Chapter 28: Unraveled Past

Aurora's POV

I get up from the ground, with the journal on one hand, and walk back home. On my way, I could see the ambulance and the police driving off. I let out a sigh and wipe off a tear that just run down my cheek.

I saw Mom entering the house and I quickly catch up to her.

"Mom!" I called out. She turns around and open the door wide so I can let myself in.

"Where were you? And why are you panting?" She asked.

"That... really doesn't matter." I said. "I'm going upstairs to my room." Before I walk up the stairs, Mom gently grab my arm and give me the 'we need to talk' face.

Letting out a sigh, she motioned me to sit down on the couch. I put the journal beside me and cross my legs.

"Aurora, I know you're not being yourself for a while and I don't understand why you won't tell me what's going on. " She spoke, as I look down at my pale hands as they slightly shake uncontrollably and I hope Mom doesn't notice them.

"In what way I am... not myself?" I asked.

"You don't have much of an appetite, you're losing a bit of weight, your skin has gotten pale, you're more quiet than usual and you don't to go to school anymore." She finished. "There's obviously something wrong with you."

"It's just... you know the whole Steven thing the other day and today is just very all of the sudden." I said.

Mom let out a sigh. A frustrated yet low sigh. "And you're not going to tell me anything?"

I gulped. My hands continue to shake and I turn to look at her. "Mom... you've seen how Steven treated me lately."

"I know that his behavior nowadays is unacceptable but... I just want to know... if that's the only time he slaps or hit you or anything." She said and flashes of memories came running in my head like time lapse. Tears threatened to come out at the corners of my eyes while biting my bottom lip.

I shake my head... 'no'.

"Wait, did he hit you or hurt you before?" She asked, holding onto my hands. "Aurora, tell me!"

I gulped and gritted my teeth before opening my mouth.

"While you guys were away... he would often slap me whenever I do something wrong or whenever I didn't do what he asked me to do!" I said out loud.

"Aurora, why you didn't tell me sooner?" Mom said as I sniffled.

"He told me not to tell anyone... I want to but... I was scared of what he's going to do next if I do." I quickly wipe away the tears that just fell from eyes but new tears continued to prick out of my eyes.

Mom pulls me into a tight hug. "I'll have a talk with him and I'll tell your Dad about this."

I break the hug and I started shaking in fear. "No, no, Mom, don't!"

"Sweetie, he needs to learn and face the consequences. This is unacceptable." She said.

"But he might hurt you and I don't want you to end up getting hurt." I said, still shaking in fear as my hands tremble.

"He won't, I promise. And I'll make sure that he won't hurt you again." She said before pulling me into another hug.

Maybe this is the right thing to do. I just hug back and let all the pain and tears out.

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After the talk with Mom, I decided to head upstairs to my room. I close the door and I pull out Steven's journal from under the bed.

I noticed a bookmark on a specific page and I decided to read more of what's inside the journal. Without hesitation, I flip it open and start reading.

Entry #1

This is my first entry. I had the strangest dream last night. And that dream almost felt like being stuck in a black and white movie. But I can't tell if it's really a dream or a nightmare. The dream starts from the very beginning. I remember walking hand in hand with my Dad and Stefan and it was a cold day. Clouds painted grey, the cool air hit our faces and we were at a cemetery. It is the day visiting my mother's grave. It is also the day of our birthday. Stefan and I stayed silent as we just stare at the grey tombstone with nothing engraved on it. I don't know what's it like to have a mother. To be honest, I'm jealous of other kids who still have their mothers. Mom died after giving birth to me and Stefan. We're twins. There's nothing much to say about my dream except it's more than a dream... it's more like a memory that I want to forget.

End of entry 1.

This is just his journal. Maybe if I read deeper, there could be anything about his secrets and the things that he has done in the past.

__

So far, his entries are full of his days when he's little, nothing too serious or even happy topics. I even read his journal and Mrs. Victoria's journal back and forth. Just things written in black and white.

Until I flipped the next page, which is Entry 20.

Entry 20

Never thought I would write this far. I found a photo of my mom holding a white rose and at the back of the photo, there were these words written;

'A single white rose in my hand, as I bring its soft petals close to my lips as I kissed it, peace came to fill my mind and soul as I longed to lay on a bed of white roses before closing my eyes and sleep like there's no tomorrow.'

I wonder what it meant. Dad said white roses have always been mom's favorite. But as I looked deeper into it... it felt like Mom is writing herself a death wish.

Speaking of white roses, I remember one rose bush that stands out of the other rose bushes at the backyard. It stands out because it's the only white rose bush.

End of entry 20.

I remember the picture of his mother's corpse and it sends chills down to my spine just by remembering it.

I decided to check on Miss Victoria's journal and open it.

It's just full of newspapers pasted on the pages and it's all the events that happened here, just like what Miss Victoria said.

'KNOCK, KNOCK'

I flinched as soon as I heard knocking on the door and I quickly hide the journals somewhere safe.

"Come in." I said.

The door twisted open and it is none other than... Steven.

"I believe you have something that belongs to me." He said as he let himself enter the room and I quickly get off the bed, trying to stay as far away from him as possible.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said and I didn't stutter which is good.

"Are you sure? You better not lie to me." He said sternly, grabbing my arm and pulling me forward.

"I'm not. Now let me go." I said as I removed his hand with all my might.

He glare darkly before heading out of my room but then he punch the door as the sound 'BANG!' echoes through the house yet I didn't flinch.

Steven's POV

I knew deeply that my dear little bitch of a sister is lying to me.

If she's going to be like this, then so be it.

And she's going to regret it... soon.