It was in early January when we finally officially adopted by Alyssa Green. I was now Mercedes Green and Alyona was Alyona Green. I gathered up my suitcases with all of my dresses and makeup. I collected my journal and Bible and kept close to Alyona. Alyona was painfully shy, her cheeks were reddish.

"I still can't believe this is happening." Alyona muttered.

I smiled at her. "Isn't it great?" I chirped. I was in high spirits. Nothing was able to dampen my mood.

I clasped Alyona's clammy hand. Alyona voiced out her concern. "I just hope this woman is really nice. I hope she STAYS nice and doesn't be mean to us."

I embraced the girl warmly. "Everything will be fine." I reassured her.

"Alyona, Mercedes, time to go." Sister Wanda appeared in the doorway with a beaming Sister Jane.

Me and Alyona's hands are glued together as we walked to them. Sister Jane embraced us lovingly. "We will miss you two!" She rejoiced happily.

I nearly chuckled at that comment. From Trinity's beating, the theft, and Melinda's murder, my absence was highly beneficial to everyone's health. I loved the irony here.

Then we are escorted to Alyssa's silver sedan. We placed our suitcases in the trunk and sat in the backseat. The car had this nice aroma of vanilla. Alyona was dressed nicely, she was smiling ear to ear. "Welcome, home, girls."

It was thirty minutes drive to our new home. It was a two story house in a affluent neighborhood. It was made out of brick and wide.

Alyssa helped us with our bags and led us inside. It was very simple and fair in the house. Nothing major or extreme. The house had three bedrooms. One for me, one for Alyona, and the other is for Alyssa.

My bedroom was fair sized with a double sized bed with plain blankets and sheets. I had a dresser with a mirror and a small closet.

I explored the house by myself. It was quite small and cramped.

"I hope you like it here!" Alyssa called out from downstairs.

"I do!" I shouted back. I sat in my bedroom, pondering about my future. I anticipate that Alyssa would find a man that I can woo. I felt great anxiety, if she doesn't find a lover. my presence here is useless! I wished she had a small child, but Alyona will do for now. I saw Alyssa excitedly texting her phone. I heard her mumbling to herself. "Mommy just got her little princesses."

I frowned. At that moment, I realized me and Alyona were props for her ego.

When nighttime came, I slept in my bed soundly. Then I jolted awake from Alyona's shrill screams. I sprinted out of bed like a madwoman and darted to her bedroom. I found the small child swimming in her sheets. I smelled a powerful odor roaming in her room.

I hurried over to Alyona's side and the odor became stronger and stronger. Then I looked down at the bed to see a large urine stain Alyona left. The girl was still unconscious, so I gently shook her awake.

"Ah!" Alyona jolted awake with a brief shriek. I embraced the anxious girl with comforting arms. "It is okay, Alyona. It is okay." I whispered kindly.

I gave her kiss on the forehead. I even began to sing the Glory of Love to soothe her. My voice was gentle and sweet. "Calm down. Calm down." I said.

Alyona pulled away with me with a red face. She glanced at the stain and appeared mortified. "Oh no.." She whined. Alyona hurried to grab a fresh pair of clothes and went into the bathroom. She returned to the room within a minute. She was red in the face with embarrassment.

I remained calm. "Don't worry, let's get the sheets and wash them. You can sleep in my bed." I told her.

Obediently, Alyona obeyed. I helped her gather the urine stained sheets and we both headed to the laundry room. I was the closest to the door when I realized it was half opened. The lights were on and I became curious.

I gestured Alyona to stop. I peeked inside the doorway to see Alyssa in the room.

What I saw still stayed with me to this day.

Alyssa stood in the center of the laundry room, her back to the door. She has a small table in front of her. I smelled a familiar stench. A stench that I recalled seeing during my time as a prostitute and my childhood. I put down the sheets. I watched Alyssa holding a lighter in one hand and a spoon in the other. Alyssa put her the lighter down and retrieved a syringe from the table. I felt time slow down as she proceeded to inject the syringe into her right arm. She made an odd sound that I could only describe as a person breathing sharply through their teeth. I remembered my past at that moment. I never abused drugs, I never saw the point. In fact, I hated drugs. My Mother turned to drugs after my Father had his affairs. From heroin, crack, cocaine, meth, pills, anything she could get her hands on. Many of my clients were drug addicts. The drugs would make them violent and erratic, I can't tell you how many times I've been beaten by them. So to see this made me feel ill.

