Like every other day, she lay still in her bed. Her white sheet soft under her flawless skin,her hair darker than night, the perfect contrast with the white sheet lay splayed on her pillow. She still had her sleeping gown on even though she had already woken up and made breakfast. She just liked the silence and peace this state, now a habit had given her.
She could hear the footsteps down below. Her mom was awake and as always, she was on time. The world outside was beautiful, the morning sun peeping through the horizon, it's golden arrows piercing through the cold and dreary darkness,reaveling the landscape. She knew how it all looked like ,felt like,smelt like. It was what she held onto everyday she spent gazing as the world came alive. And everytime she had glared at it,into an abis that was never there, hoping for an answer she never got but still did it everyday.
She heard some clutter downstairs. It seemed to be coming from the kitchen.
That can't be good. That was never good.She thought to herself to what she might not have done. Then it hit her, what she had missed. She jumped out of bed landing with the grace of a swan and lightly as a feather .
The wooden floor boards was still cold. She hurriedly finished making her bed, slipped into her slippers before running out her rather tiny wooden door, coated with clear vanish and down the stairs.
I can make it,all i need to do is.....Oh shit . She changed her mind on seeing her mother's already angered face.
"Morning mother" she said lowly looking at her feet, eyes closed and hands behind her back. She was waiting for it.
"What is the meaning of this?" She didn't respond at first but she knew not responding all together was worse.
" What do you mean?" she tried quietly. Her voice lower than when she gave the greeting.
" What do I mean! What do I mean! Where's my morning latte?" Her mother questioned exasperatingly.She sighed and raised her head.
" I forgot to make it "her courage suddenly leaving her she looked back down. Here it comes.
" You forgot! How can you forget my latte. Is that the same way you forget to breath?" Her mother shouted, enraged by the answer. There it was,the shouting.
" It was a mistake it won't happen again."she apologized sweetly.
" Always with the apologises . Just start doing things properly,... like a good daughter for once."her mother suggested sourly.
" Yes, mother "she replied obediently.
" Yes mother what?"the lady asked.
"I'll try to be a good daughter."she replied almost choking on her words. They infuriated her.
" Good. My latte.NOW!" She bowed and went to the kitchen. She sighed as she looked at the wall clock. 3.16 the clock read.
School wasn't the best place to be for most people but to her it was better than home. She was a very quiet shy girl. Who was never noticed, let alone remember. She was just like a shadow visibly there, but not regarded, forgotten. So she didn't have friends let alone a friend so she spent her free time at the library reading . But she wasn't always this forgotten. There used to be someone. Someone who never forgot her,or ignored. To him, she existed and to her she was everything. Her anchor to sanity and life itself.
But he too,as if being punished for her past sins was snatched away from her. She still couldn't get over her best bud's kidnapping. He was two years older with deep green eyes,jet black hair and a great sense of humor. Even though he was taken away four years ago she still hadn't learnt to live with it.
Life had become meaningless. She felt as she was merely drifting through it not really living it. She had lost her smile, the shine in her eyes had faded. She had failed to connect to some other being but it never felt the same and she resigned to her despair. Ot was like a slow blade, with each day piercing her heart and dragging her closer and deeper into darkness. The darkness that raged stronger than the seas, engulfing everything in it's path. The void of loneliness.
But he wasn't the only one, there were others. A lot more others went missing.There were many cases of kidnapping right around that time too, all over that region. In almost every city, village or inhabitance someone seemed to have just vanished. The police tried there level best but they never found them including him.
Lonely she was and dark she grew. The only joy and light she ever had was snatched away from her pretty little hands.
Her journey back home was quite with her bag on her back and path clear of anyone or thing that would obscure it. Free and alone just the way she liked it growing accustomed to it's familiarity. But that day she could sense something was off. Something was serious odd but she couldn't comprehend what it was. So she just shrugged it and walked home quicker.
"Suprise!" Shouted to little girls,her little sisters, as she stepped on the front porch. She smiled down at them. They had remembered.
" Happy birthday!" They choired.
Well her birthday was in one days time but they always got her a present earlier considering her parents hated her birthday. They never said why but she always kind of knew. It always reminded them how different she was from them.
You'd expect the girls to be just as bad as them but their parents were practically never there to raise them, so she did and did it perfectly.
"Thanks guys. I'm surprised you remembered." She said sweetly.
" You always think that we'll forget cause you do but we're your family we'll never forget." Maddie responded.
She was a year younger than her but just as mature.
" Even though they hate it." Retorted Annah , the youngest, referring to their parents.
She had noticed the resentment the girls had towards their parents and had occasionally condemned it. But they were not blind. They saw how differently they treated her and not in a good way.
She looked at the two girls both looked so a like. With beautiful long red hair and shining brown eyes, the color of perfectly roasted coffee beans. They looked just like there parents and nothing like her but they still saw her as family. They were the only reason she endured her agonizing guardians and still kept on pushing on. Not for a brighter future but for a chance for them to live in a conducive environment.
They walked towards the house but she still couldn't shake off that odd feeling that she was being watched. She looked behind her and around but didn't see anyone. She shrugged and simply headed inside.
They had made her a present,a bracelet. They all wore one to always remind each other that they'll always be there for each other. It was beautiful and thoughtful so she swore never to take it off.
They heard a knock on the door, so Annah went to open it. She was preparing dinner, after they had all cleaned up.
"I'll get it." She had stated.
" Who is it Annah?" She asked from the kitchen on hearing the door open but no talking.No answer.
" Annah? Annah?" Still no answer.
Her hands began trembling and she didn't know why. It worried her. She never shook until something really bad was going to happen and it was too late.She walked out to the living room where she found her sisters duck taped by two heavily built men.
"Annah, Maddie?... Who..who are you and what do you want?"she inquired fearfully. You!" One of the men said, his voice hoarse, towering next to Annah.
She took a step back from the shock. I didn't see that coming. She thought as her mind raced on what to do. Her eyes met Maddy's,her and Annah's mouths duck taped, hands and feet tied, sitting on the floor. She looked at her new bracelet. Protect them at all costs.She took a deep breath and sighed.
" Fine,if that's what you want. But you let them free." She commanded.
The two wiggled and groaned in protest. One of the men walked towards her . He was tall, hugely built and menacingly as his small round dark eyes burned her thoughts with an intensive stare. She looked down in defeat, resigning to her fate. They had finally come for her too.
The door suddenly burst open and in walked their parents. They're early. Wait..
" You're early!" She exclaimed joyfully. They looked around.
" What the hell is going on here..Devon!what did you do?" Her father shouted angrily.
" But..but..I didn't do anything! "she shouted back.
" Then ...."her mother started before she fell followed by their father.
Another man stood towering next to their unconscious bodies holding a metal rod .
" Noooo.." she shouted before she too was captured.
Their only hope was gone. They were lying on the floor and even though she knew they wouldn't care about her but at least her sisters would be saved.
They dragged them out the door. She tried protesting, trying to get free but she was over powered. Her screams for help fell on deaf ears. She tried to shout her loudest and push and pull trying to get free but nothing worked. They were simply too strong and too relaxed. She noted there was no sign of panic in them,as if they knew no one would come.
This realization made her heart sink deeper more gripped with fear.She was dragged into a black car, gagged, hands and feet tied and head covered with a black sack like cloth impairing her sight .
This was it. She too was going to vanish without a trace.