The other guy walks over to me and holds out his hand. I shake it as he offers me a drink with his other hand.
“Men really are scum. I’m Brad and you should probably know that I’m no different,” he said seriously. I laugh, thinking he’s being funny but immediately feel tense. I turn from him and instantly regret taking the drink. He’s drugged me. I can feel it. I have to get out of here. Has my aunt been drugged? I have to call the police. As I turn the floor comes at me hard.
I’m sinking in a pool of blackness. I can’t feel anything. I can’t see anything. I am nothing. Just taking up space in the void. I want to cry but tears aren’t coming to my eyes. I’ve dried up. I want to run but I have no legs. I want to hit something but I have no arms. I am nothing. I have sunk as low as I possibly can. There is nothing darker than this.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I gasped for air as I sat up, quickly realizing that I was still on the floor. The apartment was quiet now, the music had stopped. I stood up quickly even though I felt achy all over. I reached for a cigarette and lit it. Thankfully I was still dressed. I still had my Siouxsie Sioux tee shirt on and my red plaid skirt. I couldn’t remember if I was wearing tights or not. I walked around the room, looking for my bag. I couldn’t stay here. I slowly opened my aunt's bedroom door and saw her asleep on the bed. I think I saw someone sleeping beside her. I quietly closed the door, grabbing my docs, I raced out of the apartment, but just as I closed the door I smelled a familiar scent surrounding me. It was the smoke from Lily, the smoke from Jeremy and the same smoke from Buddy. The smell was fading quickly. I scanned the hall but I was alone. I walked out into the early morning air feeling defeated.
“Well, that seems about right,” I said to myself as I walked towards the arcade, laughing and crying. My body was shaking as I walked in. I felt so cold and hungry. I looked around, but I didn’t recognize anyone in the place or by the cafe. I wasn't feeling too good as I walked towards Cas’ place, and I felt even worse when I saw my mother walking towards me. I didn’t want her to see me like this but I couldn’t turn and run. I just stood still as she walked towards me. She smiled at me with a certain sadness in her eyes. She hugged me quickly then stood back from me. She never liked the smell of smoke.
“Oh Scarlett, are you okay?” she asked. I just nodded. If I spoke I might cry.
“I was told Cassandra lives here so I thought I would drop these off for you,” she said as she handed me a number of letters.
“I would’ve given them to you sooner but I didn’t know where you were,” she apologized. I read the return address. They were all from Buddy. I wiped a tear from my eye as I said thank you.
“Scarlett, I know you can’t come home but you have to go to school. I’ve been trying to work things out with your father but he won’t budge on the subject. Maybe once he sees you’re trying you can come back,” she explained as she hugged me again. She opened her purse and handed me some money. I took it. She turned to walk back to her car.
“Thank you, Mom,” I said as I glanced at the letters again.
“I think he really loves you Scarlett Rayne,” she said to me as she shook her head. I ran to Cas’ house. It's early but I knock on the door anyway. I eventually hear her feet coming towards the door.
“Scar, what’s wrong? What happened?” she asked, grabbing my hand and bringing me in. Tears start to roll down my cheeks. I’m sobbing uncontrollably as I clutch the letters to my chest.
“Ryan came by last night, looking for you, he said you left him,” she said. In between my sobs I asked her if he told her why I left him.
“No, he was pretty upset,” she said.
“I walked in on him with some bitch,” I tell her as I light another cigarette.
“Fucking ass, he never mentioned that,” she yelled as she handed me a lit joint. I’m thrilled to have something stronger than tobacco.
“Well you can stay here, I don’t care what Mitch says,” she offered. I notice her glance at the envelopes in my hand.
“Who are they from?” she asked. I smile as I hold them up.
“My mom just gave them to me. Do you mind if I read them now?” I ask her.
“Of course. I’ll just be in my bedroom if you need a shoulder,” she said as she stood up.
“Thanks Cas.”
I decided to start with the first one. It was sent just a week after he brought me home. I wipe the tears from my eyes so I can read it. I take a deep breath and open it.
Dear Scarlett Rayne
Why did you bump into me? I miss you so much already. When can I come see you?
Do you have any plans for the summer? Maybe you can spend it with me?
I guess you’d have to tell your parents though.
I kind of had a rough time getting across the border last week.
They had nothing on me but they tried to detain me.
I had an alibi in Toronto that confirmed my story that I was there to visit him that
