His eyes pulled at me, dark and alluring, I could almost see the devil burning behind his pretty gaze. Like a puppeteer, he tugged the string on me all over again.
My wrist burned, his rough callouses drug across them, clinching the joints. His laugh bounced around my head, blocking any positive thoughts from entering.
The condescending taps of his finger whispered against my skin. Drowning, I was drowning, my lungs jerked and pulled for oxygen all the while my mind remained trapped. He tugged me along, forcing me to twist and smile.
"Remember Sadie." His smirk tickled my ear. "You wanted this."
The flash of a photograph ripped me from the memory; Like cold water it pulled me from a pensive state and into reality.
I stood, in the middle of town hall with my family. Photographers and citizens surrounded us. Memories came crashing down on me when I remember Father had won the election.
"Sadie, smile," Mom warned me, curling her mouth into the gentlest of smiles. Dad stood behind her with his arms curled around her waist. They both shared the same plastic joy. Dad grinned, glancing downwards. On the photo it would look as if he was looking at Mom.
I followed his eyes to find them hooked on his watch.
To my left, My brother Victor stood like a stone-cold soldier. His mouth in a reluctant line. His golden hair combed back with hair gel, smelling like its brand name was SHOCK, or ELECTRIC.
Melanie, My last sibling laid her hand on my shoulder, keeping it tightened in a warning. Hair poured down her shoulders in a silky straight lines, the ink black color accentuated the deepness of her eyes. She'd gotten our mother's hair. I could hear her words replaying in the back of my mind as I plastered on a smile.
You always had the ugliest little grin Sadie.
Snap!
The photograph switched off his flash, gave my Dad thumbs up and stepped to the side. The camera switched to Mr. Fellings and his family.
"Mr. Gallagher! Over here Mr. Gallagher." One of the reporters waved his notepad, attempting to catch my Father's eyes. Behind the reporter was a cheering crowd. The sound was like thunder roaring through the town hall in which we stood.
I waited, praying for lightening to strike.
"Yes?" My Father released my Mother. She didn't sigh or shiver at the loss of his touch. Instead, she turned to me, arching a thin dark eyebrow. I sucked in a cold breath.
My Father approached the crowd, extending his hand upwards in a greeting. Voice erupted into a flurry of questions and accusations. They forced through one another, desperately reaching for my Father. He smiled, a beautiful and empty smile.
He was infectious. He twisted his golden locks so they all fell in a perfect swoop. Darkness shrouded his eyes, carrying honey-like warmth to them. Trips to exotic countries have his skin a lively warmth to it.
Cameras flashed, and tapes rolled.
"What was your question. . . Mr. Reeves?" My Father glanced down at the reporters name-tag.
The clean-cut man eyes lit up. I swore he would've fainted If the cameras weren't rolling He pulled at his tie, and swiped a hand through his already slicked dark hair. With a nod to the cameras he began.
"How does it feel to have won the election?" His shaking hand held the microphone to my father's mouth. My Father smiled gently.
"To be frank, Mr Reeves, I feel a sense of duty. Not only to my family, but to Trillium alike. The role of a Mayor is an especially difficult job."
"What are your plans for Trillium now that you are Mayor?" The man's eyebrow flinched. His skin tickled with shiny droplets. I wiped the droplets from my own skin, discretely soaking it into my pale blue dress instead.
The sleek red carpet beneath me taunted me. I felt the hallows of fear through every bone in my body. I shook, not from stage-fright but from pure fear.
Was he watching this program? Did he sit behind one of those cameras silently laughing at me? Taunting me with his putrid smirk and devilish eyes. My head became light, my vision twisting. My legs were noodles beneath me. The floor threatening to swallow me whole.
The makeup Mother applied to my skin prevented the pale clam of my skin from showing through.
"May I?" Father gestured to the microphone.
"O-f, cou-" Mr. Reeves paused, clearing out his throat. "Of course Mr. Gallagher."
My Father took the microphone. His other hand tucked itself inside his suit jacket. He looked up to the camera's. His green eyes and pearly teeth no doubt had every unfulfilled woman begging for his gaze. Little did they know my Father cared for nothing he couldn't control.
"I plan to continue Mr. Felling's work of maintaining Trillium as well as making a few of my own renovations."
"What might those renovations be?"
My Father pressed his hand to Mr. Reeves shoulder in a friendly gesture. "I'm glad you asked." He removed his hand, looking away from Mr. Reeves and onto the crowd.
"I plan on cleaning out Trillum."
Father said the words with a softness in his tone, but the meaning made me sick. I'd overheard him talking about it before.
"What might you mean by that, Mayor Gallagher?"
"Trillium is the foundation for future generations. Our children are our legacy, and deserve to be treated as such. Recently, Scants have been bringing that Legacy down. Those living among the scraps decided to pull our children along with them; turning them into drug dealers, alcoholics, and abusers."
Scants were the less fortunate population of Trillium, living in the east. They roamed Trillium dressed in cheap clothes. Anything from flannels and jeans to leather jackets and thick boots. Some scants were bony and malnourished with broken eyes. Others were big and dangerous, rippling with unbridled power.
