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.1.
...She was always such a little girl, fragile, pale, and tiny. In fact, she almost got adopted by warm, loving families several times because they mistook the five year old for a younger child. Life in the children's home wasn't so bad, she didn't speak much or have many friends, but they didn't treat her horribly. And yet, although she had good food, shelter, and company, little Cassandra hated it there. Sure, the ladies were all very nice and caring, but she had never felt loved by anyone. That's why she didn't watch T.V. programs with the other kids any more, it made her feel so horribly alone when she saw those sickeningly sweet television families. ... The problem was that she didn't look healthy. When someone came to adopt a child, they usually looked for a bubbly, happy, healthy kid, but Cassandra was the exact opposite. Families came and go, pausing to smile and nod, until the day came that a plump couple came in, looking to "save" a girl-child. While observing the children, most were playing games with each other or doing different group activities, but Cassie sat alone at the far end of the large room, singing to herself. The rather rotund woman decided that this lonely, deprived little abandonee would be perfect to rescue from the modest children's home and raise in the eyes of God. ... After several short - but not teary - goodbyes, the little girl was sent on her way to live with her brand new family. If you asked her today, she wouldn't even remember them taking her home, inside she was numb to the situation. Although she had only been on the earth five years, she had learned not to get her hopes up or expect anything from other people. Her mother, her real mother, taught her that. The woman was beautiful and radiant on the outside, but Cassie never really knew why she was dumped off at a home for abandonded children in a completely different city, except that maybe her mother wasn't as lovely inside as she appeared to be. ...When they arrived at the Beaumonts' house after a mind-numbing ride with classic Christian hymns playing on the car stereo, the happy couple brought her up to her new room. When they spoke, nothing sunk in. Although these people were extremely well off money-wise, she didn't see them as being particularly intelligent. The room they gave her was all she could ever ask for, it was big and had toys and beautiful decorations, but was also cluttered with bible verses and things that reminded her of the God that hadn't helped her much so far. *......................................................................*................................................................* ...Weeks turned into months and the months slowly melted into years. The Beaumonts taught Cassandra that God loved everyone and the world was his beautiful, wonderful creations, but the only world Cassie knew was cold and uncaring. This world of darkness was the true world, the fantasy that the blinded couple painted for the little girl was silly and unrealistic. ... From the beginning, Mrs. Beaumont made it very clear that Cassandra was welcome and loved. Mr. Beaumont, however, was a different story. After she began to get comfortable, he would call her to his room at strange hours and touch her in places that noboy else was supposed to see. She could tolerate it well enough for a little while, but after a few months he started doing things that no little girl should know about, and she started to put up a fight. Then he began to get angry. ... When he got mad, he'd get furious. His chubby face turned a funny bright red color that would be rather comical in any other situation. He'd start to yell and hit her back and forth across the room until she fell down and he could have his way with her. His wife protested at first, but fearing her husband, eventually pretended not to notice. ... That's how Cassandra learned to see through the crafty illusion that the world was righteous and justice would be dealt. |
| .2. "You'll be at my gymnastics tournament tomorrow, right?" "Jeez, Cassie, didn't you just have a dance competition? And the talent show was before that! But yeah, you know I'll be there...have I ever missed anything?" .. Cassandra smiled at her best friend. Samantha had been the only person she'd trusted from the time they'd played in the sand together in first grade all the way up until eighth, and the only person who actually knew the things that went on in her family life. "Are your parents gonna be there?" "No, Kevin has a soccer match on the same day. Actually, I'm pretty happy about that, it's just better if they don't show." .. Kevin was born three years after Cassandra was adopted. When the darling little angel was brought into the world, the abuse and anger toward the "other" child increased and the whole "we care" game hit rock bottom. It was clear the the Beaumont couple could love their own flesh and blood easier than little orphan Annie. "Anyway, I'd better head home. You know how my mom gets. See you later, Sam. Call me!" *......................................................................*................................................................* .. When she arrived at the house, Cassandra frowned upon seeing the unfamiliar white van parked in their driveway. The professional-looking yet small corporate logo on the back read "Biotech, Inc.". The company name didn't ring a bell. .. As she walked inside, she noticed Kevin leaning next to the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and a superior smirk on his freckled face. Even though she was eight years his senior, he was already nearly as tall as she. "Ha, Cassie's in trouuu-ble!" he taunted in an obnoxious, singsong voice. "Sure, Kevin, and it's probably because of something YOU did." She was actually becoming a bit nervous, although she wasn't showing it. .. She looked up as her overweight mother waddled into the entryway. Even the older woman seemed a bit on-edge. She spoke quickly, as if wanting to be rid of her words. "Oh, Cassie, I'm glad you came home so fast. There are some men here who would like to see you, apparently it's got something to do with your biological mother. You'll be going with them back to their...facility...for a few days." .. Cassandra dropped her backpack on the hardwood floor as her heart skipped a beat. Biological mother? Facility? She was absolutely, utterly confused. All she really knew was that she had one of the biggest competitions of her young life coming up the next day. "Mother! I don't HAVE a few days! My gymnastics comp is TOMORROW! I absolutely cannot miss this!" "I'm sorry, young lady, but you're going and that's final. Don't make me call your father." The girl knew it was no idle threat. She could feel hot, angry tears stinging her eyes. This was below even HER parents, she wanted so much to just take control of the situation like Sam always did, but instead she gave in hoarsely. "I...I need to pack some things." "I already did. The bags are in the van. Now don't worry, dear, you'll be fine and back in a few days." Great. Just dandy. Cassandra nodded mutely, a bit numb to what was going on around her. She didn't even recall being led to the back of the big white van. It all seemed planned to her somehow. And why hadn't these men spoken a word? This just could not be real. