Ch 2- Wrong number
"Lost in the darkness of a land
Where all the hope that's offered is
Memories of being taken by the hand
And we are led into the sun
But I don't have a hold on what's real
Though we can only try
What is there to give or believe . . ."
The ride to the hospital was uneventful. I didn't even get the sirens, I'm so unimportant. They did say they had the lights flashing, but really. I could have died from blood loss. I'm serious, it had been nearly an hour, and my poor leg was still dripping blood. I have no idea why the people took so long getting me; maybe they know that my 'parents' aren't the type to sue people for mistreating me.
In fact, I'm pretty sure they reward them for it.
I don't know what was wrong with the stupid hospital, but it took them forever to get someone that had time to look at my leg. Then he said it was beyond his knowledge, and he had to go get someone else. Of course, my 'parents' decided to show up then, making this big show of being worried. That is, until they realized that the hospital wasn't doing anything to take care of me, and they got angry.
Keep your shirt on, they weren't angry that no one was attending to me, they were upset that time had been taken away from their oh-so-important lives to see me, when my injury wasn't serious enough to get any attention. They decided to take matters into their own hands, and they stomped off to find a doctor so they could get out of there as fast as they could.
That left me alone in my room. Finally. I reached over to my backpack to grab the cell phone the Tomoyo had given me. Of course, no one knows about it except for me and her. Before I could grab it, though, it started ringing.
Who was calling me? Tomoyo would know better than to call, and no one else knows my number.
"Hello?" I wonder if people can hear when someone else is frowning?
"Who is this?" a deep voice asked, obviously confused.
"You called me." I didn't even know the guy and he was already bugging me. "You tell me."
"Is Meiling there?" Oh, it was a wrong number. That certainly explained a lot.
"I'm sorry, you must have dialed the wrong number." With that, I hung up. There was no point in continuing to use up the minutes that Tomoyo generously paid for.
I was about to punch in some numbers when I heard, no, sensed, someone coming down the corridor. Was someone against me making one stupid call?!?!?! I hastily hid it away, just in case.
"Matsuki-san, I hear you have been having some problems with your leg." A doctor walked in just then, looking at his clipboard. Even though he looked kind of young, he seemed capable enough. That is, until he got within a foot of my bed. His blue eyes slid out of focus for a second, before he blinked and said in a strange voice,
"It doesn't seem that serious, I don't know why they told me come down here." What was going on? Thoroughly confused, I glared at him, daring him to step out of the room.
Then something strange happened.
His face got kind of twisted, like he was struggling with something, then his faced cleared and he looked perfectly normal.
"Now, would you mind telling me where it hurts?" He continued as though nothing had happened. Was I losing it?
Probably.
"My ear." My words were dripping with sarcasm as I looked at him in disdain. "Where do you think?!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When I got home the next day, it was like walking into a war zone. I knew I was in for it this time. As I had expected, the doctor had noticed my many wounds, and had obviously wondered where I had acquired so many scars.
Unfortunately, he did not buy the whole 'gang fighting' scenario. Probably because he knew there were no gang bangers in our town.
Surprisingly, he did not question me too much when I stuck to my story, he just gave me this really weird, knowing, comforting smile.
My "parents" had had to pretend they actually cared about me, and they were really mad. Especially because their favorite punching bag had not been at their disposal for the entire time.
Who would just happen to be me, by the way.
It was dinner time, and I sighed. Everyone always complains about hospital food, but I was starting to miss it. At least I actually got to eat it.
"Sakura! Come here young lady!" My "mother" yelled from the kitchen, where she was waiting.
Now the fun begins.
Hobbling on my crutches, I strode into the kitchen with as much dignity and defiance I could muster. I was in for a beating any way, why bother trying to pacify her?
"What were you thinking?" My "mother", Kiko, started pacing in front of me, her voice deathly low. I wasn't scared though; I have long ago forsaken such an emotion. After all, they liked it when I was scared, why give them the pleasure?
"I suppose you were being your usual klutzy self," she continued. "How many times have I tried to tell you? You- must- not- disgrace- me!" She punctuated each of her last word by inflicting some sort of bodily harm on me. Use your imagination. Just think fist, foot, and palm.
"Now everyone is going to think I haven't taught you anything!" I briefly considered saying that she hadn't, but I knew it wasn't smart. This was just the beginning. When my "father" got home was when the fun would start.
