Of the Twisted and the Lost

Chapter 13:

When Sera finally reaches her room, she slams the door behind her, unable to contain her emotions. 

The burning fire from rage and fury. The golden suns of confusion. The unwavering ocean waves, sadness crashing over and over into her. 

When Sera's father had announced that he was getting married, Sera knew that nothing would be the same. 

"But I didn't know it would be this bad," she whispers to herself, unshed tears burning the surface of her eyes. "And I hate it." 

I hate it, Sera thinks, throwing herself onto the soft blankets on her bed. I hate that I have to stand here when I didn't even get a say whether or not I wanted Nyleve in my life. 

Her fingers tremble, as she glowers at the blank walls. After her mother had left, Sera made it her duty to rip out every single sticker, picture, toys — anything that reminded Sera of her previous life. 

Stop showing weakness, for God's sake! You're almost eighteen and you're still crying over stupid things like this? 

Brushing away tears, Sera straightens up, opening her laptop. She isn't exactly sure what she's doing, what she's looking for, but then Sera's fingers click onto the mail icon. 

IM with anonymous? A huge sign flashes in Sera's face. 

She hesitates. 

"Who knows if they are a kidnapper or something?" Sera mumbles under her breath. "I can't trust them." 

Before she closes her laptop, Sera pauses. 

Then she clicks the "accept" button so fast, she almost doesn't even register her movement. 

anonymous: my predictions never fail me. 

Sera: What predictions? 

anonymous: when you would accept the instant message, of course. 

Sera: . . . you predicted that? 

anonymous: well, of course. 

Sera: . . . and you, like, predicted I would come right at this moment? 

anonymous: yes, down to the exact time, second, and millisecond. 

Sera: And that's the reason why I still think you're a hacker. 

anonymous: yet you still accepted the instant message, did you not? 

Sera: I guess so. Um. Just wondering: how exactly did you know I would accept your IM? 

anonymous: easy - i just had to depend on what humans most rely on: curiosity. now i knew that you would be hesitant, but after i put it in your mind that i could help you, i knew that you would most definitely accept my instant message. 

Sera: So you just based it off curiously? Damn, that's kind of. . . 

anonymous: yes, i know. but humans are so boring sometimes, they don't surprise me all too much. 

Sera: "Boring" isn't the word I would use to describe a human being. 

anonymous: well, of course you wouldn't. you think that life is a magical yet dark creature, and humans are the only thing that is making the world "a better place". 

Sera: . . . I don't even know what to say. 

anonymous: you don't have to say anything. except to let me help you. 

Sera: That just sounded very wrong. 

anonymous: how so? 

Sera: Never mind. 

anonymous: now are you going to let me help you with kidnapping someone or not? 

Sera: Why do you want to help me so badly? 

anonymous: it's my job to help the poor. 

Sera: What the hell? 

anonymous: kidding, sera. kidding. 

Sera: Ugh. Whatever. Fine. 

anonymous: "fine" as in, i can help you? 

Sera: If it helps you stop annoying me. 

anonymous: i knew i could count on humans being humans. now close your laptop. 

Sera: What? 

anonymous: close it. now. we can't let anyone know that we're working together, okay? 

Sera: Why not? 

anonymous: for god's sake, just close your laptop. we can talk later. 

Sera slams close her laptop, just in time to see her father walk through the door. 

"Jesus Christ," Sera whispers under her breath, heart racing. "How the hell did that anonymous kid know that my father was going to walk in?" 

Chen looks up, frowning slightly. 

"Did you just say something?" he asks. 

"What? No!" Sera sputters, trying for a smile. "Sorry, I thought I heard a raccoon out the window." 

It's obvious that Sera is lying since there are no raccoons that live around Tevine City. 

"Oh." Chen glances around, looking for a place to stand. "Well, Sera. I think it's time you and I talked." 

"You're not going to give me The Talk, right?" Sera asks carefully. "Because I think I already know it." 

Chen shakes his head. "I meant about Nyleve," he corrects. "Changes, just in general." 

This time, it's Sera's turn to say "oh" as she narrows her eyes. 

"You can sit there," she says, pointing at the chair which she usually sits on to work on homework. 

It's awkward. The silence between the two is unbearable. 

"So?" Sera prompts. 

"Oh yes." Chen takes a deep breath, before launching into a speech. "I know you're not very comfortable with Nyleve, but maybe it's time you two talked. You know, get to know each other, that sort of thing." 

Sera folds her arms. She doesn't like where this conversation is going. 

"I'm sure if you actually got to know her, you would like Nyleve," encourages Chen. "I understand that you're a little bit hesitant with this new arrangement, but sometimes, change is what people need." 

Chen waits for Sera to interrupt, and when she doesn't, he barrels on. "Why don't you give her a chance?" he asks. "You'll like her, I promise." 

Sera stands up. She has heard enough. 

"You don't understand anything," Sera says coldly. 

"Sera, if you just try to understand. I'm doing my best to make everyone happy. I'm only suggesting that you talk to your mother." 

"My mother. You think Nyleve is ever going to be my real mother?" 

"Well, your biological mother isn't really helping anything," Chen says, defensiveness creeping through his tone. 

"My mother didn't do anything wrong!" she shrieks, startling them both with the shrillness in her voice. "My mother wasn't the one who cheated on you. My mother wasn't the one who did anything wrong." 

"I'm sorry," Chen murmurs. "I wish things could be different." 

And that's when the tears start to flow, the uncontrollable ones. Hot, frustrated, angry tears rolling down Sera's cheeks. 

"Me too," she whispers.