Heartless

Chapter 4

It doesn't bother me that Brienna isn't my mother. To be honest, I'm rather relieved. We never seemed to get along and I never used to understand why. Now I do. It's because she resented me for inconveniencing her life and being her burden.

Percival, on the other hand, I do wish was my father. He was always so kind and funny and genuine. I just hope that my own father was as kind as him.

What are they like? I asked myself. My real parents. The notion sounds foreign in my mind, as if the life I had been living was just another one of my illusions. But it wasn't, right? I mean, it was real, but who is to say what is and isn't real when I can make illusions a reality?

No, I don't have time for these thoughts. I'm clearly in a different dimension with my younger cousins. Without parents. Without a plan. And without any of our things like clothes or whatever currency they use here.

Our parents- my aunt and uncle- always taught us to never trust or go to the authority. I guess they told us that because they were afraid the Elysians would catch us but what if it was for a different reason? What if they aren't to be trusted.

A sniffle makes me turn to my cousins. Jade, who is only six, has tears streaming down her face. Amber was holding her trying to calm her and hide her own tear streaked face at the same time. I shouldn't be surprised. The twins are still only eight and Amber in particular had always been glued to her mother's side. Her mother, not mine.

"What should we do?" Azure squeaked, his arms laid limp at his sides. His face showed no expression, only numbness. He turned to me. "What are we supposed to do without mom and dad?"

I clenched my jaw. I should feel sorry for them, lost and afraid, but I didn't. I'm in the same mess that they are. No, they didn't tell us their plan or what to do if we were separated from them. All we know is that that portal will not be opened again.

I wish I could say that I was the perfect big sister, even if we were really cousins but I'm not because I'm twelve and I'm me. Instead of saying something comforting and encouraging what came out was "No, they're your mom and dad. Not mine. I'm actually your cousin." There was an edge to my voice, a venom to my words that I wish wasn't there.

"What?" Azure replied, confused.

"It's true. That's what mom- Brienna pulled me aside to tell me."

"Shouldn't you call her aunt Brienna?" Azure replied, quickly matching my attitude as usual.

"Why do you care? It's not like she's here to hear it." I snapped back.

My words sent Jade into a round of sobs and Amber soon followed. At least I didn't say "It's not like we're going to see her again" because that would have been worse. I'm not proud that I almost did say it. I had to bite my tongue to hold it back.

I take a moment to collect my thoughts, ignoring my crying cousins. I know from experience that nothing will stop Jade from crying. She will simply cry for as long as she cries and then stop like nothing even happened. Besides, one person at her side is all she needs and it gives me time to formulate a plan.

I scan the street. We're in the middle of the road. Pavement isn't used much in our dimension so it's cold bland look is foreign to our eyes. It's not just the roads that look strange to me. Every house looks identical, with their red brick walls and black shingled roofs. Two identical trees sit outside the front door of each house and the list goes on and on for how each home is identical.

Before I can come up with a plan of action a sudden noise makes me jump. The scream of a horn sounds behind me followed by an angry shout. "Oy, get out of the road!"