Samara Shaw

It was as if all I had gone through that day wasn't enough.

I had to figure out Lucy knew where I lived. It made me believe I wasn't just in the school because my mother decided it would be a punishment for my behavior. It was planned, they knew who and where I was before I came. It was just the same way my eighteenth birthday party wasn't just to celebrate my new age but to sell me out. Could it be possible I was sold to the school because no one bought me after what I said to them or it was just one of the weird things that happen in the walls of Thorne. They weren't normal people and even when I had not seen any one of them do anything out of this world, I couldn't doubt the possibilities.

I was beginning to believe what she said about having the powers to bring the dead back to life. Although, it was ridiculous to even think any normal person could have such capabilities but at the same time, she wasn't a normal person. She had silver eyes and they were nothing like the usual silver grey I had seen, they were glowing bright. It wasn't possible to have such eyes, neither was it to have skin as dark as coke or white hair. Her height, I could say was believable because there were women that tall but every other thing wasn't.

"Oops, that slipped out"

"Did my mother sell me to the school?"

"You wish"

"How is it possible you know where I live? I'm not comfortable with that"

"You're not meant to but here's a good thing, I wouldn't know if Vince didn't tell me so you should be asking Snow White, not me"

"I thought you hated him, how did he tell you?"

"You're asking too many questions"

"And I demand answers right now. I've had just enough with this school. First, everyone here is odd_*

"Actually, you're odd cause you look nothing like us"

"The point remains you don't look human and that isn't okay. Then I had to pluck the roses just because of a cheap bar of soap and sponge. No one cares if they're snakes there or spiders and it's not a big deal I might pass out from standing under the sun for too long. Then I saw ghosts in the hallway which I can't still comprehend and before I got over that, I'm finding out you've been stalking me"

"Stalking you? Don't flatter yourself, you're not that important to get so much of my time. Once again, I only know that because your lover boy told me"

"He's not my lover boy, I met him yesterday and that doesn't even matter but you know what does? The fact I don't believe you"

"Well, it's not my fault"

"Tell me, what else do you know about me? That I'm not their real daughter_"

"Oh, that explains why they tried to sell you, doesn't it?"

"How do you even know that?"

"Courtesy of Vince"

I couldn't bring myself to believe she knew so much about me or that Vince had told her all she said. She didn't like him enough to have a conversation with him and she also wasn't the type to lie. I was torn between the two but still had more doubt Vince was behind it. "I'm trying to believe you but I can't"

"You shouldn't so instead of wasting your time, you should just go ahead and ask him. He wouldn't lie to you so maybe then, you'll believe me"

"And if he says he doesn't, you'll have a lot of explaining to do"

"Whatever"

I didn't fully believe her even when the confidence in her voice showed she said the truth. I needed to know if he truly told her and then proceeded to ask why he knew where I lived. I left the room with her eyes following me and a grin on her face. I felt uneasy while I closed the door behind me. There was something more she wouldn't say and I was certain where I lived and what happened on my eighteenth birthday were not the only thingss he knew.

Regardless, I took fast steps to the bridge. Partially due to my curiosity and also because I hadn't gotten over the ghosts. Just as all the information I'd just learned was playing in my head so was the fear of what I saw. I'd gotten no answers either of the two and not a second passed without me thinking about it. I reduced my pace when I spotted Vince at the bridge. He was standing right in front of the statue with his arms behind his back and his head facing up as if looking directly into it's eyes.

"How do you know I live in California?" My tone could have been a bit too harsh and similar to my mother's but that time, I had no regrets for what I said. I felt just as much anger to him as I felt to the men at the party even when there was a probability he was just a stalker. "And how do you know I'm not the legitimate daughter of the Shaw family? How do you know they tried to sell me out?"

My expectations were not what I saw. He didn't look guilty, neither did he look frightened I found out the truth. For that moment, I thought all Lucy told me was a lie but he didn't look confused or surprised either. His face was still with his lips forming a small smile like they always did.

"Simple, you're a very popular person Samara. At least a quarter of the world knows who your parents are and I'm included. Also, I did think of it but I didn't know you're illegitimate until now."

"So how did you know they wanted to sell me out?"

"I'm sorry you have to find out this way but I was invited to that party"

"You bought me? Is that why I'm here?"

"I didn't buy you. In fact, I wasn't present that day if you can remember. Trust me, you would've gotten here months ago if I did."

"Why should I trust you? You can be lying"

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to make you believe me."

"This is crazy, I can't believe anything"

It had to be one of the two, that Vince was lying or he wasn't. Either ways, I couldn't believe he or Lucy because there was no proof what both were saying was true. Just like it was for them, I also had nothing to prove what I thought could be the possible reason was the real truth. I had never been so confused. Even though he looked like he was being honest, I had learned to never trust people. For all I knew, he could be like my parents who I looked up to all my life and later chose to sell me out.

"I'm sorry you have to be in this situation"

"What is this place?"

"It's an academy"

"There's more to it, you're lying to me"

"I didn't say there isn't but for your own good, I don't think you should know that now. You've seen just enough for your first day here but I promise you, when the time comes, you'll hear it from me first"

"Will the ghosts kill me?"

"Never, it's impossible"

"How can I be sure?"

"They can't see or hear you, can they?"

"No"

"It means they can't hurt you and if they do, just say my name and I'll be there to save you"

It was practically impossible to hear my voice from the male's dorm if I wasn't close to it, even in the deafening silence, but it made me feel safe. Maybe he wouldn't be there to save me when I screamed but at least, he made an effort to calm me and that was what I needed. I could not find answers to both questions but there was nothing I could do.

"Alright"

I was deep in the forest far away from home so escaping was not an option. I wouldn't make it to the gates before getting exhausted and I had the strength to walk for hours and hours to get home, I could get attacked by a wild animal. There was no point in trying to know the truth cause at the end, nothing would change. I would still be stuck in there.

"Do you have any more questions? I'm more than glad to answer them"

"No, I'm fine for now"

My arms were folded while we walked past the bridge into the passageway. I was not contented. I knew the response I wanted to hear would only make me even more frightened but those were the words I wanted to hear to make me feel sane. I needed to believe Vince bought me from my parents and that was the only reason why I was forcefully brought here, not because my mother thought it was a good punishment for me.

From a world of being trapped in the walls of a mansion to being forced to believe the impossible.

"If I may ask, what made you spend so long outside today?"

"I was picking roses"

"To beautify your room? I can have people do that for you if you wish"

"No. My soap and sponge slipped out of my hands this morning, I couldn't pick them up and to get a new pair, I have to serve the punishment for wasting the first one which I consider very ridiculous if you ask me"

"Who made you do this?"

My head was down throughout the conversation but when his voice got deeper as he said those words, I was forced to look up. His eyes had gone from cool to burning anger. That was the quickest transformation, it happened in a split second and even though it wasn't directed to me, i was afraid of his sudden anger.

"You don't need to get so angry, it really isn't something you should worry so much about"

"Esther, isn't it?"

"Yes, but i_"

"For your sake, she will be punished at once"

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