Chapter 1
Ella looked at her slender body in the mirror. "Why me," she mumbled. "Why? I'm just a random girl off the street. Why me?" She grabbed her blood soaked shirt and looked at her palm. Her fair skin was now a pure blood red. Her straight, black hair fell into view. The tips of her hair were blood soaked. Tears formed in her navy blue eyes. "I-I hate you, Grell. You ruined my life."
That was when I was 11, when Grell Scutliff killed my parents. The drag queen left me to die in the basement of my own home. The police found me, curled up in the corner, my parents bodies sprawled across the room, their blood soaking me. They couldn't find the dumb drag queen, and I went to live with my teacher, Mr. Moon. Soon, I was moved Ms. Moon's home, who lived miles away from her ex. Ms. Moon treated me like a daughter, and I couldn't appreciate that more.
Soon, I moved on my own, my only friend Toby Turner from the internet.
Ella was 20 years old, and was moving to Tara's Hotel a block away from Ms. Moon.
She hugged Ms. Moon one last time in front of the building. "If you need anything, Ella, call me or walk over," Ms. Moon whispered in Ella's ear. Ella nodded and pulled away, tears forming in her eyes.
"Okay, mom. I love you," Ella said and Ms. Moon climbed in the car.
"I love you, too," she said and drove off. Ella turned to look at the building. The brick looked lazily placed and old. The windows were dusty and you couldn't see through them. Vines were growing up the side of the building up to the 5th floor. Ella walked up to the blue door and pulled it open. The floor looked like bathroom tiles, and there was a small, blue loveseat pushed up on the side. The desk sat next to the stairs, and a lady with a friendly smile sat up from her computer.
"Hello," the girl said. "You must be Ella. I'm Tara. I used to be a really good friend of Ms. Moon." Tara stuck her hand out.
Ella toke her hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you, Tara. Mom usually talks about you as her best friend," Ella said and smiled. "I'm so glad to get to finally meet you." Tara reached for keys and handed them to Ella. Ella thanked her and headed up the stairs to the 10th floor. The keys had read '10th floor, Room 98.' Ella walked down the hallway in till she reached her room.
Ella unlocked the door and was surprised by how strong the smell of dog was. It's actually kind of pleasant, Ella thought and stepped in. She closed the door and looked around at all of the boxes.
On top of a box, there was an envelope. Ella carefully walked around the boxes and picked it up. She read the letters. Then she read them again. And again. And again. Tears formed in her eyes. "Thank you, mom," she whispered.