"MOMMY!! MOMMY!!" the young child screeched as he pointed at on old picture of our 'Mother' at the time she was famous.

The image is of her on stage performing one of her many hit songs, I'm sure. I'm unsure of how the young child knew that that was his mother, seeing that I had her put away a few years ago. No one still spoke of Avalon. No one even remembers the name. She was put away for trying to murder my younger brother, who at the time was only 6 months old. Although Avalon Silvers was known for helping millions of young teens contemplating about taking their own life, she was a dark, twisted person. Her name is said make even the worst of gang members shiver because she was one of the few murderers to never be caught and never to be thanked by the FBI. Avalon may have been despicable, but she did it for the right reasons, or so it has been said. Avalon was never known to hurt an innocent person, but who's to say that's true. Does anyone ever really know what she did or if she had any help? I want to take you on the journey as to how I found out who my mother truly was.

Life has always shown me the darker side of itself. No one ever knew this, though, and no one ever cared to ask either. I was always told everything was a bessing in disguise. Maybe it was, but I never saw things like that. I've never been a "stop and smell the flower" type of girl. Maybe that's why I don't fit in at home. I never knew if it was the money or the lack of love and affection, but I always knew I didn't belong with the Blacks. A part of me had always suspected that I had been adopted, but when I questioned mother a few years ago, she ignored me and told me to stop being so foolish. Mother always said things would make sense when I was older, although that just confused me even more at the younge age of thirteen. Now I'm turning eighteen, and i still have no clue what my mother meant all those years ago.

We had money and were one of the top families in the city. We were always throwing charity parties and going to one event or another, so life was never dull. It was just never what I wanted. I craved more than pristine schooling and money. I wanted to feel like I actually mattered. I finally found that feeling with Avalon.

Av is the best and worst side of myself. Some have even said that she is my salvation. I wouldn't argue with that because, technically, she is. Avalon gave me a new life: a life where I didn't always feel neglected or like a pawn in someone else's game. She gave me something to work towards, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

 As I finished writing my speech for my overly-extravagant eighteenth birthday ball, I heard mother calling for me across the house intercom.

"Torianna dear, would you come here, please? " 

I just reached over from the spot I had been using to write my speech in my bed and pushed the button gently before telling her that I would be down in just a moment. As I quickly threw on a pair of sparkly, embroidered jeans and a thick pink sweater that I knew mother hated, I slipped on black flats and ran down the stairs. Having no clue what my mother wanted made things all the more nerve wracking for me. I assumed that she wanted to know how the party planning was going since I had insisted on doing this one last bash myself. However, when I reached the bottem of the stairs, I was greeted with mother's soft laugh and a man's voice that didn't sound like father. I rounded the corner to find a strange man sitting at the bar in the kitchen with mother leaning in close, watching something on the computer in between them. Clearing my throat to make my presance known before things could get weird, I looked to mother and just raised an eyebrow. Mother never laughs like that. It was soft and magical, like nothing I've ever heard before. She seemed to actually enjoy the man sitting next to her. 

I mumbled my greetings to him before turning, distracted from the original purpose of my summons, to her and asking in the sweetst voice that I could muster, "Mother, would it be alright with you if I were to go to the mall? I have to go to a fitting for the dress."

"Sure, sweetheart. Have fun!" 

Mother's response was more than spaced-out and extremly unlike her. I half expected her to grill me on the details of a dress that I honestly hadn't even picked out yet. Walking out to the garage and getting into my overly-pricey car, I nearly forgot to find out why my mother had called me down stairs to begin with. I ran back inside to find out, only to discover my mother was absorbed in a heated kiss with the strange man from before. Once again, I cleared my throat, only this time mother looked furious. I don't linger long enough to blaim her, I just turn and run. Who cares what she wanted now? She was cheating on dad! Even though we don't have the best relatiship due to the fact that he's always working and never home, I still couldn't believe that she would even dare to cheat on him. Getting into the car, I pulled out of our driveway at an unsafe speed and headed straight for the mall, not stopping to think long enough to consider what I was going to do when I had to return home and face her. Picking up my phone, I called the one person I knew that I could count on to make me smile. Dialing the number I knew by heart, I start holding back the tears the moment I hear Vanessa's soft voice say hello. 

"Hey Vanessa..." I trailed off slightly, knowing the moment she picked up on the sadness in my tone, I was going to have to spill my guts to her. 

"Tori! I've missed you so much! Why haven't yo-," she said, pausing once she realized that I was upset. "What's wrong? Who do I have to kill?" 

Laughing at her threat, I told her about mother kissing the strange man and of how unsure I was of the situation. Of course, her solution was to have me come over, which I agreed to on the ccondition that I could finish at the mall first.

