The Dreamer And The Diffuser (Being Submitted to Agents)

Chapter III

“Girls, I have some bad news for you. The library we went to yesterday apparently got burned down from an accidentally left burning candle. The owner’s name is Vlada Kosov. She’s the woman who got to talk to Luna the other day.

The news also said… that there are no remaining books from the tragedy” Stella reveals to her daughters while having breakfast.

“Oh my God, how could that happen? I just met the lady and how is it even possible that there was nothing salvaged? That private library is very close to the fire station. This is just too outrageous altogether!”

Sandra keeps eating her cereal completely unfazed by the news as she already has in her bag what she needs.

“Don’t worry Sandra, we’ll find another way. I’ll do everything to find a solution for your scares. I’ll go to other libraries after school”

“You know what? I think I need some space. I want to be alone for a moment and concentrate on what’s really happening with me. Mom, I want to find a job and live alone for a while. If you could lend me some money for rent I’d truly appreciate it”

“But honey, in times like these we should be staying together. I’ll just be more worried about you if you weren’t here”

Sandra aggressively bangs her fists against their wooden dining table.

“Mom! This really isn’t about you! I’m going through a hard time right now and I need to be alone! If you are using that excuse just to avoid lending me some money then fine! I’ll stay with my friends until I get to have a job to pay my own rent!”

Sandra stands up from the table, walks into her room with a hastened pace and takes nothing but her bag and leaves home.

Her mother and sister try to stop her to no avail.

“This is my entire fault. If I have been less of a miser to you girls then your sister wouldn’t have run away. But what can I do? We are buried in debt and I can’t just let her live alone with her current condition. Who’s going to wake her up when her nightmares attack? Oh God I just wish she comes back”

Stella cries to Luna as she is sitting on the floor filled with remorse. Luna, left with no words just keeps on holding her mother until she calms down.

Three days have passed and they still have not gotten news from Sandra up until a rainy day...

“Mom, open the door!” Sandra cries eagerly knocking for someone to answer. The sight of Sandra looking ragged and pale makes her mother’s tears instantly burst.

“Oh honey! I’m so sorry! What happened to you? Where did you stay?” while holding her daughter tightly.

“Just please prepare me some food, I haven’t had anything decent since I left” 

“Alright honey, eat anything from the fridge that you see and clean yourself up while I make you something better”

“Where’s Luna?” while eating her pasta.

“She’s been looking around going to your friends’ houses and asking the neighborhood if anybody has seen you but don’t worry I already called her and told her you’re here” 

“About the thing that made you run away, I am so sorry if you felt that way. I just really didn’t want you to leave home. You and your sister are the only ones who are left in the world to take my troubles away and I’m just worried that no one would be there for you when you get your scare attacks again”

“I just… I just really want some alone time. I think it’s the best way to deal with this” 

“I’ve actually thought about it and I’m lending you some money for your down payment but promise me that you’ll live close”

“Sandra! I’ve been looking all over for you! Where did you stay for the last three days?”

“Well you were definitely not going to find me. I actually slept on the subway station”

“Thanks for looking for me though and I’m sorry for causing you trouble”

You are both really dumb. It’s not like I’m going to run away for real

She rented a small and dingy apartment about fifteen blocks from where they live and got a job as a waitress in a pub near her apartment. She is doing well at the pub and made new friends in her new environment including a pet store owner named Todd.

From her first salary, she buys a dozen of rats to supply blood for her rituals. She also purchases a jet-black hair dye and a rose. She greets the people she passes by in the neighborhood as she walks home. As soon as she arrives, she changes into her black nightgown and got some scissors. She stands in front of her dresser just beside the window. She snips her hair very short turning it into a pixie haircut. She carelessly throws her long and silky platinum blonde locks out the window and continues by applying the black dye on her hair.

She takes the scissors again and grabs a rat from a cage. She kisses it and quickly snips its body into half. She goes to the bathroom to throw the rat’s body in the toilet and flushes it. She takes a rose from the vase on her side-table and slowly takes its petals off piece by piece dropping each one to the blood-filled goblet.

She starts mixing her concoction thoroughly with grace and heads to the sink to wash her hair. She picks up her goblet and takes a sip from it.

Mmm… not bad

She gazes onto her image in the mirror with a smile. Her alabaster skin and luminous blue eyes truly complements with her new hairstyle.

She is truly a sight to behold.

She then closes the drapes, finishes her drink and goes to sleep.