"SAKURA!!!!!!!!!!!" Speak of the devil. "Do you know how much you cost us?!" Apparently a lot, judging by the chair he sent my way. I, of course, was unable to jump out of the way, the stupid cast was so heavy, so I had to take it.
Let me tell you, after that, my butt and the ground got acquainted really fast, if you know what I mean.
"Get up!" Genjo, my "father", snarled, pulling me up. I really don't know why he bothers. After all, I just end up on the ground anyway.
"You are going to work-" SLAP "for it, do you hear?!" shake "Answer me wench!" KICK. I was on the ground yet again, and this time I stood up on my own, slowly, yes, but on my own.
"How dare you!" Kiko screeched, enraged. "I didn't give you permission to stand in my presence!" I earned another punch for that. One that sent me spinning into the table.
The rest of the hour was a little fuzzy after that.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I don't know how, but by some miracle, I made it upstairs and into my room. Or the closet they called my room, anyway. I collapsed onto my cot when I got there, unable to imagine what kind of horrors awaited me for my "chores".
You see, I work for them in return for money, so I can support my brother. When I was thirteen, I unwittingly discovered the fate of my biological father and brother. My father was killed, no one knows who did it, but my brother was still alive. Barely. He'd had some sort of a mental breakdown, which somehow caused another disease to enter his body, I'd found. I hadn't had time to read the particulars, but I knew enough. And there was no way I was going to let my only family die without a fight.
Even though I knew how much trouble I would get in, I spent the next month trying to convince them to let me work for them in return for money. They were against it, at first, because they didn't want me to have any money. But when I finally threatened to expose them, they gave in.
So we have a deal; I don't disgrace them in any way, and they pay me two dollars a day for any type of labor they can think of. Not much, I know, but sending fifty-five dollars a month to my brother is worth it. I keep five dollars so I can occasionally buy something that'll keep me alive just a little while longer.
Touya is the only reason I keep living this life, the only reason I keep living at all.
The ringing of my cell phone broke into my thoughts, scaring the life out of me.
"Tomoyo! What are you doing?! You know better than to call me-" I started screaming into the phone before someone interrupted me.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not Tomoyo." It was the guy from earlier. "Actually, I'm looking for- wait, did you say-" I was really confused with his sudden change of subject, but before I had time to figure it out, someone started pounding on my door.
Shit.
"Sakura! Who are you talking to in there?!" Genjo yelled through the door.
"No one!" I yelled back, hoping he just leave me alone.
BAM. He finally broke down my door, the thing barely missing me as it crashed to the floor.
"Where did you get that?" His voice was deathly low, sending shivers up my spine. I had forgotten to put the phone out of sight.
"It's one of my friends'. She forgot it, so I'm keeping it safe for her," I lied, raising my chin in defiance. That small act earned me a kick in the stomach, one that knocked the wind out of me, along with my phone.
I felt something inside of me snap. Something was different. I didn't know what it was, but I liked it. I felt power that I'd never known, and suddenly. . .
I was angry. And I wanted to get him back. I looked up at him, my eyes burning with every ounce of hatred I possessed. For a moment, he seemed taken aback, but it was quickly replaced by an anger to rival my own. Slowly, I stood up, never breaking eye contact.
"What do you think you're doing?!" he bellowed when he realized I was not backing down. I could smell the liquor on his breath.
"Whatever I want!" I screamed, shoving him. It was the first blow I had ever struck him, and it felt good. For that I was slapped again, and so our fight began. Until it was crushed by my body being thrown on top of it, I forgot all about the phone and the mysterious caller.
I don't know how long it was; it could have been five minutes, it could have been five hours, but by the time I was almost dead, what with having to deal with the cast my previous injuries, and he was starting to purple nicely, we could hear sirens in the distance.
Neither of us paid attention, though. I was trying to recover from being thrown down the stairs, but failing miserably. I was so mad at myself. I should have been able to handle myself. After all, for the past few years, I had been secretly receiving lessons in self-defense. I should have done better than I had, I wanted to kill him. I wanted to kill Kiko, wherever she was, but I couldn't. No matter how much I hated them, I couldn't hurt them. It had nothing to do with who they were; I simply cannot hurt anyone, whether I want to or not. It's just a part of who I am.
I was lamenting this, sprawled at the base of our stairs, while wondering vaguely where Genjo was. Shockingly, I found that I was starting not to care. Everything was starting to get fuzzy again, and those stupid sirens just kept getting louder.
