Chapter 51

                                    

                                          
I wake up the next morning to a silent room. It's early enough on a Thursday morning that I would've assumed Sloane to still be asleep, but the lack of a snoregasm emanating from the bed across from me suggests she's gone. 
                          
At first my only inkling is to roll over and lay back down when I notice the time being only 7:12, but then I realize the opportunity. 
                          
I sit up quickly and walk up the door, closing my eyes to search for the deeper truth. In a moment I hear everything, from the Agents talking outside the closed window, to Michaels still laboured breathing from his room down the hall. 
                          
With only seconds to spare before somebody wakes up or enters the hall I rush to the bathroom, sliding inside and shutting the door with a silent click, the lock flicking into place. 
                          
I brush my teeth before twisting the shower on, the droplets cascading down, creating a patterned thump against the porcelain tub. Pushing open the curtain I quickly strip down and climb in. The burn is a welcome feeling against my back, and as I stand under the spray I can feel the knots in my shoulders slowly dissipate. 
                          
To think that in these past few days that people have been worrying that I'd be kidnapped again, I'd just been sitting back. Either not giving a damn, or trying to get into her head. Understanding the psych of other people is supposed to be my specialty, but sometimes it's harder than others. 
                          
What really gets me is the lipstick. It's stupid, and I'm sure it's a popular color, but even Lia admitted it wasn't her regular shade, so why buy it? No way would the Lia I know buy lipstick to suit other people on purpose, and yet when I think back on her words I don't remember hearing a lie. 
                          
But maybe you just weren't watching. 
                          
Maybe I wasn't paying attention. Maybe she was lying, therefore I just didn't notice, but all in all, the situations in which she came into possession of the lipstick is one of my biggest mysteries right now. 
                          
So why? Why take the lipstick? 
                          
And Maddox? That is supposed to stay out of my head but it seems impossible right now. Kidnapped? Twice now? I've only been kidnapped once, and I don't even know if you can count it since it was my Mother. More or less a domestic dispute. Barely a blip in my past compared to everything she's done to me. 
                          
"Come on Katy... come home," I hear her say. Hot tears run down my face. I knew she'd figure it out soon enough. I knew she'd make me guilty. Running away was a spur of the moment decision and honestly, it's one of those things you really need to think about. 
                          
"I-I don't want to," I whisper. 
                          
"Katy, your Father and I didn't do anything."
                          
Liar. Just last week, on my ninth birthday she stuck me in a sauna until I passed out. I had a fever for the next five days. 
                          
All of this, and I don't know why. She calls it "training," but training for what? She refuses to tell me. Rather, she says I'll understand when I'm older. She doesn't do things like this often, but often enough for me to miss the times she treated me nicely. 
                          
"You hurt me," I murmur, my lower lip trembling. 
                          
"I'm sorry, but it was for your own good. You're better now, and I promise not do it again any time soon."
                          
I nod silently, my heart squeezing. All I want is to go home. 
                          
I just wish I'd actually heard her words. 
                          
The flashback came without warning, and my eyes fly open. 
                          
I mumble something inaudible under my breath and look down. It's nothing. Just forget it.