Page 112 of The Originals


Font Size:  

I let the possible conversation play out in my mind:

Where have you been?

Out with a friend. Where have you been every night for the past… forever?

What do you mean?

Mom, I know about your office. I know you’re not a doctor. Where is that twenty grand coming from every month? And what do you do at night? Oh, and PS, is the Original still alive?

“Okay,” I say to myself in the rearview mirror. I take a deep breath and blow it out. “You can do this.”

I put the car into drive and cruise down the driveway, then park in our usual spot. I don’t waste any time getting out and heading inside; I don’t want to lose my nerve.

In the entryway, I stand alone, listening. Waiting. There’s a TV on in the rec room; the foyer and dining room are dim. I can tell from the glow through the doorway that only the under-cabinet lights are on: Nobody’s in the kitchen.

Tentatively, I kick off my flats. I turn and lock the front door as quietly as I can. Then, holding my breath, I tiptoe up the stairs. I peek around the corner to the rec room; no one’s there, but there’s a soda on the table and a book facedown on the arm of one of the couches. I turn and look down the hall; Mom’s bedroom light is on, but her door’s closed. In about four strides, I slip into Ella’s room, carefully shutting the door behind me. I jump when the phone buzzes in my hand. The caller ID says Home; it must be Ella. I answer without saying hello.

“You made it,” she whispers.

“I did.”

“Okay, change into pj’s; I’ll come to my room and we can switch. Your bed sucks.”

I laugh quietly. “See you in a sec.”

My heart is still racing: I feel like Mom’s going to step out of the shadows at any moment. I inch my way to Ella’s closet in the dark and step inside, turning on the light only when the door’s closed. Hastily, I change into sweats and a T-shirt, leaving my clothes in a crumpled mess on the floor. When I’m searching for socks, the closet door opens.

“It’s just me,” Ella says, palms up. “Sorry.”

“I think I just had a heart attack,” I say, sighing. Then, “What the hell is she doing home?”

“I have no idea,” she says, taking off my favorite sleep T-shirt while I hand over hers. “Bet came in after they talked and she said Mom was acting really weird. Asking what we did today. I guess she asked when I was going to be home like three times.”

“Maybe she knows we know,” I say.

“Or maybe she knows about Sean and she’s checking up on us.”

“This is getting insane,” I say, grabbing a rubber band from a hook and tying back my hair like Ella’s. “I mean, she’s starting to act like a prison warden, don’t you think?”

Ella just shrugs, but it’s weak. I know she agrees with me.

“Sean thinks we should tell someone,” I say.

“Like who? The police or something?”

“I think he meant his mom, but just someone,” I say. “He’s worried about us.”

“Are you sure he’s not just interested in seeing you more often?” Ella says. It comes off as a little defensive; she changes the subject. “Oh, hey, Bet said that Petra scanned some of her baby pictures. I guess it’s freakish how much she looked like us. She said she sent her school picture, too.”

“Bet seems pretty positive that she’s Beth,” I say.

“I don’t think she’s positive,” Ella says. “I think she just sort of wants her to be the Original. But it’s so weird: I mean, how did she end up with different parents… in Portland? Even though she looks just like us, I’m not completely sold. I think the only way we could ever know for sure is a DNA test.”

“How would we even do that?” I ask.

“Online,” Ella says like it’s nothing. “You swab your cheek and they’ll tell you if you’re a sibling match.”

“But we’re not si—”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like