Passersby kept staring at the weirdly dressed, masked girl who was walking down the road. She was clothed in something that looked like an overall with a baggy pair of trousers. Only her two eyes could be seen as half of her face was covered with a mask and scarf. It was quite a hot afternoon and people just couldn't help but wonder why she was clothed as if it was winter already. Mabel ignored the weird stares and questioning looks she got from people and proceeded into the pharmacy opposite her. She went straight to the woman at the counter and smiled. Not that the woman could see her smile anyways.
"Hi, I'm Kira. What can I get you." Kira couldn't keep the quizzical expression off her face as she tended to Mabel. Mabel sighed and stretched out a little piece of paper to her. Kira stared at the paper for sometime before giving a little smirk. She stretched her hand and picked a rectangular drug box from the row of drugs on the shelf.
"You don't need to be shy." Kira said and Mabel gave her a "what?" Look. She clearly doesn't understand what that was supposed to mean.
"What?"
"Just because you came to buy contraceptives and a pack of condom doesn't make you bad or anything. Sex is a matter of choice so don't be ashamed of your choice. I mean, you're probably 18, or am I wrong?"
Mabel couldn't help but feel like giving her a punch right at her face. She hasn't met a woman this forward in her life. Why would she assume that she's the owner of those stuff? Mabel gave nothing but a head shake to her insulting statement.
"Can I have them now?" Mabel asked, rather rudely. Kira scoffed and shoved the nylon containing the goods into Mabel's stretched out palm. Mabel gave a small bow then proceeded outside the pharmacy, pretending she didn't hear the little murmur Kira gave. With her hands shoved into her overall, she proceeded back home. She looked up and stared at the birds flying in the air. She couldn't help but wonder how being free as them would be like. Just flying around, having no one to control your life. She gave a small laugh when she remembered that that would never be her case. "But it isn't bad to wish right?" She thought to herself.
"You bastard! What took you so long huh?"
Mabel sighed when she heard that voice. She's back to her hell again.
"I'm sorry Lily, the nearby pharmacy wasn't open so I...
Her statement got cut short by a resounding slap from Lily.
"Haven't I told you not to call me by my name you pest?" Lily fired. Mabel kept staring at Lilly with her palm on her stinging cheek. She couldn't believe what just happened. Her eyes were becoming to teary but she's trying her possible best not to burst into tears in front of her step sister.
"Fucking give me the things I sent you."
With trembling hands, she pulled out the nylon from her pocket and stretched it to Lily. Lily hissed before snatching it from her hand.
"Mum is returning today. And you know what that means. Make sure you clean the house, do my laundry and also, my toilet is messy. I want it sparkly clean before I return home. Got it?"
"G..Got it. Sis...sister Lily."
"Good. I'll be back before 10. If mum returns before I do, tell her I'm at Kelsey's. If you tell her otherwise, I'll skin you alive."
With that, Lily shoved Mabel to the side and stumped outside the house. Mabel brought down the palm she doesn't know has been on her cheek and stared into nothing for sometime. She took weak steps to her room and slumped on her bed as soon as she got in. She finally gave way to the threatening tears.
"Mum, why did you leave?" She asked no one in particular as she cried on. Her mother died when she was just thirteen years and two years later, her dad brought home another woman as his wife. Mabel was angry at her dad but she thought maybe it was for the best. She took back her word when her step mother revealed her true wicked self. She started maltreating Mabel, treating her like an animal. Mabel's father is quite rich. Their house contains more than ten maids and other workers but her wicked step mother makes her do all the work. She's the one that does the dishes, laundry and gardening. She's been living in this nightmare for over three years. Anytime she reports to her dad, her dad just seems to always take his wife's side. Sometimes, Mabel thinks her dad has been bewitched by her step mother because he does whatever she tells him to do.
Mabel sat up and sighed, assuring herself that one day, she'll escape from this hell of a place. She proceeded to the bathroom to wash away her stench. She took of her clothes and wrapped herself with a towel. As she stepped into the bathroom, she turned to the mirror on the wall. Her lips quivered as her reflection stared right back at her. Her mind went back to two years ago when her face took another form.