Alyona tugged on my sleeves to get my attention. Her eyes are pools of confusion. "What is she doing?" She asked me in a soft voice.

I didn't want Alyona to see this. I grabbed her wrist tightly and I proceeded to pull her to the stairs. "She's doing drugs!" Alyona whispered to me. Her voice became sorrowful. "No..no..I thought she would be different." She muttered to herself.

I felt my heart crack. I felt pity for this poor child. I knew very little about Alyona's past. But it was evident she came from bad homes.

Alyona became tearful. "I can't believe this!" She began to weep softly to herself. I took the child into my bedroom and closed the door.

Alyona scurried to my bed and threw herself onto the bed. She wept brokenly into my pillow. I kept calm, still trying to comprehend what I just saw. I never imagined Alyssa to be a drug abuser. She seemed so nice and affluent. Pretty, nice personality, decent job, and decent house. Why use drugs? I am indifferent to this woman, but conventionally she seemed like a adjusted lady.

Alyona's broken sobs hurt my heart. I hated seeing my daughter so downcasted like this. I got on my bed and I comforted Alyona.

Alyona lifted her head from the pillow, her face was fresh as a raindrop. "Why….why…." She mumbled. "I thought she would be different."

I embraced her lovingly and rocked her back and forth. "Everything will be alright." Alyona buried her face in my chest, she wrapped her arms around me. She clung to me like a lifeline.

"I really hoped she was different!" Alyona wept brokenly.

I exhaled. "Calm down, Alyona. You can sleep with me." I told her in a gentle voice. Alyona nodded and I crawled into my bedsheets. Alyona crawled in herself. Her arms are still wrapped around me like a vice. The bed was warm and soft, I felt like a Mother. Alyona trusted me and saw me as a protector.

We both slept peacefully that night despite the horrible discovery. I remembered the urine stained sheets I left, but Alyssa never came upstairs to approach us about it. She was probably too intoxicated to noticed.

In the early morning, Alyssa was locked away in her bedroom. I had to make breakfast for me and Alyona. I stood on a footstool over the oven as I proceeded to make pancakes. Alyona sat patiently and quietly at the table. The pancakes were baking from the heat of the pan. I grabbed a spatula off of the counter and proceeded to carefully flip the pancakes one by one.

I heard Alyssa's footsteps emerging downstairs. Her footsteps are sluggish and slow. I turned off the oven and I turned my head to Alyssa as she emerged into the kitchen. I was disgusted by her mere presence. Her peachy skin was pale and worn out and her eyes had heavy bags. Her hair was disheveled.

"The wonderful works of Social Services." I mocked in my head. You have to admit that me and Alyona were pretty screwed in this situation!

Giving two small children to a drug addict. Ha! I am still shocked that Alyssa is a drug abuser. I remembered how high spirited and bubbly she was when we first met her. She has the youthful appearance of a college student. She has the looks of a model and she is choosing to ruin her life with drugs! But I supposed everyone has a dark side. I found this entire thing extremely ironic. She's a hidden drug abuser and I am a serial killer that is pretending to be a little girl. Safe to say her secret is tamed compared to mine! Ha!

Alyssa sat at the table, her eyes were dilated and her speech was slurred. "M...Morn..Morning…" She croaked.

Alyona avoided eye contact with her. I served the pancakes. One for me, one for Alyona, and one to Alyssa.

Alyona drowned her pancake in syrup. I proceeded to properly cut my pancake into eatable bites. The breakfast is silent, no one speaks to each other.

After breakfast, Alyssa appeared to sober up and went to work, leaving me and Alyona alone.

I was flabbergasted by the recklessness of this woman. At this point, I greatly disliked this woman. I hated drug abusers with a passion. But I really wanted to her to get a boyfriend. I needed to wait and see!

I know what you're saying. Alyona's wellbeing. I do care about that. But my needs matter as well. I know that says selfish, but that's how it is. Alyona has me to care and nurture her. I am all she needs to survive.

