The Missing- Volume II- Lies (16 page)

“Just tell me, Rosie. Tell me who you put in there,” I said quietly, never looking away. I didn’t dare.

My former foster sister reached out and ran her finger along the top of my lip. The long, thin scar where my face used to be split open.

“You’re so ugly, Nora. You can’t fix that sort of thing, no matter how hard Leslie tried.”

She wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. It didn’t even hurt to hear it. I was numb to her insults.

“She wanted to fix you sooner. Did you know that?”

I sat up a little straighter. What was she talking about?

Rosie continued to touch my scar. Her fingers burrowing deep.

“Oh, so I can tell you a story you didn’t already know?” She grinned, looking manic.

“Stop touching me,” I implored.

She ignored me.

“She wanted to fix your face, but your dad refused. He hated you as much as she did. He was the one who wanted to punish you.”

My lips trembled, but I refused to cry.

“You’re lying!” I breathed.

“Maybe I am. Or maybe I’m not. Who knows? But it’s easier to believe the lies than to live the truth, isn’t it, Nora?” Rosie giggled again. It was the most horrible sound I had ever heard.

Her mirth was like a stain on my soul.

“Stop talking in circles, Rosie. Just tell me why you’re doing this. Why I’m here. Otherwise, shut up!” I screamed. I grabbed at my throat, the pain intense.

Rosie’s eyes widened in shock.

“Wow. The meek little lamb has teeth. I had no idea.” Rosie scratched her nail down the length of my scar, but I refused to wince. I didn’t want her to see how much it hurt.

But she knew.

Rosie always knew.

“Guess, Nora,” she murmured, her eyes wild.

Rosie pursed her lips and seemed disappointed. She lifted her other hand and gently ran her fingers down my cheek. I was shocked by the unexpected tenderness.

Her nails dug into my skin and I flinched this time. I couldn’t help it.

“You know, Nora! Think!”

Why was she doing this to me? She was more sadistic than I ever realized.

I let out a choked sobbed, wishing I could actually cry but knowing it would only give her the power she was looking for.

“Think!” Rosie screamed into my face.

“Please, just let us go,” I pleaded.

Rosie dug her nails deeper, but I didn’t feel any blood.

Not this time.

“You have to guess who’s behind door number three, Nora. It’s the only way.”

No blood.

Only smoke.

And flames.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“You’re an evil, evil person, Rosie!” I shouted at her, finding some strength I didn’t know I still had.

I thought of Maren behind that locked door, depending on me to get us out of here.

I will, Maren. Even if I have to kill Rosie with my bare hands. I will get us free. I promise!

Rosie chuckled. “Uh-uh, Nora. That won’t work.”

Had she read my mind?

Or had I spoken out loud?

I didn’t even know anymore.

“I’m not going to play your game, Rosie!”

Rosie stood up and walked back to the closed door she teased me with. “I won’t just tell you. You have to figure it out on your own. Otherwise you can’t ever leave. That’s just how it is.”

She sounded like a school teacher explaining a lesson.

I ran my hands over my face, my entire body shivering in spite of the heat.

The incessant, insufferable heat.

“I don’t know—”

“Yes, you do!” Rosie argued, a note of excitement in her voice.

I banged my head against the wall behind me. “Stop it!”

“No! You have to guess!”

Rosie was relentless and I knew she wouldn’t stop. She wouldn’t give up. She’d keep us here until I played her stupid, stupid game.

“Mother,” I said finally, giving in.

Rosie stamped her foot. “No! Don’t be an idiot!” She was angry. Really angry.

“Then I don’t know! Who else would you drag into this horrible place? That’s the only thing that makes—”

I stopped.

I saw it all.

Clear as day.

“No,” I whispered, horrified.

Rosie clapped her hands together again, jumping up and down. She was terrifying in her joy.

“You know! You know!”

“How could you possibly do it? I don’t understand!” I gasped.

Rosie came back toward me and kneeled down again. She was happy. So happy. “Do you want to see? I’ll open the door for you now that you know. I don’t have to hide it from you.”

I nodded.

Rosie grabbed my hands and pulled me up on my feet. I followed her to the closed door and watched as she turned the handle and pushed it open.

I covered my mouth with my hand so I wouldn’t cry.

Dark spots swam in front of my eyes, and the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was Rosie’s jubilant expression.

And then it all went black.

The Past

Nine Days Ago

6:45 p.m.

I
didn’t care about the noise I was making. I didn’t care that the drugs may be wearing off and Mother would most likely wake up.

My grief, my fury, my complete and total insanity, could not be contained.

Kissing.

Touching.

Naked.

Together!

“Oh my god! Oh my god!” I muttered over and over, raking my fingers through my hair, pulling at the scalp until it burned.

How could I not see it? Was I blind? Was I an idiot? I think the answer to those questions was obvious.

