Phantoms game

🖤 Chapter Three 🖤

~ ???? ~

{ ~ The Angel ~ }

The bright dazzle from the glaring sun shone through the creamy coloured room, creating shadows which danced along the walls and carpeted flooring.

A agitated groan sounded throughout the brightly lit room, angrily picking up a pillow and slamming it over her head Maia kicked her feet in a childish tantrum as she tried to block out the fact that it was now morning and she would have to clamber out of her comfortable bed.

Letting out a frustrated scream she relaxed her body for a mere moment as she slowly pulled the pillow away from her now bushy hair, it was as thought her hair was a birds nest, it could possibly pass off as one at this stage.

"f**k why does it have to be so bright in the morning, MORE SO, WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE MORNING-" she groaned out aloud to herself, angrily getting out of bed as Maia began to spew out an myriad of curses left, right and centre. Her cherry red hair a messy bird nest atop of her head, stray strands of hair stuck out as if she had just gone through an electric tornado, stretching her body her bones and joints made a delicious cracking sound. Stepping onto the cold floorboards she quickly hopped into her adjacent bathroom.

"Ahhhh that's the stuff..." she let out a small pleasing moan as the trails of water washed over her body, soaking her hair and making it a darker red then it usually is, her eyes closed in bliss as she enjoyed her hot shower, she despised cold water and would much rather have boiling hot showers, even if they weren't good for her skin. After half an hour of singing and dancing for her shower products she turned the water off and wrapped a plush black towel around her body, the fluffy material feeling phenomenal against her soft skin.

"I suppose I should get ready.." she sighed as she rubbed her temples aggressively, not ready for the day to move forward, as she slipped into comfy leggings, with a tank top, and a oversized puffy crocheted jumper, slipping on her converses she grabbed her bike keys, handbag and phone, she walked outside.

"I am always amazed when it snows.." she smiled happily as she saw the first snowfall of the year, indicating that winter was slowly coming to New York, pulling off her motorbike cover she unlocked the metal box and shoved it inside, jumping onto her bike she started it up, pulling her helmet over her head as she drove off into the blazing sunlight.

As minuets turn into an hour, Maia had finally arrived at her destination, Valentino Hospital. Approaching the towering building she parked her bike and took her helmet off, hanging it from the handles, pocketing her keys she shivered slightly due to the cold breeze, briskly walking inside to escape the chill air. Once she was in the warmth of the hospital she sighed out in relief, walking up to the counter she smiled at the woman who was always there, the woman nodded back at her and let her go through, Maia was a regular visitor so it wasn't usual for her to go straight through.

Room 284, the room which held someone important to the cherry haired woman, opening the door a small happy squeal was sounded throughout the small hospital room. "MIA!!!" Maia chuckled at the small girls excited cries, her arms flying out to show the woman she demanded hugs and attention.

"Hey Kangaroo" Maia smiled as she walked up to the small girl and hugged her tightly, trying her best to avoid all her wires and cables, Maia frowned at the sight of her. "I am not a kangaroo!! I'm a Joey cause they're cute! You're the kangaroo since you're practically my mum" she grinned up at her "sure sure Evie, how have you been kiddo?" Maia rubbles Evie's hair with a mischievous grin "SIS!!! UGH, why always my hair..." Evie pouted at her big sister, crossing her arms over her chest.

Maia chuckled at her sisters reaction, she always felt her happiest when they were together, but unfortunately, she didn't know how much longer they had left to spend together like this, the thought saddened Maia and tugged at her heart, tears threatening to spill, shaking her head to rid herself from the depressing thoughts, she forced a smile as she looked back up at her sister.

"Mia, what's wrong?" Evie placed her small fragile had a top of her sisters rough, calloused one, Evie knew the trouble and pain her sister has been through, what she had to endure just to make sure she was safe, to keep her fed, to keep her in this expensive hospital room, and for that she was forever grateful to her.

Hearing Evie's voice, Maia faltered, her tears broke free from their restraints, pouring out like a waterfall as she buried her head into the hospital bed, her shoulders shook and quivered as she heaved and sobbed, letting out all her pent up feelings, Evie simply sat there, her own tears coming forth as she silently consoled her sister, her hand rubbing circles along Maia's back.

