Shadow

~Chapter 3~

The air feels heavy, belting down on my small body. This feeling comes around a lot, especially when you're trapped. Still laying still underneath the covers of my blankets, my heart beats incredibly fast. Why did I hit her? Why did I listen to Shadow? I don't know what to think. I don't know how to act.

"Tilly, you did the right thing. She needed to be punished. You should have hit her harder. If you ask me, I say you didn't punish her enough," his voice speaks up.

"Don't call me Tilly. I should never have listened to you, you play with my emotions like I'm a doll. I'm not your toy to play with," I reply, venom in my voice.

"But you are, my dear. You are all mine to play with," Shadow teased, making me sob slightly. "Don't cry, Tilly. Everything is fine. You did the right thing."

I suddenly hear footsteps, and my heart beat rises even more. "Oh, looks like someone is coming," Shadow singed. I dig deeper into the covers.

"What were you thinking? Why on Earth would you hit Freya?" The sound of my mother's voice came closer, making me shiver in fear.

"What am I going to do with you, Matilda? I can't do this anymore. Your father can't deal with this anymore," her voice cracks. I lift the blankets up, revealing my body. I sit up, and search the room. She's sitting on the white window sill, but is a dark grey due to the darkness of my room. I can't help but question if this is real. What if this is another game Shadow is playing on me?

She appears dark and mysterious. Her soft brown hair covers her face, but I know she's a mess. I can tell that she is silently crying. "I'm sorry Mum, Shadow—" I was cut off.

"No, Matilda! Don't you dare blame this on your imagination. Shadow is not real, when will you understand that?" Shadow laughs in the background. I dip my head in guilt.

"Mum... you can't see, hear, and smell him. But I can. He is real, he is not fake. Why would I make up a creature like him? Why would I create something to be scared of?"

"I don't know what is going on inside your head, I wish I did. But this is sick. Your turning back to hurting people. I thought we went through this stage. I thought keeping you away from contact will help you. I have obviously been wrong. You can't always fix what is broken, I guess," My mother spoke harshly. Her words always hurt the most.

"It's true, Tilly. You can fix what is broken," Shadow spoke up. I tried to ignore him, but I can't. No matter how hard I try, I just can't.

"Mum—"

"No, Matilda. No more excuses. We can not simply cope anymore. Your father and I are losing our sanity. W-we think it's best if we take a break. It will be the best for everyone. Matilda, we organised you to stay in Melbourne for a while."

She's sending me away? She can't do that, can she? "Mum—"

"It's settled. You don't have any say in this." And with that, she walked out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My mother, father and I sit at the dining table in complete silence. Well, almost complete silence, since Shadow keeps whispering in my ear.

No one seems hungry. We all pick at our food, like a bunch of vaulters. Our knifes and forks scrape our plates, making a violent sound.

"Please don't send me away. I promise I can and will change. Please," I beg, my voice changing with my plea.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. We honestly don't know what to do anymore. Your mother and I have discussed this throughly. You're going to Melbourne," Dad said softly, trying to keep me calm.

I say nothing, and stare at my food. "More adventures for us, my dear Tilly. More fun," Shadow whispered in my ear. I can tell that he is enjoying my reactions.

"So, when? When am I leaving?" I ask, annoyed. They seem to stiffen, I know that this is going to be bad. I raise an eyebrow and their hesitation.

"Umm, tomorrow—" my father said, before I cut him off.

"What?! Tomorrow?! How come you didn't tell me earlier?!" I yell, leaping out of my seat. The chair squeaks with agony.

"We've been discussing this for a while, Matilda, but only made the decision yesterday morning. Straight after you hit Freya, we knew that it was time for you to go," my father said in defence, standing up also. My mother follows suit.

"And where will I staying?! There is no way I could get into the foster system so easily and quickly!" I shout again, my voice get louder and louder.

"That's the thing..." my mother speaks up for the first time since we sat down to eat. "Your not going into the foster system, no one would accept you anyway."

"Then where am I going?" I whisper, but my parents heard me. I know they did.

They glanced at each other quickly before giving me an answer. It felt like ages before my mother spoke up. "You're going to one of their mental health units. You'll be staying there. Freya, your father and I think it will be for the best. We think—" the rest of their words goes to through one ear and out the other. They are sending me to a mental hospital? A place where complete crazy people go, in hope to get some what better? This is unbelievable, how could my parents consider sending me away?

"How dare they send us away? You're not crazy, you're perfectly sane! I think they need to pay for this, Tilly. Don't you?" Shadow's raspy voice speaks.

"Matilda, are you listening to us? This is important," Mum and Dad stare at me, sympathy glowing in their eyes.

I glare at my parents and in Shadow's direction before running back to my room, slamming the door.

This is cruel! Why am I being treated like this? I'm fine. I wont hurt anyone ever again.

"It's such a shame that no one believes you, Tilly. Such a shame..."

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Yay! Another chapter published!