Betrayal

As Billie sat in the chamber room, her eyes nervously darted around the sterile and impersonal surroundings. The walls were stark white and devoid of any decorations, while the fluorescent lights overhead hummed incessantly. The cold metal chair she sat on was uncomfortable, making her fidget in her seat.

The cameras mounted in every corner of the room made her feel like she was under constant surveillance as if someone was always watching her every move. The presence of the cameras heightened her anxiety and made her feel exposed and vulnerable.

When the footsteps echoed through the hallway and grew closer, Billie's heart began to race. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down, but it was difficult. The officer she had spoken with earlier emerged from the door.

"Your parents are here Miss, you're good to go", He informed while gesturing her to come with him. She stood up, feeling a sense of relief that she would no longer be alone in the sterile chamber.

As she walked with the officer through the hallway towards the entrance, Billie's unease continued to grow. The unfamiliar environment and the unknown situation made her feel powerless and out of control.

As Billie approached her parents, she could see the worry etched on their faces. They stood together as if seeking comfort from each other. Her little brother Simeon was with them, looking up at her with big eyes. As soon as he saw Billie, he ran towards her with open arms, a big grin on his face. She scooped him up, holding him close and feeling a sense of relief wash over her, seeing him after her nightmarish hallucination.

"Where did you go Billie?", he asked playing with her hair.

"Eh, Long story Simmy", she said as she hugged him.

"Are you alright, Honeybunch?", her father chimed in as he gave Billie a forehead kiss.

"We were worried about you, Bill", her mother said frowning as she caressed Billie's hair.

"I'm okay", Billie lied.

As they walked towards the car, Billie's mind raced with questions about her friends, but she knew it was not the right time to ask as they were still near the police station. She decided to wait until they were on their way back home.

As the family drove back home, Billie's unease continued to grow. She looked out the window at the passing scenery, but her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of her missing friends. The car was silent except for the sound of the engine and Simeon's soft snoring as he slept in the backseat.

"What happened with Miron and Ivan?", she asked finally breaking the silence. She knew something was up as she had overheard Kira, Miron's mother talking about taking her friends to a lab.

She saw her mother frown in the rearview mirror and heard her father sigh. It was the first time her parents had ignored her, Billie felt as if someone had pierced her heart with an iron nail.

As they approached the forest line near her school, She saw the blue glow she had seen the night before with her friends on their way back home from Mr.Petrov's detention. She wanted to ask her parents about it, but fear held her back a. She didn't want them to think she was crazy if she was the only one who can see that, especially since they seemed to be hiding something from her already. She kept her thoughts to herself and continued to stare out the window, lost in her own thoughts.

As they reached their home, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She carefully carried her little brother Simeon to his room, tucking him into bed with a kiss on his forehead. Her parents followed behind her, looking worried and anxious.

As she walked back into the living room, she mustered up the courage to ask about Ivan and Miron once again.

"Seriously, do you know anything about what happened to Ivan and Miron?", she asked her voice engulfed with frustration.

Her mother's face darkened, and her father let out a deep sigh.

"Bill, the police told us everything", her mother replied.

"Oh yeah?", Billie responded her tone mocking her mother's innocence.

"There are no such people with the names Ivan and Miron in your life, Billie!", Her mother said with finality in her tone.

"Oh?", Billie felt numb as she was puzzled as to how they had tricked their parents as well. Her mind started overflowing with questions that she couldn't reason out, 'Were their parents blacked out too? whatever did that mean?'.

"You're scared, please don't stress yourself too much, Bill", her father said continuing her mother.

"Of course, I am, 'cause you won't believe me!", Billie felt like a mad person.

Her parents looked at each other with their worried faces.

"I understand you Billie, We are here for you, and we love you", her mother said as she grabbed Billie gently by the shoulders.

"No, you don't!", she snapped her mother's hands.

"You're hiding something from me!", she said in the verge of tears.

Billie rushed towards her bedroom as she covered her wet face. She locked her room and broke down in tears. she felt like she was being lied to by the very people she trusted the most.

The bedroom was a mess, her books scattered everywhere, and her bed sheets twisted and turned, Just as she had left that afternoon.

She crawled into bed, feeling more confused and scared than ever before. She didn't know what she had to do now, she didn't have her friends by her side, and everything was overwhelming her as she stared at the ceiling.

She heard her mother at the door, "Let's go see a therapist tomorrow, sleep tight, honey", her voice low and worried.

'A therapist, huh?', Billie felt betrayed by her own parents.