Beneath Her Skin

From the moment she was born, everything felt cold and unfamiliar. But she always knew she wasn’t alone.

From the moment she opened her eyes, something within her also opened its eyes. Another presence was within her, though she hadn’t known it yet. Maia was always on the outside looking in. She was a part of her she could see but couldn’t reach inside. While she was scared and small, Maia watched it all, the other part of her.

And as soon as she took her first breath, the two of them were bound together by souls intertwined, two souls in one body, all in a secret that nobody else could see. Not even herself.

But ten years later, it was only growing in its influence, helping her but also destroying her at the same time.

The fog grew thick that morning. Grays spread across the subtle whites. She didn’t want to get out of bed. She was tossing and turning all night, arms tightened around her pillow. For a ten-year-old, mornings were rough but nights were melodic.

Her parents, Elara and Lucian, were always protective over her. But lately, it was suffocating. They were always talking secretly behind Reina’s back, though, Maia seen through it all.

She knew more than she let on.

Reina grew to not feel safe inside of her own home, like she was an experiment. Her parents always thought something was wrong with her, but they didn’t want to admit it to her.

Reina slowly got up and started pacing her room, looking at every little thing she owned. Her shelves, her stuffed bears, the red crayon snapped in half displayed on her bureau.

That specific crayon reminded her of when she attended therapy two years ago, her parents claiming she needs help, saying “Reina was seeing things.”

But Reina never just ‘saw’ things, she knew the things she saw were real. Maia was always the twin sister she knew she had by her side.

The window was fogged up, the sun barely made it through. She placed one finger on it and traced a heart in the glass. There was a red ring she noticed surrounding the window, it was faint but there. Red was her favorite color. It felt like magic when she drew with it.

She stopped tracing along the windows foggy edges, walking toward the door. Her hand rested on the knob, feeling nervous about whether or not she should head out and see her parents today.

But, Maia hesitated, holding her hand slightly away from it.

“Are you sure you want to go out there?” Maia’s voice rang across the room. She stood by the window, staring at the same red heart she had traced.

Reina tilted her head, studying her. “What do you mean?”

“They said bad things about you yesterday... they hurt your feelings,” Maia said softly, her eyes sharp, landing on Reina’s instantly.

Reina shook her head. “They didn’t mean it,” she let out, shaky breaths in-between. “They just don’t understand it yet. I’ll help them. I promise.”

Maia frowned, dragging her fingers across the window ledge. “Reina, they haven’t loved me in years.”

Reina stepped closer to her. “That’s not true, I’ll tell them today. I’ll show them you’re real.”

Maia scoffed. “Like it has in the past ten years?”

Reina swallowed hard, trying to gather her thoughts.

Maia could immediately sense them.

“I know what you’re going to say.” Maia laughed. “Today is just another day?”

Reina stood quiet, not able to utter any words to make the situation feel better. Maia knew it, standing there almost disappointed.

“Go,” Maia whispered, voice heavier.

“I’ll be back,” she told her, holding out her pinky. “Pinky promise.”

Maia stared, then averted her attention.

Reina started moving again, opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.

Her parents were waiting. They looked happy, but she knew it was wrong.

“Reina! There you are!” her mom said excitedly. “We have a surprise for you downstairs!”

She grabbed Reina’s hand as they ran down the stairs. In the back of Reina’s mind, she still felt Maia’s presence behind her. Reina slowed down noticeably, her mom turned her head as she felt a dragging feeling.

“Reina, it’s best not to look behind yourself while walking!” She stared at her husband in concern as he shook his head.

Reina seemingly ignored her, staring into the hall behind her. “Come on!” Reina said aloud, holding out her hand.

Maia didn’t take it, just looked at it like she was repulsed by it.

“I’ll make them see me,” Maia promised.

Reina shook it off, “you should come with me!”

Maia shook her head. “I don’t want to see you cry like you did last night.”

Reina froze in place, her stomach dropped. Her mom tried grabbing her forward but Reina was still unrelenting to stay in place. Reina knew last night was awful. Her mom had called her delusional; saying she needed to stop pretending.

And her dad did nothing but watch as her mom’s unwavering gaze locked on hers.

Reina stood a little longer, collecting her thoughts of last night. The longer she stood in place, her parents calling out her name, she felt herself black out a little.

Her eyes were still open, the same brown eyes, the same innocence. But her own conscious was falling down a hole inside herself. And when her mom grabbed her shoulders, she gasped awake to the sounds of them yelling at her.

She tapped her foot against the floor, her fingers writhed next to her legs. She felt like screaming, but she held it in.

“I need you,” Reina cried out, voice cracking.

Maia itched closer, her eyes less cheerful than usual. “If they won’t behave, I’ll make them.”

Reina backed up slightly. “But why can’t they see you?” she whispered.

Before Maia could answer, her mom yanked her arm away. “I told you to go downstairs with us, not stand here talking to your imaginary friend.”

Reina turned around. “Don’t leave Maia behind!” she begged. “She’s by herself!”

Her mom sighed. “Right, your friend Maia.” She shrugged. “Sweetheart, she doesn’t need attention right now.”

“She’s not imaginary! She’s my sister!” Reina yelled, pointing at her. “She’s your daughter too! I’m tired of you neglecting her!”

Her mom’s expression grew frustrated. “Now what are you pointing at? The lamp?”

