New Beginnings

Chapter 1

Warning, this story contains dark scenes with graphic detail that some readers may find distressing.

“Lilith Archfiend?”

A woman in a dark blue scrub suit called out as she entered the room. Her shoulder-length honey coloured hair perfectly framed her pelican face. She gave me a small and gentle smile, one that I am not overly familiar with. After all, this place was a hellhole. Penelope, that’s her name. She’s the one who usually comes over to take me to the doctor for my daily therapy session, and sometimes she would offer to sit with me during lunch. She was the only nurse around here who never treated me like an animal, and she knew the truth. She was the only person in here whom I bothered to tell the real story about my parents’ death too. To my surprise, I think she believed most of what I said. I hoped so. I didn’t want her to think of me in that way. You know, like a monster.

“Your guardians are here to pick you up.” She announced. “They’re signing your release papers as we speak. If you’re not finished packing yet, I can help you with anything else you need.”

I shook my head. “I’m good. I don’t have that much stuff anyway.” Well, not anymore.

She nodded as she looked over my bed, seeing that it was all tidied up and what was left was a small, leather bag.

Penelope gave me a sad smile as she walked over to me and sat at the foot of the bed. “How do you feel?”

I shrugged. “Happy. Nervous. I don’t know what to expect.” I was glad to be getting out of the place, but I couldn’t stop that nagging feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.

“Well, I’m sure your new guardians are pleased to have you with them. They seemed happy when I met them filling out your paperwork.” Penelope replied as she rested a hand on my lap,

rubbing it reassuringly.

“Do you know who they are?” I asked. The supervisor told me this morning that I was finally being released, but she didn’t fill me in on who was going to pick me up. I didn’t have any close family members from both my parents’ side, so I can’t assume who it could be.

“It’s your father’s older brother, if I remember correctly. He is the one who signed the papers, and I assume the blonde woman with her is his wife.”

I frowned. Uncle Robert? Huh, that’s unusual. It’s been years since he came to visit us, and the last time, I remember he got into a fight with my dad which is the reason we never met him or his family again. It seemed heated, plus my dad had a face like thunder for a few days after.

Maybe he’s had a change of heart when he heard the news. Perhaps he doesn’t believe what people are saying about me.

“Hey,” Penelope softly called, which brought me back from my thoughts. “You don’t look so

Happy.”

I shook my head and forced out a smile. “I’m just trying to recall his face. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him.

Penelope looked unconvinced, but she decided to let it slide. “If you say so. But if you need anything, do not hesitate to call me, okay?” The kindness made a lump form in my throat. I was going to miss her. She then proceeded to take out a piece of paper from her front pocket and handed it to me. It was her phone number. I suddenly felt tears welling up in my eyes as I shoved the paper inside the pocket of my worn-out jeans and gave her a tight hug.

“I’ll miss you. Thanks for everything.” I whispered as I hugged her tighter. Penelope was my light in this dark pit. Everyone else in this institution treated us like outcasts and would hurt us anytime they got the chance—even for the slightest and most irrelevant reasons.

“I’ll miss you too, dear. So much.” She sighed, and I could hear a few sniffles coming from her, telling me that she was crying too. I hesitantly let go of her, and she wiped the tears from my cheeks, smiling as she then proceeded to tuck a strand of red hair behind my ear. It was a move my father had done so many times before. “Hair as red as the fires of hell.” He would say. I swallowed back a sob from the memory. Now wasn’t the time to revisit the past.

“We should go now. It’s time.”

Before we left my room, I took one last look at it, reminiscing all those times when I would break down crying, wanting to leave this place as soon as I got here. Those nights when I was left all alone with my dark thoughts, being unable to sleep at night, all while mourning over the loss of my parents and being confused as to how I ended up in here. People thought I was crazy.

Those things that killed my parents. They weren’t human. Red eyes that seemed to glow. Teeth so large I can only describe them as vampire teeth. The doctors said that was just my imagination. These four walls then trapped me with my emotions and the dark thoughts that whispered in my head. And now that I was finally free from this, I no longer had to suffer staring at the same white walls that suffocated me and allowed my nightmares to run free.

