Chapter 21 – Harry’s P.O.V.

            Blinking at Elizabeth, I can’t seem to orient my thoughts. Elizabeth never spoke of her mother, but how do I know if she’s telling the truth? And who would’ve given Chloe a gun, anyway? But if she was only four, she couldn’t have known better like Elizabeth claims she did. Perhaps it was an accident, but what if this is just another all-around lie from Elizabeth?

            “My mom…” Elizabeth raked a hand through her hair, gathering her composure as she met my gaze. “She was leaving our dad… Chloe and I were in the room and I was only five, so we were both just sort of watching them argue. The memory is vague, but Mom pulled out a gun from the shelf in the closet and pointed it at Dad after he… he hit her. He grabbed her shoulders and she dropped it, and I remember Chloe looking at it. I was crying, watching them both fight so violently, but I didn’t see when Chloe picked up the gun. Last thing I heard was a gunshot, and then Mom just… fell.”

            I licked my lips, pressing them together tightly as I tried to picture the rigorous scene she was describing. Chloe said she didn’t remember her mother, so what if this is just fake? But what if it is true and Chloe was just too young to remember? But still… I can’t see how this would entitle her as insane.

            “Elizabeth…” I sighed, heaving a hand through my hair. “She was only four.”

            “It was on purpose!” Elizabeth yelled, her eyes pouring water. “She knew exactly what she was doing, Harry!”

            “Really? Did you know what a gun was at the age of four?” I countered, raising my eyebrows at her.

            Elizabeth scowled. “Well, no, but—“

            “Then how do you expect Chloe knew what she was doing?”

            “Because she was always jealous that Mom loved me more!” Elizabeth finally shouted, her eyes puffy from her excessive crying. “She was jealous, Harry. She knew she would be hurting me.”

            “Elizabeth, she was four, for God’s sake!” I yelled back. “You can’t expect a four year old to be that educated on human suffering.”

            “I knew you wouldn’t understand,” Elizabeth growled.

            Rolling my eyes, I shook my head in complete exasperation. Of course that’s a horrible thing to live with, but she can’t blame a four year old. The human brain doesn’t even fully develop until your early twenties. How the hell does she expect a four year old to know what a gun does? Naturally, I feel sorry for her having to live with such a gruesome memory, but she’s being completely implausible with it all.

            “Elizabeth, you’re being too harsh on her.”

            “You would say that.”

            Scoffing, I heaved a hand through my hair. “Why the hell are you so cold-hearted, huh?”

            “You broke up with me for my sister, Harry. Do you want me to be shitting out rainbows?” she snarled.

            “I broke up with you because you’re so cruel, not for Chloe. Although she’s far more pleasant to be around than you are,” I retorted.

            “She doesn’t even talk, Harry. How can you like someone so emotionless and silent?” she countered.

            Sucking in a sharp breath, my hands curled into fists due to Elizabeth’s attitude. “She talks to me,” I told her, watching the way Elizabeth’s eyes widened just the slightest and she took a step back. “She smiles at me, Elizabeth. She laughs at my idiotic jokes instead of shooting them down like you always did. Silent people hold the most secrets, and you know what? Chloe has told me some of her secrets. She trusts me, Elizabeth. You never did.”

            Elizabeth was quiet a long moment, chewing her bottom lip before her eyes glanced to the door. I was really hoping she’d come to her senses and leave, but she met my gaze once more. Her features hardened. “You’re sickening, Harry. Loving a mental patient and pretending they’re normal.”

            Letting out a humorless laugh, I rolled my eyes. “Chloe is more normal than you and your psychopathic father.”

            Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at me. “She’s schizophrenic. The doctors said so.”

            “Well, the doctors are wrong, Elizabeth.” I raked a hand through my hair.

            “Why the hell do you hate me so much?” she then asked.

            “I don’t hate you, Elizabeth. I hate how you act,” I told her, emphasizing the word. “You should be grateful you still have a sister. You never know when you’ll lose her.” I blinked fast to keep my emotions behind me.

            “I don’t want her,” Elizabeth hissed. “She could go to hell for all I care.”

            “Get out,” I growled immediately. “If you’re going to talk about her like that, get the fuck out of my apartment.”

            “Fine,” Elizabeth huffed, “I will. I hope you’re found guilty at your court date in six days. Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to have my best acting skills on for show.”

            “You fucking do that Elizabeth.” I rolled my eyes.

            “I will! And I’ll make sure Chloe never sees you again!” she shouted, then marched to the front door and slammed it behind her.

            If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll never see Elizabeth again. But the way fate seems to be unraveling, she might just be right. Chloe may be out of my life forever.

Chloe’s P.O.V.

            You’re so stupid.

            “I-I know,” I answered them, knowing that if I didn’t that they would surely punish me for it. They’re already irate for me ignoring and neglecting them with Harry around. But now they don’t have to worry about him. He’s gone.

            You don’t deserve to be breathing.

            I nodded in agreement, the tears staining my cheeks as I pulled my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth on the metal, uncomfortable bed. At least they gave me my same room, but it doesn’t feel homey. It never did, but it feels even more vacant than it used to. I feel even more vacant. No doubt because Harry isn’t here.

            Patients screaming continued to drift under my cell door, but I was used to their cries. I myself have let out a few shrieks, so it’s not hard to absorb the fact that I’m not the only one suffering. But my cell was different from all of theirs. My door was solid metal, three locks trailing down the middle on the far left. A single window faced the hallway, but bars crossed it horizontally to keep me from breaking out. My cell had extra security. Why? Because they were afraid of me, I knew that much. Because half the people with my diagnosis don’t act the way I do. They don’t harm themselves, but then again, neither do I. It’s all them. But no one ever believes me.

            Scream, they beckoned.

            Shaking my head furiously, my bottom lip quivered as the tears picked up their pace. They wanted the staff to know I was insane.

            Do it!

            Complying with orders, I screamed as I clamped my hands over my ears. Either to block them out, or to protect my ears from my own high-pitched shriek. I screamed until I needed to suck in some air, then I let my head fall in my knees. My fingers twitched as they heaved through my hair, my hands gripping the roots roughly. I wanted to leave. I wanted to be with Harry again. I wanted to be happy.

            Again, they said.

            “N-No.” I shook my head more violently.

            Now!

            “No!” I yelled, my voice cracking and growing hoarser by the second.

            I continued to scream no until two nurses ran into my room to consult me. Except they didn’t comfort me at all. Instead they jabbed a needle into the side of my neck. They sedated me to keep me silent, because who wants to hear an insane person scream? It didn’t take long before the liquid settled in my veins, my body going limp completely. But the one thing they didn’t know?

         Keeping me silent only kept my secrets bottled inside. And I knew that they only person who would ever let me speak aloud was Harry, but they took him away too.

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A/N: Sorry this chapter kind of sucks. I've been really stressed out lately, so I was just trying to update for you all c; I promise the next chapter will be longer (it's the court scene, eep!) Love you xx

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