Chapter 2

Sophie didn't say a word as she pulled out the red first aid kit she kept under the sink. The room was a small cramped space with old tiled counters and a rusted old sink, the only thing remotely new being the oven. Everything else was at least ten years old.

"Are you mad at me?" Arder asked. She jumped up onto the small counter space, careful not to hit her head on the cupboard above.

"Of course I'm not mad. I just worry about you," Sophie said, dropping the small kit next to Arder. She reached up and opened the single cupboard, as only one could fit in the small kitchen. Sophie took down one of the mugs and filled it with water from the dispenser.

"I'm fine Soph. I just can't believe that car almost hit me." She took the mug from Sophie's hands and gulped down the drink. "Thanks," she said, dropping the mug into the basin.

Sophie pulled out the rubbing alcohol and a small packet from the first aid kit. She ripped open the small package, revealing mini pieces of tissue. Uncapping the bottle of alcohol, she held it upside down onto one of the napkins. "That comment about seeing you soon though, that was weird, wasn't it?"

Before Arder could answer, Sophie pressed the tissue to her left knee. It stung even more than it had before, but Arder knew it would help so she bit back the cry of pain that bubbled up inside of her. "Yeah I thought so too," she said through gritted teeth.

Sophie dabbed at the wound until there was nothing but a few red lines across her knee. "Well you'll probably never see him again. From now on walk through the alley. It's safer than that street," Sophie chastised, before moving onto the next injury.

Arder took in a sharp breath when the tissue made contact with the skin of her right leg. "Have you seen some of the people in that alley? It's the opposite of safe."

Sophie shook her head. "I go that way all the time." Satisfied with her work, she stepped back and asked, "How are your hands?" When Arder held them out for her to see, Sophie sighed and grabbed another napkin. "You should go home after; I think I'm going to close up early," she said, quickly cleaning up the other girl's hands.

"Are you sure? I can help."

"I got it," Sophie confirmed, finishing up. "Do you need a ride?"

Arder shook her head. "I can walk," she said, jumping off the counter. "See you tomorrow."

Sophie cleared her throat, grabbing Arder's

attention before she could leave. "Take the alley," she reminded. "It'll be empty by this time."

Arder sighed, but still walked over to the back of the room and slid open the heavy metal door. She emerged into the cold night, sealing the door behind her. The rain had stopped and the alley was empty, just as Sophie had predicted.

She followed it as far as it went before turning back onto a road. The change in the neighbourhoods was immediate. Judging by the gargantuan homes that flanked the sides of the street, it was quite obvious that she had entered the upper class side of town.

Her house, a two-story mansion that belonged to her stepfather, was the second one down the main lane and only ten minutes away from Sophie's. It was a tall house of dark brick, with white columns on each side of the detailed windows. The usual light grey walkway that led to the front door was stained from the rain, and leaves littered the front lawn. It often looked too perfect, as if no one actually lived there.

Arder missed her old one-story house, located on the other side of town. Some considered it as the "bad" part of the city, but it was Arder's home. She didn't care for the mansion-- it had always felt cold and empty. Their old house had been owned by her grandmother, Sofia. It was a small cluttered place that her mother insisted on selling after Sofia had died.

Arder pulled her heavily decorated keychain out of her bag and searched for the right key. Finally identifying it, she put it into the lock and turned. She immediately rushed over to a keypad on a nearby wall when the loud alarms blared throughout the empty building. Her mom was probably still at work, even if she didn't have anything left to do. Adam, her step-dad, always had an infinite pile of work, meaning her mother had to wait for him to finish as they drove home together.

The long corridor of the house was dimly lit, all the lights having been left off except the few lining the hall. They gave off just enough light to illuminate the paintings Adam had been collecting over the years.

Arder followed the marble hallway, leaving her shoes in a small closet. The large white kitchen was at the end of it, looking like it belonged in a store more than in a house. There was no evidence that anyone had actually used it because of its impeccable condition. Arder opened the double-doored fridge and grabbed a tinfoil-covered bowl of pasta. Without heating it up, she walked into the cold living room.

Sitting down on one of the long leather couches, she grabbed the television remote and turned on the tv. She turned the volume up and picked at her dinner. Her knees were still stinging from the fall, but thanks to Sophie's help they hurt much less than before.

She gave up on eating after a while and set the bowl down to focus on the movie she had found. Eventually, she managed to fall asleep. Unfortunately that only meant that the dreams that haunted her every night returned: they were the kind of dreams that made her resent sleep and kept her awake late into the night. They weren't necessarily nightmares. They were just memories she wanted to forget because they reminded her of what she had lost.

---

Her six-year-old self stood in her old kitchen with her grandmother. The space was small and rustic, but it was home. Her grandmother's cropped grey hair made her look much older than she actually was, but her dark brown eyes were warm and always comforted Arder.

"Grandma, did you know my dad?" The toddler asked with begging eyes.

Her grandmother smiled and sat next to her at the table."Yes Ardersa, but you know you're supposed to talk to your mother about him, not me," she replied, kissing the little girl's cheek.

"But she won't talk to me. She's always at work," Arder continued, tears welling up in her eyes. "She never comes home."

"You know she's busy, love. Here, come with me." Sofia reached into a cupboard and slid the back of the wooden panelling off. This made Arder gasp-- she had never known about this hiding place.

Her grandmother held up a beautiful red stone necklace.

"It's beautiful, Grandma," Arder breathed.

"Your father left it for you and asked me to give it to you when you were old enough to take care of it," she replied. She opened the clasp and reached over to close it around Arder's neck. "Just don't tell your mother," she whispered.

Arder just grinned up at her and nodded.