Zoneville

I never thought this day would come.

The day I would stand face to face with Elizabeth A.K.A mum.

I hate the idea so much that it hurts me, I hate her.

Everything used to be easier before, I used to live in California with my dad, Johan.

He was a business man, a good one and an excellent father.

He took me in without knowing for sure if I was his real daughter; he never asked any questions, he never run any tests to make sure...he just took me in and loved me. But he died two weeks ago, on my birthday from a heart attack, what a present right? But it felt somehow strange because he was healthy, as far as I knew; I always made sure of that.

Well…he suffered from high blood pressure and we used to have lots of funny arguments about the type of food that should be served at the table.

“I’m hungry!” He would complaint.

“Then eat this”

I would say placing in front of him a plate of trees –broccoli— with tomato couscous salad while telling him

“Dad, what you eat and drink has a real effect on your heart and blood pressure. The healthier your eating habits are, the lower your blood pressure will be.”

“But it doesn’t taste like anything”

He would say with a snort. And it was true; I barely added salt to our food, yes OUR food including mine to show him I was with him in it. Suffering and enjoying the suffering with him. He would always fight with me about food but eventually he would eat it grinning from ear to ear. *sigh*

And now I have to live with her since I'm still 17 –for at least another 11 months 2 weeks and 5h— and I don't have any other family left.

I would have wanted them to send me to an institution, to a privet school or boot camp instead but social services wouldn't let me.

It looks like my father left an statement or something like that just in case something like this was about to happen.

WEIRD.

 And I hate him for that.

A little.

No I don't, he was my daddy, the one and only and there was nothing he could do to keep me angry at him for more than 10 seconds, which brings me back to Elizabeth.

I saw her once, in a picture from my daddy's high school's album; he threw away everything else that reminded him to her. Not because he hated her but because he loved her so much that he never married neither had kids again.

It was just him and me against the world.

Their Story; my dad's and Elizabeth's –Because she will always be Elizabeth— starts from back in the days in high school.

 He was the wealthy boy and she was the sexy and popular girl that every guy wanted to be with and every girl wanted to be like.

I remember him smiling whenever he talked about her, but his smile never touched his eyes...I didn't like that.

Everybody used to be jealous of them, he used to say they were the perfect couple but then, not everything that glitters is gold, is it? Rumours of her dating different guys came to his ears, for some estrange reason he didn't care much

"I was in love with her honey, since when have you seen love and reason going hand by hand"

He used to say, but I couldn’t understand that. I've never dated to know how it feels like to be in love and I’ve never met anyone that made me want to be in love but still, it wasn't right but they kept dating, till one day she disappeared.

No letters, no phone calls, she just "puffed" and disappeared.

My dad was desperate to find her, nobody knew where she was and 9 months and a half later I appeared on his door step enrolled in a white blanket with a medallion around my wrist and a note.

I never asked what was in that note; I wasn't interested in knowing what she had to say.

I'm still wearing that medallion now, just because he begged me too. I would have never worn it otherwise. Like honestly, why would I take something that came from her when she never called me, never visited neither even sent a post card or something, asking how I was growing, and now I have to live with her. Anger was going through me as I thought about it. I took my 1.5L bottle of water that I kept in the bag tugged on the back of the chair in front of me and I drank it all without stopping, without breathing.

I wanted to choke at it, I wanted to let the air dissipate from my lungs, and I wanted my lungs to scream for air so I could feel the pain.

While deep in my thoughts, that annoying voice from the speakers came up saying that we were about to land in Michigan, but wait, is not there where I'm staying, nooo, in the south of the upper peninsula there is a tiny cold town called Zoneville, where Elizabeth has settled down with her new family, I guess, and I was about to join them.

I shook my head at that thought, how small was that town anyway? I couldn't even find it on a map.

I googled it but the only thing that came up was an estrange website about supernatural stuff that I closed without reading, is not even in google for crying out LOUD!!!!! I took a deep breath remembering that we were about to land.

I hate planes but thinking about what I was going to find made me want to stay here, up in the air and never land.

I fastened my seat belt, well, it wasn't really necessary because I never took it off and I sat deep down in my seat trying to think about the friends I left in California, Zoe and Miranda, my girls, my only friends, the only ones that understood my strange personality.

