"So you say he killed his twin - your father?" the guidance counsellor asked. I could tell she was trying really hard to believe my story.
"Yes. They were identical just like Karla and I."
"And for those two days, he was torturing you." She pushed her glasses back up so that the lenses were closer to her eyes.
"That's right."
"Well, that's quite a situation you have here. And how do you feel about Raymond, your capturer, dying with the fire?"

"I'm, I don't have words okay? Him dying doesn't even begin to reach what I wanted him to endure for what he did to us. He took my father, he took my freedom and now he's taken Karla's sanity! I'm not okay with it. I feel like unless he's twisting in the pits of hell, he deserves more than death!"

With that, I grabbed my sling bag and slammed the door behind me, leaving the guidance counsellor calling after me. But she couldn't even get to me cause I was already in the school bathrooms in a flash. I frantically beat at my cheeks in an attempt to stop the tears from splashing on the ground, but instead, my knees collapsed beneath me and my stomach churned. I wailed so intensely, my shoulders shook and my fingers went pale.

"I saw you run in here. What up?"
Dana.
"Hey Dana," I sniffed.
"Hey. Why are you pouring your eyes out? What happened back in there?"
I stared at her and for a split second I saw her eyes swell to the brim with tears.
"The guidance counsellor asked me questions about Karla and Raymond and I guess I wasn't ready to talk about it. It's just, it feels so real every time someone says his name or when I wash my back and feel the welts the hot metal table made on my skin. I don't know why I'm still alive."
She just nodded and held my head close to her heart, I so badly wanted to cry but my eyes went dry and stung. I just heaved and sighed like crazy, feeling the aftermath of my breakdown.

***
Walking in the hallway was just not what I needed. This time, I didn't apologise to the people I bumped into, I didn't care about the glares I got and I most CERTAINLY didn't care about being late to class. It took so long to get the redness in my face to subside and my eyes to stop puffing. Just a day ago, I was reunited with my sister and mom. Just two days ago I was being tortured to the point where I'm shaking just as I'm thinking about it.

"Hey, what's up?" I looked up from my feet. Liam. The same eyes that stared into mine on Friday. I really need to consider rewriting that test.
"Hey," I said calmly, "um...nothing. Why do you ask?"
"Well, your nose is red and your eyes are puffy. You look like you've been crying for ages," he shrugged, trying to look like he cared.
"I don't want to talk about it right now. But thanks for asking!" I smiled, then looked up at him. He really wasn't that bad, I mean, he makes the perfect boyfriend material, plus he cares about how I'm feeling. The last thing I want to do is cry and dump all my girl junk on him.

"Miss Knight and Mr Shackleton, how nice of you to join us this morning!" Frowned Mr Park. I could tell he really didn't want to see me, but that was the least of my worries. He could shove his sarcasm up his butt for all I cared. All I want to do is get through these classes so I can go home.

Class came and went. After what felt like eternity and a half, it was lunch. I met Dana at the vending machine.
"Cheetos or cheese curls?" She asked.
"Uh, it's okay actually. Not in the mood for anything except the cliché comfort food. I need some ice cream.
We stood in silence as we waited for the cheese curls to fall. Dana grabbed them and we headed off to sit in the cafeteria.

"Ugh! I'm so tired of them! Every time we sit down, Valerie has to throw herself on Jack. It's just sad and disgusting!" Dana curled her eyebrows and sneered as she said that. I turned around to see her flicking her cleverly inserted extensions and fluttering her add on lashes. For some reason, Jack had taken a liking to plastic girls. Valerie seemed to scoot up next to him and caress his chest- the chest I used to rest on.
"I don't know why she tries so hard. I'm done with Jack. He obviously didn't trust me enough to believe that I would never cheat on him. But anyway, she'll soon feel the wrath of his wavering trust issues."
We spent the rest of the break in silence.

***
Home felt so foreign and different. Karla was on her way to a mental institution in Australia, so technically, I was now an only child. I miss her so much that I decided to go sit in her room.

I didn't want to, but I felt the overwhelming urge to rummage through my twin's room. After all, she's been in contact with Raymond without us knowing. God knows what else she had in store for us. There was nothing on her bedside table, nothing in her shoebox. I looked under her bed and I almost passed out.

Yellow script paper, red felt ink pens.

I scratched through and found a map. I checked out the rooms. None of them rang a bell, so I knew it wasn't our house. Where else could this be? I kept scanning, until my eyes stopped over a certain room. Unlike lounge, kitchen and bathroom, this one was called the "treatment" room. There is only one place I know with a "treatment" room.

I quickly pushed the box under the bed. I walked over to her cupboard. Since she left her clothes, I might as well help myself. I pulled the doors apart. There is no word to describe confusion when it's mixed with fear and anxiety. What had Karla been up too? What I saw in front of me was just so bewildering.

Like any obsessed teenager, Karla had pictures of Liam and Jack. Jack's face had been violently scratched but Liam's picture was still okay. My name was written in the middle. Like a spider diagram, different peoples faces branched out of mine, including Raymond's. His however, wasn't scratched at or written on. His was clean. I'm guessing he is also a part of this plan.

"What the heck is that?" I spun around at this familiar voice.
"Oh um...just looking for something interesting to wear. You know, just to chill. Jack shot me a look. I decided to close the cupboard. "How did you get in here? And how long have you been standing there?"
He stifled a laugh. "Your mom let me in. I figured since you weren't so happy today you might need a friend? He came called me to my room.

"How do you know this is my room?" I asked, wondering how inEarth he could tell I was snooping in Karla's room.
"It has a bracelet stand, a purple one seater and butterflies on the curtains. I think that screams out Kim," he poked my side then laughed even harder when I tried to slap him for being so silly.
"Oh whatever! I knew that," I said. Now we were both laughing at my failed attempt at cleaning up after my blonde moment.

He fell over, clutching his side as he carried on laughing, making me laugh too. I didn't expect him to get back up and stare up at me seriously, then burst out laughing again. After long bursts of laughter, he finally stopped. He sat back on my bed next to me and we fell back, our heads bouncing off my pillows. We stared at the ceiling in silence, catching our breathes.

He turned to face me. "Kim?" He asked. I turned to face him. I looked into his mellow eyes. They held so many secrets, I could tell. Before I could respond, he lifted my chin and put his soft pink lips on mine. I let in gasp of fresh surprise, but soon exhaled and let his tongue protrude my mouth. His hand travelled down my waist and rested just above my butt.

My fingers ran through his hair as our kiss became more intense. Our bodies rubbed together, sharing warmth and a new love that birthed in our passion. I couldn't believe it was happening, it was all so fast. I didn't remember him yanking my top off and I didn't remember removing his shirt. His chiseled abs were on top of me, rubbing against my bare chest. The intensity of the moment grew so strong, I didn't fell my virginity slip away. My heart beat increased so much, I felt like it was bashing against my chest.

Just like that, we stopped. The moment ended. He looked over at me and smiled. I felt a wave of heat flush my cheeks. I just had sex with Liam Shackleton. Oh my God.