The Girl Next Door

Part 17 - Iris

Part 17 - Delicious Red Lips

A/N

Hello folks! So I just put this here as a trigger warning because it covers a heavy topic, which is sexual assault (specifically attempted rape). If that's too much then definitely don't read it! I just wanted to add here that that's a thing after Iris's flashback that she goes through. Feel free to read it now, I just wanted to throw that out there!

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"Red eyes."

"He has red eyes?"

"Well no - his eyes aren't really red. They just looked so red to me. Evil.

"I waited for something to happen, like for the cops to come up and tell us this all wasn't real. Or sometimes, I wished I could disappear and dissolve like sugar does in tea. Or maybe just restart and transfer myself into a different person's shoes, transport across the world and be done with what's here. I still feel like that."

"Can you tell me what happened that night, Iris? Or what the man looked like?"

"Um... He wore all black. He covered his whole face up and everything. He was tall and he had a gun, that's how he killed mom. I think he had peachy skin, bright eyes. My mom, I was standing right behind her, kind of by her, asked him what he wanted. But he didn't talk, he just took her by her hair and pulled her away. So I yelled for Dad, but he didn't come out. And so I called 9-1-1. He came out after I told him again, and he kind of pushed me out of his way and got to her, and I followed him. And he shot her, two or three times I think. I know he shot her because she fell down and she was bleeding."

"Is that all that happened before we got there? You didn't see where the man went or hear him say anything?"

"No. I stood there and me and Dad waited."

The truth was that there were definitely words exchanged before she passed. But it wasn't his business. I wouldn't remember her last words to save myself the guilt.

"Iris, wake up, you sleep like rock!" Sophie groans. "C'mon, I've been shaking your shoulders for like an hour now!"

"It hasn't been an hour," I retort, sitting up. "You have a terrible sense of time. How'd you even get in here?"

"I have my ways, dear. Anyway, remember that it's Friday tonight and we're going to a party. Remember how you promised you'd go? And before you cancel plans because it's Amelia," she blabbers, "just know that there'll be so many people that she won't even notice you. Now hop out of bed and let's get you all dressed up and ready! You look as excited as... uh... an old sloth, in that sweater."