And hatred. How these Scants hated everything. Those were the Scants to avoid. They wouldn't bat an eye before destroying everything, including themselves.
"Richard and I have decided that this problem be addressed. Our police force will be cracking down on those criminals, on those abusers. But we can't do it alone."
My Father looked up to the crowd. The same plastic sympathy I knew from childhood present on his face. "We need the help of our people. I, need the help of my people. Allow me to perform this servitude by donating once this event has commenced. Outside, there will be men in uniform collecting donations. Speak with one of them if you wish to protect our future generations."
Mr. Fellings stepped forward. Hair inky black beard has dulled to a grey. His skin wrinkles with age. He shook hands with my father, patting his back.
His family stood back. His wife smiled upon him, her eyes shining. Alex stood with his mother, wrapped up in a grey suit. When I caught his eye he smiled and winked
I nearly laughed but then I remembered what might happen if I did, and I shut up.
My father handed Mr. Fellings the microphone.
"I am relieved to step down as Mayor, and know Trillium is in good hands. There no one I trust more than Isaiah Gallagher. Ladies and Gentlemen, your new mayor."
A polite round of applause filled the room.
Mr Fellings handed Mr. Reeves back his microphone, taking the time to shake his hand and walk back to us. Mr. Reeves kept his cool, but i saw the excited smile in his eyes as he watched my father. Was Father truly that likable?
My Mother came forward, laying her pale, soft hands on my father's chest. Her lilac dress brought out the seafoam blue in her dead eyes. She smiled at him from behind her curtain of dark hair.
"That was lovely darling."
He smiled, his hand grabbed the back of her head, pressing her forehead to his lips.
Watching the robotic motions made me sick to my stomach. For a moment, I forgot where I was. My stomach churned at the falsity of it all. Victor and Melanie stood unaffected, painting smiles on their stone-cold faces.
"Sadie." Victor growled between his cage-like smile.
I refrained from folding in on myself, and smiled, waving along with everyone else.
Father pressed his hand to the small of Mother's back, guiding her down the red carpet exit. We followed after him, Victor in the back as he was the eldest. I traveled behind Mother and father.
His hand was limp on her spine.
Shouting and cheering consumed the town hall. Citizens pressed again the velvet ropes preventing them from touching us. Father and Mother paused every so often, to shake hands and make small talk.
Melanie twirled her inky tendrils around her finger. Smiling her pouty red lips every so often. Hands lunged forward to shake hers.
Victor stood all and proud, showing his pride for being his Father's heir. He waved and grinned, mimicking father's robotic charm. He clasped hands and patted backs when there was nothing to do but stand.
I stood stilted in the center of the pompous event. Voice pulled at my attention, jerking my eyes from north to south. I heard his laughter somewhere deep in the crowd. He was watching. He was enjoying this. I pinched the skirt of my dress quietly. I wanted to scream.
A hand touched my shoulder and I startled. A young mother and her child had tried to catch my attention. "Are you alright Miss?" She questioned fervently.
"I'm alright, thank you." I mumbled. My lips created a small and I forced a nod.
We slowly made our way out into the crisp night. The hit of cold was exactly what skin needed after sweating in my dress all night. I welcomed the air to invade my lungs. The back of my hand brushed my forehead. I sighed, the voices now nothing but distant shouts.
Ricardo and his men gathered around his. Pitch black suits screaming danger. Her pressed a hand to his earpiece, mumbling something in Latin. Father insisted all security members speak Latin, a dead language had less of a risk of being understood. Especially one as complicated as Latin. He forced us kids to study it the moment noises left out mouths.
The men surrounded us, guiding us back to the limo. Mother and Father climbed into the front, finally breaking their hold from one another. I followed, then Melanie and Victor.
The sleek door shut behind us. I scrambled to a window seat, pressing myself as close to the glass as I could manage.
"Sadie," Mother spoke sternly. I jerked, facing her, her eyes burned with fury.
I readjusted until my posture was proper.
"Someone is always watching Sadie, remember that." She folded her hands neatly in her lap. Her head held high. Her heart-shaped face glowed in the light of the Limo, accentuating the cheekbones I wished I had. Her back was impossibly straight and firm.
Father sat beside her, a foot or so between them. His hand rubbed at his chin. I flinched when his angry gaze met mine. My eyes downcast to the heels rubbing blisters on my feet.
"Your Mother taught you how to behave in public," he growled. "I suggest next time you smile until it's stuck like that. Do you have any idea how many questions I received about your droopy mood?"
Everyone was silent. We were always silent when Father was angry.
"Yes sir." I mumbled.
He stood, hunched slightly to fit in the limo. "I'll be discussing further plans with Ricardo." He squeezed past our Mother, slipping into the front of the Limo.
"Great job, Sadie." Victor's voice dripped with sarcasm. His glare hit me, and I shrunk back. He turned back to the window, resting his chin on his palm.
Melanie poked around at something on her phone, never smiling nor frowning.
I met Mother's eyes, and she smiled, as if to show me how. It was the saddest smile I've ever seen.