Authors Note: Sorry for the wait, but I've been a little preoccupied. I hope everyone ikes this chapter its a little sad but it introduces some people for the first time. Read to find out who!
"Thanks for letting me stay here for a few hours." Claudia thanked Alessa and Dahlia.
They two waved happily and watched her walked down the street. Claudia walked alone. Alone in the sense no one was on the street. She could see the fog rolling in. It was coming from the direction of the Church. Claudia never understood why some nights the fog rolled in. It never matched up with weather. Claudia ignored the fog and walked slowly.
She looked over to the dark house to the right. It had dark brown bricks and a black door. She knew exactly who lived there. Her name was Lucy. Lucy and Claudia had been rivals for many years. She and Claudia used to be friends as children. Lucy turned out being the type of girl you can't trust. She told people secrets Claudia made her promise to keep. She had no honor. They fought over almost everything. There was no denying; Lucy started most if not all the arguments. Claudia knew she would be attending the same high-school. Claudia shot her eyes to the window. She sensed someone was there. She saw locks of curly red hair at the window. Claudia knew it was Lucy. It was unmistakable. Claudia turned away and kept heading home. Her body was still aching from earlier. She had her cuts healed, but not her strength. Claudia was happy it was silent out. Nothing made a noise, not even her bare feet smacking against the pavement. Claudia knew she wasn't fully alone. The town was watched over by the God of Silent Hill. Claudia loved knowing she was watched from above. She also loved the idea of her mother watching her. She missed her mother a lot. Her father had forbidden Claudia to talk about her. She only talked about her mother with Alessa. Alessa told her that one day she would see her mother again. She was just to give it some time. Claudia walked around the block and neared her house. She looked over to the left. The boy from the market was sitting on his porch, he was reading yet again. Claudia nearly felt her hear stop when he looked up at her. His eyes were the colour of emeralds. He pushed his glasses up with his index finger. He smiled slightly as she continued past.
Claudia walked slightly slower. She was going to be approaching her front door in a matter of minutes. She knew she had to cook something important as usual. In Claudia's house they didn't cook things like macaroni & cheese or salads other simple to cook meals, she only cooked things her father found 'respectable' like fresh vegetables, common meats and sometimes rice or her fathers favourite, Liver. Claudia was aware a breast of chicken was in her fridge from memory. She decided that she might have the carrots she bought today and the beans too. She sighed. She hoped tonight she would do something right. She just wished that one day she could do without pain or injury. She walked up to her front door and took a deep breath. She walked inside. "You're lucky, Claudia!" Leonard yelled at her.
"What for?" She asked unsure.
"One more minute and I would have to hurt you again." He replied without looking up from his book.
"Sorry father." She apologized.
"Shut your mouth. Get cooking." He instructed.
Claudia walked over to the refrigerator. She pulled the two chicken breasts out of the fridge. Claudia loved chicken. It was one of her favourite things to eat. She put the chicken in the oven and prepared the heat. Claudia began preparing the Vegetables next. Claudia looked into the other room while she placed the vegetables on the burner. Her father was still reading the book. He looked deep into the book. Suddenly she felt searing pain on her hand. "AHH!"
She pulled her hand back. She had a burn mark across the top of her hand. "CLAUDIA!" Leonard yelled.
"Sorry, I burnt myself." Claudia replied.
"Stupid bitch…" He mumbled back.
She felt like she was going to cry. It hurt so badly. She knew if she cried he would hurt her. She began putting her hand under the cool tap water to ease the pain. It felt better under the water. She sat at the table waiting. She looked at her hand. A little red mark was left from the burn. She sat there staring at the burn when suddenly she heard a knock at the door. "Claudia! Get that!" Leonard commanded her.
Claudia ran to the door fast and answered. The boy from up the street was standing there. "Yes, is this the home of Leonard Wolf?" He asked.
"Uh… Yes. Yes it is." Claudia said to him. "Father!" Claudia called.
"What do you want?" He snapped.
"It's for you!" She replied.
She looked back at the boy. He smiled a little just due to the awkward silence. She looked down shyly but waited for her father to come over. "Yes young man? How may I service you?" He asked.
"Well, my parents and I wanted to join your church. I was told you were the priest and that I should be talking to you about the day to join." The boy said.
"What's your name?" Leonard asked.
"The names Vincent." He shot a small glance at Claudia.
