Labyrinth of Lies: What Avaia doesn't know

Prologue “No, you cannot do this! I will not do this, I’m not leaving!” The sound of Avaia’s screams hit the rooftop and the walls of the almost empty house. It was a moderate sized duplex with white walls and wooden floors, and it gave off the vibe of peace, except there was no sure thing there. Peace didn’t exist in that house, or at least not anymore. Not after a vital part of the Summers family died. “You cannot keep crying and throwing tantrums, Avaia. This is already happening, and the only thing you can do is pack the rest of your bags and get them into the car.” Gabe Summers stated firmly; his voice sounded strong and firm, a large contrast to the eyebags that cradled his eyelids, and the dark circles that enveloped his eyes. He was doing his best to keep it together, but Avaia wasn’t helping. “Why do you want to leave so bad? What are you running from, huh?” Avaia was screaming at the top of her lungs. It didn’t make any sense to her why they had to leave, desert the place they called home and move to a new city when her mother’s presence could still be felt in that very house. Maybe that was why her father wanted them to leave so bad, but she wasn’t having it. “This is our home!” She gripped the sides of her hair and pulled at it, simultaneously sniffing in mucus while balling out her eyes. Her father didn’t give a response to her, instead he went in and out, picking up boxes and bags, and taking them into the car. Weak from struggling for so long, Avaia crumbled to the wooden floor, sobbing and sniffing. The sobs shook her body with so much electric waves, her eyes were red and swollen from days of crying and her lips quivered. She pulled herself into a sitting position, pressing her legs close to her with her knees touching her chest. Cradling her knees, she rocked herself back and forth, and it reminded her of her mother again. Suddenly, she could see her mother, kneeling in front of her in a white dress, her rose pendant dangling from her necklace as she stretched out her hands to hold her and comfort her. “No, no, no, no, no, no!” She screamed, shaking her head vigorously. She released her knees and pressed her palms shut to the side of her eyes, shutting her eyes to clear the image from her view. “Avaia, honey, come on. We cannot stay here; it’s messing with you. It’s messing with us.” Her father stopped, putting down the box he was carrying to sit close to her. “No, we don’t need to move. This is our home.” “No, honey. Home is anywhere love, comfort, stability and safety are. We cannot get that here, at least not anymore.” He tried to get through to her. His voice was calm, soft; but his words pierced Avaia’s heart like a dagger. There was no form of cajoling, sweet talking or reasoning that could be done to make her believe that leaving the one place she had lived fifteen years with her mother, was a good option. She was not buying it. She let go of her ears and turned to look at him with tears running down her face continuously, but silently. “I hate you. I hate you so much. You never loved her; I see that now. That is the only reason why this is so easy for you to do.” Her pain, frustration and disgust were etched into the lines beneath her eyes and around her mouth. “Fine, since you don’t want to see reason, I am leaving. You can stay here and cry all you want but I am leaving.” His voice was no longer soft and sweet, it was back to being firm and intolerant. He stood up to his feet, and picked up the box again. “So, it’s either you come with me, or you stay here all alone. Make your choice.” He went out and came back in, holding a box to his side and dragging a box with him, which was the last of their belongings they needed to pack. He stood over her for a minute, waiting for her to make her decision. “Are you coming with me?” He asked again, for the last time. Avaia turned to stare up at him from where she sat, upset. She threw daggered stares at him, sniffing and crying. “I am not leaving. You will have to kill me first.” She said through gritted teeth and she watched him, as if daring him to leave her behind and drive miles away to a new place, without her. He adjusted the box and squeezed his palm tightly around the box, giving a last look at her before wheeling the box out of the house. He shut the back door of the car, and got into the driver’s seat. “What, no. You cannot leave me here?!” She scrambled to her knees, crawling hastily with her palms to look out the door. Was he really going to leave his only daughter, his only child there and drive off? “Dad! Dad, come back!” Avaia screamed, watching him start the car. Her head was pounding so loud that she could almost hear it through her ears, her eyes were throbbing from crying so much and she felt weak. Her knees lost control and she collapsed to the floor, resting her head on the side of the door frame; she was staring at the car, but her eyes were soon blurry from the tears and she didn’t realize when everything went black. A part of her subconscious was glad; at least, now it would all end and she would get to see her mother again.