Facade

Prologue

Amelia's pov

"Ice cream! Ice cream! Ice cream!"
My four year old self chant while bouncing on the car seat. Someone was driving us while I sat at the back with mummy and daddy. A hand pat me on my hair and I turned to see mummy smiling at me. I couldn't see her face because for some reason, it was blurry. But I could practically feel the love radiating from her to me. She reached towards me and removed the buckles holding me to the car seat. She lifted me from the car seat and placed me on her lap. I rested my head on her chest and she put her arms around me. She smelled of roses and cinnamon. She smiled at me and said "Be careful Amelia. Don't hurt yourself. If you behave yourself, I'll get you double scoops of chocolate flavored ice cream" I beamed at her, my lips stretched out in a sloppy grin. Daddy chuckled at me from his seat. He stared at me with love and adoration. He reached out and pinched my cheeks, albeit not painfully and smiled "Aww it seems Amelia wants some ice cream. Don't worry, daddy will get you all the ice cream you want. But first bank we have to pick Damian from school" My little body was filled with excitement. My head bobbed in a nod and my ponytail slapped my neck. The thought of seeing Damian was enough for me to squeal out. "Yippee! Damian! Damian!" The woman giggled and replied "Yes sweetheart, you'll see Damian soon"

Minutes later.....

Damian and I sat on the floor in the playground. My clothes were stained with mud. My hands were dipped into a pile of mud as I struggled to get the mud to take shape. Damian was supposed to teach me how to build a princess castle. But he promised to teach me once he finished building his. So I decided to build it myself. I suddenly felt tasty and made my way over to Damian. His back was turned. I reached out and pulled his shirt.
"Damian! Damian! Water!" I called out to him. He shrugged my hand off and replied "Stop it Mia, I'm busy"
I frowned and pouted in disappointment. I turned to where mummy was seating and saw her talking with daddy. It seems I'll have to get it myself. I walked over to the corner where Damian's backpack was kept. When I got there, I fumbled with the zip trying to open it. A creepy man came out from the shadows. His lips stretched out in a grin. I noticed some of his teeth were missing and the ones left were brown. A eye patch covered one of his eyes. He wore a leather jacket and some crazy jeans. He had really long beards and they looked dirty and ugly. "Hello princess, what are you doing?" I looked up at him and frowned. "Mummy said I should talk to strangers" I replied him politely and turned back to the backpack. I continued to struggle to open it. The man squatted to my eye level and said "Should I help you with that?" His breath fanned my face and it was really smelly. I ignored the smell and beamed at him. "Yes please" I replied happy that I was finally going to get some water. He reached out to the backpack and opened the zip with ease. I smiled and muttered a thank you shyly. I reached into the opened backpack and took out a bottle of water. I opened it and was about pouring water into my mouth when a hand stopped me. I frowned at the man. He smiled at me and said "How about I buy you a cone of ice cream instead of drinking ordinary water"
The thought of ice cream brought a big smile on my face. I nodded and stood up "Okay, let me go tell mummy and daddy" I said and was about to run to them. The man pulled me back saying "No need, I already spoke to them. They are okay about it" I frowned not quite believing him. There was something odd about him but the thought of ice cream didn't let me think much about it.
"Are you sure?" I asked him uncertain.
"Yes! Yes! Of course I'm sure" He hastily replied. I smiled and stretched my hand out to take his hand. He pulled me away from the direction of the ice cream shop. I was about telling him we are going in the wrong direction when he lifted me up and used his arms to cover my mouth. I noticed there was an white cloth on his hand over my mouth. I struggled to free myself but I was too weak. I opened my mouth to scream but his hand over my mouth blocked the soup. The thought of ice cream flew out my head. I was scared. I want my mummy. I felt dizzy and felt a foul smell coming the cloth. My body felt heavy and limp. I slid into unconsciousness with my little arms stretched towards my family as he took me away.
I woke up with a jerk at the sound of my alarm. My breath was coming out with a pant. I looked around and saw I was in my room. When my breath became regular, I wiped my face with my hands. Same dream everytime. Each time I always try to see the face of my parents in the dream but I never do. I remember the face of the boy but I've been searching if there's anyone who knows who he was. But so far, no luck. Now I'm in foster care. Or rather foster hell. Anyway it's time for me me to get up from bed and start another day in this hellhole.

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