~Chapter 5:Surprise Meeting ~
After dinner, I decided I should head back home or at least somewhere else. As soon as I got passed the front gates, Zero was there waiting on me.
He leaned against the gate with a scowl on his face and his arms were crossed. "Where do you plan to go?"
"Home, why?" I replied.
"Explain what happened yesterday. A young girl doesn't run away from home with those kinds of injuries. Are you-"
I filched as he possibly discovered what was really going on. A frown formed on my lips as I walked passed him and started on my way somewhere else. I felt I couldn't burden them with my personal problems. Even though they seemed very concerned. No one asked as much questions as Zero did, though I could see the others thinking it.
"I.." I started to say but I shook my head. "Thank you for your hospitality." I bowed and left. I was far enough away far his home. I don't think he followed me, not at this late hour.
In truth in was only nine o clock p.m. it seemed time flied when I was in deep thought. I was waiting on the signal light to turn to the walking sign so I could cross the street. Without really looking around me, I crossed the street anyway.
I just wanted to be myself to think about what to do when I got back home. Even though John treated me like crap everyday for the smallest things, I was thinking I could make up for it. Making his favorite dinners on the list, making sure everything was done properly without mistake. Maybe he would let me back in.
I accidentally bumped into someone. "Sorry." I murmured still in thought.
I passed a daycare center called, "Children's Learning Center." On a bench in the front, I had thought I seen a young girl either unconscious or sleeping. I quickly went over there to see if she was ok.
I gently shook her awake, "Excuse me." I said as she stirred and opened her eyes. They were the same color as mine. "What are you doing out here all alone?" I asked.
She appeared to be no more than maybe five years old. Her hair was dark brown and curly just like mine.
"I'm not by myself, mom went to get food for us." She says.
"Why didn't your mom take you with her?"
"Too dangerous."
She took out a heart shaped locket from her shirt pocket and opened it. "Here she is." She turned the locket to me so I could see the picture. I let out a loud gasp, that was my mom with the same looks as back then.
"You and Mom look the same. Are you big sister?" She asked gazing up at me in wonder.
Well mom was pregnant back then, but she is supposed to be dead right? Unless she's been living on the streets all these years. Could she have faked her death or has Kathryn been lying about her all this time?
"Melanie, I'm back." A woman whispered. I turned around to face her, and she dropped the two grocery bags she was holding.
"Krystal! How..Why are you here?" Mom shifted her gaze to the ground in shame. She looked as though she was very tired and embarrassed.
"Mom..what have you been doing the last few years? Why haven't you contacted me." My eyes started to get watery.
"Let's sit down." We both sat down on the bench as began her story. It was well passed twelve a.m. when she was done.
"...That's everything, the whole entire truth." I knew every word she spoke was true.
"I see, so you were forced to fake your death by Kathryn for her not to kick me out. Do you have any idea how she's been treating me? Her fiancee John is horrible!" I shouted unable to contain my anger.
I took a deep breath and sighed, "Where have you been living all this time?"
"On the streets mostly, but I have stayed in clinics every now and again because the doctors were concerned about Melanie and I, so they gave us a few free nights."
A figure walked toward us, I could tell it was a tall man. As soon as he stepped under the streetlamp, I discovered it was John.
"Kathryn sent me to look for you, lets get going." He pulled my wrist roughly and I tripped. He forced me up and slapped me hard. "Dumb girl."
"Don't hit my daughter you bastard!" Mom jumped on his back to make him fall down. He suddenly had her pinned down and Melanie was crying.
"John, get off her!" I pushed him off her and picked up a broken pipe on the ground. John just smirked evil.
"Are you really going to hit me with that dear?" He laughed as he stood up and brushed himself off. Out of nowhere he threw dirt at my eyes. I didn't know what was going on. Mom and Melanie were screaming. He punched me in my face so hard that I passed out.