'Elliot, my precious Elliot...'
'Look at mommy, Elliot.'
'Look at the pain on mommy's face, Elliot.'
'Elliot, my precious little Elliot...'
'My cunning little wench, ELLIOT.'
Elliot suddenly jolted awake as she was startled by yet another nightmare. She looked over to the right side of her bed and saw a worried Amelia staring at Elliot while holding a glass of water. Elliot hurriedly grabbed the glass of water and began chugging it down like she never drank water in her life before. She looked over at Amelia, confusion adamant on her face, wanting to ask her why was she there in her room, this early in the morning.
Amelia: 'Confused?'
Elliot: 'Yes. What are you doing here? It's 6 in the morning... we don't have school today..'
Amelia: 'I heard you screaming and talking really loudly so I came to check up on you. Are you okay?' Elliot clenched her fists after realizing that not only did she let Amelia see this side of her again, but she caused her trouble again. Elliot looked at Amelia wondering if she someday will leave her side, the more she'll come into contact with Elliot and her troubling past. Amelia tucked Elliot into bed and told her to get more sleep for an hour until breakfast time. Elliot closed her eyes, but upon listening to the door being closed behind her, she immediately got up from her bed, wore her jacket and ran outside her room. Elliot ran for what seemed like an eternity until she made a stop in front of Leonardo's office. She knocked and entered but to her dismay, the office was empty and the lights were out. Her trembling hands came up to her chest as she clenched them both together and prayed that Leonardo will suddenly appear right in front of her.
Elliot suddenly got startled when she heard a loud creak coming from the alley upfront. She glanced on both sides of her, looking to see if another person was there besides her, but the entire hallway was empty with only Elliot standing right in the middle of it with a few tube lights glitching up front from where the creaking sound was coming. Elliot, despite being really scared, wanted to go and have a look at what's making those creaking sounds. Something inside of her kept bugging her to go and check out what was happening, while her brain kept on ringing the danger alarm for her. As always, Elliot listened to that one distinct voice at the back of her head and proceeded forward, however, with caution to see what was going on. She took small steps and walked towards the alley upfront, her heart beat racing the more she came closer to the source of the sound. Since the tube light kept flickering, Elliot couldn't see clearly, but she could vaguely see that in order for her to completely come in contact with the source of that creaking noise, she had to take a turn to the right to a place where not even the tube lights were flickering anymore.
With her beating heart and trembling hands, Elliot stepped forward and took a turn to the right, her eyes shut tightly. She slowly opened her eyes to see what was going on but she soon realized that all of that fear, all of that trembling was for nothing. The source that was making the creaking sound was nothing but a door, slightly moving because of the subtle wind. Elliot sighed and turned around to go back but she suddenly stopped in her tracks as she started hearing something. Light laughter was coming from the other side of the door. She once asked Leonardo about the door when Amelia accidently mentioned it to her but to her dismay, Leonardo just said to keep away from the door and to never trespass it.
'Won't you go check it out, Elliot?'
A sudden voice echoed throughout Elliot's head, asking her if she was not even a little tad bit interested in the thing that was on the other side. Elliot knew she shouldn't listen to the voice and should better turn back, but the temptation of the voice was too much to handle for little Elliot as she finally gave in and proceeded to take little steps towards the door to see what was on the other side. She reached the door and slightly opened it more in order to pass through and stepped foot inside what looked like just another building. The building, the structure, the hallway and the color, everything was same like the one where Elliot was a few seconds ago. She again heard the loud laughter and giggling so she went towards that cheer filled voice which lead her to the girls bathroom. Elliot opened the door and went inside but she was suddenly met with three girls standing near the sink, applying makeup on their faces.
???: 'Looks like someone lost her way and came here by accident.' Elliot flinched and stumbled back a little, wanting to get out of that place as soon as possible.
Abigail: 'Well well, no need to be so vary of me. I'm Abigail, and you are...?' The immediate change in Abigail's voice confused Elliot, who was standing there, looking confused by Abigail's sudden friendliness. Elliot suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, the sharp pain that she feels every once in a while but she never told anyone since she could not bring up the courage to make everyone else worry about her.