"Alyona," I got out of my chair. "I'll run your bathwater." I told her. "Gather up some clothes, honey." I said maternally.

Alyona sat there quietly for a moment. But obedience filled her to the brim. "Okay." She whispered softly. She obeyed me.

I went upstairs to the bathroom and ran the bathwater. I made sure it was at a pleasant temperature. I ran it to a fair amount and stopped the water.

Alyona approached me with handful of clothes in her arms. She smiled at me sweetly and headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. I decided that this was a great moment to practice being a housewife. Even though there is no male in this household, when one does come, I will be prepared. I always found the idea of being a housewife wonderfully simple. Cleaning, cooking, caring for the children. That's what I always desired to do. I headed downstairs to wash the dishes one by one with a soapy sponge.

Afterwards, I mopped up the living room floors and kitchen floors until they were spotless. It was an hour later when I am done. Alyona was long finished with her bath and was in her bedroom. I sang the "Glory of Love," as I cleaned.

Once I finished the song I was done mopping. I headed upstairs to fold clothes so I could do laundry. I grabbed the laundry basket that was in the hallway and went into Alyona's room. Alyona was not in her room. I opened her draws and folded her clothes neatly. I put them in the basket and headed downstairs to the laundry room.

I glanced at the dirty sheets I left last night. It reeked with the scent of old urine. Alyssa never even attempted to clean up.

"Stupid, druggy bitch." I mumbled. I swallowed my frustration and put all of the clothes in the washer. I snatched up the sheets and stuffed it into the washer. I turned on the washer and hurried upstairs.

I walked by Alyona's bedroom door and knocked on the door. "May I come in?" I said. Alyona opened the door wordlessly.

"Mercy," Alyona jumped onto her bed, her beautiful eyes locked onto mine. "What should we do about Alyssa? Should we tell someone?" She asked me.

I shook my head. "No."

Alyona raised a unsure eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

I lied through my teeth. "Yes, Alyssa will not hurt us. Plus you have me." I said in a cheerful voice. Alyona doesn't appear convinced.

"But she left us home by ourselves." Alyona pointed out. "She does drugs."

Alyona was a very smart girl, I'll admit. She obviously had good points, but I can't allow the authorities to come and take away my chances of a happy life.

"No, Alyssa is our new Mommy." I insisted stubbornly. Alyona frowned at me. Her eyes narrowed in frustration and indignation. "I don't want her to be my new Mommy!" She protested.

"Officially she is. She is our legal guardian, Alyona." I said in a matter of a fact voice. Alyona lowered her eyes to the floor and gave up.

I didn't like how this conservation ended, so I changed the subject. I forced a smile on my face. "Don't worry, Alyona. You have me." I chirped.

I embraced Alyona tightly. Alyona is stiff. "I know." She muttered.

For several weeks, I adapted to the pattern of life here. This was the very first home where I was homeschooled, so I thankfully didn't have to go to school. Alyssa would never interact with me or Alyona. She was too occupied with work or getting high. Impressively she does a good job hiding her drug abuse in public.

But it was swiftly apparent that Alyssa was not a fit parent. Alyssa went to work and didn't come back to the house. It was on March 27 when everything changed. It was a beautiful day outside, me and Alyona walked through the neighborhood unattended. I wanted to get out of the house. I eventually began to hate the house. Every second of my time here is being wasted.

This bitch still hasn't hooked herself to a man. It was a pleasant day, I saw small children frolicking in their respective yards. An old lady was tending to her beautiful garden. A young boy was playing ball with his dog.

"Hello, girls." I turned my head to see a woman in her late forties named Ms. Mason. She had blonde hair that was slowly graying. She was chubby and wore bright colors.

I waved back sweetly. "Hello." I chirped.

We walked around the neighborhood for two hours straight. It was nearly nightfall when we returned. By this time, the children were inside their secure homes while we're outside unattended.

Ms. Mason saw us from her front porch and was visibly concerned about us. "Girls," She called out.

I turned my head to her and I saw her worried expression. She walked over to us. "Girls, where is your Mother?" She asked.

