World Upside-down

Finding My Strength

I get in the shower and clean myself. I try to scrub myself the best I can. I try to rid myself of the filth, the weeks of sweat and grime just don't seem to want to go away, So I wash and scrub until I no longer can. I'm exhausted. My skin is red and raw. I get out and grab the brush in attempt to get the knots out of my hair, but it's proving to be too much just yet, so I sigh and give up. I make my way back to the bed just as Landon comes back in.

"Have a nice shower?" Landon asks smiling. I simply nod as he helps me into the bed. Maybe he's not that bad. No Malorie. He is the enemy. I remind myself.

"Sleep now my love. You've had a long day."

I nod and roll over in the bed and let sleep take over.

I dream I'm a warrior, fighting dragons and demons alike. Taking them down one by one and coming out on top, defeating the enemy one by one. suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my neck, but I'm frozen, I can't move. I'm trying to wake up but I can't. I hear the door shut, again I fall back asleep.

I wake up from my restless sleep. Immediately my hand goes to my neck. I jump as Landon speaks, not realizing he was in the room with me.

"Something wrong, dear?" He says to me, fake concern written all over his face.

"N-no." I Stutter out, not trying to give away that I know what he did. I need to get stronger. I need to get out of here.

"Landon." I say in a serious tone.

"Yes?" He asks not looking away from the book he's writing in.

I hesitate, "Can I maybe get some scissors? My hair is too knotted for me to bush out... so the only thing I can do now is cut it."

I bite my lip while waiting for him to answer me. He shuts his book and looks at me seriously, pondering. I hold my breath for what seems like ages before he finally nods. "Ok, but no funny business. I'll bring them to you when I bring up dinner, rest now, I have things that require my attention."

He gets up and leaves. I make my way off the bed, pacing across the floor, I need to strengthen my legs if I'm going to escape. I attempt to do some pushups, but that will have to wait. I've never been one for fitness, I was always the type of girl that would eat entire pizzas, or six double cheeseburgers in one sitting. The skinny fat ass is what my foster sister always called me. I could eat and eat and eat and never gain more than a few odd glances from everyone around me.

My foster sister, Maddy was always jealous of how I could eat whatever I wanted and never gain a single pound. They may have been awful to me, but I wish I was back there. The nanny, Mrs. Engel, was the only one who was ever nice to me. She was my angel. I remember one time, after my foster dad came home drunk, he came searching for me. Mrs. Engel hid me in the crawl space in her bedroom to protect me. He was an angry bitter old mad, hell bent on making everyone's lives around them, well, hell. He never touched me, but there was something about the look in his eyes that always scared me.

I laid back down on the bed to take a nap before dinner.

I'm in a field of flowers. Lilies, my favorite. A woman stands before me.

"Hello, Malorie." She says

"Hello." I say, looking at the beautiful woman before me. She has long wavey black hair, flowing like satin ribbons in the wind. Purple amethyst eyes. Shes Tall and slender. Wearing a gorgeous long white and gold dress. She holds out her hand for me to take. I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust her. I walk to her, taking her hand and we walk through the field.

"Who are you?" I ask

"I am you." She says.

Confused I look at her. "How are you me when I am me?" I ask

She smiles. "Child I am who you are to become, but you must listen to everything I say. Do not deviate. A fraction of a mistake and jeopardize our future. I need you to trust me."

I stand there with my mouth hung open. How is this me? How can someone like me, look and become someone like her?

"I see your confusion, Malorie, that is why you must listen to me. I am a part of you. I have always been here, within you."

I start getting angry. "If you are me, and if you knew what I was going through, then why didn't you help me sooner, why are you just now showing up? How do I know I can even believe anything you say to me?!"

She smiles faintly. "Unfortunately, that I cannot tell you. Everything happens for a reason. You have to trust the process!"

I let go of her hand and let off a huff, I start walking away when she suddenly is Infront of me.

"MALORIE JANE CELEST YOU MUST LISTEN TO ME!" She yells, frustrated.

She sighs deeply then looks me in the eyes. "Please let's sit and talk."

We sit and talk, formulating a plan for my escape. I'm getting stronger but it's going to take time. We talk for what seems like hours.

"Landon is coming, you must wake up. Remember everything we have talked about. Now that we have made a connection, you and only you will be able to see me in the physical world. We will train. It will be hard, it will be painful, but my beautiful girl you've got this." She says, Kissing my forehead.

"We've got this." I say.

Seconds later I wake up to Landon standing there smiling at me.

"Get a good rest?" He asks.

"Never slept better." I reply with a smile on my face.

"Good." He says. "Eat, I'll be back with the scissors, and to collect your tray."

"Okay." I say softly as he leaves the room.