The Deranged: Pt 1 Chapter 11

“You need to got see Mama and Daddy.”1

Potter looked up and gawked at her mother. In all her lie she had ever heard her mother speak directly of her grandparents, let alone call them ‘mama’ or ‘daddy’. Potter stared dumbly and slightly shook her head. Monica leaned against the post. “You’re almost a full grown woman now Pots It would be a shame not to take advantage of that and she how much money you can squeeze out of them.”2

“I don’t want any money for them. If we’re about to hit hard ties Ma…” Potter didn’t finish her sentence because she expected her mother to. Monica looked back behind her before entering her children’s room and shutting the door. The woman slid to the ground and brought her head to her hands. Slowly she rubbed her forehead, trying to rid herself of her headache. Monica knew her daughter very well. That’s what gave her a headache. She knew that once this was all over, they would all have to make a choice3

“What makes you hate them so much? As is it from my diligent teachings?”4

Potter shrugged and looked down. The girl didn’t have an answer.5

“Then why the hell don’t you want to go? Damn it Potter I swear I can ever tell what wrong with that red hair of yours. Besides it being red.” The woman slapped her knee and cackled before returning to her seriousness. “You’re going girl. They want to see you and you’re going.”6

Potter looked up indignant. “You sure as hell can’t make me.”7

“You wanna bet? I’ll tan you hide right now. I’m still your mother goddamnit!”8

“What happened to me being almost a woman?”9

Monica stopped and thought. That little bitch has got too mush spunk for her own good. God I love her. “I that’s the beauty of almost. It means you ain’t there yet. And until you reach that point you do what I say. Unless you want to end up in that home again. You’re going to do what I say. And I said you’re going to visit you’re grandparents. And if I have to physically make you, you won’t be happy.”10

Potter snorted. She doubted that Monica was in any condition to force anyone into doing anything. But Potter didn’t press it. Her mother could be particularly vicious while drunk. Potter hung her head and snapped back up when something hit it.11

“Read that. It’ll prep you for meeting them. And I wouldn’t suggest wearing that.” Potter looked down at her. What did it matter what she wore. But she didn’t answer her head hurt to much. Potter rubbed her head with the hand that geld the letter. A strange pungent smell attacked her nose. She sniffed her hand and discovered it came from the letter. She opened it up and gazed down at its contents. As opposed to a lengthy note of concern a short line was present in the middle of the page.12

Monica,13

I would like to say that I hope this reaches you while you are well but that would be a lie. You have always been a deceitful, but this time you have gone to far. Yohanna and I cannot even begin to express our disappointment in you. You were the most difficult of your sisters, but to think that you would go to such lengths…I am not at liberty to divulge my knowledge of this incident in this letter. You need to come to us and explain yourself. What happens next I don’t know but you need to come now. Before it becomes too late for us to help you.14

Sincerely, Charles 15

Potter crumpled up the note furious. She didn’t know who this Charles was but she would like nothing better than to give him a swift kick in the ass. Potter. Pulled off her sweat pants and looked around for her combat boots. This visit would call for some series clothes. After rifting through both her and Daisy’s wardrobe, Potter had found some body armor leggings with laced out skulls. Over that she wore a dark silver flirt skirt. On her torso she slipped on Daisy’s fishnet Goth top and wore two black beaters underneath. Potter played with her hair a bit and finally fastened it into a bun. Then her last piece was a blue-black wig. Red lip and dark eyes completed her look. She dared anyone to mess with her The size eight combat boots would teach them a lesson. Potter snatched up the note and reread it. 16

There was no address on it. Not that she was eager, but it was common courtesy. But who ever Charles was, he hadn’t learned that, and Potter was now fixed on teaching him that lesson. Potter folded the note up and slipped it into her cleavage. She took a last look in the mirror. A stranger stared back at her. Her face had been robbed of its originality, not even her twin could have recognized her. Who is that? Potter thought to herself. It seemed that she was on hyper drive autopilot, even the bubbly feeling from nights ago was back. Potter felt a surge of energy. But also a dread rumbled in her gut. She didn’t know why but it didn’t feel safe going out to wherever.17

