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humans are chaotic by nature and that nature comes before nurture.
Because no one knows what happened once the kidnappers released me on a deserted road. I didn’t think about removing the bag that was strapped over my head — even though my hands were free.
He walked for hours and days until he finally returned.
Chaos is the only thing that makes me stop and stare. It’s a pause button to my brain.
I learnt silence before I learnt talking. Silence gives you room to think, to plot. Talking only gets you in trouble.
Silver often comes over when I’m playing with Aiden and Xander, but I don’t like her.
She talks and argues a lot — like, a lot — and it ruins the silence in my head.
Silver doesn’t cry. At least, I’ve never seen her cry. I’ve wondered how she does that, and even though I don’t like her, I’ve wanted to ask her and see if it’s because she also thinks it’s useless.
Aiden always says I move silently. It’s because I learnt to tiptoe out of my father’s reach.
“Are you sure you want to know? This secret will keep us together for life.”
She scowls. “Why are you calling me that?” “What?” “Butterfly.”
“You have one on your hair.” I motion at her dress’s waist. “And on your clothes. Do you want to fly like one?”
“Because, you know, they’re so beautiful and everyone smiles when they see them. They bring happiness and light.”
“You can’t leave. You’re the first one I ever told that. You have to take responsibility for it. Papa says everyone is responsible for how they react after they see things. If you ignore something bad, you’re a bad person.”
I grin. “I want to be your first.” “My first in what?” My thumb wipes the moisture under her eyes. “In everything, Butterfly.” “Then I want your firsts, too.” She juts her chin. “Promise me.” “Promise.”
You don’t know who I am, but I know who you are. I’m the monster under your bed and the bogeyman in your closet. I’m the unknown.
You don’t see me unless you look for me, and even when you do, are you sure you’ve looked hard enough? Searched thoroughly enough?
Here’s something you need to know about me: I like dolls. Or rather,...
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This is the story of my new favourite doll after I lost my most precious one.
There’s an art in being a doll master. You get to see and notice things no one else sees or notices. Not even the dolls themselves. Masterpieces in the making.
Now, I have a new doll. My prized possession. Silver. My beautiful little doll. Welcome to my world.
Oh, and don’t search for me. You won’t find me until I let you. And when I finally show up in front of you, all you’ll be able to do is shatter into bloody pieces.
Time to start my homework. Run, doll. Hide. And don’t ever, ever look under your bed.
Helen is way better than my mum in being quiet. She listens to me and does my hair and gives me gifts. She taught me tricks to make better tea and she lets me be with her when she’s baking.
If her son, Cole, wasn’t a pain in the arse, maybe I would’ve spent this hour with her instead of being alone.
They think Aiden is slightly mischievous and Xander is the bad boy, but they don’t know that Cole is a first-class wanker.
The following morning, I found out that Uncle William, Cole’s father, tripped in his pool and hit his head against the edge. He died around the time Cole was talking to me in the park.
He glared at it, then at me, before he told me to eat it in front of him. I did, secretly happy I could get my chocolate. While I was still eating, he told me I was selfish. I threw the rest of the chocolate bar on his chest and left.
“You haven’t done it to any other boys.”
“Hate me all you want, but keep our promise. All your firsts are mine.”
I sneak up behind her and hide her vision with my hands. “Guess who?”
“A beautiful girl with baby blue eyes and the shiniest blonde hair who’s wearing pink?”
“Uniform, Helen. Colours aren’t allowed, but hey, m...
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“Of course you do. If you go out there, you’ll come back with ten men.”
A wicked idea comes to mind. I can tell Papa to come pick me up early and then pretend to be asleep so he can spend some time with Helen.
I dream of Helen and Papa’s wedding. I’m smiling, happy even, and I’m wearing a princess dress like the one from that Cinderella remake, but pink.
“Pick a page, then tell me to read any line.” “That’s ridiculous. You can’t have possibly memorised the whole book.” “Then you’ll win.”
“You’re going to be my slave for a week, Cole.”
“Don’t you ever touch me again.”
I storm out of the room with tears in my eyes. I hate Cole Nash. I despise him.
I’ve been having my suspicions about Ronan. His overall joyful personality sometimes seems to be the camouflage of something.
“We’re gathered here today to celebrate the holy deflowering of Aiden King. He finally lost his virginity. Let’s hear it for him!”
“Shut the fuck up, Astor, and get down,” Aiden says from beside me. He appears bored as usual. His grey eyes are bland and about ready to commit murder to interrupt the vicious, dull cycle.
She’ll go out of her way to snitch to the principal on anyone who bullies Kimberly, but she won’t talk to her. She’ll even hurt her if she feels her ex-best friend, Kim, might get close to her.
She’s plastic. She’s becoming more and more a replica of her mother, and the worst thing is, I don’t think she even realises it. When her eyes meet mine, she pauses for a fraction of a second before she harrumphs and directs her attention at the others.
“You’ve been on the same page for ten minutes,” Aiden says from beside me, his voice low enough so that only I can hear him.
“Lie. You have a photographic memory, so you engrave pages after a minute, or is it seconds?” He pauses. “Maybe you’re distracted.”
“Silver Queens, huh? I should’ve seen it coming with the amount of time she spends with Helen.”
“In that case, is it okay if I fuck her?”
“You think I won’t be able to do it.” His smirk widens. “I love it when you underestimate me, Nash. I really, really do.”
