn't sitting on my legs. Next, I hop off my bed and head to the bathroom to freshen up. Three more days. I think. Three more days and we'll be gone. Then I have to fight some mystery fighter. I hope it's not Alvester Evans. He was quite a challenge last time. Either way, I should probably be training. Preparing. Running or jogging at least. Well, on the other hand, it's good to be relaxed before a fight, but not too relaxed. Oh well. Nothing I can really do about it.
  I walk out of the bathroom ready to get breakfast when the time comes. A giggling Alton sits on my bed, messing around with my phone. I quickly rush to my bed.
  "Oh no no no no! Don't mess around with my phone." I say, grabbing my phone out of his hand and locking my important apps. Then, I hand it back to him to play with.
  "Salene." I say. She continues to look through her luggage.
"Yes Aulelei?" she asks.
"What're you doing?" I question.
"Oh nothing...." she replies.
"Okay, if you say so. I'm headed to Relvin's room." I state.
"Alright, see you later." Salene says.
"Yeah, see you later. Oh, and Yavara?" Ainslee says, leaning to stick her head out down the small hallway leading to the door.
"What?" I ponder.
"Don't trust her. She's lying. He's lying too. They're both lying." Ainslee warns me. I wave goodbye to her and leave the room, opening and closing the door with my free hand. What'd she mean? Who's they? If it's true, how does she know this? I'm almost to Relvin's room, when the answer slaps me in the face. I think I know who Ainslee is talking about, but why? If Ainslee is talking about mother and "he" refers to mother's father, then why would they be lying? From what I know, they haven't seen each other in years, so why would they decide to join forces and lie suddenly? It just doesn't add up. Relvin yanks open his door, picks me up, carries me into the room, sets me on his bed, and closes the door.
  "Maj, look, it's a girl." Relvin says, sounding like a stalker.
  "Wow. Is it true their shoe sizes are different from ours?" Maj asks.
  "I don't know, let's find out. Be careful, she can bring out perfume any second. Or worse, scented hand lotion." Relvin warns. I giggle.
  "TELL ME YOUR SHOE SIZE!" Relvin yells, grabbing my left foot. He loses balance, then falls on the ground and I fall too, my elbow ramming into his nose. All of a sudden, I hiccup, sneeze, and laugh at the same time. Maj's foot slips against the wood of the bed frame and onto the floor, causing him to hit his foot, then hit his back bending down to hold his foot, which causes him to loose balance and fall on my right leg. Since his head hit my leg, my reflexes got the best of me and I hit the back of my head against Relvin's forehead. Maj and I burst out laughing.
  "Relvin, are you okay?" I ask.
  "Somehow." he replies.
"Is your nose bleeding?" I ask again.
"No, but it's buzzing." he responds.
"That can't be good." Maj chimes in.
"No it can't." I reply.
"I'll be fine." Relvin states.
"Are you sure?" I question.
"Mhm. I'm no chicken." Relvin says, rolling from under me.
"Yeah, you're a turkey." I giggle. Relvin rolls over so he's facing me and pokes me on the cheek.
"Ow." I say, flinching.
"You're such a crybaby." Relvin states. I sit up and check the time on my phone. The time reads 10:22 A.M. I sit and chat with them before we go and eat lunch, then head back to their room and continue talking until it's late at night. Then, I leave, head to my room, take a shower, and go to bed. Before I enter the land of pure blackness, I hear someone tell me something. Whether it's real or not, I don't know, but I heard it all the same. It sounds like someone down an empty hallway. Echoing.
You're more than you're told you are. You're more than you're told you are. You're more than you're told you are. You're more than you're told you are. You're more than you're told you are. You're more than you're told you are.
DON'T BELIEVE THEM. DON'T BELIEVE HER.