Why wouldn't they shut up? They really weren't helping the headache that was threatening to overwhelm me. Vaguely I wondered where they could be headed, until they stopped. The lights were flashing through the living room window, too. I hoped my neighbors were okay.
Things were really starting to get weird, and I was feeling something warm trickle from me in many places, but I didn't really care. All my energy was spent wishing the pounding in my head (or was it on the door?) would stop and the voices yelling would shut up. No such luck. Oh well. I was actually starting to get kind of numb, and I think I was starting to black out.
The last thing I saw was a pair of worried eyes looming above me.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Groggily, I cracked open my right eye, just to make sure Kiko or Genji wasn't there, but to my surprise, I wasn't in my house. In fact, I had no clue where I was. Instantly I was alert, and my eyes snapped open as I sat up straight, an action I instantly regretted. The room started spinning and I flopped back down and tried to figure out where I was.
The cream walls and crown molding suggested somewhere of prestige (A/N: fyi, crown molding is the fancy trim they put on some walls), as did the rosewood canopy bed I was in. But the disturbing thing was, the queen bed was the only thing in there, besides a metal folding chair sitting beside me. The creepy thing was, the sheets on my bed weren't messed up at all. Usually I wake up and my blanket if half on the floor, but not his time. I felt as though I were a doll that had been placed there especially for viewing.
" . . . don't know . . . could be . . ."
Soft murmurs outside the door brought me back, and because I was curious, I rolled out of the beige sheets as softly as I could. Once accomplished, I crawled to the wall and used it for support as I slithered my way into standing position. Leaning against it, I slid over to the closed door to better hear what was being said.
" . . . finally found . . . I hope." I frowned. I still couldn't hear, but I didn't like the feeling I was getting in my gut. And why did the voices sound so familiar?
"I'll go check on her." Belatedly I realized they were talking about me, but there was no way I was going to be able to make it to my bed.
The door flew open, concealing my behind it, and in breezed . . . Tomoyo?
What was going on?
When she saw my empty bed, she freaked.
"Eriol!" she shrieked, "She's gone!" I winced. I'd had no idea she could hit such a high pitch. And who was Eriol?
My answer was soon answered when the doctor that had treated me came rushing in.
"What? How could they-" he stopped, and blinked. A smile spread to his lips and he slowly pivoted to face me behind the door.
"Don't worry, she's right here." He walked over and pulled the door away. Seeing no way out, I leaned back casually and kept my face as blank as possible. When I was finally revealed, I said the first thing that popped into my mind.
"Where's the bathroom?"
So many emotions flitted across their faces at that moment, I started to think I was losing it. Confusion. Relief. Uncertainty. Guilt. And so much more.
"Down the hall, to the right. Third door on your left," Tomoyo finally answered, her face that of a concerned friend. "Do you need help?" My first impulse was to say no, but the look in her eyes- something I couldn't quite put my finger on- but I just couldn't turn her down.
"Sure." I forced a passable chuckle. "I guess I need it, huh?" Laughing, she offered her support, obviously relieved I could laugh. If only she knew.
Usually, my way of dealing with something is to ignore it, but so many questions were swimming around in my head it was making me dizzy. I could tell Tomoyo was a little uncomfortable, so I tried to ease up the strain a little by asking a few light questions.
"Where am I, anyway?" I looked around at the elaborate paintings hanging on the walls and the stiff-looking chairs set under them and her answer me sense.
"My house," she answered, then apparently decided that she needed to keep speaking. "Actually, it's my family's mountain house. We only come here . . ." Seeing that she was going to be ranting for a while, I tuned her out.
At least she was feeling better.
All I could do was think about what had happened that night. I wasn't even sure, exactly . . . who knew a walk to the bathroom could take so long? The paintings hanging on the wall looked extremely expensive, I noticed. I wondered how Tomoyo knew Eriol.
My head was really starting to hurt by the time we got there (finally), and it was all I could to keep myself from throwing myself at the counter for support. I straightened and flashed a quick smile at her.
"Thanks!" I chirped. "If I need help back, I'll call you, okay?" She seemed hesitant, and for a minute, I was worried that she'd wait outside the bathroom for me, but she eventually turned and walked away.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I actually had no intention of using the toilet. Hobbling over to the sink, I stopped it up and began filling it with water. Not enough to over flow, just enough to be able to See in it. Usually I can't just call up images, they have to come to me, but I wanted to know had happened the night before so badly I figured it was worth a try.