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. As the landmarks and street names decreased in familiarity, the thirteen-year-old began to feel like one of those crazy people being hauled away to the asylum by the men in the white coats. "They're coming to take me away, haha..." she muttered under her breath. .. To distract herself from her sorry situation, she began searching her mental files for a song that could be used on this track of the soundtrack of her life. It was something she found herself doing more and more often as she aged. Her parents had never really supported her musically, but it was her most coveted hobby. .. Her private thoughts were very rudely interrupted by the sudden stop of the van. She threw her hands up to protect her face as she was thrown against the wall that separated the front of the van from the cargo. Oops...seatbelts. Right. The back doors opened up and she was drug out by rough, cold hands into the blinding daylight. top |
| .3. .. When Cassandra awoke, it was on a cold, steel table with blinding lights above and men in lab coats surrounding her. She squinted her blue eyes as they adjusted to the light and looked around. The officials were cleaning up the hospital-like room, writing on clipboards and commenting to each other. .. She pushed herself into a sitting position and as the white sheet slipped off her chest, realized that her clothes were missing. She blushed a deep crimson hue and quickly pulled the sheet back around herself, ashamed at her bare skin in this room full of men. One of them was watching her intently. He appeared to be somewhere in his thirties and in good shape. "The subject is awake...she shouldn't have regained consciousness so quickly. Interesting. It must be her mother's genes that's causing her to recover so quickly. Make a note that we should up the dosage next time." Several other men nodded and wrote notes on their clipboards. The official-looking man who spoke moved toward her and she instinctively shied away as his hand reached out. "Don't worry, young lady, we haven't harmed you. We would simply like to study you." He made it sound as if she was an alien species. "...Why?" Instead of sounding firm like she had hoped, her voice was small and frightened. "...You...have very rare blood. That's all you need to know. You'll being returning to your home in a few days, there's no need to worry." .. Cassandra winced as the man touched her skin. His hands were cold but soft, as if he'd never had to perform a single task of manual labor in his life. He lifted the girl and held her for a moment. The expression on his face seemed almost confused, like he didn't touch people very much, and for a moment he looked very, very lonely. He snapped himself out of his short reverie and set her in a wheelchair that a nurse had brought in. "Annette will take you to your room. Try to relax." The man turned away from Cassandra into a discussion with others. .. The dark-haired young nurse wheeled her to a white room. Everything was clean-freak white, from floor to ceiling. It was almost blinding to see. Annette helped her into the stiff bed and pressed her with annoying auto-questions and the girl could feel her frustration rise. "Just shut UP! Shut the hell up and go the fuck away! Right now!" .. The nurse showed no signs whatsoever of injured feelings or pride and simply walked out of the room, closing the heavy door behind her. Cassandra, who now felt like a test-subject-slash-alien, buried her face in the ultra sanitary pillow and just sobbed her heart out until she slipped into sleep. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. In her fitful, drug-induced slumber, she was plagued by nightmares. Countless agonizing images filled her mind, losing her best friend, dying horrible, torturous death at the hands of her family...until he started singing to her. She heard his voice in her sleep, it was strong, warm and comforting, crooning bits of a distorted lullaby to her tormented subconscious. .. He pulled her out of her sea of horrors and onto a different plane where her mind was safe from itself. She stopped tossing and her body relaxed. Tears no longer burned at her closed eyes and she slept better than she ever had before because he was there, protecting her, shielding her with his strong but sweet voice. She sensed pain hidden somewhere behind it, but it never hinted at what might have caused it. .. She awoke from her merciful sleep to find the white-coated man who had all the answers standing next to the bed and taking notes. "Ah, you're awake. Would you like anything to eat?" .. Cassandra rolled on her side and refused to speak to him. This man was not her guardian, her phantom. After asking a few more questions and not getting any response, he gave up and left her alone with her thoughts. .. The mysterious tests and observations continued over the next few days. She still refused to speak to the staff and only took solace in the blissful sleep when her phantom would sing her lullabies and provide the girl with comfort that she'd never gotten anywhere else. .. The men did keep their promise and take her back home, but she wasn't conscious for the ride. They brought her in and placed her in her bed with only a few words to her curious mother.When Cassandra awoke the next day, she remembered nothing. The previous three days were complete blanks to her. She wobbled downstairs on legs that protested each step. "Hello, Cassie. You've been sick. It's been a few days. You were asleep the whole time." Her mother's words were choppy and somehow seemed fabricated, but they explained her missing memories of the past few days. "Oh...I missed the tournament, huh?" "Yes. You did." She frowned, picked up the portable phone, and dialed Sam's number without even thinking about it. She told her friend about being sick, but apparently she had already heard. They chatted about what Cassandra had missed, but something continued to nag at her subconscious. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. In dreams she remembered. Nightmare scenes of her imprisonment in the sterile facility and brutal, sickening "operations" that she had been unconscious for were clear in her mind. But they were only dreams...right? Her phantom sang to her when the nightmares became too horrific, but even so, they slowly began to take a toll on her mental health. top |