Arriving at the mall, I headed in the direction of the dress shop, stopping at a common shoe store to look around first. Not seeing anything that stood out, I went around to a few different dress shops along the south side of the mall, nothing catching my eye until the very last one. It was a small dress shop, seemingly family-owned. I could see a gorgeous, black ball gown in the window. Walking inside, I went straight to the counter in the back, although I didn't see anyone around to help. 

"Hello is anyone here?" I asked tentatively.

"I'll be right there, miss." a masculine voice called from somewhere out of sight. 

Leaning against the counter, I started to think about Avalon and how she was going to get me out of this party in two weeks time.

"Hello, miss. Are you alright? Can I get you something?" the most stunning looking man was questioning me. 

His bright green eyes could look right through your soul, looking amazing against his perfectly tan skin. He was roughly 5'7", and the dark jeans paired with the pale green shirt just made him absolutely stunning.

"Um, yes, I believe so. I'm absolutely in love with the black ball gown in the window," I said, turning to point at the dress in question. "What size is it? I have got to have it for this party of mine coming up."  

Watching him walk over to the dress and pulling it out of the window, I could already tell it was going to fit me perfectly.

"It's a size 6, miss, is that alright?" he asked carefully, watching my to see my reaction. 

I squealed with girly pleasure in response to this revelation, causing the salesman to wince from the unexpected noise. This was it! I had found the perfect dress for my ball! 

"That should do Mr.-," I trailed off, not seeing a name tag pinned to his chest. 

"Oh, my apologies. My name's Jonah. There's no need for formalities," he replied modestly.

"Well, Jonah, I would love to try the dress on, although I think it's going to be a perfect fit," I told him, smiling helplessly because of my luck.

Following him to the back, where I assumed the fitting rooms were, he lead me into a little stall and handed me the elegant dress. I closed the door and tried the dress on, walking out to the mirrors in the 'viewing' area once I was finished. I heard a soft gasp from behind me and turned to see Jonah watching me. The dress looked stunning against my bright blue eyes. The silver accents on the dress made me stand out amongst the primarily soft, silky material. I was in love with this dress, and I could only hope that my mother would like it as well.

"Miss? Would you like to try on another dress?" Jonah asked carfully not being able to read me. 

"Call me Tori, and I personally don't think I need to try on another one. Unless, of course, you don't think it's fitting for me?" I looked at him expectantly, watching to see if he would carefully respond so he wouldn't upset me.

"No, Tori, I think the dress looks amazing on you. What is it for, if I may ask?" 

"Well, you see, I'm turning 18 in two weeks, and my mother wants me to have a huge party, so I'm granting her that wish. Would you like to come?" I added somewhat abruptly.

I watched as he stumbled over his words, searching for an appropriate reply. 

"I- ummm. Thank you sso much for the offer, but I don't think I would fit in. I'm just a dress salesmen!" he stuttered nervously.

"Oh, Jonah, don't be silly! I would love to have you!" I argued.

"Okay, I will think about coming," he stated after a few moments of thought. 

Walking back to take the dress off and slip my clothes back, on I got this nagging feeling that he was the perfect person to trust with Avalon's secret.

As I headed up front to pay for the dress, I decided to allow him to help with Avalon's plan. 

"Hey, Jonah, I hate to do this to you, but I have to ask a favor of you."

"What's up, Tori?" 

"I need you to remember something very important," I continued.

"I would be glad to help you, Tori," he replied sincerely.

"Jonah, if you're serious about helping me, then I need you to remember the phrase 'Baby Silvers', because if I go missing at this party, you will be questioned by many people. However, you must only reveal the phrase to one person: Avalon." 

"Not that I mind, but why does it seem like you're putting a whole person's life into my hands? You barely know me," Jonah replied hesitantly.

Damn, the kid has got a good point. I don't know him that well, but I'm doing this out of instinct. I would definitely have to change that. 

"Well, Jonah, lets change that then. Let's go to lunch and get to know each other. How about tomorrow?" I asked hopefully.

I could use the food, and there were a few other things I needed to tell him. Besides, lunch was the perfect way to tell him everything he needed to know.

"Oh, and, Jonah, there's one last thing I need to tell you before I leave for the day. If Avalon hasn't come to you within two weeks, call this number and ask for a man named 'B'. Okay?" 

Without even waiting for a response, I walked out of the store, taking my beautiful, new dress with me.

