Warning; this chapter is a bit violent in a part. Sorry if it offends anyone in any way.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Rights go to Rachel Caine and destiny's child for the idea, characters and 'I'm a survivor'
Flashback dream.
"Hello, Claire? Are you still coming over to my house to have Sunday dinner?
"Yeah Liss, I'll be over in five minutes."
Claire hung up the house phone.
She didn't bother saying bye to her 'parents' they wouldn't care where she went.
"Where are you going?" Claires mother asked (guess she was wrong).
Claire didn't turn around to face her. "Out."
"Out where?"
"To Alyssa's house for dinner."
Claire's father stood up abruptly, "You're not going there!" He shouted, "They are the ones turning you into a monster!"
"No they're not it's you! They're the ones that are saving me by treating me like one of their own children- unlike you two who abuse me mentally and physically."
Slap and shove.
"Talk to us again like that and you'll get the hot water..." Claire rushed out the house not wanting to turn back, knowing what's to come later...
Knock knock.
Claire was stood at the Collins resident's with blood probably pouring from her left cheek where the slap collided with and dry tear remains.
The door opened, "Hey Shane." Claire smiled, Shane was two years older than her and she'd had a crush on him for like forever but he was her best friends brother and would never see her as more than his little sisters annoying friend...
"Hey Claire, what happened to you are you okay?" Shane asked frantically letting her in the house.
"Erm nothing..." Claire mumbled.
Shane obviously didn't believe her but he left it anyway.
They went to the kitchen of the house where Molly Collins stood in a 50's housewife attire cooking, Frank Collins sat polishing a long shot-gun, and Alyssa Collins sat brushing a dolls hair.
"Frank put that gun down dinners ready." Molly the always loving mother said turning around, "Hello Claire-Oh my God what happened to your face, oh hunny are you okay?" Alyssa's mother rushed to Claire cupping her face in her hands to get a close look. "Did your parents do this to you?!" Claire shook her head, "Claire don't lie to me, here let's get you an ice pack."
Shane came through the kitchen with his best friend Michael glass, "Mom Michael's here!"
"Hi Michael, Take a seat." Molly said handing Claire an ice pack.
Everyone sat and dug into the meal that Molly had just served.
"So Michael, Your mom tells me that you've started guitar lessons and is quite the musician." Molly said to Michael biting into her spoon.
"Yeah, I've actually been playing for a few years but I never wanted to tell my dad because I thought he wouldn't support me."
"Damn strait." Frank banged his glass that he was drinking out of onto the table.
Awkwardness surrounded the table, Michael's face with embarrassment, Shane's anger, Molly also anger and Alyssa and Claire just shock.
"Frank."Molly gave him a very stern look, "Michaels Dad has accepted that, that's what Michael wants to do, and if Shane wanted to play an instrument or dance, I'd expect you to accept it too!"
"But Molly..."
"No buts!" Molly eyed Frank he didn't say another word, no one argues with Molly her last word is final.
Awkwardness surrounded the table again while everyone carried on eating.
Alyssa was the first to break the silence, "Claire sings...and plays piano! She's amazing!"
Everyone looked at Claire; now it was her turn to go red, "I'm not good at singing really, Liss is just trying to break the awkwardness. Maths is what I'm good at and fighting of course."
Michael and Shane bumped fists and Frank laughed with a smile.
"Hmm Claire I'm not sure, I bet you are amazing...I know why don't you sing for us after dinner?" Molly said with a fake evil laugh and look-that wasn't a question that was a demand.
Alyssa nodded eagerly while Claire shrunk in her seat looking timid, Once again no-one argued with Molly Collins...
Once everyone had finished dinner they went to the living room.
Michael, Shane, Alyssa and Claire all sat in the floor while Molly and frank say on the couch and arm-chair.
"Claire stand up and sing then!" Alyssa said excitedly, Claire gave her a dirty look then looked at Molly who was gleaming.
Claire sighed then started.
