Rebekah

When she wakes up in her bed, it's not like how the previous nights had been. Firstly, she wasn't awakened early by a fit of screaming. The Red Daemon hadn't ended her life as the black ones have many times. Even the few injuries I did face are gone, both mentally and physically. The inflicted wounds always disappear when the nightmares end, but she still would wake up shaking like a leaf--terrified to go back to sleep. Nevertheless, her mind isn't in a state of fear but determination. There are some things she needs to do before going to school today. So, the blonde tosses the covers aside and is ready to start the day.

...

Rebekah reaches the street corner where she asked them to meet, and sure enough, she spots the pair waiting by the bench. Naomi crashed at Craig's place last night, which is convenient for her to face them both head-on.

However, as she gets closer, another figure is seen coming from the opposite direction. A certain brunette walking his fluffy friend, and it instantly clicks just who that is. He isn't aware of her associate's presence from around the corner, and once he makes the turn, Craig jumps out in front of him. The loud shout from the taller boy has the shorter boy collapse, and the two bellow over in laughter.

"No way! He really fell down like a marionette when its strings are snapped," Naomi says in between giggles, and Craig, noticing the blonde, waves her over.

"Hey, Rebekah! Come check this out!"

On the snowy ground lies Jun-Seo unable to move, and his dog stays nearby in his paralyzed state. She fails to see the humor in the sight, though it's one she's witnessed on numerous occasions. It's just he's usually replaced with the twins...

"This kid went to our school. He has some sleep disorder or something called narcolepsy. I heard that he could pass out by scaring him, so we just had to put it to the test. And look, he really is taking a little nap!"

Craig goes to ruffle his hair, but his dog intervenes, growling at the older teen viciously. Afraid to get bitten, he stumbles back, and Naomi clicks her tongue.

"Aren't service dogs supposed to be friendly? We could have this mutt put down."

"It's called defending her owner, and he isn't asleep. Jun-Seo can hear everything you're saying. You just triggered a cataplexy episode, but I guess if you had paid attention in school, you'd know more."

An audible gasp leaves the girl's lips, with Craig crossing his arms at her quip.

"What--why are you sticking up for this kid? And what happened to your hair?"

Their late realization of her new hairstyle has her hand automatically feeling her head. Rebekah's blonde locks now only come to her shoulders instead of down her back. Just as the extra hair was cut loose, it'll be the same treatment towards these two.

"I chopped it off myself, but I didn't call you guys here to show off my scissor skills. I wanted to let you know that I'm not joining in on your shenanigans anymore. We mercilessly bullied the twins for our own reasons, mine being the crappy relationship with my foster parents. Even when I knew this was wrong, it was the only way I could release my frustrations..."

That one incident at the grocery store painted an unfortunate target on their backs. Loneliness ebbed away at her, whether at home or school, so Naomi and Craig were the only phony connections she had. I could've formed a friendship with the twins... Envy made it impossible to reach out to them, and once the bullying began, it felt too late then.

"Craig, you only coarsely tease Kaylen because you're still jealous she rejected your confession last year. It's on the borderline of sexual harassment, but you don't have to follow your old man's footsteps."

His Dad goes to jail constantly for physical abuse charges against his own child's mother. Yet, the desperate woman keeps taking him back and no wonder she struggles with her profession. No school counselor is perfect, but she can't keep order in her own household.

"W-Where the h*ll is this coming-"

"And Naomi, you only give Kaleigh crap because you're jealous of her fashion talent. Unlike your tiger parents who want you to choose a practical career, her parents actually supported her decision."

Naomi doesn't say a word. Her face is pale as the fallen snow while Craig only continues to lash out at her. I expected this reaction. The odds of them being persuaded to change their behavior are low, especially when they were bullying the twins first.

"Look at who's all high and mighty all of a sudden! Is this supposed to be a d*mn joke?"

Craig snaps, and the other, finally recovering from her shock, is quick to back him up.

"We added you into our group, and we can just as easily kick your fat a*s out of it!"

Rebekah places her hands on her hips, not willing to retract her statements. "That's fine; feel free to cut ties with me. Though know this: if I see you two spewing insults or getting handsy with the twins at all, you'll have to deal with me for now on."

They weren't real friends from the start. Mere placeholders so she wouldn't feel so alone, but that fear won't rule her anymore. It changes leads to loneliness, then I would rather stay the way I am. She lived by that motto because she was weak, but after taking a little time to pray this morning, she's gained the strength she has lacked for countless weeks.

With the argument going nowhere, the two grumble to lose their numbers before they storm off. The blonde turns to the boy who silently watched their dispute, having regained his muscle control. She extends a hand; he hesitates for a moment before he grasps it. Brushing the snow off of his clothes, his dog retrieves his hat and receives a pat on the head.

"What's her name?"

"B-Biscuit," he softly answers, fiddling with her reddened fingertips. "Um, thanks for taking up for me."

"Don't mention it. About time I put them in their place as well as myself."

There's a stretching silence with how awkward their last interaction had gone. She does catch his large brown eyes staring at her blonde, uneven hair.

"You feel I butchered it, don't you?"

"Wha!" His hands frantically wave in denial of her not-so-obvious joking. "I-I wasn't thinking that at all!"

"Relax, I'm only messing with you. I'm not blind to see I didn't do the best job, but I couldn't wait for a barber."

It's something my heart was set on so right then. This small change granted her confidence to confront them today. And two more at her own home must still be addressed. Though this'll have to wait until after school, Rebekah is walking away.

