The Hideous

Chapter 5 - Dayalia

She basically just told me everything. We sat down on the couch and started talking about a bunch of crazy shit. Like how we figured out that we'd been mutated, our secrets. Absolutely everything. The one thing she didn't tell me about was her stepdad. I was nervous because she had bruises everywhere. But she said she fell off her bike right? The face she made when she said that. It didn't add up. She asked me about my life story. I didn't think I was ready to tell anyone that yet. I hadn't even so much as spoken in such a long time. So I told her it's complicated. She nodded and we sat there in silence.

"So do you like dogs or cats better?" She asked. I shifted my weight and said, "DOGS!" Then we got into a big discussion about whether dogs or cats were better. I figured out that she was a cat person. A cat. Fucking. Person.

I'm such a dog person though. I heard Charlotte whisper something under her breath but I couldn't hear it. "What did you say?" She told me it was nothing so I gave her the death stare. She laughed. "It wasn't about you." I gave her the 'mhmm' look. She laughed again. It was nice to see her happy. I asked what she was crying about but she dodged the question. Then there was a pounding at the door. It was Samantha. She said we would have to meet at the campfire tomorrow. Then Samantha just left. Said nothing else. "What was that about?" She asked me. I shrugged.

I knew Samantha was one of those people that I didn't want to mess with so I'd do what she told me to. I knew I wouldn't see my family again. Well my 'fake family' as I called them, which I didn't mind much. I was afraid they would report me as missing. I'm sure Charlotte felt the same. I asked her if she was okay with not seeing them again. She didn't say it would be that bad. I wanted to ask what was going on at home but I didn't want to pry.

I had to figure it out. So I asked again, "What're your parents like?" She told me she didn't want to talk about it. "What about your siblings?" I asked. "Ratchet little bastards." Finally an answer. That made me remember...remember my real brother. Before I got adopted, he was my everything. I took him for granted. Just like everything else. My boyfriend, my money, my family.

After hearing about Charlotte's family, I don't even know why I left. I miss my family. I miss them so much. I guess I took so much for granted that I didn't think about what it would be like without them. I wish I could go back in time and just....stay.

She never told me about her stepdad. She told me there was only one person she's told besides me. That must've been her best friend or something. Was her friend like me? I don't know much about other people outside of family. I'd never had a friend before.

There has to be something she isn't telling me. Those bruises can't just be from falling off her bike. Something else...DAMMIT WHERE IS MY COMMON SENSE WHEN I NEED IT?!

I know she wasn't raised right. Everytime I ask her about it she just goes silent. Did her stepdad....I couldn't bring myself to say it.  If she asked me about my parents I would tell her all about them. Like when my mom told me to buy my own shit. It was her way of telling me to stop wanting things. I missed my sister, Abby, too. God I miss just the sight of her slipping on her little boots before going to school. Her bright pink dress on preschool graduation. Adorable.

Just kill me. Please. I won't get to watch my little sisters grow up, or be at my brother's graduation. I want to give this to somebody else and take my old life back. I know it's selfish but I need it. Why did I run away? Why couldn't I just wait until they figured it out? I hate it. I need to leave. I'm going back. I have to.