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.4. |
| .5. .. It was a football game. The blinding stadium lights towered above the field like giants and the excited, roaring crowd poured energy into Cassandra's performance as she led her squad in a cheer. Over the weeks that had passed, her freshman team had agreed that she was the most qualified to lead them. It was an unexpected but appreciated honor that she graciously accepted. .. Sam and Bain were up in the stands to support her, although neither of them had much of an interest in football. Despite the fact that they ran with a different crowd, they were Cassandra's closest friends and the only souls who knew of her girlish crush on the blond quarterback, Chad. .. As the game went on, she kept glancing at only him. He was the star player on the team, the one person that was responsible for their undefeated status. It ended all too soon. The opposition had been vanquished in a blaze of glory and testosterone. Chad had once again led his troops to victory. .. ...Cassandra blinked as he made his way toward her, surrounded and being cheered on by his loyal team of football players. Her own team, in their skirts and ponytails, was giggling and pushing her directly in the path of the star player. She suddenly felt self-conscious, singled out in the hot lights on the broad field. .. He smelled like a man and she loved it. In front of everyone, their friends, nearly the entire school, and his team, he pulled her roughly to him and kissed her hard on the mouth. She could hear the players whooping and the cheerleaders squealing. It was unexpected, she hung out with him often and they joked around as friends, but this was her wildest dream. .. Chad held the football above his head and picked her up with his other arm, proudly displaying his trophies for the crowd with a winning, smug grin. They went crazy. Cheering, cat-calls, clapping...it seemed unreal. .. She could see her two best friends from where she was perched on Chad's arm. Sam looked utterly taken by surprise, the look was actually quite amusing. Bain was shaking his head with a little grin. Cassandra smiled and waved at the audience, wondering in the back of her mind if this blissful moment was some sort of cruel joke. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. It was customary for a quarterback and head cheerleader to be a couple. Apparently, grade didn't matter. He was already a junior and she a mere freshman. They made appearances at games, dances, and parties together and didn't have many deep conversations. .. Cassandra picked up the phone after a few determined rings. Who would call at nine, anyway? "Hello?" She tried her best not to sound annoyed. "Hey baby, it's me. I really need some help with this homework assignment, if my grade goes down any further, I'll be kicked off the team." He sounded distressed. She sighed softly. "All right, Chad. I'll be over there in a few minutes." "Thank you sooo much, love ya!" He hung up and she walked out the front door without a word to her parents. They didn't care much if she left. If they were lucky, she'd be kidnapped. .. She walked the few blocks to her boyfriend's house in solitude. His parents' car wasn't in the driveway, but it wasn't unusual for them to go see late-night movies. They were both kind of ditzy and wouldn't be much help to Chad's education, anyway. .. The girl walked into the house without knocking and Chad called her into the kitchen. His books were on the table and open, he had apparently attempted his math homework this time. He looked frustrated with the work and himself, a pencil that had been snapped into several pieces was on the table next to his arm. "I tried, I really did, but I just don't understand it. I tried so hard to do it, Cass, but I can't!" .. He seemed so uncharacteristically vulnerable at that moment. She comforted him, sat down, and patiently showed him how to work the problems. To his credit, he managed to pay attention for a few minutes, but couldn't hold out for very long. "Hey." .. She looked up as Chad spoke and he caught her in a deep, hard kiss, shoving his tongue insistently down her throat. Why couldn't he ever be gentle? She wondered that every time he kissed her. Cassandra returned his kiss obediently and waited for this sudden fit of passion to end, but this time it didn't. He ran his hand up her shirt and grabbed her small breast roughly with his strong hand. She cried out and pulled her mouth from his indignantly. "Hey, ass, that HURT!" "Mmph, you want it, I need it. I'm sick of havin' to go to others for this, it's inconvienient." Her mouth dropped and he used the opportunity to kiss her again. Why hadn't she known? How could she not see? .. The books crashed to the linoleum floor as Chad swept his arm across the table and pressed her down. This is only supposed to happen in movies, not in real life... she thought to herself as he climbed on top of her. Not like this, not on the kitchen table... Her shirt was off and so was his wifebeater. He growled as he fumbled with the back of her bra and was unsuccessful. "Aw, screw it!" He kicked off his jeans and proceeded to unbutton hers. "Chad, stop it! What if your parents come home?!" .. Cassandra could feel tears on her face. When had she started crying? It hurt. It hurt so bad when he did it. She was too petite for him, but he didn't care, he forced it to work. She cried out in pain, wondering when he became this way. She tried to shove him off, but he hit the girl hard across the face. She laid there in shock. He had never struck her before. .. Chad collapsed on top of her a few minutes later, breathing hard from the sudden exertion. Cassandra crawled out from under him and pulled her jeans on. He made a clumsy grab for her, but she ran out the front door, sobbing and missing her shirt. She could hear him yelling after her as she fled. .. When she got home, the front door was locked and she didn't have her key. She knocked urgently and her father answered, already looking annoyed. His face flared up with heated rage as he noted her appearance. "WHAT did you DO?!" He pulled his arm back to strike her, but she screamed and ran back down to the sidewalk. There was no comforting voice to pull her out of this nightmare. .. A run-down black car stopped in front of her house at that miraculous moment. She flung open the door and threw herself in the passenger seat as her father ran down the driveway; she didn't care who the driver was at that point. Bain leaned out the window of the driver's seat and flipped the older man off. "Fuck off, Doughboy!" The tires squealed as he pulled away, leaving her father standing in the street alone and infuriated, screaming threats on the lives of the teenagers. Bain glanced over at the pitiful, half-naked sight that was his friend. "What the hell happened? ...Nevermind, you don't have to answer that." Cassandra sobbed painfully, not caring or questioning why the young man had been there at such a convienient moment. She could already feel bruises forming on her porcelain skin. top |
