The two scarlets turned and literally ran away. Please, don't go; insult me to your heart's content.
"Faina Alden," he said, looking at me with those sapphires that I once believed were kind. I couldn't speak; my throat was dry, my palms were sweaty, and I felt dizzy. Every part of me was terrified; my brain could only see images of a dark room repainted with my blood.
"Are you okay?" he asked, and I took a step back to collect myself. He won't hurt you if you act right, and 'right' is not cute, sometimes.
"I… I'm fine," I said.
"Don't take their words to heart; they are just trying to project their failure on you," he said, and I nodded. "I'm Euston Rosen," he said, extending his hand for a handshake. If I don't take it, he would get angry. I gulped and stared at his hand, trying to will my shaky hands to move.
He smiled and dropped his hand. I didn't mean to… please don't get angry.
"I wanted to see the person my brother is obsessed with up close," he said. "Not bad at all," he said, smiling. Stop smiling at me; it's scary. "I hope to see more of you soon, Faina Alden," he said and walked away. I released a sigh of relief, holding my chest as I tried to control my breathing.
"Do you know him?" Sienna asked.
"No," I breathed.
"For your sake, Faina, don't get yourself involved with that family," she warned. I know that better than anyone.
"I know," I said. "I'll be outside," I said, and she patted my back. I walked outside and looked at the sky. I'm scared.
I looked to the street in front of me and met a pair of grey eyes. He stared at me expressionlessly and didn't say a word. I couldn't say a word either; I was still shaken up.
"Faina," someone called, and I turned around. What did I do wrong? "I finally get to talk to you without those girls interrupting me," Walsh said. Why is he here? What does he want? It's going to be fine, it's going to be fine.
I turned back, but Teon was gone. What do I do? Did he misunderstand the situation?
"I'll put this plainly: I like you, but I won't be a bug and follow you around," he said. "I'd state my intentions, but not yet." What else besides torturing me for a laugh? "Till then, I hope you will be interested in my advances," he said and grabbed my rigid hand, giving it a light peck. The feeling I had afterward was foreign; it was different. Was it disgust? Or annoyance?
I never let myself hate; even when I was tortured, I just let myself resign to my unfortunate fate. I might have felt something when I truly hated them, but I never let it show. But the feeling of not being able to hold it in was new.
I needed to leave, but I had to go back and tell the others that I'd be leaving. I inhaled and let out shaky breaths before walking back inside.
"Sienna," I called, and she turned to look at me. "I have to go," I said.
"Okay, let me call Phoenix so he can take you back," she said, but I shook my head.
"It's fine, tell him I said thank you," I said, and she nodded.
"Come visit me sometime, okay?" she said, hugging me.
"I will," I replied, and I meant it.
I walked out and made my way back to my house. I wanted nothing more than to lie on Tyler and sleep for hours. As I approached the door, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, which made me halt for a while. It took a moment for me to collect myself and continue walking.
I walked in and locked the door. After my unwanted meeting, I couldn't be too safe.
"Ty," I called, but there was no sign of Tyler around. "Tyler," I called, walking to the room, but he wasn't there. I went to the study as fear started settling in my chest.
I remembered a memory from when my torture was just beginning. It was just basic things like forcing me to wear weird outfits, slapping me for every mistake, just little things. The thing that scarred me the most at the time was when I got attached to a bird that was kept outside in a cage. I always fed the bird, but one day, I went there and saw its neck was slit, and it was hanged in the cage.
"You shouldn't like a bird more than me," my so-called sister said. My screams seemed to have been music to their ears because that gave them inspiration to move on to the next phase of torture.
"Tyler," I called, opening the door to the study. Someone was in the room, patting Tyler's head. "Ty," I said with a sense of relief.
"Livi," I heard, and my eyes widened. The room was dark, and I couldn't see her, but I knew that voice.
"Mother," I said, walking in. She's here; she didn't leave me. She stood up and walked toward me. I would have been more hesitant any other day, but after seeing those people, I am more grateful for the family I have now. I rushed and hugged her; I was very happy.
Don't cry, don't cry.
"I'm sorry I didn't contact you; I was in a tight spot," she said, but I didn't have a response. "How have you been?"
"Fine," I said, still holding on. I was scared that if I let go, she'd disappear again.
"Where were you?"
"A reunion," I replied.
"Oh, that's right, it's today; I forgot," she said.
"You're a special grade?" I asked, looking up at her.
"Yes, Crimson," she said.
"I shouldn't be hugging you," I said, and she laughed.
"You are very loyal. I don't like Azure either," she said, but we were still hugging.
I missed her so much.