Hey, Butterflies! I'm back with Chapter 15! I hope you all enjoyed the previous chapter! Sorry I don't have much else to say. Here's Chapter 15: Next

Disclaimer: The Secret Saturdays belongs to Jay Stephens and Cartoon Network.

Trigger Warning: Child abuse mentioned in passing.

I stare up at the ceiling of my room back in Seward, unable to sleep. I just can't seem to shake Drew's face from my mind. She looked so hurt and betrayed when I called Miranda "Mom." I hadn't meant to hurt her, honestly. I had just forgotten how out of the loop Drew was- and still is. So much has changed over the past four months, and I guess Drew was clinging to a hope that not much had changed with our family. But how could not much have changed? We thought she died. We all have dealt with grief, and, at least for a couple of us, depression. I had to make some tough calls that the others just wouldn't have understood. Leonidas was my daddy. He raised me and was the only family I had for my childhood. After finding out that Dad married Miranda, I knew who she had to be to me. She was the woman I loved when I was younger. Heck, she even adopted me after she and Dad married. She is my mom. I am a Van Rook.

But Drew. She's my birth mother. She brought me into this world, with help from Doc, but still. But she and Doc chose to put me up for adoption- at least from what I've pieced together considering the many different stories I've gotten. They were never a part of my life until this past May. Drew was so sweet to welcome me and take care of me. I have no doubts as to why I called her "Mom" not too long ago. But she can never make up for what was missed. She never saw me as a child so young and carefree. She never saw me as anything other than a newborn infant and an abused teenager. I don't blame her for that, but I just can't bring myself to call her "Mom" anymore. I may be a Saturday in blood, but I will never truly be a Saturday. I go by Lily with the Saturdays because it helps me to remember that Lilianna is my birth name, given to me by a family I will never really be a part of. I am not Lily; I am Iris, but I choose to go by Lily when I'm with the people who named me Lilianna. To a normal person, it doesn't make much sense, but it doesn't have to. It works for me, and I'm the one who has to deal with the repercussions of my choices.

Annoyed with myself for not being able to sleep, I climb out of bed and head to kitchen. There, I grab a glass of water for myself and sit down at the table. The house is dead silent except for the low hum of Doyle's fan. I'm surprised that I can hear it all the way in the kitchen, so I can only imagine how loud it is in his room. I wonder how he doesn't freeze considering it's December in Alaska and that he's using a fan. Oh well. Whatever helps him sleep, I suppose. Then I look all around me. The darkness from the outside seems to seep into the dark house and converge to create a vast, unending darkness. It seems to consume anything and everything in its way. Sitting at the table, alone and in the darkness, makes me realize just how small I really am. I am only one person in a small town out of seven billion on a whole planet. It puts everything into perspective suddenly. At first it terrifies me, but then I realize that there is a comfort in knowing how insignificant I am. If I make a mistake, it won't end the world. Yes, there will be repercussions, but the ripple will be very small, only touching a few. With this realization, there comes almost a relief and a release. I don't have to be perfect; I never did. I'm one human, a single member of a species destined to fail and make mistakes. I'm okay, and I'm free to be human..

I return to my room, where I lie awake for several more hours. Eventually, I fall asleep and sleep for a while. When I wake up, it is sunrise, which means it is late morning or early afternoon. Without even glancing at my clock, I race to get ready for the day. Maybe Anonymous has given us a clue to finding Mom. I really hope xe has. I really want to find her.

The paper is stiff in my hands. Suddenly, I'm unsure if I really want to open the letter. But I have to. It's the only way to find Mom. Finding Drew was incredible, and I'm so glad Anonymous led us to her, but I need to know where Mom is. I need to know that she's safe. Plus, I just miss her. She left without a goodbye, just absconded into the night. No note, nothing. I've been worried about her, even if I haven't shown it. Taking a deep breath, I slide my thumb into the right corner of the envelope's seal. Then I carefully tear the top and pull out the paper. It reads:

Dear Ms. Van Rook, December 17

I assume that addressing you by your adopted name is appropriate, seeing as to how you are now searching for your adoptive mother. Before we begin, however, let me congratulate you on finding Dr. Saturday. I must say, you quite impressed me. I was certain that you would not succeed, but you pulled through in the end.

As for Dr. Grey, I'll give you a couple of warnings regarding finding her. Remember, you are permitted to give up at any time. All you have to do is fail to decipher the clue. That being said, your first warning is that you will have only one day from the time you read the clue to decipher it; failure means giving up. Second, I cannot guarantee Dr. Grey will accept your finding her as warmly as Dr. Saturday did; be prepared for anything.

Here is your clue: Black and white are opposites, and Dr. Miranda Grey is known by her opposite.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

The letter is unsettling and rather alarming to read. Only one day? How in the world does Anonymous expect us to figure this one out in only one day? I suppose that I'll have to consult the others. Hopefully they have some ideas. Hopefully.

So that's the end of Chapter 15! I know it was a short; most likely from this chapter onward, the chapters will be somewhat short. I hope you enjoy reading them regardless of their length. Let me know what you all think of the story. Thank you all so much for reading! I love you all so much! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!