I followed Penelope down the hallway that led to the elevators, the judging eyes of staff following me as we passed. When I got here a year ago, word had already spread about the girl who killed her parents with a kitchen knife was caught red-handed by the police. I became famous that night I was dragged into this hell. And yet, even up to this day, they still stare at me with the same criticizing eyes that looked down on me as if I was the most hideous creature who walked this building. The truth didn’t matter to them. Just what they assumed.

The elevator ride to the main floor was quiet, and I couldn’t help but feel nervous as I fiddled with the strap of my bag, wondering how my new guardians would welcome me. Did they believe what the police had said? Did they think I killed my parents? How will they treat me, knowing that I am a murderer in their eyes?

The elevator doors opened and revealed the main floor where nurses and other staff members were bustling around with papers, medical kits, and food trays. Penelope led us to the front desk, and I could make out Uncle Robert’s raven hair that stood out from the others, slightly hunched over as he continued to focus his attention on the papers in front of him. Aunt Peggy,

his wife, stood just next to him, looking annoyed as she looked down at her polished red nails. I swallowed the lump in my throat as we reached them. When Aunt Peggy noticed me, a surprised look appeared on her face as she stared me down head-to-toe.

“Mr and Mrs Archfiend, I present to you, Lilith,” Penelope announced with a smile as she stepped out of the way and Uncle Robert stopped what he was doing to look at me. His nostrils flared at the sight of me. Nevertheless, he gave me a smile that looked too forceful as he neared me and gave me a quick hug.

“It’s nice to finally see you again, dear. It’s been so long.” He said a little too dryly and quickly, and let go before I could even wrap my arms around him. Aunt Peggy smiled and opened her arms out to me for a hug, and I smiled nervously as I walked up to her and hugged her back. Without saying anything, she let go instantly before slightly pushing me away, and I stepped back, bewildered. Dread and worry slowly began inching in my gut as I watched Uncle Robert sign the last paper with a flourish, and the old woman behind the desk thanked him and told us that we were free to go. I looked behind where Penelope still stood, hoping that she had noticed the strange behaviour coming from my new guardians, but sadly, she seemed oblivious.

I decided to just let it go and tried to convince myself that I was overthinking things and blamed

it on my anxiety that I haven’t met other people outside the institution for the past year. I kept

my hope up as I gave Penelope a smile and one last hug before I left the building with Uncle

Robert and Aunt Peggy.

I could smell the sweet aroma of fresh air and wet pavement as we walked outside and into the parking lot, feeling happy and relieved to be finally away from the darkness that consumed me for the past 365 days. We finally reached my uncle’s blue car and I got inside. The sudden, dead quiet that quickly filled the air made my heart stop as I watched how Uncle Robert turned to look at me in the backseat with anger in his dark eyes.

“You look so much like your mother. And I hate it.” He grumbled as he inserted the car keys and the engine roared to life. The feeling of happiness and a fresh start slowly left my senses as we drove away from the hospital and out to the rest of the world. His words echoed in my thoughts. We do share the same bright red hair and green eyes. Looking in the mirror brought back memories I’d rather bury deep inside. Sighing, I shook the thought from my mind.

“Don’t act too excited, dear.” Aunt Peggy said as she let out a bitter chuckle. “We only agreed to adopt you for the money we’re getting.”

“Did you honestly think we would even consider taking you in? After what you did to your parents?” Uncle Robert asked, followed by a snort. “You’re a fucking murderer, that’s what you are. And you’re no family member of ours. Just a charity ward.”

My heart dropped to my stomach after hearing what I heard. Fear and worry creeped up to my chest as my mind went over the possibilities of this new life ahead of me. After being imprisoned for something that I didn’t do, leaving that place was the only hope I had. Now I was going to live in a whole new purgatory with people I even considered as family.