They're Back; Chapter 4

The song in the story is Cassie by Flyleaf ---> www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPvfi6Ff...

Photo is Mason

 

Despite the sharp pain fluttering through my head, all I could feel was relief. They were back. They hadn't disappeared on me.

"Ollie..." I breathed out. "Your back! I thought you guys-- Ow.." I groaned.

"We promised you that we wouldn't leave, Aileen. A promise is a promise." He regarded.

I remembered that promise. They had said the a few months before my family had perished in the 'accident'.

The pounding in my head subsided slightly. 

"Why'd you leave?" I murmured, through gritted teeth.

There was a small popping sound, which caused me to cover my ears. "That was your punishment." Chester growled.

"Punishment? For what? I didn't do anything!" I whispered, the sensation hurt worst now.

"For interacting with that child before you asked for our approval." Hell.. I did do that. I hadn't even thought in that moment, I just did.

"I'm sorry. Really! I won't do it again." Tear's squeezed from my forced shut eyelids.

With those little words, the pain stopped suddenly.

"Good. You already know Aileen. You know we don't want to hurt you, but will if we have to." Mercy sighed

I only nodded. Of course they didn't want to punish me. After all of the things the have done in my life to protect me, why would they just hurt me, or better yet, kill me? It seemed impossible! Illogical even!

"Now, Aileen. Wash up and go eat." I would of done what the voice said, immediately, if it hadn't been so strange. I didn't recognize this voice. It was defiantly female, but higher pitch than the others.

"Who is that?" I gasped aloud.

"My name is undefined. I am the replacement for Adrienne. You may call me whatever you like, my young dear." She spoke again.

Replace for Adrienne? But, I really liked Adrienne. I remember when she stopped me from stepping out in the road with one of my half-sister's, Melissa. The only sibling I had liked.

Melissa was two years older than me when it happened. She was thirteen. Running after a football that had rolled across the street. Being quick on our feet we chased after it, between two parked trucks. 

"Aileen, Stop! Stop moving right now!" Adrienne screamed in my head.

But I stopped.

Melissa had stepped only two feet forward when she was struck by a car, barreling down the road only a second later.

I was frozen when I heard Micheal, her older brother, yell her name. 

The driver had drove away. Hit and Run.

Her image was still locked in my mind. 

Bloody and mangled on the ground, gasping for help.

She died minutes later.

I snapped back to reality.

"Where's Adrienne? Why are you her replacement? What did she do?" I was curious. This had happened once before, with Ross.

The new voice sneered. "She's to curious." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Dear, Adrienne had other matters to attend for a while. Call me what you like. Go on, pick a name."

Only one came to my mind, really. "Danielle."

She chuckled. "That's nice. Danielle. I like the sound of it. Now, go wash up dear."

---

After making my way down to the washroom and showering up, I changed into a pair of skinny's and a white T-shirt with a chubby Koala bear on the stomach. Cute.

Starving, I walked downstairs to a quiet house. 

How late did these people get up? It was like, already ten thirty.

None, the less, I ended up wandering the house. It was big. Six bedrooms, two downstairs, and three baths. Who all lived here?!

I sat down on the living room couch and glanced around. From this exact spot, you could see the front door, which was on the wall on my left. The kitchen hall and the stairway. It was quite elegant, really.

I pulled out the small IPod I had worked for years to get and plugged my ears. 

My favorite song clicked on.

"...The Question asked in order..."

I sank it the plush fabric, leaning my head gently on the sofa. I wonder what time Veronica get's up, I'm starved. Probably from skipping dinner last night.

"...To save her life or Ta-ake it..."

The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall and I turned to greet the intruder.

"...The Answer No to avoid death. The answer Yes would Make it. Make it..."

 Veronica stepped into the living room, her blue eye's landing onto me. She smiled, readjusting Pearson on her hip. He was fast asleep, as much as I could tell.

I pulled out one of the headphone and smiled.

"Morning, Aileen. Want some pancakes?" Pearson's blue eye's opened at the sound of my name.

"Yes." 

"Oh, yes please." 

With a smile, I reached out towards the pair and froze. Veronica's eye's rested on me, curiously. I pulled back immediately, looking away. 

With a small squeak, Pearson was wiggling out of his mother's grasp, reaching for me. Veronica watched the boy for a moment, before she stepped towards me.