Elliot: 'Call me Elle.... Just Elle.'
Abigail: 'Elle? That's a nice name and not to mention that even interesting way of speaking. So, why did you come here? As far as I know, you're not from this building.'
Elliot: 'I wanted to check out and see what really was in this side of the building. My curiosity brought me here.'
Laura: 'Hey, Elle shell whatever. I'm Laura and I was wondering if you'd be interested to come at the meet up tonight.'
Abigail: 'Laura! Don't go around inviting EVERYONE. This is supposed to be a secret meet up idiot.' Abigail nudged Laura's arm as she whispered to her, thinking Elliot did not hear what she just said to Laura.
Elliot: 'A meet up? What's that? I thought none of the patients were allowed to go outside without an authorized facility guardian...?' Abigail and Laura looked at each other and smiled before finally speaking.
Abigail: 'Do you seriously think EVERYONE here follows the rules EVERYTIME? If you're interested you can come to the woods at 10 pm sharp. And if you're interested more about what goes on inside the meet ups, you can ask Amelia about that, after all, she's the reason we can even attend these meet ups in the first place.' She smirked and left with Laura and the other girl who was busy doing her make up the entire time Abigail, Laura and Elliot were talking. Elliot wanted to ask Abigail how she knew Amelia but she left right after finishing her sentence as if she knew that Elliot would ask her about her relationship with Amelia. She turned around and went outside the bathroom, heading back to the building.
Amelia: 'OH.MY.GOD ELLIOT. DO YOU EVEN HAVE THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS?! STOP DISAPPEARING OUT OF NOWHERE AND APPEARING OUT OF THIN AIR YOU'RE LITERALLY GOING TO MAKE ME HAVE A HEART ATTACK!' Elliot knew Amelia would be angry with her but her mind was too preoccupied with the meet up thing that Laura mentioned earlier that she grabbed Amelia's shoulder and dragged her inside her room.
Elliot: 'Listen Amelia. I want to ask you about the meet up.'
Amelia: 'Oh right the meet up- wait. HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE MEET UP?! wait. Don't tell me, you- YOU ACTUALLY WENT TO THE OTHER BUILDING?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND ELLIOT?!'
Elliot: 'Not Elliot. Call me Elle... You said you'll call me Elle.'
Amelia: 'Is that even important right now?'
Elliot: 'Yes, I did go to the other building but that was an accident. I met a girl named Abigail and Laura who told me about the meet up. There was another girl with them but I don't know her name.' Amelia sighed as she heard the entire story from Elliot. She was shocked and confused at the same time about how weird and utterly shocking the turn of events were. She looked at Elliot who was looking at Amelia with eyes full of anticipation. Originally, Amelia helped the other girls and boys to attend the meet up by drugging the back door guard with sleeping pills she stole from Leonardo's office and then stole his keys to access the back forest. She was skeptical about whether to tell Elliot about the meet up or not, since her having another nightmare ghosting attack in front of everyone was the last thing that Amelia wanted.
Amelia: 'You want to go?' As if Elliot was waiting for Amelia to ask her this question, she hurriedly nodded her head, running off to the bathroom to get dressed. Upon Elliot's absence from the room, the lively room was filled with cracking voices and the source was none other than Amelia herself, who couldn't believe how excited Elliot was for something like the meet up. If she looked back on the days that went by with Elliot barely speaking anything and showing zero curiosity towards anything aside from the nightmares that she called beautiful, she was never hopeful and cheery, and would hardly speak with breaks between her sentences. She kept on biting her nails when a happy Elliot came barging in and that's when Amelia knew, something was wrong. Very very wrong.
The night came strong with thunderous winds blowing at its finest. It was the the kind of whether Amelia liked a lot. She thought that maybe she wanted to become friends with Elliot because she came into the facility on a day just like this, when the wind was howling and the sky was shedding tears over tragedy struck Elliot. She decided to go to Elliot's room since it was almost time for the meet up and Amelia still had a task left to do, drugging the back door security guard.
Amelia: 'Elle? You ready for-' Amelia opened the door only to find Elliot sleeping on the floor right besides her dressing mirror. The scene in front almost made Amelia say 'What the fuck' but she stopped herself knowing Leonardo will kill her if he finds out that she taught Elliot the curse words.
