Chapter 6
Violet
I woke with a scream caught in my throat, the nightmare nothing but a blur as I wiped at my face, finding tears wetting my cheeks. It was always the same nightmare when I was stressed, a phantom pain waking me like a violent whip against my bare skin.
Each time it was pure panic, my heart racing as if I’d been chased. Taking a moment to calm myself down, I slipped out of bed and checked my phone, groaning at the time. I’d slept past my alarm, which meant I didn’t even have time to shower.
Fuck… I couldn’t be late again. Noah already threatened to fire me last time.
Getting dressed, I stumbled out into the living room to find the sofa bed was empty, mum’s sheets messily piled at the bottom.
“Morning. I’m sorry, I’ve got to run or I’ll be late,” I called, raising my voice so it would carry into the kitchen.
Grabbing my keys, my pens, and my sketchpad, I froze at the silence that followed.
“Mum?”
“Where were you?” She stepped out from around the corner, gripping a large knife. “There was a man outside last night, watching us. I thought… I thought you’d been taken.” Tears slid down her cheeks, even as her face remained cold. Disappointed.
“There was no man, mum.” I warily approach, holding out my hands. “Give me the knife.”
Mum frowned, a pained sound escaping her lips. “They’ve found us. How have they found us? It was the mirrors; they’ve always been behind the mirrors. Maybe, maybe they must have…” Her eyes zeroed in on my arm. “You must have a tracker.”
“What?” I went to grab the knife. “Mum!”
“Let me cut it out!”
I lunged forward, seizing her wrist just as the blade grazed my arm. Hissing through my teeth, I wrenched the knife away as mum collapsed to her knees in a heap.
Reaching for the other knives, I grabbed them all and ran to my room, frantically searching where I could hide them. Swallowing my panic, I shoved them beneath my mattress, making sure to cover the edges with the sheet and duvet before returning to the kitchen.
Mum hadn’t moved. Her shoulders sagging as she looked up at me, eyes glassy with tears. “Where are you going?” she asked, noticing the key in my shaking hand.
“I have to get to work.”
“What if they take you?”
I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be careful.”
“Please don’t go,” she choked out. “We have to stay safe.”
I left, locking the door behind me before pressing my forehead against it. I could hear her sobs through the wood, and each sound broke me just a little bit more. Taking a moment to calm myself, I knocked next door at Mrs Chen’s, my smile forced when she answered.
“Oh my, what happened?” she asked, her eyes widening.
I glanced down, only just remembering the cut. It was small, but blood trickled steadily down my arm. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly, trying to sound casual even as I tugged my sleeve down to cover it.
“Let me clean that up for you.”
I forced my expression to remain calm. “No, really. I’m fine. Could you just keep an ear out for mum? She’s not… feeling well today, and I’ve got to get to work.”
“Of course,” she said, her expression saddened. “Violet… if there’s anything I could—”
“Thanks, Mrs Chen, I really appreciate it,” I called over my shoulder, hurrying off before she asked questions I couldn’t answer.