Chapter 9 9

I smiled, and the two of us enjoyed the teenage night together. We danced and swayed to the music and had alcoholic drinks, forgetting that I was only 15 years old. I didn't care about my age right now, it seemed like the world was making peace with my soul that wanted to be free.

"Arnold, how are you going to go back home?"

"I'm with my friend."

"What if I give you a ride home? I don't mind. I happen to have my car."

The two of us went home together, and it felt very awkward sitting next to him in the car.

"Arnold, how are your parents?"

"Kindyl, my parents gave me freedom, but that freedom led me into a dark place."

"Haha, what do you mean? Why are you talking like that? My parents used to force me to stay home, not allowing me to play, and even asked me to take care of my younger sibling. It was very difficult and annoying."

"Never judge a book by its cover."

His sentence was short but it resonated deeply with me, perhaps because Arnold said it with a very sad and poignant tone.

"Hey Arnold."

I turned towards Arnold, not finding anyone, which made me chuckle and shiver.

"Was I dreaming earlier? I must have been dreaming. Then, who was I enjoying the party with?"

I returned home with a still trembling and shivering body. What actually happened? Why does this feel so strange and terrifying?

"I'm back, Mom and Dad!"

I heard a horrifying sound from inside the room, like a cry for help but not very clear, prompting me to rush into the room.

"Mom! Dad!"

I saw both of my parents inside captivity, their hands and feet bound, and their mouths covered with black tape. I immediately untied them and removed the tape.

"Elise!!"

We hugged tightly, I cried and was still frightened, looking at my parents who had endured a horrifying captivity.

"Alcohol?" Mom looked at me with an angry and deeply disappointed expression.

"What have you done!"

I even received a slap on my cheek, and it stung badly. I was still confused about why Mom slapped me and got angry after smelling alcohol on my clothes.

"Why did you slap me, Mom?"

"How many times do I have to warn you to stay away from teenage parties, huh? You're only 15, and you dare to drink alcohol?"

I stared at Mom with a hateful look. I couldn't accept her scolding and slapping me like this, especially since she had given me permission to go before. Why now?

"Both Mom and Dad gave me permission to go to the party, why are you both getting angry and slapping me like this?"

"It must be that demon, he's the one who turned you into a naughty girl."

"Demon? Who? Where?"

I heard my little sister crying, a different kind of crying this time, sounding very sad and making anyone who heard it feel sad too.

"I have to see my sister."

I ran out of my parents' room, climbed the stairs, and went to find out where the crying was coming from.

"Weird."

Slowly, the crying faded away and was replaced by loud noises from my parents' room, like something breaking. I ran downstairs to see what was happening to my parents.

"You're back, Elise?"

I saw Mom standing by her bedroom door, carrying a small bag hanging from her shoulder. I was even more confused.

"Why do you look so puzzled? Mom and Dad just got back from a friend's house."

"What?! How can that be?"

"Elise, what are you talking about? Mom already told you before you left, right?"

I remembered, and it was true they had told me they were going to a friend's house, so I was free to come back whenever I wanted. Mom put her arm around my shoulder.

"Maybe you were just sleepy and not fully focused on what you saw. How about we sleep together, would you like that?"

Sleep together?! Even Mom had never allowed me to get close to her, and now she was asking me to sleep with her.

"Come on, let's sleep together."

The three of us slept on the bed, and I saw my little sister sleeping in the same room, in her crib.

"Good night, sweet girl."

Mom kissed my forehead and hugged me. I felt very comfortable in her embrace, but I couldn't find the warmth that usually came from my mother's body, only a cold sensation that made me shiver.

"Why does it feel so cold?"