"It should be the other way around, I'm still not strong enough, i need to stop these foolish tears, i need to solidly myself so she doesn't feel hurt, sad or pain, I'm supposed to be her strong protector." Maia thought demeaningly about herself, feeling pathetic first how she was acting, swept up in her self degrading thoughts Evie softly spoke.

"Maia.. thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for me, for us, I'm proud of you, and i know mum would be too, she would of loved the woman you have become, so please, even if i don't make it, please continue to live on, for me, don't waste your time mourning me, be happy.. if not for yourself then for me at least, because you deserve it my sweet kangaroo." Evie preached lovingly as she gazed down fondly at her heart-torn sister, a sad smile on her chapped thin lips, tear stains on her pale cheeks.

"Evie.. how can i possibly do that? You are my happiness idiot.." Maia joked through hiccups and tears as she tightly. Clutched onto Evie's hand as if she were to disappear in any moment, Evie sighed and gently brushed Maia's hair from out of her eyes. "Mia.. please try for me.. adopt a pet, name it Evie if you really need to, find a partner to f**k or whatever it is adults do in relationships-" Evie said questionably as she shrugged her shoulders.

Maia's eyes widen at her crude words and vocabulary "EVIE!?! WHERE DID YOU LEARN SUCH THINGS?!" Maia asked astonished and flabbergasted, Evie deadpanned her sister and blatantly said "The internet" Maia let out a low huff in annoyance at the fact that her baby sister knew such things like s*x, and curse words, although the expletives were expected since Maia swore like a drunken sailor "i suppose i can excuse the swearing but the s*x thing is a no no" Maia shook her index finger disapprovingly, Her sister rolled her eyes and mumbled a soft "f**k off" Maia gasped dramatically and placed a hand over her wounded heart "AH! I'M DEAD- BLEEEEHHHH" she rolled off her chair and laid theatrically on the ground, playing dead as if she was s**t in the heart by her sisters words

"Miaaa! Stop it, you're so embarrassing ..." Evie pouted jokingly at Maia's shenanigans, Maia smiled and jumped back up onto her feet, swinging her arms out in front of her as she zombie walked over to Evie "braaaaiinnsss... grrrrr" Maia grumbled out in a slow baritone voice, grabbing Evie's arm as she started to nom on her flesh gently, her saliva causing a puddle on Evie's bones arm "MAIA!!! GROSS GROSS GROSS STOP IT" Evie squealed out as she tried to pry her arm away from the terrorising monster which was her sister.

Maia grinned and gently placed Evie's arm back on the bed, ruffling her hair as she left a wet, sloppy kiss purposely on her cheek, grabbing Evie's face she started to leave slobbery kisses all over her face, similar to a grandma who overly kisses everyone good bye and does it quote forcefully and aggressively, ass if pouring all her love into them.

"Mia! Cut it out I'm all kissed out!" Evie whined at her sister, Maia stopped with one last kiss to Eves forehead, smiling down at her, glancing over at the digital clock on the wall Maia sighed as she saw it was now Five thirty, she had spent almost all day with Evie, guilt filled her bones as she realised she woke up late this morning and didn't spend enough time with her. "Hey Joey i have to go.. visiting hours are almost over..." Maia said depletedly her previous smile now replaced with a cold face, her eyes giving away her emotions and thoughts, Evie frowned and looked down at her blanket

"Can't i come with you..?" She whispered out in hope, but she knew what Maia would say, what the doctors would say, yet she hoped, she held onto her wish of leaving this white walled hell hole, but she knew better, she knew she would die here, she knew that her fate was to leave this world young, she would never see her sister get married, she would never be a aunt, she would just be someone Maia would visit when it was her death anniversary. Even so, Evie was alright with these facts, she was just happy she could live this long to see how far her sister has come, even if she could live a few years longer she would not regret a thing.