Potter shook herself slightly. She knew that her nerves were just getting to her, that and the weird smell from the letter. Potter tried her combat boots for flexibility before opening her door. Potter stepped into the middle of the apartment and looked around. A faint melody came from her mother’s room. Potter took a deep breath and cautiously entered Monica’s bedroom.18

The woman was no were to be seen. Potter looked around. She was almost certain no one was home until a stiletto came catapulting her way. Potter feinted to the left and the heel grazed passed. Potter inched over to the woman’s closet, wary of any other hazardous flying objects. “Ma?” A muffled reply came from the closet. “Mom, I can’t hear you.” 19

Monica crawled out on her hands and knees from her closet. The woman was flushed in the face and wore a slightly crazed look. “I said, ‘What are you still doing here’. You should have left long ago.” Her eyes traveled up and down her daughter. “When I said change I didn’t mean that drastic. But at least you wore black.”20

Potter frowned, “What’s so special about the color black?”21

“I don’t…remember. But I do know that it’s good you wore it. Oh, don’t go alone honey. Something just doesn’t feel right. And I’m, well just don’t go on your own. You’ve never been in that part of town.” Monica scratched her head as if she had forgotten something. Then she crawled back into her closet leaving Potter alone. The girl stood confused for a moment. Her mother had just shone a small piece of compassion and a whole new treasure of secrets had just been opened. But Potter closed the trove and focused on her current task. Potter looked to her mother’s bed and snagged the leather coat and left the apartment.22

Right as she closed the door Potter ran into someone heading down. Potter fell against the door and took awhile to recover. She stood back up and straightened her wig as she cursed. “What the hell is wrong with you? Fuck! Can’t you walk without knocking bitches off their feet?”23

“I’d never call you a bitch Potter.” The girl looked up into sweet pale blue eyes. Aiden. Potter stood still and blinked what was he doing here. Aiden looked her up and down measuring her. Then he formed an iron grasp around her wrist and pulled her down the steps. Aiden moved at such a pace the Potter was forced to jump over a myriad of ledges to keep from tripping. When they came to the second floor, she missed one and fell.24

“Fuck, Aiden stop!” Potter sat crumpled trying to catch her breath. She needed a minute to relax. And she still didn’t know why Aiden was there. “Aiden…”25

“Goddamnit it’s eleven at night!” Mrs. Hagan’s grizzly head poked out of her apartment sporting several perm rods. The perturbed woman looked out into the hallway and smiled. “So it’s you again? I’ll have your whole family put out. Don’t think I don’t know what goes on in that upstairs. I can smell it.” The woman rubbed her nose and sniffed. Potter slowly got to her feet. She was getting tired of the old hag’s complaints. “You haven’t had your sense of smell since that fire years ago. You’ve got nothing on us. Just go back in you place and leave my family alone.”26

The woman opened her door and stepped out. She raised a gnarled finger, preparing to tell Potter off but Aiden intervened. He took one quick step forward to get Mrs. Hagen’s attention. When the woman looked up, Aiden narrowed his eyes and focused his gaze. The woman stopped short at the sight of his piercing blue eyes. Her expression lazed then began to pale the longer she stared. Aiden spoke softly with authority. “You will do as she says.” The woman slumped against the wall and began to whimper. Potter’s eyes widen. A faint mist began to flow out of Mrs. Hagen’s mouths. Her eyes dimmed and began to lose their color. Potter tapped Aiden’s shoulder lightly. 27

The boy fixated his mysterious gaze onto Potter. His eyes are so bright. The boy slowly turned his body so he faced Potter completely. Potter stumbled back wards. Aiden’s features were glowing; even his skin gave off light. “Aiden, are you all right?” The boy just walked forward with deliberate pace. Potter’s back came in contact with the concrete stairwell. She looked down the steps and saw a red car waiting with its lights on. Either it was Aiden’s or someone else’s. But a get away either way. Before she could react an iron grip forced her chin forward. Potter tried to resist but her head turned any way. Aiden leaned in tilting his head to the right. Potter scowled in spite of her pain. No way! With all her strength she slammed the heel of her palm against Aiden’s jaw. Then she cried out. His jaw was like pure steel. Her hand and arm stung from the impact. Aiden’s other hand gripped her wrist firmly and almost crushed it. He leaned in and brushed his lips lightly against her ear. “Don’t ever resist me again.” Then Aiden half dragged Potter down the steps to the red car.28