Pulling into Vanessa's driveway, I got a call from 'B'. Sighing in a slightly annoyed manner, I answered the phone, knowing that he must have something for Avalon to do.
"What, B? I'm kinda busy right now." 
"Well, I have something for you, Av," he replied nonchalantly.
"I figured as much. What do you want?" I asked.
"I've got a rapist for you, and I happen to know where he's going to be in just a few hours. Cheer up Buttercup! You love going after a nasty people, Av..." B said, trailing off suddenly.
He was telling me this was important, I knew it, but I needed a moment without something happening or someone needing me. 
"B, I'll handle it later, okay? Send me all of the info I'll need, 'cause I'm going to see Vanessa right now."
"Alright, Av, but remember you're leaving in two weeks. Don't get too close. It will only make the goodbye harder on yourself." B stated firmly, though I could pick up the seemingly hesitant tone in his voice. He didn't want to let me go, but I knew we had worked too hard for me to screw this up now. There was only two weeks left 'till I was finally free. 
"B, I'll be fine. I'll see you in a few hours for clean up." 
With that, I hung up and attempted to pull myself together before going into Vanessa's house.
Pulling out my key, I walked right in and went straight to her "cave".
"Hey, Vanessa..." I trailed off as I walked into her bedroom.
"TORI!!!!!!!" came the shout as I cringed back, and she jumped up to hug me fiercely. 
I slowly started to relax and let myself open up in her embrace. Looking at the innocent brunet head of my best friend, I knew that I couldn't tell her goodbye. When I went to leave, I would have to just go because I knew she would talk me out of it. This change wasn't the end. I would see her again, I'd have to.
"Vanessa, I don't know what to do! I haven't been home since I saw that kiss, and mother is pissed. She's made that clear from her many texts and voicemails...I never thought she was that unhappy. She's cheating on dad, Vanessa! What am I supposed to do...?" 
I was in full-on hysterics. I'd never been so mad at mother in my life, and that's hard to believe, 'cause I'm always mad at the woman for something or another.
"Hey! Calm down, Tori. It's all going to be okay. When you get home, don't say anything. Let her come to you, alright? She probably needs some time to think. Maybe your overreacting and the kiss wasn't what you thought. Just let her explain when she finally does come to you."
"Van, I saw her! She had her arms around his neck! There's no way that was an accident, she wanted him to kiss her. I don't even know who this man is, but he's going to destroy my family!" I shouted in despair.
Although I'm going to be 18 in a few weeks and hate my family, the thought of them getting a divorce was heartbreaking. Vanessa just sat there silently, not knowing what to say because I was right. There was no way this was an accident. Mother had wanted to kiss that man. The question is, why?
"Torianna Black! Quit it! Everything will be fine. you're going to be 18 in just two weeks. You're freaking out and realizing that maybe your parents aren't in love. Maybe things are just different now. No, you probably weren't meant to find out this way, but you did, and now you have to live with it. Life goes on. Parents cheat and get divorced. For you, it may just mean another scandel that follows your name." she said in an oddly calming voice. 
Normally Vanessa would be freaking out too, but I didn't think about it too much. I just sat there on her bed, crying for my family that may just be broken now. It's moments like this that make me so glad to have found Avalon. 
"Oh, shit!! I've gotta go, Vanessa!" I yelled with a start, looking at the clock and realizing I'd been here way longer then I had planned on being here. 
"It's almost 6 p.m., Vanessa, I've been here for nearly five hours!"
Turning on my heel, I ran to my car and grabbed my phone, seeing eight missed calls from B, five or six from mother, and two from dad. I sent dad a text telling them not to worry, that I've been with Vanessa, and that I was going to stop and grab food before coming home. Although that was a lie, but they didn't need to know that. I called B back.
"I SWEAR TO GOD, YOU BETTER HAVE A DAMN GOOD REASON FOR MISSING EIGHT OF MY CALLS!" he shouted angrily as soon as he picked up.
B was pissed, and I hadn't even said hello before he already had my ass. 
"I'm so sorry I lost track of time. I told you I was going to Vanessa's House. I needed that, though. So tell me, what's up and where do I need to be?" I asked as calmly as I could manage.
"Av, I needed you here ten minutes ago, so get here now! I already sent you all the info on the guy. I'll see you briefly after the job is finished." 
With that, he hung up, and I started driving towards the address he had given me. I smiled slyly, incredibly excited for the thrill this job would bring Avalon. It was mightily convenient that this man was passing through a nearly abandoned warehouse district. It was there that Avalon would be able to enjoy her work in peace.
A man sat in a small, metal chair in the only patch of illumination that the room he was in had to offer. His head tilted oddly to his right side, unsupported in his unconscious condition. Dried blood could be seen clinging to the flesh near his temple from some viscous blow to the head. A dark presence could be felt in the shadowy depths of the room. Something evil was happening here, but the unconscious man had no idea that he could be in danger. 
