Chapter 29

I was sitting down at my desk when the doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting any visitors today, maybe it was the University Mascot here for Marcus. I got up and walked over to the door, but I stopped just as I was about to open it. What if that was Sean at the door? Very carefully, I approached the door, closing in on the spot where the door will open for me. It swings open, and revealed an outrageously dressed Teenager standing at the door, her black-painted lips twisted into a scowl.

"Uhm...may I help you?" I asked cautiously, was this girl paparazzi?

I began to take a closer look at her. There was something oddly familiar about her. Under her heavy black makeup and her punk rock clothes, she had almost the same facial complexion of...me.

The girl frowned further, which suggested that she'd expected me to respond quite differently.

"Yeah, this is 22 Rose St, right?" she asked defensively.

I nodded, "Yes...this is."

She pushed past me to enter the house, "Where's Marcus?"

I didn't invite her into the house yet, she physically couldn't have entered until I'd done so...unless…

"Who are you?" I demanded bluntly.

She did look Marcus's age, a friend maybe? But I can't imagine Marcus being friends with someone like her.

She turned around, and gave me a stern look, "Just call me Mandy."

"Alright, but who areyou? And how did you get into my house?"

Just then, Marcus run up behind me, "Mom!" he stopped in his tracks when the girl came into his view, "Oh…"

"Great, you're here." she strided over and grabbed his wrist, pulling him into the house, "We're going to your room."

She grabbed his wrist, that's another thing I haven't seen before...

"Wait...does Mom know? Have you introduced yourself yet?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes, before she further pulled him through the hallway and into his room, the door slamming behind them.

"What was that all about?" it was Boinky, home from work.

"Marcus's got someone over from school...at least, I think." I told him truthfully.

Boinky nodded, "Hmph, well, what's he like?"

"It's a she." I explained, "And she is, rather brash. Kind of rude to be honest."

"At least he's talking to someone."

The two exited Marcus's room solemnly, as if they were about to apologize for something,

"Mom...Dad." he began, "This...she's...this is Melissa."

What?! I looked at Boinky in shock, and he returned the same awed expression.

"Ou…our Melissa?" he muttered.

Melissa nudged Marcus's arm, "Yes, it's me, but I'd still rather be called Mandy. Melissa sounds so...stiff."

"We thought you were dead!" I exclaimed, "Why didn't you come to us sooner?"

"I didn't even know who you guys were!" she defended herself, "According to my records, I was rescued from a fire by a social worker. I was put in the Abyss until I was adopted by my adoptive parents."

"...the Abyss? What's that?" I asked, not liking the ominous name.

"It's a space of non existence." she explains, "It's where Sims go when they've been taken out of the world but they're not dead. It's also where all original Sims come from."

"That's ridiculous, I've never heard of that." Boinky refuted.

"It kind of makes sense." Marcus argues, "I mean, who were Grandma's parents?"

That's true...I always assumed Mom and Dad had parents, but I've never met them, and they've never even mentioned having parents, or any kind of childhood to begin with.

"Melissa, where are your adoptive parents? Are they here with you?" I asked.

She shook her head, "No, they live in Pleasantview."

"I mean, do they know you're here?" I clarified.

"No, they won't miss me."

I gave Boinky a worried glance. Would we get in trouble if we didn't turn her in?

"How about you stay for dinner with us?" I suggested, "So we can...catch up."

She nodded slowly, "...sure."

Author's Note: I've created Cindy, Boinky, and Tommy on the Sims 4 Gallery. Just search for "Heroor" and you should find them.