Chapter 1

"Do it, Jem. It's now or never," my friend, Tilly said. Her big green eyes kept roaming around, checking if someone would see us hiding under the bleachers of the school's soccer field.

I skipped lunch date with our friends because for the first time after ten years, my tear ducts worked again… just because my stepmother refused to sign my field trip waiver.

Tilly, being a supportive friend as always, went with me as I cried in dispair. I was never excluded in anything but Mara was ruining things. I didn't want to hate her, but maybe Tilly was right. My stepmom was nothing but a bitch.

I sniffed and stared blankly at my waiver. I was looking forward to joining the field trip. Senior class would end in a couple months and the excursion was the last trip I could have with our entire class. I badly wanted to go, but what if dad would find out that I faked Mara’s signature?

Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I shook my head and folded the piece of paper again. “I can’t do this, Tilly. Dad’s gonna be home this week. Maybe if he’d make it on Thursday, he’ll consider signing my waiver. Besides, I got my acceptance letter for college. I haven’t shown it to Mara because I want dad to read it first. Maybe… maybe if he’ll see it then… he’ll let me go?”

Tilly rolled her eyes in a frustrated way before she stuck the last piece of her egg pie inside her mouth. “Whatever.” Tilly waved her hand in a sassy way. “I should’ve known that you ain’t gonna listen to me. I forgot that you’re Jemimah Beaufort.”

My brows furrowed. “And what does that supposed to mean?”

“Ugh! Expecting you to commit a mistake intentionally is like waiting for pigs to fly or for Chris Evans to propose to me.”

“Well, there’s a reason why it’s called mistake, Tilly. You’re not supposed to do it in the first place, and please leave poor Captain America alone.”

Tilly sighed, finally giving up on me. “We’re humans. We’re supposed to make mistakes. Lots of it.” She grabbed me by my arm and forced me to turn around.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Just checking if you’re hiding some wings there. Feels like I’m always talking to God’s apprentice when I’m with you. You sure you’re not Virgin Mary?”

I giggled while wiping my cheeks. “I’m a virgin but my name’s not Mary. Come on. Lunch is almost over.”

Tilly sneered. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the Holy Ghost would get you pregnant one day and you’ll end up with a baby without a Da.”

I laughed and gave Tilly a punch on the arm. “Silly. I’ll bet you my book collection if I would.”

A deep, heavy sigh escaped my lips. I was sitting by the window of my room while rain was pouring heavily outside. I busied myself by reading the stupid stories my friends shared. Some campers who dared to trespass the virgin forest to get to the peak of Therese Falls, claimed to have seen the monster my father was blaming for my mother's death. 

How could some people be naive to believe these stuff? It's more impossible for a beast like that to exist than for Mara to sign my waiver.

“Please tell me you’re not buying that, Jem? Those guys probably just wanted attention so internet will blow up their YouTube channel,” Tilly said after seeing my forehead creased.

I shook my head. “No, of course not. But I’m worried that Dad will. You know, since he’s still convinced that Mom was murdered by a monster.”

It had been ten years since dad remarried. Although he's with Mara now, I knew he still hadn't gotten over her mom. I couldn't blame him. I missed Mom as much as he did. I wasn't just brave enough to still believe that she could still be alive.

The reports were crystal clear.  Mom's stuff were found by the beach, not in the woods. She loved the ocean anyway, and that love killed her; a proof that not all love was worth the risk.

I was about to say something to Tilly when I heard someone unlocking the room next to mine. It was the storage room where Dad kept Mom's important stuff.

I immediately put my phone on the dresser and rushed outside to check who opened the room. When I found Mara inside, holding mother’s jewelry box, my brows furrowed.

“What are you doing? That’s Mom’s. You know you can’t touch that, Mara.”

Not that I was rude towards my step-mother. I never told that how she was really treating me, but when it comes to my mother’s belongings, I couldn’t help but be a little tougher towards her.

Mara’s brow cocked; her lips curved for an insulting smirk as if the bitch was challenging me. “Oh, this?”

I tried to calm herself. My father loved her so I must respect her so I had to put up with Mara for Dad’s sake. “Please…” I swallowed my pride. “Just… Just don’t touch it.”

Mara’s smirk turned into a devilish grin. “Why would I, child? She’s not the Mrs. Beaufort of this house anymore so I technically own everything here.” Mara took the necklace then placed the box back to the shelf. “She’s got no place here anymore.”

My blood boiled. For the first time after years of behaving the way my father wanted, I walked towards Mara and grabbed the necklace. “I… I don’t wanna be rude but… my mother doesn’t deserve this. She’s still…” I swallowed. “Dadd’y original wife.”

Mara’s eyes squinted. “You little brat! That’s why your mother took her own life. She couldn’t accept the fact that she brought a piece of shit into this world.”

Anger filled my heart. My rational brain shut down. The next thing I knew, I was already throwing a fit at Mara when my father rushed in. He grabbed me by my arm, his reddened face and furious eyes snapped my sanity back. “How dare you talk that way to your Mama. Apologize, young lady!”

“B—But…”

Mara sniffed and held dad’s hand to remove its hold from my arm. Of course she’s going to play like the nice step-mother who always gets invalidated by her step-daughter. That’s what Mara does best whenever dad was around.

“You’re hurting our poor girl, Jackson. It was my fault. I didn’t tell her why I’m here because I wanted to surprise her. I was just…” She burst into tears. “I’m so sorry, honey. I just wanna get your mom’s necklace so I can have it replicated because I wanna give you a gift that will remind you of your mother for your eighteenth birthday.”

“Oh, Mara.” Dad hugged my pretentious step-mother.

My eyes felt hot and anger filled my heart. How could he always fail to see her lies?

“That’s not true. She’s lying. She was stealing it. She even told me—”

“I don’t wanna hear more disrespect from you, Jemimah!” Dad hissed. “I am so disappointed at you. This isn’t how we raised you.”

Her tears blurried my eyes. Why couldn’t he listen to me even just for once? Why did it always have to be Mara?

I looked at Mara. She smirked at me when my father was looking at me. The bitch even had the audacity to pull her victim card. I couldn’t believe that dad was buying it all the fucking time!

Disappointed, I stormed outside the room and headed to the stairs. Dad tried to call me but for once in my life, I chose to be the daughter Mara was making me appear in my father’s eyes.

“Jemimah, get back here or you won’t like what I’m gonna do!” Dad warned but I just picked up my pace until I reached my car. Before dad managed to get to me, I drove off and headed to the last place dad would consider searching to find me.

I wiped my tears and looked at the necklace with a moonstone pendant. If only someone could take me away from this miserable life.

I laughed as tears rolled down my cheeks. Maybe it’s best if I would just disappear like my mother…