I thought about my house, my room, my dad, tears were coming of my eyes and suddenly 

"We are now in Michigan, please unfasten your seat belts, thank you for..."

I left that annoying voice fly out of my head right away, while I took my back pack from the compartment situated above my head and then I sat back down on my seat not wanting to move and inch...everybody was walking by, stepping out of the plain, smiling, chatting, I didn't want to move but I felt an estrange presence, my scalp prickled so I turned to realize that somebody was seating beside me, staring right at me waiting for me to move so he could get out, probably thinking that I was crazy judging my behaviour trough the whole flight.

"Sorry"

I mumbled and I stood up as quickly as I could to let him through, bad news was I didn't have another excuse to sit back down again, the plane was almost empty and the stewardess was staring at me, crossing her arms on her chest and pouting.

Jeez I don’t think I was such a bad customer! Although I had her moving around for quite a while.

I had to get down.

I stepped out of the plane and walked really slowly through the corridors to get my luggage, I was doing everything possible to delay our first meeting.

I finally arrived to that big place that is the luggage claim, crowded with people waiting for their bags; I just stopped in the middle staring at the huge sign that read Welcome to Michigan.

I didn't want to move but I had to, even when my bag came out I left it go around 3 times before I took it.

Like I said, delaying it as much as possible.

When I decided to finally move, I walked straight to the exit, my heart was beating really fast, people where walking past me really quick, a few of them even pushed me, it looked like everybody was happy to be there but me, but I didn't care.

I was concentrating in not to scream while I was getting closer to the exit, breathing slowly, facing the floor but glancing up from time to time so I wouldn't bump into anybody, and then I was suddenly out, seeing a lot of people in front of me, waving at the people behind me, I looked at the floor once more not wanting to meet her glance, not wanting to see her but I wasn't going to be able to hide forever so I braced myself and looked up and around, she wasn't there.

I couldn't recognize anybody, well it was going to be a bit difficult to recognize her anyway, I just saw her ones in a picture and she was probably my age.

When I couldn't see her anywhere joy was going through my mind

“She forgot”

I said under my breath but as suspected, my joy couldn't last, my eyes adjusted to a young tan man how could he be tan, when there was no sun? Maybe they went on holiday I walked towards him because he was holding a white sign with my name on it.

Anger again ran through me and my mind was going wild with thoughts don't tell me she is sending her husband to pick me up, this is too much for me to handle, well...in the other hand, that's a few more hours without having to see her, so that's a good thing, isn't it? 

As I walked closer to him I realized that his face looked familiar to me, I didn't know from where but I could swear that I saw him before. We were finally face to face and he looked at me as if with...fear? no, he wasn't actually looking at me but staring at me, I was starting to feel uncomfortable when he suddenly hugged me.

That took me by surprise.

"Hi to you too"

I said unable to move, I didn't know what to do, how do you react to some estranger hugging you, even if he was her husband what gave him the right to touch me, after a few seconds I shook him off, he then looked at me a bit embarrassed I guessed,

"Sorry"

I said quickly not wanting him to feel uneasy, he should feel uneasy but for some reason I didn't want him to

"I'm not the affection showing kind"

I said when he didn't say anything after the awkward hug.

"It's ok, I'm the one who should apologize for that, I...just never thought you would look so much like her"

"Like who?" I gasped. He hesitated a bit

"Let me get that"

He said, taking my bag from my hand and leading me towards the exit, who do I look like? *sigh* he must mean Elizabeth, please don't tell me I look like her, please.

"In case you were wondering why she didn't come to pick you up is—

"I wasn't"

I interrupted him; he looked at me amused and let a smile go through his lips

"Like I was saying, she didn't come because she's preparing your room and a surprise" 

Great! I hate surprises and when did she find out that I was coming? Why is she still preparing my room...again think positive, she's not here now which saves you a few hours without her.

He led me into an old beige truck, I don't know much about cars so that's all the description I can give you, a huge old beige truck with a huge bed behind, so much for not calling attention.

I got in and he started the engine, I just stared out of the window, letting my thoughts swim through my mind, Zoe, Miranda, Daddy, home, when he interrupted me saying something about the flight, so I turned to look at him

"Sorry what?"

"How was the flight?"

He said smiling at me, why is he smiling so much?

"Was it good?"

