Once Upon A Time...

I rolled out of bed with a yawn and approached the window, staring out at the sky. It’s the middle of the night, but I can’t seem to get any sleep. I looked over to where the stars met the dark, and the water of the river beneath rippled as droplets fell from the sky, along with a spark of light and loud thunders.

The sight was frightening, yet in a way, beautiful. The lightning illuminated the darkness of the night. The river added a soft glow and you could see the colorful pebbles, like a rainbow in the water. Dark green trees surrounded the environment and each time lightning hit, the trees shook, as if they were scared, and the rain droplets spread over the living image like sprinkles, adding a final touch.
I became more and more mesmerized the more I looked at it. It settled me and calmed me down, reaching into my soul and striking my heart. I sat down on my window seat and sighed as I finally took my eyes away and scanned my dark room, which was being lighted by the storm outside. My eyes set upon my antique closet and I saw a girl standing next to it.




She was probably no more than 15 - with perfectly curled hair and wearing an ironed coral dress; ones that you’d see aristocrats wearing. She had a white-laced bow in her chocolate hair and a vintage doll in her hand, and was jumping up and down, dancing with the doll.

Suddenly, she stopped and looked towards the window I had been looking at a few minutes ago.

“Dry lightning cracks across the skies.
Those storm clouds gather in her eyes.”

She dropped the porcelain doll, causing it to shatter into pieces, somewhat resembling what was happening to her family.

“There’s not enough rain in Oklahoma to wash the sins out of that house
There’s not enough rain in Oklahoma to rip the nails out of the past.”

Winds screamed in the girls’ ear as she ran down the stairs, reaching the cellar. She had had enough of this misery in her family. They were horrible people and she didn’t care for them in the slightest – at least, not anymore. She wanted it to disappear. She couldn’t handle any more of the misery.

“Till there’s nothing left standing. Nothing left to yesterday.”

She couldn’t hide from the truth anymore. She wanted them both gone.

“Her daddy laid there passed out in the couch.”

She had run passed them, not waking her parents up, entering the cellar alone.

“She locked herself in the cellar.”
“Listening to the screaming of the wind.”`

She covered her ears with her hands and screwed her eyes shut, not wanting to listen to the damage and wreck being caused.

“Some people called it taking shelter.
She called it sweet revenge.”

Hours later, the police came, checking to make sure if everyone was all right. But they weren’t. Only the girl was. The parents had died. They said it was ok, trying to calm the girl, saying it wasn’t her fault; she was only trying to find shelter. But that wasn’t true. She did it purposely. After all, she wanted them gone.

That ‘vacation’ was one never to be forgotten. She herself drove back to LA, all the way from Oklahoma, and stayed alone in the house, never forgetting the way her parents died in that God-forsaken house they stayed in every summer.


I jumped and sat on my bed, covered in sweat and panting. Usually when I have a dream, or rather, in this case, a nightmare, I don’t remember it. But I could see this one as clear as day. Maybe because something like that happened. I got out of bed and dressed in my causal clothes, consisting of a sweater, skinny jeans, and sneakers. I almost smirked at the fact that my mother wasn’t here to tell me I couldn’t wear such ‘dirty’ clothes.
As I approached my vanity desk, I noticed a small, wrinkled, black and white, picture. It was always there, hanging on the side of my mirror for may years, but this was the first time I actually paid any attention to it.
I flipped it over, hoping I could see a date written on it, but instead there was writing:
“I’m sorry I could never be the woman you always wanted me to be. I tried my best, I really did, and I’m sorry it wasn’t enough. I hope someday you can grow up and become a better person. I wish you the greatest of happiness –E. Jordan”
E. Jordan? As in Evelyn? My mom, Evelyn?
I turned the picture back to the front and took a closer look at the image.
I gasped as I saw it.
A girl, sapphire eyes, brown curled hair, coral dress, and a vintage doll in the hand. The doll was missing a fragment of its face and had a whole near its left eye and around it, and the rest of it was covered in cracks. There were two adults standing near her - A woman, and a man. In the far right corner of the picture, there was more writing, in a black marker.
“8.16.’95.”
The day my parents died.


My heart paced as I realized what this picture meant.

That girl isn’t just the one from my ‘dream’, but it’s me, with my parents.

But they had died in a car accident. At least, that’s what I was told.

A spiritual figure appeared behind me, putting a hand on my shoulder. I wasn’t seeing things, but rather, more like, watching my past.

The spirit-a woman spoke, “You aren’t the only one who tells lies, dear,”

And with that, all I could see was darkness, as I heard the sound of a porcelain doll shattering, over and over again.

Notes

Lol sorry if this chapter was a bit dramatic, but I wanted to show how Rion thinks she feels about her parents' death. The words in italics are the flashback or dream she's having and the bold italisized words are the music playing in the backround of the flashback. Incase you couldn't guess the song is Blown Away by Carrie Underwood, cause i love her. Btw, the pic is only to show the dress, the girl in the picture isnt the person playing Rion.

Anyway, enjoy, rate, comment, subscribe. Thanx

-Rikki XO