HAI GUYS!
Well, I'm back. And with yet another story.
Anyway, I unfortunately don't own Gone. But you should be glad I don't, because if I did, Drake would rule the FAYZ, Bug would be dead, and Howard and Orc would be a gay couple. Thank your lucky stars I don't own Gone.
"And remember, you can call anytime you need me," Phoenix's mother reminded her.
She avoided her mother's look of sympathy. "If you really cared, you wouldn't have dumped me with the Merwins for four summers in a row. Or stuck me in a mental institution for a year. Or the numerous boarding schools."
Her mother winced. "Look. I've told you, this is the best option we've had in a long time. There are a lot of kids with…problems, here."
For once Phoenix met her mother's green-eyed gaze with her own. "By 'problems' do you mean my schizophrenia? Or my parents who don't care enough to take their daughter with them on their endless business trips?"
Her mother sighed, leaning her head against the seat's headrest. "You know we can't take you with us, we've been through this already. There's nowhere for you to stay when we're in our meetings, and it's not good for a child to be on the move. You need to have a steady home to stay in for a long period of time."
Phoenix looked skeptically up at the Gothic, foreboding building. "Doesn't look like home to me."
Her mother leaned over to give Phoenix a quick kiss goodbye, but her daughter was already out of the car. "Goodbye, Mom."
With a sigh her mother drove away.
"Room 404," Phoenix murmured, glancing down at the packet the secretary had given her. "This must be the place." She stepped into the room, unsurprised to see another girl already there. She had been notified that she would have a roommate.
The girl, who was small, Asian, and probably around fourteen like Phoenix was, looked up. "So. You must be my new roommate." She slid off her bed, holding out her hand. "I'm Penny."
Something, a whisper in the back of Phoenix's mind, told her that Penny was bad news, but she dismissed it as another delusion. And a reminder that she needed to take her Thorazine later.
Phoenix took her hand, hesitant. "Phoenix."
The voice was persistent. She's out to get you.
Spiders poured out of her fingertips. Phoenix nearly screamed. But it was strange…she couldn't feel their little spindly legs. It didn't hurt as they tried to bite her.
It was just an illusion. Cause by her schizophrenia, or Penny, she didn't know.
Phoenix yanked her hand away. Penny regarded her coldly. "You're interesting, Phoenix. You didn't fall for my illusions, did you?"
"I'm used to it."
"Hm. Some kind of mental problem, I'm assuming. It's all right, we get a lot of kids with mental issues here. But I'll let you in on a little secret." Penny's smirk turned menacing. "We're all a little bit strange. What I did, just now? Definitely not normal. Not many normal kids here. And not many nice ones, either. You don't look very capable of defending yourself, Phoenix. So, I'd keep away from most everyone here. Keep it low-key until you're out of here."
Phoenix nodded. She was liking Coates Academy less and less.
Penny sauntered out of the room, stopping at the doorway. "Oh. And if you value your life, stay away from Drake Merwin."
Phoenix stopped breathing for a moment.
Drake Merwin.
She knew that name all too well.