"Here," She mumbled. Her voice held no traces of anger or venom. Just sweetness. "Will you take him until breakfast is ready?"

"Can I?" I thought quickly. I didn't want to get in trouble again.

They were silent at first, before Danielle spoke. "It seems inevitable."

I took that as a yes and outstretched my arms. She placed the small child into my lap and hurried off.

Pearson snuggled into my side, sighing a little. Within seconds, he stopped moving and was staring at the blank screen. Glancing at me occasionally.

I got the message and flickered on the TV, setting it onto some animation where there's this odd talking brown dog and a guy in a bright green shirt, running from a ghost. 

I hadn't seen it before, but as soon as Pearson saw it his eye's lit up. "Scooby Doo!" He screeched.

I was actually beginning to get into the show, when a light knock echoed on the door.

Before I could stop him, Pearson jumped up and ran to the door.

"Maaason!" Pearson screamed, rushing outside.

Immediately I was on my feet, chasing after the smaller kid. "Pearson?!"

I ran out the door, to see Pearson in the arms of some kid.

He smiled, "Hey."

"Don't say anything."

So, I didn't.

Pearson had his hand's in the older boys hair. He looked around my age.

I backed up immediately, still watching him.

I stared at him blankly, until something moved behind me.

"Oh, Mason! Your an hour early." Veronica's voice announced, behind me. She stepped in front of me and shook Mason's hand. I slunk back into the doorway.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Arnold. I didn't know you had.. Uh.. Company." He motioned towards me.

Veronica smiled, grasping my left hand to pull me forward, but I kept my feet planted.

"Mason, this is my new foster daughter, Aileen. Aileen, this is our neighbor Mason. He's here to cut down the vines outback because Pearson keeps getting into them." Veronica replied.

"Oh, uh, hi." I mumbled quietly.

An awkward silence settled over us, until Pearson giggled.

"Well-" He handed the boy to Veronica. "I'll come back later?"

"No way! Come on in! I was in the middle of cooking breakfast, stay and eat with us." Veronica insisted.

Great, I thought.

Mason smiled, "Sure."

"Your pancakes are burning." I mumbled, turning back into the house.

"Oh, shoot!" Veronica yelled, running into the kitchen with Pearson still in her arms.

I plopped down into the couch and continued watching the confusing cartoon. Apparently, the talking dog had just solved the mystery of the flying ghost. Classic.

Mason sat down besides me, laughing. "Scooby doo? I use to love this show!"

I noticed how he said 'use to' as if he never watched it anymore. I shrugged.

"It was my favorite, ya-know. What was your favorite cartoon?" He asked and when I didn't reply, he poked me in the side. I jumped slightly and raised a brow.

"What was your favorite cartoon?" He asked again.

"I don't have one." I muttered, turning my attention back to the television.

"Oh, come on!" He said, almost mockingly. "Everyone has one! You can't honestly say you don't--"

"They didn't have many TV's in the Orphanages." I interrupted instantly. Something to shut this kid up.

And it worked. "Oh." Was all he said after.

We sat in silence, watching a few kids lock away a man who yelled "And I would of gotten away with it to, If it wasn't for you meddling kids!"

"If you don't mind me asking, how did your parents die?" His voice was softer than before.

I remained silent, eye's on the television. "I do mind."

"Oh. That's okay." He replied.

"Go ahead."

I sighed after a few more minutes. "When I was six, my father lost control of the car and we flipped into a lake. I was thrown from the car because I was unbuckled. They drowned."

I could feel his eye's watching me, but I didn't turn. "Well, I'm sorry that happened."

"Yeah."

The smell of pancakes radiated through the living room.

"So.. Are you starting school tomorrow?" He asked, quickly trying to disperse the tension in the air.

"Yeah," I replied. "How is it?"

Mason chuckled. "It's not that bad, unless you run into Ariel and Eliza. They rule the school, basically. Don't get on their bad side and you should be good."

"Oh great.." 

"I don't like him." One of the voices hissed.

He elbowed me, gently. "Don't worry about it. Stick with me and you'll be just fine."

I forced a smile.

"Breakfast!" Veronica yelled.

Maybe tomorrow won't be that bad.

A/N: Sorry you guys... I know this isn't the best. >.<