Chapter Text
Silk-threaded bed sheets, warm blankets, fluffy pillows, sunshine streaming inside her room from the window.
And there laying on ‘the best bed in the house’ - as she always declared - was little Lauren Sinclair, soundly asleep.
“Lauren? Lauren, are you awake?” Lucy called from downstairs.
“Lauren?” Lucy decided it was futile and gave up calling Lauren's name, it was always hard to wake her up from her slumber. She walked up the stairs, turned right past the portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, and stopped in front of Lauren’s room.
“Lauren? Wake up, you have a big day today!” Lucy said as she twisted the doorknob, revealing a sleepy Lauren. Flower-printed walls to the left, and to the right, against the wall lay a little white vanity with a gold-encased mirror, featuring a rose water perfume titled An Aromatic Dream .
Lucy smiled at the figure of the dozing girl, wrapped in her blankets, sleeping peacefully as a little puff of air escaped from her mouth. Lucy gently shook the girl, attempting to wake her. Lauren barely stirred. Sighing, Lucy briefly put her hands on her hips before trying again, more forcefully this time.
“Mmmmm.. Five more minutes...” Lauren grumbled as she turned to the other side.
“Don’t ‘five more minutes’ me!” Lucy huffed. “This is the only day your parents are off. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the carnival with them?”
“The carnival . . . THE CARNIVAL!” Lauren yelled as she jerked up suddenly, flipping off her covers, leaving her room and Lucy in her wake as she headed down the hall to the bathroom.
Lucy sighed as she made Lauren’s bed. “That girl. Just like her mother, I can tell you that." The woman simply shook her head and continued her mutterings—to no one in particular—with a smile.
Meanwhile, Lauren eagerly went about her morning routine. Humming to herself as she brushed the knots out of her hair.
Lauren picked up a tiny wooden stool, just her size, and plopped it in front of the sink. One foot, then the other foot. She stood atop the stool, feeling tall. She sighed. When will I grow taller? In resignation, she picked up her toothbrush and began brushing her teeth, daydreaming about the day ahead of her. Cotton candy, candied apples, she was delighted with all the treats she would soon be able to indulge in. And most of all, seeing Dylan.
His eyes, as blue as the night sky.
That’s not right.
Her image in the mirror deforms, a version of her older self appearing instead. Lauren rubbed her eyes. Weird, she thought to herself. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.
Let’s focus on getting ready for the day, shall we?
“Okay.” Lauren said in a monotonous tone. She then picked up the toothbrush, put toothpaste on it, and brushed her teeth.
She spit then rinsed her mouth with water then spit again.
Then she heard a knock on the bathroom door.
“Lauren? Lauren, are you done in there?” It was Lucy, probably going to tie her hair with a yellow ribbon.
Wait, how did she know?
Reset.
With almost a robotic demeanor, Lauren brushed the tangles out of her hair and stood on the tiny wooden stool. She reached for her toothbrush, turned on the faucet, and began brushing her teeth. Swishing the water between her teeth she stared blankly in the mirror.
“Lauren, sweetie, are you done in there?” called Lucy from outside the door.
Lauren finished rinsing her mouth and opened the door with a grin. “Lucyyy!” she beamed, giving the woman a hug out of the blue.
“Oh dear,” Lucy chuckled, “You must be excited for today.”
“Of course I am! I get to spend the whole day with my mommy and daddy and have a lot of fun. Plus, cotton candy!” She gave a toothy smile, showing off her freshly brushed teeth.
“Oh yeah? Well be sure to not eat too much, you don’t want cavities!” Lucy laughed, she was always all smiles when it came to little Lauren.
“Yup! I promise.”
“Okay good, now let’s get you dressed, hm?” Lucy said as she headed out of the restroom.
“Okay.” But Lauren didn’t follow her out. Instead, she looked back at the mirror and didn’t see her reflection. Rather, a darker, older Lauren stared back at her. This Lauren’s eyes were cold and dull, as if the hardships she experienced chipped away at her soul, leaving only a hollow husk of a person. She blinked. The mirror reverted to the reflection of a little girl, with bright eyes, a cheeky smile, and fiery red hair. She stared for a second, observing herself, then decided that she must have imagined it.
She caught up to Lucy, who was already in her room, laying out Lauren’s clothes for the day. They were all yellow, her favorite color—the shade of the sun, a bright, happy color, one of youth.
Lucy saw Lauren in the doorway. “Oh come here you little rascal!”
Lauren obliged, not speaking as she stood in front of her large mirror while Lucy dressed her.
“So,” Lucy said, trying to form small talk. “What were you guys planning to do at the carnival?”
Lauren instantly perked up and began counting off with her fingers, “We’re gonna get cotton candy! And ice cream! And uhhh...” she paused, taking a moment to think. “And getting my portrait done! I want my face to be on the halls like Mommy and Daddy.”
“Sounds like you have the whole day planned out,” Lucy said, moving onto Lauren’s hair, taking care to tie it in a perfect bow.
“Is it yellow?”
“What?” Lucy stopped abruptly, trying to take in what Lauren just said.
“Is. The. Ribbon. Yellow?” Lauren repeated in a more pressing manner.
Lucy was taken aback, shocked by the sudden seriousness of Lauren’s expression. She glanced at the ribbon in her hand and replied, “Well, yes, it is yellow. It’s your favorite color, is it not? Why do you ask?” Her eyes narrowed, eyebrows knitted in confusion, this behavior was out of character for Lauren.
Lauren seemed content with that answer and smiled, not bothering to answer the question. Lucy looked puzzled but did not pry any further, continuing to fix the young girl’s hair.