"Yeah, but apparently not long enough"

What? I said the truth, he asked and I answered

"I thought you were scared of planes"

"I am, wait how—" I stopped it there, I didn't want to know how he knew about that, I didn't want to know anything, just wanted to get into my room and hide under the blankets till the year went by and I could be freed from this torment.

"I just realized that I haven't introduce myself to you, what an idiot you must be thinking"

He said with another smile and exited eyes. I didn't really care

"Not really"

I gave him a fake smile and he chuckled, why the hell is he smiling that much? It’s starting to annoy me.

"Well? Are you not asking who I am?

"Who are you?"

I asked not because I was dying to know but because I wanted him to say it and shut up

"A bit more of enthusiasm please?

Does she really think I care!!? I took a deep breath and put on another fake smile for him.

"Who are you?"

“Jeremy, that's my name and I'm your uncle"

I looked at him a bit puzzled and then I turned and looked back through my window, that explains why he looked so familiar to me, unfortunately I kind of look like him, I didn't say another word through the whole trip, he kept talking and mumbling questions but I kept ignoring him.

It was almost dark already and we were getting deeper into the forest, trees, trees and more trees where passing through my eyes, where are we? I thought, and then a big sign saying welcome to Zoneville made my eyes widen with realization that I was closer to her than ever.

I could now see houses through the window, houses and people, Jeremy waved at a few people on the way "home" I hate to think about that house as home, because it is NOT. Let’s just settle with “the house I’ll leave in”.

We finally stopped in front of a white house with wooden stairs on the way up with big windows covered with curtains. It was a beautiful house, a sudden weird sensation of déjà vu came through me and it made me shiver.

My heart started beating so loud that I couldn't hear anything but the thump it produced. I felt like a street Brazilian Carnival was playing Batucada in my head. My vision clouded and my scalp prickled severely.

I didn’t even know when Jeremy got out of the truck and took my bags to stand waiting for me at the top of the door step. When I actually looked at him –willing all my strength to give me back my sight— and not at the house I realized that the door behind him was opened and a really nice smell came out of it, suddenly everything stopped and I wondered what is she cooking, it smells sooo good and I’m famished.

I shook that thought out of my head and snapped out of it, what the hell was I thinking, this is not good, I don't want this, I finally really looked at him and I think he called my name a few times because when I finally heard him, he was looking at me a bit thoughtful and quizzical

"Gabriella, are you ok?"

He said annoying me more because he said my name wrong.

I walked towards him and I got my backpack from him  

"It's Gabrielle"

I growled, and I walked into the house. I could hear rather than hear his face splitting in half by a grin.

I stopped at the entrance and looked around a bit shocked by the beauty of the house.

The interior kept the elegance of the 18^th century and the modernity of the 21^st century, all morphed into one beautiful house. I don't know why I felt this warmth and the smell what is she cooking? I thought and I sniffed, my mouth watering while letting my imagination fly.

My craziness didn't last long tough; I heard what I think it was her voice. Somebody was coming, she was coming towards me, my heart started again, thump, thump, thump, I panicked, my breath was coming heavy I could hear steps getting closer. Jeremy stood beside me, again I didn't know when he got here, I thought I was going crazy and suddenly she came out.

I'm not going to lie, she was beautiful, and she had long black hair and golden eyes with green dots making it the strangest hazel eyes I’ve ever seen beside of my own eyes. She was slim and was carrying a lasagne in her hands

"I hope you like lasagne"

She said and with just that she walked back into the kitchen.

What was that? Not even a “hi Gabrielle, how was your flight” stupid question? 

Jeremy took my backpack from my hands and smiled at me, aaah!! So annoying, he made me follow him upstairs

"I'll show you your room so you can leave your stuff" 

Was she even happy to see me? I couldn't stop thoughts like that from going through my mind, by the time I shook it off, I was behind the door that would lead me into my room, where I would spend most of the time of this year because I was surely not going to find anything to do in this small town.

Jeremy always with an smile on his face opened the door, the room was ok, the bed was big enough for me, I had a desk with a computer, and the wardrobe –that was opened— had a few dresses hanging in it, I walked towards it and I glanced at the dresses, I looked at Jeremy quizzically

"Let me guess, my surprise?"