"She's not home." Alyona answered honestly. Ms. Mason's eyes widened. I then began to panic on the insides. No! NO! This woman is going to call CPS on Alyssa! I came up with a good lie on the spot. "No! No! Our babysitter is in the house. We're not home alone." I said vehemently.

Ms. Mason's brown eyes flashed. "Are you sure?" She questioned.

Alyona gave a odd look. "Mercy…" I shot her a glare to tell her to shut up.

"Yes, Ms. Mason." Then I grabbed Alyona's wrist and whisked her away without another word. I basically sprinted to the house in fear that Ms. Mason would chase after us. I opened the unlocked front door and I dragged Alyona into the house with me. I slammed the door and locked it.

Alyona yanked her hand away from me and gave a confused look. "Mercy! Why did you lie?" She demanded. "Alyssa did leave us alone!"

I remained calm. "Alyona, Alyssa is our new Mommy." I insisted. I do not seek to argue and I changed the subject. "Go upstairs, I'll make dinner." I told her. Alyona still appeared perplexed, but still went upstairs. I headed into the kitchen, struggling to keep my spirits up. I did agree with Alyona. She was right. But my goals of love and family are too much to give up on.

I proceeded to make microwave meals. I heated up two meals. One for me and the other for Alyona.

"Mercy," I heard Alyona call out to me. Then Alyona released out a bloodchilling scream. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAAHHHHH!" I swirled around to witness Alyona tumbling clumsily down the stairs. I swear everything went into slow motion. I ran to the stairs, but it was too late. I watched Alyona's left ankle violently twist as she tumbled. There was a sickening crack and Alyona's scream pierced the air. Alyona fell on her side on the floor. Alyona is screeching her lungs out, rapid tears ran down her cheeks. "OOOOWWWWWW!" Her ankle was broken like a twig.

"IT HURTS! HELP! HELP!" She shrieked. She was red in the face, gasping through her shrill screams.

I hurried to her side. Alyona held her ankle, struggling to stand up straight. "Alyona! Alyona!" I cried. I struggled to calm myself. I was totally unprepared for this. I can't help my shrill voice. "Alyona, what happened?"

"I FELL! CALL SOMEONE! HELP!" Alyona wailed. I scrambled to my feet and searched frantically for a phone. Alyona's hysterical cries echoed through the house. I scavenged through the house like a madwoman. I began to panic, my anxiety overwhelmed me. "Where is it?" I shrieked. I pulled my hair out of frustration. "WHERE THE FUCK IS THE PHONE?" I screamed to the heavens.

I found nothing. "DAMMIT!" I seethed.

I needed to get someone to help us! I yanked my hair roughly as I contemplated on what to do. But if I tell someone that Alyona is hurt and no one is home, CPS will come over! But Alyona required medical attention! What should I do?

"Alanna, you are a Mother to this child! A Mother must put her child above herself!" I told myself. "You stupid, selfish bitch!"

I exhaled deeply as I decided on what to do. I rushed into the living room and decided to get help. "I'm going to get help!" I shouted out to Alyona. I jerked the front door open and darted out of the house like my hair was on fire. It was nighttime and it was chilling cold.

Then as if on cue, Alyssa's car came into my sight. It was parked in the driveway. I saw Alyssa inside nonchalantly texting on her cell phone. I sprinted to the car and slammed my fists on the door feverishly. Alyssa quickly noticed me and appeared alarmed. She rolled down the car window. "Mercy?" Alyssa mouthed.

I didn't waste a second. "CALL 911! CALL 911! ALYONA IS HURT!" I am so loud. My screaming is heard throughout the neighborhood.

Alyssa attempted to calm me down. "Calm down! Calm down!" She scolded.

But I am beyond hysterical. "ALYONA IS HURT! CALL 911! SHE IS HURT! HURRY!" I screeched. A close by neighbor who heard the commotion poked his head out of his front door. Alyssa saw him and her cheeks became red with embarrassment. Then two more neighbors exits their house to see what was going on. "CALL 911! CALL 911! ALYONA IS HURT!" I kept screaming this repeatedly.

Alyssa rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Mercy!" She spoke through gritted teeth. "Stop screaming! You are embarrassing me! Enough!" She sounded like a immature teenager.