“There. All done.” Lucy took a step back and gestured for the girl to take a look in the mirror, clearly proud of her handiwork. “Well, how do you like it?” she prompted.
Lauren glanced at the mirror, focusing on her reflection and Lucy’s work. It was great workmanship, she had to admit. But all she could focus on right now was the woman in the mirror.
“Lauren? Lauren, do you like it or not? Making me nervous, heh.”
Lucy said anxiously, fidgeting with her apron.
The Lauren in the mirror looked clearer than before, she couldn’t dare look away.
Her face, covered in bruises, and eyebags, as dark as the night. Her complexion, as pale as the moonlight, accentuated its blemishes. Her clothes, tattered and bloody, with slight burns.
The world around her seemed to fade, it was only Lauren and her reflection. Lauren didn’t risk a blink, for the image in the mirror might disappear if she looked away for even a second. The reflection simply stared back at Lauren with a menacing look, forceful, angry. Clouded with so much emotion. But hidden under those feelings, was remorse. Sadness, forgiveness, regret. The result of a tragic life, riddled with misfortune, one after the other. Where she went tragedies followed, like a lion chasing and tracking its prey. Lauren was its prey, haunted by its unwanted companionship, having known it all too well.
“Lauren? Lauren!” Lucy called in concern, for the young girl had been unresponsive, her gaze fixated on the mirror. Lauren snapped out of it instantly, her expression changing to a normal, happy-go-lucky expression.
“Sorry about that Lucy, I zoned out for a second. Just admiring myself, haha!” Unconvinced, Lucy simply nodded, she didn’t have time to focus on Lauren’s abnormal behavior. She had to get her ready for breakfast with her parents and an outing with them after all. She ushered the girl downstairs to the dining room where her parents sat.
“May I present, Lady Lauren Sinclair.” Lauren bowed in a sparkly yellow dress, with a white bow at the waistline of the dress.
Atop her head was a yellow ribbon that held back her fiery, untamed hair.
“Oh, well look what we have here?” Mr. Sinclair said playfully.
“Isn’t it our lovely Lady Lauren Sinclair in the flesh?”
Mrs. Sinclair added.
“It is!” Lauren beamed at her parents, then plopped down in her chair.
“How was your morning?” She asked as Lucy set the table.
“Quite delightful now that you’re here dear. This will be our first outing of the month.” Mrs. Sinclair paused. “I know your father and I haven’t been able to spend much time with you lately but just know that we love you so much and we plan on having a lot of fun today, ‘kay?” A wave of sadness overtook Lauren’s face but disappeared as quickly as it came.
“Yup! I know!” she reassured her parents, after all, she didn’t want them to be sad. She put on a smile and continued, “We’re gonna have such a great day!” As she recounted all the delicious treats she’d get to try, she started to drool a bit.
“Oh my, aren’t you excited?” Mrs. Sinclair said as she reached across the table to wipe her daughter’s face.
“Quite.” Lucy remarked while smiling. “She’s been so enthusiastic this whole week, just at the thought of going out with her parents.”
“That’s not true!” Lauren claimed. “I was excited but I wasn’t jumping around the house saying ‘CARNIVAL!’ all day.” Lucy thought back to yesterday, when Lauren had done exactly that.
“Mmmm sure you didn’t.” To this Lauren gave an indignant pout of protest. Mr.and Ms. Sinclair stifled a laugh.
“Alright, alright.” Lucy giggled. “Let’s focus on eating, shall we? We have this wonderful spread that I prepared for you this fine morning. There’s even your favorite, my famous fruit tart, and-“ but Lauren hadn’t heard the rest, her gaze already locked in on the fruit tarts, her eyes pleading.
“Go ahead, I made it just the way you like for this special occasion.” Upon hearing this, Lauren didn’t waste a single second and devoured the tart with Lucy’s permission.
Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair couldn’t help a giggle, they missed hanging out with their little sunshine. It was moments like these that helped them know that what they were doing was for the greater good, even if the methods were less than legal.
The phone in the hall rang, interrupting their breakfast, each ring cut through the atmosphere. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair exchanged knowing glances. Then turned their gaze to their daughter, who was still enthralled in her own little world. Their faces held a flurry of emotion. Lucy was on her way to pick up the mysterious call until Mr. Sinclair, getting up from his seat, gestured for Lucy to pause, signaling that he would answer the call himself, his wife followed.
Once in the hall, the Sinclair's picked up the receiver, “The Sinclair’s residence . . .”
Lauren glanced up, noticing that her parents were gone. “Where are Mommy and Daddy?” She asked Lucy.
“They are answering a phone call in the hall, sweetie. How about you finish your tart and we go upstairs and clean you up?” she said, looking pointedly at the crumbs around Lauren’s mouth. Lauren attempted to wipe her mouth and dust off her dress. “There!” she said, looking proud of herself.
“Not quite dear, come on now,” as she ushered the girl back upstairs.
“I know, I know. We are working on it. There is nothing to worry about, things are under control.” Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair argued over the phone with unknown individuals.
“Well, it better stay ‘under control’.
Mrs. Sinclair let out a sigh—inaudible to the person on the other side—“It will.”
“You know what will happen if it doesn’t,” the voice on the other end threatened as they hung up.
Lauren had lingered just long enough to hear her mother end the call, with a lie no less. What that was all about? she wondered as she hurried to catch up with Lucy, who was already halfway up the stairs.
Lucy, who had noticed Lauren staggering behind, called for Lauren. “Coming!” Lauren hollered back.
She met Lucy up in the doorway of her room.
A blank face, an expression of horror, cuts on her fingers, blood dripping from said cuts. A broken perfume bottle on the floor.
“AHHHHHHHHH!”