He nodded

"I'll leave now, get downstairs when you are ready" 

Meaning never 

“So you can have dinner" He continued.

After I nodded he left. I slouched to my bed making my body crash on the mattress with a loud Puff and left my thoughts strangle me.

 I didn't want to breath, again, I needed that pain so I stopped breathing while thinking I can't believe she's just downstairs, I can see why dad and everybody else liked her, she is a painting, but I don't like her and just the thought of me having her same eyes makes me angry 

I didn't want to have anything in me that made me look like her; thank god I have a lot of my dad in me but her eyes...

"Gabriella"

My trail of thoughts was again interrupted by Jeremy. I quickly sat up feeling suddenly anxious and stormed out of the room walking down the stairs until I was face to face with him, that was waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase

"Why do you keep calling me Gabriella when I'm telling you that my name is Gabrielle?"

I snarled at him, more aggressive than intended. He was still smiling up at me. Unbelievable!

"As you wish, Gabrielle"

He said resigned and bowed at me, making a reverence as if I was a princess

"That's not funny"

"I'll find something else to make you smile then"

He said and walked into what I guess was the kitchen. I followed after him to find a table full of food and to find her seating there at the head of the table with an unreadable face.

Whenever I looked at her I got angry so I didn't even sit down

"I'm not hungry, just want to sleep"

I turned around and started to the stairs

"Stop there"

Elizabeth said, I turned around

"Excuse me?"

“You are not excused; you haven't eaten anything in hours, just sit down and eat"

My mouth fell open. So now she thought she had the right to tell me what to do? Now? At 17?

"Oh, now you care"

It wasn't a question; I wasn't looking for any answers

"Gabrielle, let's not be childish, ok? Just eat"

"I don't want to, good night"

And I ran upstairs as she was about to call after me again but Jeremy stopped her. I only heard him say

          “Let her be. She’s here now”

I was now in my room; I didn't want to risk her coming in so I looked it.

I wanted to be left alone with my pain so I lie on the bed and closed my eyes. 

I'm starting school tomorrow, not really looking forward to it, I didn't give it much thought before and I wasn't about to start now so I allowed my mind go blank for a while till I guess I fell asleep because what I was seeing now, couldn't be real, could it?

I was in a big room, that was so not my room; this one was bigger and bright, with big golden curtains and a huge bed, king size, princess style.

There were many paintings on the walls, like the ones you see in the times of kings and queens and I was wearing a beautiful period beige lace dress with a big red lace that went around my wait to then fall behind my back and down to the floor. It looked more like a bridal dress with sleeves and I looked stunning. It looks like I was getting ready for something a party perhaps, I was seating in front of a mirror and when I looked down I had all this perfumes, golden combs and lots of jewellery.

I shivered suddenly and my scalp prickled.

I couldn't be sure but I knew something was about to happen. When I heard I scream from one of the rooms I ran to take a quick look and I saw who I think it was one of my guards being attacked by something, I gasped but I couldn't move, I was paralysed. Then my eyes met its red eyes and I screamed as that thing snapped the head of the guard and flew across the hall and though the door.

I didn't know what that thing was, was it an animal? Was it human? I couldn't tell but its read eyes focused on me, I knew it was a dream but I couldn't wake up, I still felt scared and unprotected under the scrutinising eyes of this thing.

IT looked me up and down till it stopped his glance focusing on my neck or that's what I thought at first.

I was scared but I looked down anyway to realize that it was looking at my medallion

"Gabriella"

He said under his breath, it didn't sound human and then it bared his teeth at me as if he angry with me, furious he walked towards me so fast that it was blur.

In no second he was in front of me, so close I could feel its breath on me.

He ripped my medallion from its chain and looked at it, confused? I noise of terror escaped the back of my throat drawing its attention back to me.

It opened its mouth, in that instant I knew it, I was going to die.

He leaned forward so brutally that when I thought that’s it, I’m dead; I woke up in the middle of the night, in my room.

Well, my new room.

I looked at my phone. 2:00 AM still.

I lied back in bed and went under the blankets this time, shaking off my boots in the process because I forgot to take them off before going to bed, well I actually forgot to take my clothes off and change into a more comfortable attire to sleep in but that, I would worry about in the morning, now I just wanted to go back to sleep and dream with something more peaceful.

To be continued................