| .6. .. Bain was always there for her. It turned out that Cassandra had left her bag with her homework at his house, and when he finally got to bring it to her, it was late - and perfectly timed. She was terrified to go back home, so she stayed at his house, his parents were welcoming toward her as long as she was well-behaved. Her own parents never called looking for her. .. Despite the difficulties with Chad, Cassandra wore his class ring and his jersey, and he treated her like a trophy he owned and insisted on showing off. He resorted to every method in the book to keep her at his side; from bruises to begging, he would not let her go. He was smart enough to only leave bruises where they wouldn’t be seen. .. She tried to tell her friends, her team. They told her that it was the type of guy she wanted, that she enjoyed being dominated and violated by him. Finally, she got up the courage to tell Samantha. They decided to meet for a few hours at Sam’s mother’s house. “He WHAT?!” They were sitting upstairs in Samantha’s room. The walls were painted black and covered in heavy-metal-music posters. The blinds were black, her bedsheets were black...everything. “I...I wasn’t sure if I should tell anyone...” “I can’t BELIEVE you didn’t tell me this!” “I’m sorry...it’s...a difficult thing to say aloud...” “Let me see.” “What?” “Let me see the bruises.” Cassandra sighed and removed her shirt. There were black-and-blue blemishes on her otherwise creamy skin; her chest, stomach, and back all carried the tell-tale marks. Some were even the shape of his fingers and hand. “Oh shit...you weren’t kidding.” Sam sat down next to the smaller girl on the bed and put an arm around her shoulders. “Look, Cass...He isn’t right for you.” “I can’t leave him.” “I...I can be with you, make it better.” “I know you want to help, Sam, but I really can’t right now.” She tried to smile at her friend, but faltered when she saw the expression on the other girl’s face. “Not like that, Cassie...Not as friends.” “Wh...what? What do you mean?” Cassandra winced as Sam brushed a finger over one of the deep-hued bruises on her chest. What in the world has gotten into her? She barely had time to think in the instant before her best friend caught her in a deep, needy kiss. She held Cassandra tightly, willfully. She was nearly as rough with her as Chad was. God no... “No!” She pushed Sam off, choking back a sob as she pulled her shirt back on. “But Cass, please, you’ve never even given it a chance! You’re not being reasonable!” Sam’s face flared up, hot with rage at being rejected. “I am being reasonable, Samantha! I’m not like that and I have a fucking BOYFRIEND for God’s sake!” Hot tears began to stream down her face. She turned and ran out of the room, down the stairs. The heavy oak door slammed as she ran out the front and down the street, back toward Bain’s house, her home. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. Bain jumped up from his computer chair to grab the phone. He and Cassandra were in his room, talking about everything and nothing. His parents had allowed her to have the guest bedroom, but most of her time was spent in his. She was sitting on his futon, flipping channels while he instant-messaged some internet friends. “Yeah, one sec, Dave...Cass, you can entertain my friend on the comp for a few minutes, I gotta take this call.” She climbed into his computer chair and glanced around. Soda cans, candy wrappers, game guides, and other random junk littered the computer desk. IrishStandDown: Hi, he had to take a call. This is his friend filling in. Cassandra wasn’t sure if she should use real names or not. PlaysWithCyanide: Hey. You mean he has other friends than just me? No way! ;-) What’s your name? Good, she hated it when people typed with bad grammar. She thought a moment about the horror stories that had been passed on about revealing one’s real name on the internet. What was that thing her music teacher had once said? Ah, yes...You’re in perfect harmony. IrishStandDown: Harmony, yours? PlaysWithCyanide: Heh, Harmony. That’s pretty, I like. Mine’s Cyanide. IrishStandDown: Cyanide, that’s pretty. ;-) PlaysWithCyanide: I know. I’m just a beauty queen like that. She smiled to herself. He was funny. .. After a short but amusing conversation, Bain returned to his computer. She laid down on his futon, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts once again returning to their normal cycle of her current problems. She always felt weighed down, pressured by everything that was happening to her. “Bain, I want a screen name...” *......................................................................*................................................................* .. She wrote emails back and forth with Cyanide daily and messaged him on Bain’s computer when she could, always under the guise of Harmony. Cassandra poured out her heart to the boy she had never met, perhaps that was the reason it was so easy to do. She liked Harmony better, Harmony wasn’t a lost, frightened little girl...and she was an amazing singer. She sang to Cyanide over a microphone and he told her that he loved it. Harmony wasn’t afraid of the spotlight. Cassandra wanted to be her so badly... .. Cassandra and Sam never spoke after the incident in her bedroom. There was simply nothing to say. Sam was not willing to apologize and was still fuming over the fact that she was so harshly rejected by the other girl. Cassandra simply didn’t want to deal with the issue, or the issue with Chad. She just stayed with him and gave what he demanded. .. Her phantom stayed with her, but that was the one thing she never told anyone about... top |