Claudia smiled shyly at him. She thought he was a very good looking boy. He had a but of acne and braces, but aside from that, he was very charming just to look at, also his eyes were emerald green. "Claudia! Get back to the kitchen make sure nothing burns." She felt a smack against her back.
Leonard tried to make it look he was patting her back in front of Vincent, but it hurt. "Yes father." Claudia said going back.
Vincent watched her. "Now, I will give you a copy of our bible and on Sunday, you and your family should just come on inside. Out mourning mass starts at eight am." Claudia heard him say from the kitchen.
Claudia poked her head through the door way to watch them. His metal braces reflected in the light through his half open mouth. Claudia looked at him sideways. She felt like she had known him for a while, although she'd only just met him today. Vincent flipped through the pages fast with his thumb along the sides of the pages. He looked interested. "I'll be by on Sunday with my mom." Vincent said with a small smile as he looked up at her father slightly.
Claudia turned off the stove and put the chicken on plates. She began places vegetables on the side. She placed the plates in front of her spot and her fathers spot to eat. "Father!" Claudia called.
"What? Can't you see I'm talking!" he snapped.
Vincent looked alarmed by this. "Uh… dinner!" She replied.
"Oh… Sorry Vincent, we'll have to continue this some other time." He said to him.
"Not a problem sir." Vincent extended his hand.
Leonard shook it. "Goodbye." Vincent said.
Vincent nodded at Claudia who was in the kitchen doorway. Claudia just stared as he walked away. "Claudia… I'm very disappointed in you." Leonard said to her as he closed the door.
"Why?" She asked fearfully.
"The constant interrupting and don't pretend I didn't see those looks you gave him. No daughter of mine is going to get knocked up by that boy. He deserves better than the likes of you." Leonard said.
Claudia felt a punch in the stomach. He always made her feel worthless. Leonard sat down at the table and began to saw away at his chicken. He stuck some in his mouth and swallowed. Claudia ate small bites but kept rubbing her burn. "What is that?" He asked.
"Nothing!" She replied.
"You burnt yourself?" He asked.
"Yes…" She replied.
Leonard shoved the plate away. "I can't eat knowing my clumsy daughter made this meal… I bet you even bled inside the pan." He looked menacing.
"No! I didn't!" She assured.
"Forget it, Claudia. You always were taking after your mother and all her stupidity. I can't eat in the presence of a fool." He scowled.
"But-!" She looked down defeated.
Leonard left the room and went to go to bed. She continued to eat until she was full. She threw the wasted food in the garbage and began to cry sadly. She hated herself. She was ugly, she was too skinny, she was too pale, she had gross hair, and her face was too freckly. She hated everything about herself. Her father liked to point out the worst things about her. Claudia washed the dishes like she was supposed to do. She scrubbed hard until her burnt hand was throbbing. She finished up the other plate and put it in the cupboard with the rest. Claudia soaked her burnt hand under the cool tap water. She decided this would be a good time to use her ice pack. She went into the freezer and pulled an ice pack out. She placed it on her hand. It felt so good. She decided to go up to her room. It was early, but she was indeed tired after such a straining day. She went up to her room. "Where is it this time?" She asked herself.
She finally spotted it. It was her little pink diary. "Ah! There you are." She smiled. She picked up the pen sitting beside it.
"Dear, diary." She started.
"I tried on my school uniform today. I look horrible as usual." She started sadly.
"Keep it down!" Leonard yelled from the other room.
Claudia sighed. She began to whisper. "I went to the market today. Some boys from school threw slushies at me. One went down my shirt. It was horrible." She felt a tear come to her eye.
"My father beat me for being late." She finally wrote. She decided to take a break. Remembering her hard moments of the day always made her cry. She sat there; she held a pillow to her face as she cried inside of it. She hated it when people from school made fun of her. She only had one friend as it was. No one liked her. She was an outcast. She was soaked in her tears. They covered her face. She wiped them off. She knew she had to think about the good things in her day. "I… I saw Alessa…. She gave me milk and healed my scars again. I met a boy. His name was Vincent." She smiled.
"He was nice and smiled at me." She wrote.
She didn't have anything else she needed to write. She put her small diary back on the table she found it on. She decided to lie down on her bed. She closed her eyes. She breathed in the silence of her room. It was beautiful and peaceful. She just wished she could live in her silence forever. She knew it wasn't possible. "I wish I was stronger… I wish I was braver…" She whispered to herself.
Maybe I will be. One day.