"Thanks to that meddling therapist, I've decided sticking with you guys might not be a total waste of time. Share with the others I'll be coming by, alright?"

"Okay, we will meet at five o'clock!"

She gives a small wave of acknowledgement at this while heading down the icy streets for the bus stop.

...

"I think that's everything..."

Rebekah is sure to double-check her packed duffle bag once more before slinging it over her shoulder. She heads down the creaky staircase for the front door, and her foster parents aimlessly watch television from the sofa. Not a single protest is given while she slips on her coat and sneakers.

"Well, I'm going out."

Her dad takes a sip of the beer can in hand. "Alright, have fun."

Her hand freezes on the doorknob; it is stuck frozen by their cold, lifeless words. Why did I naively think today would be differently? This is their constant behavior; a never-ending apathy to the world around them. She loosens her grip on the cool metal object and takes a stand right in front of the dull screen.

"Why don't you just give rid of me?" she hoarsely questions, not at all having the snarkiness she had intended. "You could pass me on to distant family members or friends. Anyone who would be willing to take me in because you two clearly don't want me here."

The married couple's bodies stiffen with a slight widening of their pupils. This small reaction is the most emotion she has witnessed from them in months. I don't have to snap like I did the first time around to get my point across.

"Ever since I refused to play the role of your deceased daughter, you both retracted any love for me. I was stuck living the life of someone else for the past two years before I finally came to my senses. You even went as far as making me gain weight so I'd look like her twin--a doppelganger."

Her blue eyes glare down at her rolls underneath her bubbly winter coat. She was never the slimmest girl but still had been happy with how she looked. That's until the added junk food and snacks had the numbers climb steadily up the ladder. In the flash of a second, Rebekah had gone from overweight to near obesity and her poor health reflected her bad eating habits.

"That was practically abuse and it's not the only wrongful treatment I had to endure. I wasn't allowed to choose my own hobbies, or celebrate my birthday on the actual day my biological mother had me. Instead, I was forced to eat cake in January--your Rebecca's date of birth when mine is in April."

All of these instances, no matter how little they seemed, slowly built up an anger until she couldn't tame her tongue. The confirmation itself might've been harsh, but everything she said back then was the truth. A shaky hand is placed on her chest to calm her elevated breathing at their messy history. I won't cry in front of them! Though the battle is a losing fight as stinging tears blur her vision.

"C-Can't you just cherish the memories of the child you lost while still appreciating the one you brought under your roof?" The tears escaping her eyes multiply, and she can't act tough any longer. "Was me keeping up that façade the only reason why I was important in your lives?"

The minute this is voiced, a choked sob leaves the woman. Her foster mother's face is buried in her hands as her cries drain out the forgotten televised program. Her foster dad can't even form a sentence with his broken speech, incoherently like a drunken ramble.

"If this was how it was gonna be, I would've preferred if you two hadn't adopted me."

Rebekah goes for the door again, though this time, her dad takes a stand.

"Becky, wait!"

The address has her duffle bag drop to the floor with a loud thud. It's the first time she's heard him use this nickname since coming into their household. They always insisted on sticking with Becca, like their daughter had been called.

In the next instant, his arms are wrapped around her torso, pulling her close. Touch starvation is a struggle she's faced for months, and now he wants to spring on a sudden hug? I-I should push him off... Her own arms hang loosely at her sides until gaining the strength to lift them up. However, she doesn't push away but clings to the male while more tears trickle down her face. Her mother finally springs off the sofa as the three stand embracing one another.

Honestly, she can't say how long they stood in place before getting comfortable in the the other room. They haven't gathered in the kitchen for so long, her always eating her meals alone. Her dad goes through her backpack while her mom continues to chat or rather listen. It feels good to at long last release all of the pent-up frustrations in her heart.

"We're so sorry for how lonely you must've felt, and more than since just last spring."

The middle-aged woman rests a hand on top of her own granting a warmth she dearly missed, despite the cool temperature of the home.

"I'm sorry too for lashing out at the both of you. I know what loss feels like after losing my biological dad, and I wasn't being very sensitive to your mourning process."

The females exchange smiles before her eyes spot the wall clock. It's about five now. If the girl doesn't wish to be late to the meeting, then she really must be going.

"You're done checking my bag, so it's about time I get moving."

"Rebekah, if you're taking off because of how things have been the past couple of months, don't." Her dad's glazed gaze nearly makes her tear up again, a total opposite of the vanished bottomless pit. "I can tell you have enough to last you straight through Christmas. We want to start over, all of us as a family."

"I'm sorry, but there is something I have to do with some friends of mine. Not Naomi and Craig, but she does live in the neighborhood. It's really important, so I won't be back until New Year's, though I can still visit. Oh, and I promise not to ditch school or slack off on homework either."

"Well, you did pack your school uniform..." Her dad mumbles, and her eyes widen a bit. I knew he was going through my bag, but I didn't think he'd take notice of that.

Hopefully, this'll be enough to persuade them and it feels so odd to ask for their permission. Rules usually have a child feel restrained, but in her case, it's quite refreshing. The two exchange whispers of discussion before facing the blonde.

"Okay, you can go," her mother permits, though holds up a finger before she can zoom out of the kitchen. "But we want her address first and for you to call every day so we'll know that you're safe."

These terms are fair to her, and after doing what they ordered, she reclaims her duffle bag. She did always want to apologize to them, and now the three can hit the rewind button. They aren't the only ones who deserve an earnest apology. The twins are next on that list, and when they wake from their coma state, she can confess her regrets face-to-face.

A/N The epilogue of Rebekah's arc. I hope you've been enjoying the story so far.