The Twin Temptations

CHAPTERTWO

ELENA’S POV

“What do you have in your hand Milly?” Lily asked, walking over to the desk. Completely disregarding my figure.

“Don’t touch that,” I rushed over in a haste as I attempted to grab it from Milly before Lily could get to it. But I was too slow in my attempt.

“Is this mom?” Lily let out a small gasp of surprise as she held on tight to the frame. Her tone filled with uncertainty sent a wave of rage through me.

I was disgusted by the fact that she couldn’t even recognize our own mother.

There was no warmth or familiarity in her tone. It was as though she was admiring the picture of a stranger.

“Yes it is! Now give it back,” I let out, making another lunge as I attempted to take it back from her.

“Catch Milly,” she giggled as she threw the frame over to Milly. My heart leaped to my throat as I watched the picture frame fly across the room.

My stomach churned as I prayed that Milky could put her teddy down for a second, long enough for her to catch the picture frame.

But my prayers were all for naught, as Milly merely watched it land at her feet with an apathetic gaze.

The sound of the frame shattering filled my ears as my knees gave out. I crumpled to the floor as I could still see fragments of my mother’s smile scattered across the ground.

“You didn’t warn me on time!” Milly stamped her feet in anger, further crushing the glass beneath her feet.

“I told you to train your reflexes,” Lilly giggled as she walked towards Milly. Completely disregarding the picture beneath her feet as they locked arms.

“Come on, I can’t stand this stench for a second longer,” she said as she pinched her nose in disgust, before leading Milly out of the shack.

They didn’t throw a single glance in my direction the entire time, brushing their frilly dresses against me, as they made their way out of the room.

The loud thud of the shack door being slammed was the last push I needed, before tears streamed down my face in waves.

“No, no…Mom,” I cried out, as I rushed towards the shattered glass. Pushing the fragments out of the way as I tried to salvage the paper.

The nicks made by the shattered glass didn’t go unnoticed, as the pain from the pricks only served to fuel my tears.

I didn’t pay it any mind. Biting my bottom lip as I dug a crumpled paper out of the shards.

The blood on my palms stained the paper, as I furiously rubbed my palm against my dress. But to no avail.

The blood kept on gushing out of my palms as the extent of my injuries finally registered in my mind. I rushed towards my box of clothes.

Further staining it, as I pulled out a set of wipes. Something like a first aid kit was too much of a luxury for me.

I haphazardly cleaned the blood, before wrapping my palms with them in a makeshift wound dressing.

My breathing calmed slightly, as I didn’t even realize I was on the verge of hyperventilating. I walked towards the crumpled picture with shaky steps.

I stretched out a trembling hand as I picked it up. There were still traces of blood marring the picture from my previous attempt, but it was still good.

I held it close to my chest as a burst of warmth filled my being. Streams of tears rolled down my face as I cried my eyes out. I fell to my knees, as I let everything out.

All the frustration I’ve been carrying from the first day I got kicked out of the house to the moment where I finally felt like I couldn’t take it anymore.

It all came out at once, as I let myself wallow in my feelings.

I curled up on the heap of hay as my eyelids grew heavy. I had the urge to just lay down and not get up anymore.

But just before my eyelids closed fully, I caught the Cinderella novel just out of the corner of my eye. The silent promise I made to myself to be my own fairy Godmother rushed to the forefront of my thoughts.

My eyes snapped open, as I clutched the picture of my mother closer to my chest. I rushed towards the box, stuffing whatever had popped out in my search for wipes back in.

I zipped it up, as I resolutely pushed open the shack door. The cold wind brushed against my figure, as though urging me to step back inside.

I gritted my teeth as I dragged the luggage behind me. I moved farther away from the mansion, towards a path I had mapped out.

I had been contemplating the idea of running away for years, I just wasn’t brave enough to actually attempt it.

I speed walked to a thickening, clearing out bundles of hay that revealed a dark passage. I discovered the opening years back, during one of my attempts to get away from it all.

I had hidden it ever since. Keeping it safe for my eventual escape. My figure stood still as I watched the all-consuming darkness call out to me.

I had used it recently, so I was assured of its safety, but I couldn’t help the hesitation that burned within.

I was supposed to be on my soft mattress, with my mother caressing my hair as she sang me to sleep. But instead, I was forced to run from the place I once called home.

My gaze gradually grew resolute, as I took the bold step. “No return,” I muttered, throwing one last glance at the mansion before I rushed inside the tunnel.

I rushed through the tunnel, my hair flowing wildly behind me, as I felt the wind rush through me.

My blood churned as I felt the adrenaline run through me. I kept thinking to myself, this is it.

And just like that, it didn’t take me too long, before I found an actual light at the end of a tunnel.

My gaze brightened as I rushed towards it. It grew increasingly larger the faster I ran.

I stretched out my hand towards it, a smile tugging at my lips, before my gaze widened in horror.