Abby
What was your aunt saying to the two of you?
Maya
I don’t even know. It what the most cryptic shit I’d ever heard.
Maya
I bet Kiara knows what she meant though.
Maya
She’s supposed to know EVERYTHING, right?
Zoe
Come on, Maya. Now’s not the time to play Kiara’s Game.
Zoe
We’ve had a rough day.
Maya
I know, and it’s Kiara’s fault.
Maya
She’s hiding something.
I didn’t speak up for myself.
What would be the point in arguing now?
Something weird was going on with me, but I didn’t know what it was.
Maya
She’s not saying anything because she knows I’m right.
Abby
Yeah, but what did your aunt say that pissed you off so much?
Maya
That she knows of Kiara. OF her.
Abby
What does that mean?
Maya
I don’t know. Ask Kiara.
Zoe
You gotta admit, Ki. That’s really strange.
Kiara
You just summed up my life, Zo.
Kiara
It’s strange. I’m strange.
Abby
Well strange is better than boring.
Kiara
I’d kill for boring right now.
Zoe
Maybe it was just a coincidence that we ran into all those people today?
Zoe
That boy, those wit—I mean, the ladies in black.
Zoe
Maybe it’s a coincidence that your Aunt happens to know them?
Abby
Well if it’s not, what do we do about it?
Kiara
I don’t see what we can do.
Kiara
We just have to wait until Miss Maria explains what’s going on, I guess.
Maya
I’m not just gonna sit pretty.
Maya
I don’t know if you remember, but I was assaulted twice today.
Abby
And, no offense, but you deserved at least one of them.
Abby
Ki’s boyfriend wasn’t the only crazy stalker out there today.
Abby
I saw the way you two looked at each other.
Zoe
And you’re a terrible liar, Ki.
Zoe
You were practically drooling when he smiled at you.
Kiara
Oh my god, shut up.
Zoe
I will, but only because there’s a bigger issue at hand right now…
Maya
This is what I’ve been saying.
Maya
Something strange is going on…
Maya
And it all has to do with Kiara.
Abby
Stop being such a bitch, Maya!
Kiara
Whatever is happening is my fault.
Kiara
It means that weird shit happens around me.
Kiara
Sometimes, the people who get close to me disappear.
Abby
Don’t be such a drama queen.
Kiara
Look, I’ve been in three group homes since I was born.
Abby
You mean orphanages?
Zoe
Oh my gosh, Abs! No one calls them that anymore.
Kiara
No, it was a legit orphanage—and every time I got close to someone there…
Kiara
They were adopted, THEN they disappeared.
Kiara
It was like someone was trying to make sure I was always alone.
Kiara
Growing up, most kids instinctively avoided me.
Kiara
But every once in a while, I would make a friend.
Kiara
Like, a real friend. Like you guys.
Kiara
And the moment that would happen, as soon as we got close…
Kiara
Someone would adopt that friend.
Abby
They’d just take them and go?
Kiara
No, it’s not like in the movies.
Kiara
Orphan kids don’t sit staring out a window until some nice couple shows up to take them home.
Kiara
You go on supervised visits… you get to know prospective parents…
Kiara
It takes months to adopt a kid.
Kiara
So my friends would tell me about the people interested in them.
Kiara
They were always rich couples who couldn’t have kids.
Kiara
They were always exceedingly kind.
Kiara
And they ALWAYS adopted my friend.
Zoe
I still don’t get it.
Zoe
What’s the big deal? Isn’t that a good thing?
Kiara
It was, but it was just extremely unlikely.
Kiara
Not once did the seemingly perfect couple say no.
Kiara
I would instantly be alone again.
Kiara
Of course, my friends always promised to stay in touch.
Kiara
That’s what I thought at first.
Kiara
But then I began trying to contact them…
Kiara
Using whatever phone numbers, addresses, and emails I could find.
Kiara
And in every instance, I found out that the entire family had vanished.
Maya
People move, jackass. That doesn’t mean—
Kiara
I got close to that many people who were adopted and then disappeared.
Maya
Bullshit. No one noticed this?
Kiara
Remember that I was at three orphanages over a number of years.
Kiara
But then one social worker… Miss Welker…
Kiara
She eventually started asking questions.
Kiara
Until she disappeared too…
Abby
Did you tell anyone what was happening?
Kiara
See, that’s where life IS like the movies.
Kiara
Police don’t listen to wild tales from little orphan girls.
Kiara
I stopped making friends.
Kiara
I was eventually put into the foster system.
Kiara
But then two of my foster siblings were kidnapped…
Kiara
And two of my foster parents died under mysterious circumstances.
Kiara
When people noticed the pattern, families stopped taking me in.
Maya
And you picked us to be next?
Kiara
I’m sorry. I tried to keep to myself.
Kiara
When I moved here eight months ago, I didn’t talk to anyone…
Kiara
I sat by myself, I ate alone.
Kiara
I tried to keep from getting close, but-
Zoe
I wouldn’t let you. And guess what?
Zoe
I’m not gonna start now.
Abby
I know that you’ve only been in our inner circle for six months, Ki…
Abby
But you’re the chillest bitch I know.
Maya
What I want to know is, if no one wanted you, how’d you end up here?
Maya
Why did Milly take you in?
Kiara
Trust me. They just wanted me out of the system.
Kiara
And you guys met Milly.
Abby
Yeah, she was hella weird.
Kiara
Exactly—like everything else in my life.
Kiara
She barely acknowledges I’m there.
Kiara
Yeah, but at least I get to do whatever I want.
Kiara
And she’s rich. I get to live in an old mansion on the lake.
Kiara
Not too shabby for an orphan.
Abby
We should hang there more often. No rules, no one to bother—
Kiara
I don’t want you guys there.
Kiara
Because there isn’t an ounce of happiness that house.
Kiara
It’s like a mausoleum. Cold and dead.
Maya
Well, considering your track record…
Maya
I’m guessing Milly will be cold and dead soon too.
Abby
OH EM GEE, Maya—you did NOT just say that.
Kiara
Unfortunately, she’s probably right.