| .7. .. Bain was standing outside the bathroom door that morning, this had been happening constantly as of late. "Are you okay, Cass? You sure you're not sick?" "I am! I take back what I said earlier, I AM sick! I feel like I'm going to die!" He let himself in, the door wasn't locked. "You look awful." "Th-thanks." Bain knelt next to the girl and held her hair back as she began to heave up breakfast. He stood again after a few seconds, dampened a hand towel in the sink, and gently cleaned her face. "Do you think it's the flu?" "I...I don't know. God, Bain, I feel so goddamn sick. It's like this every morning, why won't it stop?" "Hey, don't get yourself worked up, you'll just make it worse." "I know, I know..." As he helped her undress and get into a warm bath, Cassandra realized just how lucky she was to have Bain. He always took care of her no matter what. I have to do something to repay him... After he helped her get cleaned up and dressed, his mother came upstairs with newfound information. "Cassie, hon...I think I might know why you've been so ill in the mornings. Have you been sexually active with your boyfriend?" Bain didn't speak. His mother didn't even hesitate before asking. She was a strong woman. For Cassandra, the question burned, and after a moment of brief hesitation, she nodded a bit shamefully. "I see. Did you use contraceptives?" She didn't like where this was going. "N...no..." "Hm. Well, dear, I believe that you should take a pregnancy test, morning sickness is one of the signs." "Me? I can't be...how...I can't...I know I'm just sick or something." "Just do it to be sure, Cassie." "...All right. Just to be sure" *......................................................................*................................................................* .. She telephoned Chad that afternoon a couple hours after his football practice. It took a few rings before he finally picked up. "Hello?" He sounded out of breath. "Hi, Chad, do you have a minute?" "Mm...all right, but make it quick." Cassandra could hear a feminine voice protesting from his end. It was nothing new to her, she was used to it by now, but it still stung. "I...I think that I could be pregnant." "Ha, no way! You're a shrimp! That's gotta suck. Who knocked you up?" "...You, Chad. You're the only one I've been with." "Oh. Heheh, I know, it's hard for others to please you after you've had me. You should probably do something about the pregs thing." "...Um...yeah..." She could hear playful giggling in the background and Chad made a strange noise that one doesn't usually hear over the telephone. "Okay babe, I really gotta go now. Talk to you later." All that was left was the mocking sound of the dial tone. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. Bain took her to the drug store the next day. She could feel the looks from people burning into her, raising the hair on the back of her neck as she and Bain picked up the test and went through the line. "You two will have a cute kid." She knew that the cashier was trying to be friendly, but it wasn't helping. If it was Bain's child, there wouldn't be as many problems... Bain simply shook his head. Cassandra didn't reply or thank the woman. .. When they got home, she sat and studied the box for a long time. I wonder if I should tell Sam...She'd want to know...no, she'll just make things more complicated than they already are. I just won't say anything about it anymore, not to anybody, not even Bain. I don't want to think about it. There's no way I'm pregnant, anyway. Cassandra shoved the unopened box in the bottom of one of her drawers, no longer wanting to find out her fate. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. She didn't mention the pregnancy situation again, in fact, she had nearly forgotten about it with midterm exams coming up. The thought remained hidden away in the back of her mind until it finally decided that the time had come to break out and be in the spotlight once again a couple months later. .. It happened at school. Cassandra was practicing a cheer with her always-perky team when she cried out and collapsed on the cold gymnasium floor, curling up in agony. She was burning inside, her organs were in a vice. She screamed out for somebody to help, to get Bain. The cheerleading coach ran over to try and calm the girls down as their captain whimpered in pain. .. The older woman ordered one of the girls to go to the front office and have them call an ambulance.She knelt near Cassandra and tried to get her to relax a bit, but it was futile, every muscle was tight and she was crying for her friend. The rest of the team felt that it was appropriate to cry and hug each other, as some girls feel compelled to do. .. Cassandra could feel tears streaming down her face. She didn't even relize that she was screaming out for Bain. Her vision was distorted and she could hear her phantom singing, soothing her, luring her into the depths of unconsciousness. Her cries gradually faded as her eyes closed and she let merciful sleep overtake her. .. The ambulance made an overdramatic entrance that disturbed the classes that were still in session. Humans are fascinating creatures, when passing an accident, one can't help but try to see what happened and how much blood is staining the road. This was no different. Students ran to the windows, rumors started to spread of guns and fights. This is how it seems to be in every American high school. .. The hospital staff called Cassandra's parents, and her mother actually made an appearance, if only to prove how good of a parent she was to the officials. "What happened, Doctor?" The aging woman tried to look alarmed and concerned as she spoke. "Well, it seems that your daughter...Well, she's had a miscarriage, Mrs. Beaumont. Don't worry yourself too much, she should be just fine after some rest. I'm very sorry about the baby, though, you have my condolences." He explained the reasons for the disaster in detail, and this time the woman's shock was genuine. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. Cassandra had been depressed for weeks. The few who actually cared tried to comfort her - Bain, his parents, and Cyanide - but it was futile. She broke off her relationship with Chad a few days after being released from the hospital, tarnishing his reputation for never being dumped.It made him angry, but she didn't care. Her world was crumbling around her. top |
