Off the Deep End || Sequel to ATF

2.

LIZA: DREAM 1.

I'm back. Back at that place where I lost all of my dignity. But it isn't me on that rickety ass bed anymore. It's a little blonde girl. She can't be older than I was - she looks even younger. Her cheeks are still round and rosy. She looks about seven or eight. How disgusting of Him. She's curled into a little ball, sobbing. She has to be the one who took my spot. I try to reach out to her, to comfort her, to soothe her pain. As I feel her warm back, my hand slips right through it. She continues crying, clearly not sensing my hand. I sit on the bed beside her, my presence ignored again. I wish I ould wrap my arms around her. A man bursts into the room. It's Him. I can't bear to speak or think his name. He grabs her arm and tosses her across the room.

"Ten dollars? Ten FUCKING DOLLARS?"

"I- I'm sorry! They all said the wanted the - the girl who was h-here before me. I'm sorry, sir, I'm so so sorry, I -"

He slaps her across the face. Just when shes recovered, he does it again. She sobs even harder.

"Shut the fuck up, you pussy. You don't deserve to cry. No dinner. For a week. You could lose the weight, you pig. If you make less than this tomorrow... Dress yourself up or something. That's what she did."

He toes her over for good measure, making her tip and fall. When she opens the door, she tries to scramble forward. His lips curl up into a cruel smile. He leaves the door open just a crack. She reaches the door, grabbing for the handle. Just like that, it slams in her face and the door locks. She claws at it until her fingers are full of splinters.

"NO! No, please! Let me out, let me OUT!"

The bed beside her disappears, and slowly I fade out of the dream and back into reality.

Liza's POV

I wake up in a cold sweat. David lays beside me, his lips curled in a smile. He must be having a good dream. I sit up and get out of bed slowly. Shit. I can only hope it isn't real, that He let it side ad didn't replace me. I walk to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I sip on it slowly, letting the cold wake me up. I sit on the couch and turn the TV on the lowest volume.

"Well would you believe this story? A young girl has gone missing. She's been missing for around a week now. She was last seen at her elementary school NIRL. Her name is Maia Greenberg. If you have any info on her whereabouts, please call 911. We can only hope for the best."

A slow ring rises in my ears and I drop my cup. No fucking way. She looks exactly like the girl I just saw in my dream!

"Liza?"

David stands in the hallway, groggily rubbing his eyes.

"Sorry, it's fine. I just... it's nothing. Go back to sleep."

He takes that for an answer, turning back around. I watch a little more TV, and go back to bed.

Maia's POV

I've got to get out of here. I don't know why this man took me. Well, actually, I do. Bu I don't know why he chose me. All I'd wanted to do was help him fit the stroller in his truck. I should've known. He's really mad. He hit me a bunch today because only one person came to my room. The older girls said they'd help me get ready tomorrow. I'm so exited! I ge to wear makeup and everything. I don't know if I really like it though. It's really tiring, and it kinda hurts. But I'm already used to it. He won't let us say His name, we just have to say that. But it's not so bad. He gave me a Gameboy today cause I'm new. It's really old. But I works, and that's something. I heard my name on TV today. It made Him cuss a lot. I wanna find the girl before me and ask her how she got to popular. I think she must be really pretty.

NO WAY! Yes, the House is back. I wanted to continue with this concept, at least for this book. Let me know if you like it. Once again, thanks for that vote (hint hint) and read (hin- oh wait you already read the chapter lmao). I'll be having an OPEN CHAPTER CONCEPT CONTEST!!!! Write a chapter and I'll include it in the book! You can DM it to me via Wattpad. As always, sorry for typos.

thx babes!