"No Joey.. you know you need to stay here so you can get treatment.. i don't have the resources or ability to take care of you, work is far to dangerous as well i don't want to put you at risk for simply living with me.. you're safer here my sweet" Maia's voice cracked as she explained the situation for the millionth time, and every time it hurt more than the last, seeing Evie's defeated expression, she looked away, controlling he facial expressions. "It's okay Kangaroo, i understand, just please be careful out there.. i love you, so so much, remember that" Evie's smiled sadly as she tried her best to hold back tears, Maia gave a nod anda last kiss to Evie's forehead "goodnight bugalugs"

"Goodnight munchkin"

——— TRIGGER WARNING (Skip the end if you don't want to read about SH, it isn't important to the story so you can end this chapter with Evie saying goodnight if you don't want to read this end part! :) ———

The ride home was fast, flashing lights from buildings past by in a blur, blurs turned into blobs and soon enough a half hour drive was over, parking her bike Maia did her usual routine and covered the bike, walking up the stairs to her house she opened the door, not even bothering to turn the lights she walked over to her alcohol cabinet and pulled out a bunch of bottles, not even bothering to dilute them she inhaled the strong bitter liquid, her head buzzing as she continued to drink.

Two bottles down, and two more left, full bottles turn into a husk of a shell, not even a drop of liquor left, hiccuping and stumbling around her house, she managed to plonk herself on the couch, flashbacks and memories running through her mind, the times she had spent with her sister before she permanently ended up in hospital "where did it all go wrong..? What did she do to deserve this punishment?!"

She shouted out into the abyss that surrounded her, but as expected nothing answered back, only silence followed, engulfed by her regret and swarming thoughts, she turned on her phones torch, stumbling to the bathroom she pulled open the first draw, there laying in plain sight was a rusty razor blade, looking down at it, she picked it up, her thoughts fighting and arguing with her, one side was telling her to do it, to take the punishment, this small minuscule thing compared to her sisters pain, compared to the pain her mother endured, albeit the other side pleaded her not to, begged her to stop, to put it down and go to bed, telling her to think of her sister and how she. Would feel if she found out about this horrible habit.

"I can't.. I can't take this.. I'm so tired.. but i need to keep going... for her.. all for her.. if not for her then what else? My life has no meaning if she isn't safe, alive and happy.. but how much loner will that last? For how much longer will i have with her..i'm growing tired.. i just want to sleep" Maia ranted to the darkness, but as usual nothing responded, not a sound. Looking back at the blade, she rolled up her jumpers sleeve, looking at all the previous scars that scattered her arms and wrist.

Red, red as a rose, red as wine, red as her cherry hair, cut after cut, no stopping in sight, as she aggressively slashed and carved at her soft skin, her anger piercing through her stone facade, tears streaming down her face as she couldn't even feel the pain from this small blade anymore, she needed more of a punishment, she needed more pain, she needed to feel half of what they felt, half of what she's going through. Otherwise its not good enough, Evie can't suffer alone, she just can't, she's only sixteen, why does she have to go through this pain alone at such a young age, Maia didn't understand the universe and it's treacherous ways.

Maia looked down at her bloody arm, her sink had turned into a blood bath from her mindless slashing, her arm looked as this it had gone through a shredder, placing the blade back into its chosen spot, she closed the draw and stared at herself in the mirror. Stripping off her clothes she looked at her body in the mirror, her scars ever so slightly noticeable, gun shots, stab wounds, all earring from her life on the streets, some when she was an assassin early on and a few others she earned because she wanted to be punished.

Sighing she hopped into the shower, turning the water on, the scalding rays hit her body, her arm throbbing in pain, gritting her teeth she bared with the stinging, after a few moments, the pain subsided and she washed herself, her mind more sober after her little episode, clambering out of the shower, she wrapped her plush black towel around herself and grabbed the first aid kit from under the sink, sitting gown on top of the toilet seat she pulled out the bandages and begun to wrap up her arm, wincing at the sharp stinging pains that coursed through her, tying the bandage of into a bow she packed up the first aid kit and placed it back under the sink

Sluggishly Maia walked back to her bedroom, not bothering to get dressed she fell asleep under her covers naked, her body mushed perfectly into the satin linen as she drifted off into a restless sleep, her dreams become nightmares as she slumbered.

——— end of trigger warning ———

~ ???? ~

( word count 2595 )

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, stay tuned for more!