a/n: this song gave me major ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ vibes, listen if you'd like.
STELLAS POV:
i didn't like ethan. i didn't like visiting. something about seeing his almost lifeless body, paired with the most alarming bruises made it hard to enjoy my stay. but i was raised to be kind. to every soul. every soul, including ethan.
ever since i was a little girl, my mother taught me the ways of a proper lady. and i've tried my very best to fulfill that. but why should i listen to her. she's crazy. insane. absolutely mad.
the uncanny halls i walk in everyday are far too familiar. similar to the ones i closely examined as a young child. gulping in fear of what was ahead of me. they caused this. the people i thought i could trust. they led me into a room i dreaded.
as i found the door leading to ethans room, i noticed him in one of the chairs. not his bed, where he's supposed to be. the door swung open with a twist of the handle. "ethan?" he stayed still. i look over at the bed i thought was empty. i lose my steady breathing pace as i spot an amicable being in ethans bed. she turns to face me, slowly uncovering the undisguised burns and marks covering her face.
the fear i experienced came back in one big flash. "alina! it's you! you came back! i knew you would. mommy missed you" she spoke. "mother?" i cried. "yes?" "i thought you.. passed away"
"mhm, i did. because of what you did. you're not my baby. you never will be."
she hated me. because i wasn't like her. i didn't have crazy burns and scars like her. "it's not my fault, it's not my fault!" i repeated. my eyes shut tightly. "it's not my fault! it's not my fault!" i yelled. "alina?" ethan called. my eyelids lifted, revealing my blurry eyes. "are you okay?" I look at the bed. he's back. my eyes travel to the chairs i saw him in. he's over there too. "shit sorry. that's my.. brother." his 'brother' smiled uneasily. did i freak him out? "sorry about.. that. i just, i thought i saw someone." i apologized. "who did you see?"
"it's.. nobody important." i lied. "well i sure seemed like it" ethan joined. "you can tell us." his brother claimed. i sighed and hesitated. i mean, what could go wrong? they won't make a big deal out of it right? besides, i could really used some comfort after the events i just went through.
