Darkside

Thirty-Six

My own bed.

It's wonderful.

Especially because I never thought I'd wake up in it again. The sheets, the pillow, the mattress...it's molded to my body perfectly. I never want to get out.

I could hide here forever in the pure white sheets, hidden in my little nest for good. Nothing can touch me here, nothing can get to me. My problems can't ever catch up with me in this bed...

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Dad!"

Oh my God, my father at last. I shove myself out the bed and envelop him in a hug.

"Oh, Dad. I can't believe this. I never thought I'd see you again."

He might be stiff as a board, not hugging me back, but it's shock, that's all. I'd be shocked too if I were him. As soon as he adjusts to my arrival, all will be fine.

"Luvvie...the rumors...everything I've heard about you...it's all true."

"Dad, why are you staring at me like I'm a horror movie villain? Aren't you glad to see me? Your daughter is back from the dead. I didn't die at all."

He's too pale, clutching his stomach...oh god, now he's throwing up. Just a little, over his shoes, but my nose screws up in disgust.

"Dad, what the hell? This is supposed to be good news, you know."

"If it was good news then why did you creep in late at night?" He grabs my arm a little too roughly and stares at the scar, his expression souring. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"It was too late." I snatch myself away. "I thought it could wait."

"My daughter comes back from the dead and it can wait until morning? No, that doesn't fly, Luvvie. You need to tell me what the hell you've done, and I have to hear it now. I can only assume the cops won't be long behind you and I want to hear what went down from your point of view before I get it from them. Or worse, the news."

"What..." I step away, needing space. This should be a sanctuary, not this. "What do you mean?"

"The stalking, the harassment, the murder." His eyes find my arm once more. "The attempt at faking your own death."

"I...I..." He knows too much. How does he know so much? "I don't know what you..."

"Don't bullshit me, Luvvie. I don't want to hear it."

"Phoenix." I gulp, trying desperately to swallow back the thick ball of emotion. "I'm Phoenix now."

"I'm not calling you Phoenix. That's stupid. Changing your name doesn't allow you to escape who you are anyway. It doesn't excuse what you did."

"What did I do?"

I can't meet his eyes. I wasn't expecting this. My father's supposed to love me unconditionally, accept me no matter what. Coming here was a mistake.

How can I get away now? How can I escape again?

"You killed Cash Miller. You met him on a chat room somewhere online and got too obsessed with him. You stalked him and killed him. Then you staged it so it looked like he killed you and ran. Only it didn't work, it hasn't worked, because I know the truth."

"H...how?"

That's the moment the stranger steps out into the light, changing absolutely everything.