Yes.

“No! No! No!” I screamed.

“Keep it down, would ya!” Rosie leaned against the doorjamb leading into the living room. I could see Mother rousing, her head lifting.

I wouldn’t cower before Rosie. Not ever again!

“Don’t speak to me! Just don’t!” I warned, pointing at her threateningly.

Rosie laughed. “Why? Whatcha gonna do, Nora? Point at me to death?” She laughed again, louder this time.

I could see Mother’s eyes opening. She’d know what I had done. How I had drugged her. She’d see my sins and hold me accountable for them.

But I just. Didn’t. Care!

Because I had been betrayed.

My entire world crumbled into dust around me.

And Rosie was standing there; ready to dance on the ashes.

Ashes.

Fire.

So much smoke.

Screams of terror as I closed the door behind me, locking her inside.

“I told you not to go in there. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.” Rosie shrugged, unbothered by my slowly encroaching madness.

“Nora! Is that you?” Mother’s voice sounded slurred and thick. But angry. So, so angry.

I ignored her.

“This is your fault! All your fault!” I shrieked, advancing on my foster sister. I scratched at my arms until I bled.

Rosie raised an eyebrow.

“How is this in any way my fault?” Her beautiful face darkened and she took a step forward. “You’re the one who refused to see what was right in front of your face.
You
were the one who lives a life of lies, Nora!”

Strangely, I grinned, my heart full. Full of betrayal and hurt and disgust with myself. But I smiled.

Because she was right.

Rosie’s eyes narrowed and then she slapped me. Hard enough to crunch teeth. Then she slapped me again.

“You’re crazy, Nora! You always have been! Remember what you did to me? It started then.”

I shook my head, my cheek throbbing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Rosie grabbed ahold of my shoulders and shook me. “Yes you do! You just don’t want to remember! Because you
know!”

“Nora, who are you talking to?” Mother demanded, stumbling into the hallway.

I looked at Rosie who was grinning manically, her dark eyes glittering.

“What did you do to me?” Mother asked, voice still slurred from the drugs. She touched her face with shaking fingers.

I stared at Rosie intently. Her face changed. It melted and molded until it wasn’t Rosie I was looking at anymore.

It was a face so much more familiar.

“Nora! Answer me! What’s going on? What did you do, you horrible, horrible girl?”

I gazed at my foster sister. Only it wasn’t my foster sister.

It was
me.

“Don’t you see her?” I whispered as my body started to tremble and a buzzing filled my ears.

“Look at her!” I screamed, pointing at the woman who had been my foster sister but now inexplicably wore my face. How did she do that?

What was happening?

Their smiles. Only for each other.

They loved. Only each other.

Not me.

Never me.

I was pushed away. Rejected.

They didn’t want me.

They never had.

How had I never seen it before?

Mother was infuriated. “I see my ugly daughter screaming in the hallway like a banshee!”

“But Rosie—”

Mother gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Don’t you ever mention her name in this house! I can’t bear it!”

I turned from the terrifying image of myself looking back at me from the other side of the hallway and stared at my mother.

“Why? You love Rosie! You always have! That’s why she’s living here! Because she’s the daughter you always wanted!” I sounded hysterical. My face was wet and I realized that I was crying.

Mother’s eyes widened and for the first time she looked terrified.

Of me.

“Why would you say that?” she rasped, her hands shaking, her cheeks flushed.

I turned back to my foster sister, but she was gone.

She had fled.

Disappeared.

“She was right there. She must have gone back upstairs . . .” my voice faded away because that wasn’t right.

Nothing was right.

Everything was so very, very wrong.

“I knew that you were mad,” Mother breathed. “I knew there was something wrong with you, more than your disgusting face.”

I clutched the side of my head, a dull, aching throb pounding at my skull. Nothing made sense.

Except for the betrayal.

The love. The desire. The affection.

For each other.

Not for me.

Mother stumbled as she reached for me, obviously still feeling the effects of the drugs I had given her earlier. When I had been desperate to sneak out. To go to
her.

My destroyer.

My mother grabbed a hold of my arm, her fingers like talons as they squeezed. “You’re a nasty, cruel person, Nora! And a crazy one at that! How dare you speak of Rosie! How dare you!” she screamed into my face, her nails digging into my skin.

“Why? Why can’t I say her n-name?” I stuttered. Scared. So scared.

I could hear Rosie’s laugh drift down the stairs. It echoed inside my head with malicious glee.

“You’re enjoying this aren’t you, Rosie?” I yelled up to her, knowing how much she enjoyed my mother’s hatred.

Mother grabbed a handful of hair and yanked it, turning my face so that I was forced to look at her. “She’s dead, Nora! She’s been dead for eleven years!” Mother’s words dug into my chest like knives.

Rosie’s laughter stopped. It faded away into nothingness.