| .8. .. For Cassandra, the few uneventful, lazy months that went by were bliss. She spent them fixing the pieces of her life that had shattered with the help of Bain and support of Cyanide. Little did the young woman know, she was only preparing for an event that would change her life forever. .. It was a crisp October evening, the night air carried the scent of apples and fallen leaves crunched under her tennis shoes as she jogged. It was a usual thing for her to go out for a walk in the darkness, it cleared her mind and helped preserve her slim figure. Cassandra was lost in thought when something moved in the shadows. She barely caught it out of the corner of her vision and jumped. She glanced around, but as her visual survey yielded nothing, dismissed it as her eyes playing tricks. .. She made it a few more steps before Chad grabbed her arm and yanked the startled girl into an unlit sidestreet. "Chad...What's going on? Where have you been?" He had been mysteriously absent from school for about a week and no one seemed to know where he'd gone. He'd even missed a football game, to the dismay of the team. He looked different somehow, perhaps a bit more wild. It was a change that Cassandra really couldn't put her finger on, something subtle, but drastic at the same time. "You have no idea, I'm so hungry, you look so good tonight, Cass..." Cassandra's eyes widened as he pulled her into his arms and leaned down as if to kiss her cherry lips. It never came. Instead, he lowered his head further and kissed her neck softly - but something was missing. He isn't breathing, my god, he's not breathing... She tried to pull back, but he had more physical strength than ever. "Chad, stop it! What's wrong with you?!" She could hear a car approaching at a high speed. "You'll know, you'll know...I'll share it with you. It doesn't hurt for very long..." Chad's bloodteeth were about to pierce her porcelain skin when Bain swerved into the sidestreet and hit the brakes, tires squealing. He looked angrier than Cassandra had ever seen him. How is he always in the right place at the right time? "Fucking cadaver! FUCKER! Let her GO!" Chad released his grip on the girl and turned his attention toward Bain. She scrambled onto the sidewalk as Bain stepped on the gas. Cassandra could hear herself scream as he hit Chad hard with the car. Chad cried out in surprised rage and rolled onto the hood, his left leg in a painfully unnatural position. The football player slammed a fist through the windshield, grabbed Bain by the front of his black wifebeater, and hauled him through the broken glass. "Bain! BAIN!" Cassandra tried to run to the car, but strong arms grabbed her from behind, catching her in a protective embrace that she couldn't escape from. She couldn't even see the face of her captor at that point. The image she was left with before being taken away from the scene was Bain laying on the hood of his car with Chad holding a large shard of glass over her best friend's head, poised to strike. It was the last time she ever saw Bain. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. She was screaming, crying, thrashing against her captor's strong grip. The mystery person, whom she assumed was male due to the build, had not permitted her to see his face nor had he spoken. "I have to go back! God, Bain! I have to go back there! Please..." "Hush, cherie, you can't go back again. There's nothing left for you there." The man had quite a bit of what seemed to be a French accent. His voice was warm, soothing, and vaguely familiar. "What do you mean?! What about Bain?! Fuck!" "Shh, we're almost home. I'll explain everything you want to know in a moment." They reached a small house not too far away from her own. He escorted her through the front door and finally released her. She whirled around to finally see his face. .. He was a handsome man with soft red hair and washed-out watercolor green eyes. He appeared to be the age of twenty-five or so. His loose, airy clothing hid a strong body of medium build. His attire seemed to be from a different era, but Cassandra couldn't say what time period they were from. She had never seen the man before. "For starters, I am genuinely sorry for the lack of introduction. My name is Adam, and ma maison est ta maison. Make yourself comfortable, Cassandra." .. He led her into the living room. It was furnished very simply and inexpensively, as if he didn't expect to be there for very long. Cassandra brushed tears from her eyes. "How...how do you know me?" The man named Adam sighed softly and ran a hand through his thick hair. "Well, I've been keeping an eye on you for quite some time now, since the first time I heard you sing as a child." Now she was getting REALLY nervous. Great, a stalker, that's all I need... "You have great potential. I think that I can help make your art flourish if given the chance." "...You're crazy. Absolutely insane. What about Bain? We have to go help him!" "Perhaps I am, but we can't help your friend this time, cherie. That's his story, this is yours. Your life seems to be a bit out of focus, but I can help you." "God, I wish everyone would stop being so goddamn cryptic! Fine, if you know all the answers, then what the fuck happened to Chad?!" "Mm...the football player. I feel that he is a lost cause, it was unwise to do that to him. His life should have been left alone. I'll be surprised if he survives the day on his own. But at the moment, I cannot reveal his secret." "Why not?! Why fucking not?!" Cassandra was really getting herself worked up at that point, but Adam remained patient. "Because. If I do and someone finds out or there's a slip of the tongue, both our lives will be forfeit." At that point, she wasn't even listening any longer. She didn't care. "God, what's happening to everyone? What's happening to ME? Everything's falling apart and now I have no one except a freaking stalker who won't even give me one straight up answer to ANYTHING I ask!" .. The girl then burst into sobs and collapsed to her knees on the floor, hiding her face in her hands. She was ready to just give up on everything. Adam knelt down next to her and slipped a gentle arm around her shaking shoulders. He then did the strangest thing - he began to sing very softly. "There is a house in New Orleans..." It was a simple yet soothing traditional song that Cassandra had once sung in a middle school talent show. "They call the Rising Sun..." Somehow it made her feel safe. "It's been the ruin of many a poor boy..." Now she knew where she had recognized his voice from. "And God, I know, I'm one..." "You're...you're him. You're the voice that's been with me, aren't you? God, I sound crazy..." "Yes. You were hurting." She looked at him for a few minutes that seemed like forever, then melted into that familiar stranger's arms and just cried. top |