Alyssa exited the car, I watched her in anger as she stuffed her phone into her purse. Alyssa glanced nervously at the neighbors. "EVERYTHING IS FINE!" She shouted out as loud as she could. She then grabbed my wrist and tightened her grip. I quickly began to struggle violently. "LET ME GO!" I shrieked. I pulled and yanked as much as I could. "LET ME GO!" I hollered. I struggled against Alyssa like a fish on a hook. I couldn't control my emotions any longer. Hysterical tears poured down my cheeks like a broken faucet. "ALYONA IS HURT!" I screamed. Alyssa narrowed her eyes angrily as she began to drag me inside.

"NO! NO! NO!" I sniveled. My throat began to give out. All of my screaming damaged my voice. Alyssa is not gentle with me. She shoved me into the house the moment my foot is inside the house. I nearly lost my balance.

I gasped for air breathlessly. Alyona came into my sight. I pointed a stiff finger to her. "ALYSSA! CALL 911!" I shrieked.

Alyssa glared at me. She turned to Alyona who was weeping to herself softly. "Walk it off!" She hissed. With that, she turned her head to me with a icy glare. "YOU EMBARRASSED ME IN FRONT OF THOSE PEOPLE! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" She rebuked.

Finally I lost my temper. "FUCK YOU!" I yelled. "ALYONA IS HURT!" Then Alyssa proceeded to give me a sharp crack across the face. At this point, I wanted to lash out at this bitch! "WHAT THE FUCK?" I hollered.

"You do not talk to me like that!" Alyssa barked angrily. "TALK TO ME LIKE THAT AGAIN AND YOU WILL LEAVE THIS HOUSE!" She yelled.

I rolled my eyes defiantly. "YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER!" I hollered mortified."ALYONA IS HURT AND YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS!"

I wanted to smack the shit out of this bitch! I hated this cunt at this point. I ran to the aid of my child. "ALYONA!" I wrapped my arms around her to comfort her.

Alyssa rolled her eyes and dug up her cell phone from her purse. "Go to your room, Mercy. I will take care of Alyona."

I am stubborn and I do not move an inch. Alyssa narrowed her eyes at me. All the love and sweetness has dissolved in her eyes. I remembered Sarah and how our "loving" relationship turned sour after a few incidents. But shockingly, it took ONE incident to dissolve our relationship.

"Mercy, I need to get her to the hospital." Alyssa hissed. "MOVE!" With that, she marched over to Alyona. She pushed me aside.

Alyssa scooped up Alyona who is shrieking in pain. "OW! OW! STOP! IT HURTS!" She screeched. Alyssa huffed in annoyance and impatience. "Stop crying! GOD!" She whined. Alyona began to heavily sob to herself.

"BE GENTLE WITH HER!" I yelled. I balled up my fists in anger.

"SHUT UP, MERCY! GO TO YOUR ROOM!" Alyssa commanded. I ignored her. Alyssa groaned in frustration as she hobbled out of the house, holding the weeping Alyona in her arms. I followed Alyssa like a shadow. Once she opened the car door, I jumped into the backseat. Alyona was placed in the passenger seat.

"IT HURTS SO MUCH!" Alyona wailed. Her cries were pitiful and miserable. Alyssa, completely annoyed and frustrated at this point, turned on the car and proceeded to turn on the radio.

I listened to the booming music as it pierced my eardrums. I worried about my daughter. I sat in the backseat, secure in my seatbelt. The hospital was two miles away and when we arrived in the parking lot, Alyssa parked the car.

"Out." She ordered. She exited the car and scooped up a wailing Alyona. "IT HURTS! IT HURTS!" She wept.

Alyssa spoke through her teeth as noisy eyes gazed in her direction. "Stop whining! GOD! You need to be quiet!" She fumed.

Alyona couldn't hold in her tears. Alyssa mumbled to herself angrily as she carried Alyona inside. I followed Alyssa behind as we entered the hospital. At this point, I am done with this bitch!

"Me and Alyona's days are numbered here in this household." I vowed to myself in Estonian.

Chapter will come soon. Still suffering from writer block to write the Infection. Still writing my other popular stories. Give reviews on this story and give your thoughts on the characters.