It was about five months after her dad married another wife. Mabel woke up everyone in the house with a loud scream. Filled with terror. Her dad rushed into her room with his wife behind him. She found Mabel sitting on her bed staring at the mirror in her hands. Her dad moved closer to figure out what exactly made her scream but he jolted back in fear when he saw the face of his beloved daughter. Mabel's once flawless and beautiful face was now, mysteriously, covered in big and ugly scars. She was taken round all hospitals, trying to find answers to the mystery but no doctor or practitioner could give answers. It just didn't seem possible or natural to them.
Since then, Mabel has been living with the ugly face. Anytime people sight her face, they tend to run away in fear so she saved them the trouble by always putting on a mask. Because of that face, she lost her friends and she had to switch schools. She ran away from mirrors because she didn't like how her face turned out to be.
Done with bathing, she walked out of the bathroom and proceeded to put on clothes. She wore a pair of black joggers and a hoodie. She put on her mask and left her room to do her chores.
10pm on the dot, Mabel heard a car drive in. She needed no one to tell her that it was her step mother. She quickly stood up, checked her surroundings, before she proceeded to open the door. The stern and mischief filled face of her step mother welcomed Mabel as she opened the door.
"Welcome ma'am."
As usual, she got not reply from her. She's quite used to that. She opened the door wider for the men bringing in her step mother's luggage.
"H..how was your trip ma'am."
"That information doesn't concern you. Where's my daughter?"
"She went Kelsey's."
"I see. Take my luggage up to my room. And when you're done with that, bring me a cup of orange juice."
"Yes ma'am."
Mabel proceeded to the boxes on the floor and tried to carry them but almost grunted when she felt how heavy the box was. She dare not give a sound of discomfort. Ignoring the weight, she carried the first box up the stairs to her step mother's room. After ten minutes, she was done and she rushed to the kitchen. She took out a orange juice from the fridge and placed it in a tray. She placed a glass cup beside the juice proceeded to the living room.
She placed the tray on a stool before her step mother and she poured out a little quantity of juice into the glass cup.
Mabel stretched it to her with her head bowed and her step mum collected it from her.
"Do you need anything else?" Mabel asked politely.
"No, I'll call you when I need something." Mabel bowed before walking out of the living room. "Is she in a good mood?" Mabel wondered. It's unlike her not to need anything.
Few hours later, she heard her step mother call her down.
"Yes ma'am?" Mabel said as soon as she got down.
"Go fetch Lily. It's getting late."
Mabel sneakingly took a look at the time and she almost gasped. It's 11pm and she said it's getting late? Getting late or already late? She gave a brisk bow scurried away.
It was when she got out of the house that she realized she didn't really know the whereabouts of Lily. She's knows Lily wasn't at Kelsey's place but her boyfriend's place. The problem now is she does not know Lily's boyfriend's place. What was she gonna do?
She kept walking straight, not knowing what to do or where to go. She heard a loud thunder rumble and she sighed. It'll soon rain. Soon, the rain started and it poured all on Mabel. She didn't take an umbrella along as she didn't know it would rain. Should she turn back? That's not a very good idea. She kept walking on and as she did, she was getting weaker and weaker. It got to a point where she stood still in the middle of the road, not able to move. Despite the fact that a oncoming car was honking repeatedly, Mabel stood there, with her eyes almost shut. The next thing she knew was that darkness overtook her and she felt herself on a very comfortable surface.
======
"Mum, mum please don't leave me. Come back, I miss you. I don't wanna leave you mum."
"Oh my sweet cinnamon. I never left you, I've always been by your side and forever, I shall be with you. I might not be there physically but I'm right there, in your heart. I know things are hard for you but better days are coming my love. Brighter days are ahead of you. Don't let this bring you down."
"But mum...I don't think I can endure till then. I..I'm fed up. I just wanna leave with you. Take me with you."
"My dear child. You just have to believe. Have faith. Things would be better soon. Remember the song I used to sing to you before you sleep? Whenever you're losing faith or you miss me, sing it. I promise you'll be okay."
"But..but mum..
"Goodbye princess."
"Mum..mum....
"Mum!" Mabel screamed out as she snapped her eyes open. She was breathing so hard and beads of sweat were rolling down her face. She sat up and placed her hand on her chest, trying to stop her heart from beating so fast. "It's that dream again." She said to herself. She sighed tiredly and looked around. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she looked at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Where am I?" She asked no one in particular.
