...13 years ago
"Kay, Daddy. I know."
Six year old Elena closes the back door of her home behind her before she runs down the steps of the porch. Once clear, Elena sneaks a glance up into her fathers bedroom window. Upon seeing him laying down for a nap, she dashes across the backyard, hops the ditch, runs around the construction site and stops.
She grins at the small woods soon to be destroyed in favor of a new street. Elena bites her lip in excitement before slipping into the woods. After a few minutes she finds a hollow log and climbs on top of it. She kicks off her sandals and practices balancing on the balls of her feet.
"Ballerinas stand on their toes, so I need to practice, Sam."
She grins at her imaginary friend and holds her arms out before jumping from the log and landing on the balls of her feet. Elena jumps up in down in excitement at her victory. She then grabs her shoes before continuing down the path. Her free hand holds her green dress away from branches.
"When we get to stump land we can go back."
After a few more minutes, Elena reaches a small beach leading to a pond. She picks up a muddy shell and smiles before pocketing it. As she turns, with dread she sees her father. He grabs her by the arm and all but drags her back to the house.
"Oww! Daddy! You're hurting me."
"Elena Claire. Mind telling me just what the hell you were doing out here?"
"Playing."
He mumbles to himself. "Why can't she be normal? Why does she have to disrespect me? Why can't she do as she's told? On Kate's birthday no less."
Elena huffs as they approach the house.
...present
Elena hums to herself as she takes a bite of birthday cake.
"I hate vanilla."
She sighs and takes another bite.
"Happy birthday Kate."
...
Chance raises an eyebrow at her captor. "She died, didn't she?"
"Shut up."
A sadistic smile spreads across Chances face. "That's a yes. And judging by your body language, I'd bet it was your fault."
Tom clenches his fists by his sides. "It wasn't."
"It was. Who was she? Your girlfriend."
"Fiancé."
Chance pushes a lock of hair behind her ear. "You're a murderer."
Toms voice shakes as he responds. "Stop. I'm no murderer."
"Yes. Your fiancé died and it was all your fault. You may as well have killed her with your own two hands."
Tom covers his ears with his hands and begins to panic slightly. "No!"
Chance takes a step closer to Tom. "Don't lie to yourself. Deep down you know what you've done. It never let's you be. Ever since it happened, the guilt has driven you to desperation."
Tom squeezes his eyes shut. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
"You've been kidnapping girls who look like her for some time now. You killed them as well."
"Not all of them!"
Chance takes another step twords Tom. "Yes! Even the ones you didn't kill directly, they killed themselves. They must have. You led them to it Thomas. You killed them, just like you killed your fiancé."
"No."
Chance stands beside Tom and pulls his arms down to talk into his ear with a smile of glee on her face. "Your nights are haunted by guilt. So you've been searching for the girl of your dreams. Well, guess what? I'm not the girl of your dreams..."
Her voice drops to a whisper. "I'm the girl of your nightmares."
Chance gives him a quick kiss on the cheek and steps back, allowing Tom to fall to his knees in defeat. He begins to weap and Chance tsks at the broken man. He stares off in horror.
"What have I done?"
Chance reaches down and rips the string from around his neck. She smiles and examines the key. "I'd take my time with you...but I can see you wouldn't be worth my time."
Chance walks out of the bedroom, through the living room, and to the front door. She unlocks the door and silently leaves her captors appartment.
She sighs as she quickly catches the elevator before the door closes. After pushing the button for the ground floor, she rests her head against the wall until the door opens.
Chance slips out of the elevator and quickly strides out of the apartment complex. She locates a street sign before crossing the street and heading back to Cranes hideout. As she passes a corner, she spots herself leaning against a street sign. Elena begins following her.
"What do you want?"
"Guess what?"
"Haven't you gotten me in enough trouble?"
Elena frowns. "I was only trying to help. Aren't we friends?"
"With yourself. That's sad."
Elena smiles. "I have plans tonight. This guy..."
Chance stops and looks Elena in the eye. "Leave me alone. I still have bruises after what scarecrow did when I got back. Leave me alone. I've been held captive for who knows how long. Dr Crane will be mad enough already."
"Fine. But I got this really bad feeling. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
With that Elena teleports away.
...
A/N: next chapter is where things get dark. Hence the M rating. No sexual content, still dark in ideas and implications. Also violence later on.