Now that you're out of my life
I'm so much better
You thought that I'd be weak without you
But I'm stronger
You thought that I'd be broke without you
But I'm richer
You thought that I'd be sad without you
I laugh harder
You thought I wouldn't grow without you
Now I'm wiser
Thought that I'd be helpless without you
But I'm smarter...
I'm a survivor
I'm not gon' give up
I'm not gon' stop
I'm gon' work harder
I'm a survivor
I'm gonna' make it
I will survive
Keep on survivin'
Everyone froze mouths open, and Claire looked sheepish...
"Erm I better go now...Thanks for having me, Dinner was great Molly!" Claire rushed out the house embarrassed thinking she made a fool out of herself...
"Claire wait." Shane caught up with her and grabbed her hand, "you can't walk back to your house alone."
"Shane, my house is only 4 blocks down."
"Still it's not safe, don't forget about the..."
Claire cut Shane off, "Yes I know. vampires. But Shane it's not safe for you either when you walk back alone."
"I don't care Claire as long as you get home safe, with no fang marks."
The two carried on walking not noticing their hands clasped.
They looked down abruptly and let go awkwardly...
Claire looked around her while Shane looked at his hands no one spoke for what felt like forever.
"Listen Claire." Shane looked her in the eye, "Back at the house...you were amazing, everyone thought it even Dad."
Claire blushed, "Thanks."
"Also, I wanted to say that...I like you-Not in the oh your just my little sisters best friend but in a you're a really nice girl that I like, like way...God I sound like a poof, dad would kill me..." Shane trailed off and looked down again.
They arrived at Claire's house and both stood still saying nothing-It wasn't awkward or anything just...nice.
"Thanks Shane for dropping me off here, also I wanted to say..."
Shane kissed Claire abruptly not letting her finish her sentence-It was only a peck, nice and sweet, but Claire loved it; it was her first kiss...
They broke apart.
"Shane I..." Claires front door opened cutting her sentence, revealing her father.
He looked angry, "Claire come inside now!" Claire mouthed 'Bye Shane' then went inside not getting to tell Shane she likes him too...
"Where were you, young lady?" Claire mother asked with an evil glare.
Claire took a large gulp, "I told you." She said in a small voice, "I went to Alyssa's house for dinner."
"Well from what me and your father saw, it looked like you was with that boy, Shane Collins. So don't lie to us!"
"I'm not lying!" Tears started to drop from Claires eyes.
Claires father shook his head, "You think we didn't see you kiss him?! Stop hanging around with him and his family they are bad influences, the black sheep of Morganville. Your already too far gone..."
"But I'm not evil! And they are not bad influences! Stop being mean all the time and treating me like dirt!" Claire was shouting now while crying.
Claires mother stood up and grabbed Claire by the hair, "That's it, John run the bath!"
Claire's father walked upstairs like a military commander while her mother pulled her to the kitchen.
She grabbed a knife then took Claire upstairs to the bathroom by the hair. "John go boil the kettle..."
Claire was put in the bath of shallow, boiling hot water.
She screamed.
They kept pouring.
And pouring.
And pouring.
Till Claires skin was bright red and blistering.
"John pass me the knife..."
"Please don't, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Claire kept begging for mercy, begging that they'd stop, but they didn't...
Cut.
Blood pouring from Claires wrists and cheeks.
endurable pain
Claire screaming.
Silence.
"We had to do this Claire. We had no choice. Your sinning got too uncontrollable. We had to wash you, clean you of your bad blood..."
Bad blood.
Bad blood.
Bad blood.
Claire woke up panting for air, and sweat dripping from her, forgetting everything in that dream.
"Ouch." She said looking down on her wrists..."what the fuck!"
There on Claire's wrists were open wounds from a sharp weapon most likely knife...
Oh my God what if Eve stabbed me while I was sleeping because I didn't believe her about the vampire thing and made it out like she was crazy...
Eve was crazy but that crazy? No way, Claire thought.
Claire needed to speak to Michael so she looked in the wardrobe for a long-sleeved top or something then went downstairs trying her hardest to forget the 'scratches' on her wrist...