After a moment I shut off the flow and let the water still itself. I felt something nag at the back of my mind, like there was something I should have figured out already. The water was showing me nothing. Frustrated, I slapped the surface of the water, and to my surprise, it did not splash everywhere. Not that I wanted it to. Instead, the droplets swirled together and came together in a slowly rotating orb above my extended palm. Horrified, I could do nothing as I witnessed an event I had seen many, many times. But this time, I didn't just See it in the water, not even in my Mind's Eye. Not only did I know my mother's pain, I felt it. I was there, standing beside the bed of my mother as she drew her last breath. I was there when that laugh, the laugh that never failed to haunt my nightmares, echoed throughout the room.
I was there . . . but I wasn't. I was like a ghost, even I could see through myself. I twas really weird.
Living through that experience once had been enough. Seeing it nearly every night was enough. Watching it on the surface of water was enough. But being there? Standing there and unable to move because the shock had paralyzed me? That was too much.
With a cry, I tired to swipe it away, but instead I sent it spinning at the mirror. Breathing heavily, I watched the droplets trickle down the face of the mirror, distorting my image. In every drop I could see echoes of it. Everywhere I turned, it was there, trying to get me, trying to pull me down.
Chest heaving, I stumbled back. I forgot about the trash can behind me. I forgot everything expect my need to run. I had to get away. If I stayed where I was, I would go insane. But there was no where to go. No where to hide.
Tripping over the wastebasket, I cried out as I twisted around, attempting to avoid breaking my other leg. All I wanted was to get out of there, out of that cold, unforgiving bathroom . . . and I was. One second I was stumbling against the wastebasket, and the next, I was being thrown against the wall opposite the bathroom door.
On the outside.
I nearing hysteria at this point, unable to comprehend what was going on. I tried to get up to get to the room I had first awoken in. Maybe Tomoyo or that doctor would have answers. Why I thought that, I don't know. They didn't even know about the powers I knew about.
Right?
In any case, once again I was being propelled through the hallway. This time, I could see the walls, the paintings, the chairs rushing past me. I finally stopped when I was thrown harshly against the bed I had only moments before vacated. Only Tomoyo was in the room when I . . . arrived.
Upon seeing me draped across the side of the bed, her eyes opened wide and all she could do was blink. For once, I allowed her to see inside of me. The absolute terror I felt must have been plain across my face and worry filled her eyes. For a second, I had an incredible sense of deja vu when I saw her face, and I was off again.
This time I could hardly see what I was passing as I spun through . . . wherever I was. I jerked to a stop across the street from the house I've lived in since I was twelve. Imagine my shock when I saw myself, at fourteen, handling equipment nearly half my size when Tomoyo walked up, also fourteen. I watched the scene with horror; I was witnessing the day I confined myself to my adopted parents' laws, the day I started an act that lasted two years.
I couldn't take it anymore, I had to get away. My heart cried out for home, but I didn't have one. I hadn't had one for thirteen years.
I didn't know where I was going. All I knew was that I was running away from there as fast as I could, wishing someone could explain what was going on to me. The next thing I knew, I was off spinning again, spinning so fast I should have been nauseates, but I wasn't. I felt suspended in time; maybe it was everything else that was whirling.
This time I stopped in the same place I had visited in the water globe. Tears streamed down my face when my mother's shot began replaying itself, over and over. Stretching my out my hand, I reached to brush her cheek, but couldn't. I passed right through her. Biting my lip, I turned away, and noticed something I had never seen before.
A ghost of a man, standing there, a gun in his hand. The gun that killed my mother. With a yell, I lunged. I had no idea what I was doing, only that I wanted to make the man responsible for her death suffer.
And the world started spinning again. There was nothing I could do, even though, this time, I struggled. I had no clue where I was going, no idea where I was when I finally stopped. This time it wasn't for as long, though. Almost immediately, I was sent spinning through time.
I had lost control.
And there was nothing I could do.
A/N: How was that? I tried my hardest to make it good. I'm not sure if I succeeded, but whatever. The song at the top was from 'Lost' by Sarah McLachlan (don't own that). Anyways, REVIEW!!!!!! Tell me what you think!!!! 'Til next time!