CHAPTER 5

I heard that silly, mocking laugh echo in my head.

That laugh, sharp, wild, and cold and the one only Blaire made when she was me.

She had come out again.

I watched from somewhere deep inside, helpless, as she sat before the mirror.

Blaire was applying makeup and when I say makeup, I mean heavy makeup.

Thick foundation, black eyeliner that stretched like wings, lashes long enough to touch her brows.

If anyone saw her now, they wouldn’t even recognize that face as mine.

She pouted, twisted her lips, and smiled at her reflection like she was admiring a piece of art.

Then she reached for my perfume.. fuck! my favorite one and sprayed it over herself again and again, until the room smelled like roses and smoke.

“Blaire, whatever your name is,” I shouted in her head. “Stop using my perfume like you own it!”

She rolled her eyes, smirking.

“Shut up, Rose,” she said flatly. “Before I shut that mouth of yours forever, dumbass.”

Her voice was rough, filled with irritation and control.

She was the one in charge now.

And me? I was stuck somewhere I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak just trapped behind her eyes, forced to watch everything she did with my body.

Then came a knock at the door.

Blaire froze for a second, then smirked. “Showtime,” she whispered.

The door opened, and my mom stepped in.

The moment she saw me or rather her, she stopped, her eyes widened, her hand flying to her chest.

“Rose… what is this?” Mom’s voice trembled. “What’s with all the makeup and that… dress? Where do you think you’re going at this time of the night?”

Blaire stood, turning around slowly like a model on a runway.

She wore a short, black, strapless gown that clung to her curves and left little to imagination.

Even I would’ve blushed seeing myself like that.

“Ta-da-da-dah!” Blaire sang, her tone playful but cruel. “This is not your lovely daughter Rose, woman. So please, move out of my way.”

Mom’s lips parted in shock.

She’d seen Blaire before not often, but enough to know what was happening.

“Oh no…” she whispered. “Not again.”

Blaire grinned wider. “What? You still can’t tell the difference? You’re supposed to be her mother, aren’t you?”

My mom’s eyes filled with tears, “I don’t care who you are,” she said, voice breaking..“But you’re not leaving this house tonight, i won’t let you put my daughter in danger again.”

Blaire laughed loudly.

“Wtf, woman? What is wrong with you people in this house? I fucking said I’m not your freaking daughter! Get that into your thick head or are you as dumb as Rose? Maybe stupidity runs in the family afterall.”

“Blaire! Don’t talk to my mom like that!” I shouted from inside her, but of course, only she could hear me.

She screamed out loud, “Shut the fuck up, Rose!”

Her voice echoed across the room, making my mom flinch a little.

Then, just as my mom started to cry, Dad ran inside the room.

“Honey, what’s going on?” he asked, breathless.

Mom pointed at me, too shaken to even speak.

“She—she’s not Rose,” she managed to say, “She’s the other one.”

Dad looked at me, frowning. “ What’s this outfit? What’s happening to you?”

Blaire smiled slowly, leaning against the wall like she owned the place.

“Ouch, the lovely parents are both here, sooo touching, don’t cry, daddy your sweet little girl is still here, buried deep inside, screaming her lungs out and she so angry that you guys are sad right now.”She laughed, brushing past them both.

“Anyway, I’ve got places to be, you two should cry it out and makes a great bedtime story.”

“Rose, please don’t go!” my mom cried, reaching for her arm.

Blaire pulled away sharply, eyes cold as ice.

“I said don’t touch me!” she hissed. “You’re lucky I even talk to you, now move.e.e.”

She opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

Before leaving, she glanced back once and smirked.

“I’m off, fam. Cry, cry, babies I will buy biscuits for you while coming back, ok?

Her laugh followed her down the corridor, loud, cruel, echoing against the walls like something evil had been let loose.

The moment Blaire stepped outside, she came alive.

She quickly took a cab..

Everywhere she passed, people stared.

Men turned their heads, whispering things under their breath.

But Blaire loved the attention.

She fed on it,more like her favorite food.

When she reached the club, the bouncer at the door looked her up and down, smiled, and let her in without asking a question.

Inside, the place was loud and dark, filled with flashing lights and the sound of music that vibrated through the floor.

Blaire walked in confidently, owning every step.

People noticed her instantly.

“Damn, you look so pretty,” a guy said, stepping into her path.

She turned to him, eyes sharp.

“Fuck off, dickhead,” she said with a half-smile. “You’re too ugly for me.”

The guy’s smile faded instantly, and she brushed past him without a glance.

That was Blaire… cruel, bold, unbothered.

Everything I wasn’t.

She moved deeper into the crowd, lights flashing across her skin like fire.

Then suddenly, she froze.

Her eyes caught on someone across the room.

Kelvin Halt.

My boss.

My heart…the real me inside her started to pound.

“Please, Blaire,” I begged in her head. “Don’t go to him. Please, not him.”

She smirked, brushing her hair back.

“Aww, you’re scared,” she whispered. “You think I don’t know who he is? You think I don’t see what you’re hiding?”

She chuckled softly. “You worry too much, Rose. Maybe if you’d lived a little, I wouldn’t have to.”

“You don’t understand—”

“I understand everything,” she interrupted. “Better than you ever will.”

Her words shut me up.

There was no arguing with her.

There never was.

“Blaire, please—”

“Shh.” She pressed a finger to her lips, smirking. “Nobody tells me what not to do, silly girl.”

“She started walking toward him, hips swaying, eyes locked on Kelvin like a hunter spotting prey.

Kelvin was sitting alone at the bar, a glass of whiskey in his hand, his jacket off.

He looked tired, his tie slightly loose, the confident CEO mask slipping for once.

Then he looked up and saw her.