Reina urged. “She’s standing right there!”

Her dad appeared behind her. “Reina, if you want to hold us here, making us try to pretend someone else is there, fine. But you’ll miss your birthday gift.”

“My birthday gift?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah, and your best friend Isla was outside, but I’ll tell her you refused to come down and enjoy your birthday with all of us.” Her mom scoffed, walking a few steps down.

She looked at Maia. Maia looked back at her.

Maia stepped forward and gently put her hands over her eyes. “It’s okay, it’ll all be okay.”

Reina barely muttered a word before her mind fell inside herself. She couldn’t breathe, her pulse ramped up. She could feel her heartbeat take control. Reina stared at the mirror outside the master bedroom, Maia stared back.

Then she completely lost control.

“It’s my turn to help.” Maia’s voice promised, coming out of Reina’s mouth.

“Reina?!” Her dad cried, alerting her mother.

“You can’t talk to her like that.” Maia snapped, her neck cracking into place. “What did I say last night?” Maia asked, waiting for a response.

Her mom’s face went pale, examining her daughter’s face like she never saw it before. “Your eyes changed... your face is warm.”

Maia laughed, almost mockingly. “They were always this color.”

“No they weren’t, and you know it.” Her mom’s voice raised.

Her dad held onto her shoulder. “It’ll be okay, maybe it’s just hormones?”

Maia threw his hand off of her. “I didn’t ask to be touched.”

“Don’t talk to your dad that way.” Her mom gripped her shoulder, almost mockingly.

Maia slightly growled. “Maybe life would be better if you both were dead.”

They both gasped, eyes widening. The room was quiet, almost in disbelief of the words spoken.

“Go to your room.” Her mom snapped, her dad nodding in approval. “We’ll talk about this tonight.”

Maia tilted her head, walking backwards toward her room. “I’m expecting it.”

Maia didn’t shift control yet, almost like she never wanted to let go of it. She knew she didn’t understand it yet, so she took every opportunity to present herself to the world. She wanted the world to know she was real, and this was the step toward it.

She sang a melody beneath her lips, her eyes never blinking. And right as she closed the door shut, she walked up to a portrait of the family and stood there for a minute. She put it on the dresser and sighed, glancing around the room.

She grabbed a red marker and leaned up against the dresser. She drew a stick figure right next to Reina. She wanted the family to know she was alive, and she knew that they knew, they just didn’t want to admit it.

Maia was confused, not knowing what to do next. She pranced around the dresser, opening up each drawer until her eyes met something undeniable.

A box of matches.

“That’s where I put them!” Maia said excitedly, though, her excitement didn’t last long.

“Reina! Open this door, now.” Her mother demanded, her yell loud and clear.

But Maia was not phased by it.

“Or what?” Maia said, sparking a flame against the match, the fire reflecting in her eyes. She smirked, almost like she knew what she was doing.

“Listen to your mother, Reina. We want what’s best for you.” her dad insisted, his voice echoed by her mother.

Maia grunted, putting the flame out. She went up to the door and unlocked it.

“All you had to do... was say please,” Maia said creepily, keeping her hands behind her back as she waited for them to come in.

Then the door slammed open. Not knowing Maia was behind the door, her mom rammed right into the mirror leaning against the wall. It fell, and as it fell, Maia stared directly at her mother.

“Nice one,” Maia said, completely unfazed about it all. Despite the glass shards present on the floor beneath her.

“I’d apologize, but you wished death upon us.” her mother exclaimed, a slight sigh in her voice as she continued. Her dad nodded along.

“We talked to Mrs. Hart. Your therapist. She will take good care of you.”

Maia snarled. “A therapist?” she glanced around the room with a blank stare. “What do you think they’ll accomplish this time?”

“To help you get in control of your thoughts, of your emotions better.” He bent down toward her level. “The sister you believe you have, she will help you with all of that.”

Her mother agreed. “Your father is right, honey.” she said, quick-witted.

“You never do the right thing. Maia does exist,” Maia snapped, jolting her energy toward both of them.

“Tell that to your therapist, and we will show the physical proof that Maia doesn’t exist.” Her dad just looked, more worried by the second.

“Leave,” Maia’s final words, a look of complete anguish on her face, not hesitating to move an inch.

“We don’t listen to our children’s demands,” her dad laughed.

“You’re listening to Maia’s commands.” Maia’s voice raised.

They wouldn’t move, almost like they were taunting her. She did warn them, but they refused to listen. They always did when it came to her.

Maia walked toward the dresser, holding up the match in her hand. Flicking it against the book. Completely entranced by it.

“Where did you get those? They’re dangerous!” her dad said with worry. Her mom looked behind, looking frightened. He quickly took them away.

Maia just laughed, holding the flame up to meet her gaze.

Then her dad grabbed Maia, and the match quickly fell onto the floor behind.

“You made an oopsie,” Maia said, her smile widening.

Her dad looked behind, and then her mom quickly went to grab an extinguisher.

“You’re in serious trouble this time.” Her dad, extremely angry, let her down and scolded her. She just kept laughing in his face. It never bothered her, and she wanted him to realize it, too.

Her mother walked up the stairs in quick succession and put the flames out. Her breathing was ragged and she looked angrier by the second. “We’re telling your therapist this happened,” she said, feeling disbelief that it even happened.

“It won’t make a difference,” Maia said. “None of this ever will.”