Amelia: 'Elle. Wake up, it's almost time for the meet up. C'mon!'
Elliot: 'Amelia? What.... What meet up...?'
Amelia: 'Don't what me, young lady. We were supposed to go to the meet up in the back forest since Abigail and her minions invited you and you were dying to go there. Like literally. You can stay behind if you want but get up from the floor first.'
Elliot: 'I... don't remember. Was this something important? I mean.... I can go... if you want me to..' Amelia was stunned at Elliot and her words. Indeed this was the Elliot she was used to seeing. Did she faint or hit her head maybe? Whatever the reason for her sudden change was, Amelia knew a visit to Leonardo was necessary but not now, since the other kids were probably waiting for her to open the doors so they can go to the back forest and act like animals in heat. She helped Elliot get up on her feet and helped her get dressed. Amelia knew that she had to take Elliot with her because she might wander around the facility again and who knows what she will meet this time.
Amelia: 'Stay close behind me and don't make a noise ok? Once I give you the signal like this, I'll shake my hand and point towards the door. The moment I do that, you all will hurry outside understand? You guys should go very quietly. Now... get moving! Fast!' Everyone started running with small steps, hurrying outside. Amelia wiped her sweat from her forehead as she went outside and closed the door behind her, locking it and putting the keys inside her pocket muttering 'Mission accomplished' and running to join everyone else.
On Amelia's signal, Elliot also ran out with everyone else and kept on running until she finally reached the forest with everyone else. She clenched her hands together on her chest as she kept swinging her head from left to right, praying to God that Amelia would come soon and stand besides her. She looked around and realized how everyone was acting like they were familiar with each other, smiling and laughing around like they all have been best of friends since childhood. Out of the corner of her eye, Elliot saw the silhouette of a boy leaning against the tree. She turned around to see clearly who the boy was, who kept staring at Elliot with those mesmerizing grey eyes of his. A step further, or a step backwards? Elliot kept going back and forth all because something inside of her kept bugging her to go near the boy. Her heart said further but her mind kept saying backwards. She licked her lips and clenched her fists, stepping closer to the boy who was still standing in the same position. She came closer to him, inhaling the strong smell of cologne that he was wearing. Both the boy and Elliot were just standing there, dead silent, not doing anything except for staring into each other's eyes.
???: 'Do you know what your eyes are telling me right now?' The boy spoke, startling Elliot.
???: 'You're scared. In fact, you're trembling right now, aren't you? You're desperately searching for someone. Someone to hold on to.' Elliot looked at him with confusion and fear. She kept telling herself that he was dangerous and now that he started talking, Elliot knew that he really was dangerous. But what could the little have done? She was afraid. Sure, it was true. But, she was curios as well. She looked at him, staring in his eyes, trying to look for an answer.
Elliot: 'Who...are you?'
???: 'Why don't you come a little closer then? Close enough for me to tell you my name.' How close, was close enough? Asked Elliot to herself as she leaned forward, closer to his chest as if his words just hypnotized her and she began to follow whatever he said.
Jayden: 'Jayden. It's my name. You like it?' Elliot stepped back, looking at him with a blank face. She kept repeating his name again and again. For some reason, she could not shake aside the feeling that sooner or later, she'll get in contact with him again. Maybe in just a matter of confusion, or maybe by wisdom.
Gallahan: 'Elliot...?' Elliot turned her head to the right, finding a surprised Gallahan in sight. He walked towards Elliot, stopped and then looked at Jayden. His eyes went big as if they were about to pop out of his skull. His complexion went pale as if he just saw a ghost. He hurriedly grabbed Elliot's hand and dragged her away from Jayden, refusing to even look back at him. Jayden just smiled and mouthed a 'Goodbye, little Elle' to Elliot who was still looking at Jayden as she was getting dragged away by Gallahan. Whatever the reason was, she just could not keep her eyes away from Jayden. That feeling was nothing related to his face, his eyes or his voice. That feeling was something more than that, a feeling of danger, excitement and anticipation, all at once, felt by Elliot, or as she herself liked, Elle.