Car Ride Home

Ally placed her feet on the dash as she turned on the music listening to the songs the radio had to offer. She leaned her head back against the seat heading the melodious sounds.

"You don't seemed too be struggling with the adjustment." Tony chuckled slightly looking at his niece who had pulled her pony tail out letting her blonde hair fall down past her shoulders. She was tapping her toes while nodding her head along to the words of the song she had never heard before, yet she decided to take advantage.

"I'm excited to finally go home." She said and Anthony could sense the smile she was probably producing. "But I'm sure people won't particularly be fond of me."

"Me too." He smiled knowing he was excited for them to return home. But then he got quiet thinking about her concerns. "School will be different and I want you to be prepared. I know you attended elementary school and middle school, but high school is very different. Kids can often be mean at this age." He said hesitantly trying to think of the right words to say.

Ally scoffed placing her feet on the car floor looking out the window holding her chin with her delicate hand. She rolled her eyes at the thought of kids her age.

"I've handled worse." She stated thinking about the man who screamed in her face earlier today.

Anthony didn't respond knowing his niece actually had to encounter people with real issues, but she never spoke of these experiences which worried him. He never wanted his niece to be mistreated and he had hoped to gain her trust so she could depend on him.

Clearing his throat wanting to know the truth, Tony asked, "And how are you doing? And I mean how are you REALLY doing?"

Ally turned her head noticing the serious expression on his face curious about how he would react.

"If I told you that I'm not taking my medicine and still seeing these magical creatures would you take me back to the asylum?" She asked seeing his face scrunch with anger.

"Ally…" He mumbled. "That is not something to joke about. However, I would not take you back to the institution."

Ally smiled opening her mouth to speak before her uncle said, "But I would make you continue your counseling appointments along with more group activities with others who are struggling with traumatic pasts."

Ally's smiled fell as she rolled her eyes looking back out the window letting out a huff. She was closest to Tony, but she knew a lot of her secrets would remained secrets.

"Then I'm doing great Tony." She sighed knowing he wasn't able to see the same things she could. "I'm doing REALLY great." She mocked.

Tony glanced over to his right noticing the posture of his niece who seemed to be disappointed in his answer. He frowned knowing she struggled to open up to him afraid he'd place her around people who could lock her up, but everything he did for Alicia was out of love for her protection.

"No one at your school will know about the institution. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable Alicia." He said in a soft tone wanting his niece to see that she was always his priority.

"I'm aware, but they will be aware about my parents." She sighed still looking out the window as he drove. "I'm just tired. They don't let us take naps at that place. They need to adjust some of their rules." She stated referring to the institution.

Tony laughed as Alicia continued to see her reflection along with the fairy laying on her shoulder. Tiera sat quietly as she listened to the conversation frowning a bit as she looked at her friend.

"Don't start thinking you're crazy Ally! I'm real and you're my only friend!" Tiera said scared her human friend might think about taking the pills again. "You know I can't go without talking to someone. Besides, I'm stuck with you and I can't be ignored again! "

Tiera seemed teary eyed being completely serious about her feeling to Alicia. Although it seemed selfish, the little fairy needed the human in order to survive.

While Tony drove, he didn't see the smile Alicia gave her fairy friend comforting the small thing. Tiera then smiled softly back laying back down taking a nap on the humans shoulder.

She remembered a time when she took the medication given to her at the institution and it did not stop her magical friends from being noticed. But she could not hear their words when they spoke which made her feel absolutely crazy.

She knew that no matter what, she would always see these creatures with or without medication. But watching her magical friends with no sound was more torturous than looking like a freak speaking to something people thought was invisible.

It was not the way to solve her problem and she knew she would have to just pretend and blend into society in order to survive this cruel world.

She had grown close to these creatures ever since she was a child, and she would choose them every time.

But suddenly the memory of the black shadow came to her mind and she remembered not all these magical creatures were good. She then let her pretty smile falter thinking about those black soulless eyes of a man who took everything away from her.