| .9. .. Cassandra wasn't really sure how many days or weeks had passed since she met Adam. She would often lie awake next to him and wonder just what he was. There was something different about the man, a feeling she couldn't quite name. He slept during the day, never ate anything, and didn't appear to breathe while he slept. She asked him about it once, but he evaded the question. .. The local news covered the disappearance of she and Bain, but most people in the quiet little town assumed that they'd run away together. The investigation was quickly abandoned and buried under more pressing matters. .. When Adam finally approached her on the subject of himself, it was on the evening of Halloween. He sat her down in the kitchen table, dimmed the lights to feign their absence, and ignored the stubborn trick-or-treaters. "Aren't we going to give candy to the kids? "No. I've seen many a Hallow's Evening, cherie, and will see countless more. Besides, we can't risk having someone recognize you." Cassandra wasn't quite sure about his first statement, so she simply nodded in response and looked down at the table. He sat down across from her with a sigh. "My father was German and my mother was Irish. I don't remember the year or even their names, for that matter. It was so long ago..." Cassandra looked up at him, a bit startled by the sudden launch into the story from out of nowhere. She prepared herself to listen, he had never talked about himself before. "I believe we moved to France before I was even a year old, it's the first place I remember. I had a younger sister whom I adored, but I'm sure that she's long deceased by this time. I sang in the church at a young age, but to my parents, music would never be a proper career and I had no way of supporting myself in such a job. I had to focus on other things, but I was a lucky child. Both my parents could read and so taught me. .. Although my true passion was music, I became the stable-boy for a high-ranking official. I don't recall who he was, but I believe it had something to do with the army. I was promoted within the job as I aged, but never really went anywhere. The lady of the house took quite a liking to me, as her husband was significantly older and absent for long periods. As you have probably guessed, I am the one that warmed her bed while the man was away. She had an exquisite voice, but was kept locked away in the house like a precious jewel. I never once witnessed her leave the grounds. .. One evening, after we had been worn out from our activities, she began to talk and I thought that she surely must have gone insane. She told me that even against the rule of her clan, she would make me one of them, for she felt that my voice should be preserved for eternity. I didn't respond to her strange whispers, but you can imagine my surprise when she bit into my wrist. Surprisingly, it wasn't painful, but quite the opposite. She drank my blood to what I believe was the point of death, but then cut into her own wrist and replaced mine with hers. .. When I awoke, I was no longer breathing. The woman, my sire, taught me everything I needed to know." A bit of a smile played across Adam's lips as he spoke. "Her name was...yes, it was Eve, which several people have commented upon. Unfortunately, a loyal servant whispered to her husband that she was commiting adultery. To my knowledge, he killed her, so I left, waking only at night and preying off the blood of the innocent. .. I played my music at evening events for very little money, and thus met a woman named Triste. She was an aspiring aristocrat and quite ruthless, but I loved her dearly. I courted her and we eventually married. We became a wealthy and successful couple and disappeared when needed. Bear in mind, cherie, this is a greatly abbreviated version of the story. .. Many decades later, I adopted a child. He was a beautiful little raven haired boy that I found one evening on my doorstep. My wife wasn't fond of children and wanted to get rid of him, but I insisted on caring for the baby. I coveted the child and loved him dearly, but Triste began to get hostile toward the both of us, believing that I cared more for my son than I did her. I spent less time at home and went anywhere I could to avoid her, including keeping tabs on you, for the woman can be terrifying when she's vengeful. .. Around the time that you were adopted and my boy was three, Triste forced me out of our home and family, she gave me none of our money, I was simply out. Luckily I have my own resources, so I wasn't too concerned about that. However, she still has my son and won't let me see the boy, so I'm not quite sure what's become of him." Cassandra remained silent for a few moments after his speech, trying to absorb everything he was saying. "No way, Adam, you can't be. You're just trying to freak me out because it's Halloween." "Non, cherie, all of what I've told you is true. Chad shares the same fate as I." "You're seriously saying that you believe you're a fucking vampire? Have you gone INSANE?" "Not yet." He smiled, revealing extended canines that weren't that way a second ago. "I kid you not, Cassandra. I am compelled to offer you the same, but you are free to decline." "...Why are you telling me this?" "Your town has no Kindred prince, or ruler, so I am free to do as I please here." She sat quiet for what seemed like an eternity, not quite sure if she believed him or not. "I'll...I'll have to think about it." "I understand. There's no rush, and you're free to say no." Adam smiled warmly and she could see that his bloodteeth had receded. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. During that day when Adam was asleep, Cassandra lay awake next to him. No wonder he never seems to breathe... The girl shared his bed and slept in his arms, yet nothing sexual ever occured between the two. Their relationship was much different than that. She had thought of nothing but his proposition for hours. .. There's nothing here for me now...Adam's the only one I have. She reached over and brushed a lock of red hair away from his pale face. I'll do it...he can help me start again and we'll always be together. "Adam...Adam, wake up." He rubbed his eyes boyishly and looked up at her, a bit groggy from the sudden awakening. "What's wrong?" "I...I've made a decision." He nodded and sat up, waiting patiently for her verdict. "Do it," her voice sounded hoarse, "I want to be the same as you." Adam nodded and took her into his strong arms. "You're sure?" "Yeah...I've been thinking about it and there's really nothing left in my old life. And if something happens...then it doesn't matter to me." "You trust me with your mortal existence?" "Yes...I've trusted you this far, haven't I? Damn stalker..." She tried to laugh at her attempted joke, but failed miserably. Adam smiled a bit and she nuzzled up against him in a catlike fashion. There was no going back and she knew it. .. Adam took her small hand in his and gently bit into her wrist. Cassandra wasn't sure what to think at that point. It feels good... Despite the pleasure in Adam's bite, tears started to stream down her face at the realization that it was truly happening. He looked up and pulled away from her wrist for a moment to kiss her deeply. Cassandra could taste her own blood. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. She couldn't remember when she passed out or what happened afterwards, but Cassandra awoke with the experience fresh in her mind. She found herself alone and for a split second nearly panicked with fear. "Adam? Adam?!" Did he leave me? He can't leave, he can't leave me alone... "Adam!" .. Adam entered the room clad in only a pair of loose pants. "Oui, cherie? I have someone for you to feed from in the other room." She jumped out of the bed, ran to her sire, and clung to him like a little child. "I know you don't feel well right now, but you will feel better after you feed, I promise." He led her into the living room where what looked to be a highschool boy was unconscious on the couch. "I...I don't think I can." "You need to. It doesn't hurt him. Trust me, Cassandra." That was the first night of her kindred life. *......................................................................*................................................................* "Adam, would you do something for me?" "Oui, cherie?" "I...I'm not Cassandra anymore. It's a completely new start...right?" "Yes, if that's the way you wish it to be." "Well, I do, and...Cassandra's dead. She's mercifully passed away with my mortal life." "Oh? Then qui est la belle fille that I am looking at?" "Harmony. Call me Harmony. Is that okay?" "Perfect, Harmony." top |
| .10. .. She was crying. Those days it seemed like that's how she spent most of her time. It was different this time, though; instead of the salt tears of a human, blood was streaming from her blue eyes. It was hard at first, but she willingly accepted that her former self was dead and buried. On that evening, Adam wasn't there, and she was so hungry that she thought she'd die or go insane. .. Harmony, formerly known as Cassandra, stumbled out the front door of the house and into the dark streets, the blackness only broken by dim streetlamps that were few and far between. There was no one else to be seen on the sidewalk, even rowdy teenagers retired at an early hour in this nondescript, religious town. She was so hungry, so desperate to sustain her own life force... .. A young boy of about seven came out of one of the houses nearby, calling for a pet that had strayed away from home. Harmony slipped into a thick mass of bushes that scratched her skin and drew blood. The boy, thinking the noise was his beloved pet, ran over to where she'd attempted to hide. "Kitty kitty kitty?" Harmony's hand shot out as the child spoke and grabbed his small ankle. What am I doing? this isn't me... .. The boy nearly managed a shriek after recovering from the brief shock of being grabbed, but his cry was muffled as she clamped her hand firmly over his mouth and dragged him into the bushes. She held him close to her body and cradled him tenderly, almost as if he was her lost child. "Shh...I need you...you have so much energy..." She sank her fangs into the child's wrist, unable to hold back the best any longer. He immediately stopped his struggle as she fed. His blood was warm, vital, and infused with precious human life. She couldn't stop. She tried desperately to pull herself away, but the deep-rooted hunger wouldn't let her. .. The child eventually passed out in her arms, but still Harmony fed. She could faintly hear someone calling for him, but it was simply background noise. She actually felt disappointment as his heartbeats faded away. Harmony pulled her cherry lips away from the boy's wrist and watched in utter horror as he drew his dying breath. His mother was crying out for him, fear in her voice. .. Harmony looked up from the child's body and saw the cat watching her from a few feet away, its tail tapping the ground and its stare burning into her skin. The terrified girl fled. She dropped the lifeless corpse of the child and crawled behind the bushes until she reached an obsolete side-street with only a few houses. .. She crouched down in the dark, shaking in terror from her own actions. She heard the mother's agonized shriek and police cars pull up about fifteen minutes afterward. She'd made a mistake that had cost a child's life and wanted to die for it. *......................................................................*................................................................* .. It took Harmony a moment to remember how she'd gotten back into her own bed. Was it a dream? She was wearing one of Adam's loose, flowing shirts, but didn't remember changing clothes. Oh, yeah... She had eventually made her way back to Adam's house and snuck through the front door after the police and grieving parents had left the area. Everything afterward was a blank. .. Did I really do that to an innocent kid? Did I murder a child? I killed him before he even had a chance to experience anything... It all seemed like some twisted nightmare, some horrific, all-too-real dream. She managed to get up and go out into the living room on unsteady legs to find Adam. "Please be home..." she pleaded aloud to the empty room. "Harmony? Are you awake?" His voice was coming from the kitchen. She ran in, ready to confess all so that she at least wouldn't have to bear the burden herself. Adam was sitting at the kitchen table with a newspaper in front of him. Harmony threw herself into his arms. "Shhh, I know, cherie. I know. It was a mistake that shouldn't have happened. I should have been here with you..." She didn't say anything at first, just lost herself in his strong embrace. It was a child...a little boy. He could have been something great. "That...that's two children I've killed, Adam..." "The death of your son was not your fault. You know that as well as I do." "Yes it was, what else could it have been?! You KNOW that I could have at least seen a doctor, done better! You know it!" Adam did not reply, but simply rocked his sobbing childe in his arms. top |