Suddenly, a soft groan filled the air, echoing across the vast interior of the warehouse. Slowly, the man began to look up and around at his surroundings. Dazed, confused, and seeing red in his right eye, the man's first instinct was to get up and run. However, as he tried to do so, he found that his wrists and ankles had been bound to the chair he sat upon. He began to panic, struggling to break through his restraints, although it was no use. Whoever had kidnapped him was obviously used to this sort of business. 
Eventually, the victim noticed the presence lurking just beyond the shadows, and stilled immediately. Once the hidden one realized that she had been discovered, she slowly crept into the light. She was hooded and dressed in some sort of pitch black suit. The scantily lighted room cast menacing shadows across the open potion of her hood, so her face was impossible to make out properly. However, the man was positive this was a female due to her slim build. Eyes widening in horror, the man tried to push the chair backwards, failing once he realized that it had been bolted to the floor. Looking back at the approaching figure, he tried to peer at the face hidden in shadow underneath the thick hood.
"Christine?" he asked in absolute fear as the figure stopped within arms reach of him.
A chuckle escaped the lips of the captor as the name reverberated throughout the room. 
"Unfortunately, no. Christine had nothing to do with this. Although this would have been so much more fun if she had," the seductively evil voice said in a playful tone.
"How do you know her then? She was just my girlfriend! She would never have consorted with the likes of you!" the man shouted, anger developing inside him.
"Just your girlfriend, huh? I think we both know that that's not quite true," hinted the figure, creeping ever closer to the restrained man.
He once again began to struggle, each attempt more powerful than the last. He spat at the dark one's feet, halting her in her tracks.
"She was! She was just my girlfriend! I have no idea what she may have told you, but I'm innocent! I don't deserve this!" he yelled frantically.
The female suddenly rushed forward, grabbing the man's hair and yanking his head over the back of the chair. The man screamed at the sudden pain that came from the cold metal colliding with the back of his neck. 
"Lier! Don't play games with me! I know you are a filthy rapist! You are a disgrace to this world, and you deserve to be punished for what you've done!" she screamed in rage at the man.
She released her hold on the man's head, allowing him to look back up at her. He said nothing as the hooded figure stepped back a bit to watch him. His eyes glared straight into the black pit that consumed her face. 
"Fine then. You caught me. Now what are you going to do about it?" he challenged.
A devious grin, hidden from the questioner, flicked across the woman's face. Slowly, she began to slip her hand into the belt of her black suit. The man watched as she fingered a variety of nasty-looking tools. Her hand finally rested on a small hunting knife. Pulling it out slowly, the man got a sick feeling in his gut. The feeling only intensified as she flicked the blade out with a quick motion of her wrist to reveal a barbed tip. 
She took several steps forward, slowly tilting the knife so the metal glinted in the light with every inch of her approach. She knelt beside the man, seemingly assessing every inch of his body, trying to determine where to start. Without warning, the knife's barbed tip plunged into the soft flesh of his arm, causing the man to hiss in pain through his teeth. The woman slowly, painfully began to drag the knife tip still embedded in the man's flesh down the entire length of his forearm. The man peered through watery eyes at the trail she had made, the blood already beginning to well up in a giant red mass. 
"Now that I have your attention, you're going to answer some questions for me. Why did you do it?" the woman asked sweetly. 
The man, already gasping from the pain lancing through his arm, broke eye contact from the dark shadow of the hooded face and instead peered nervously at the knife dripping crimson at her side. The woman grabbed the back of the chair with her free hand, startling the man, and began to dig her knife into his other arm.
"I asked 'why did you do it'. Answer me or this will be a whole lot more painful for you," the woman stated menacingly.
The man's eyes locked onto a thin chin protruding from the darkness of the hood, the first bit of actual skin he had seen from his torturer. He glared at it with a mixture of hatred and fear, summoning the strength and the courage to ask the primary question that was on his mind.
"Who the fuck are you?"
The woman stood, unmoving, with her hand clenched on the cool chair behind the man's head and the knife tip plunged into the arm. Suddenly she released her hold on the chair, bringing her hand up slowly and deliberately to pull back the hood. Beyond the black pit was the face of Avalon Silvers.
"The name's just Avalon, sweetie. You can call me what you wish: murderer, criminal, psychopath, troublemaker, juvenile delinquent. But, honestly, I prefer bringer of justice," she said in a somewhat sassy voice while simultaneously dragging the knife along the man's other arm.
"Now, are we going to get this over with, or am I just going to have to make a bigger mess?"
"I'm not giving you the satisfaction, you wicked monster!" the man raged in as strong of a voice as he could muster.
However, the reaction he intended was not what he received. Avalon had begun to laugh, cackling similarly to that of an evil witch. 
"Monster? That's a new one! I'll be sure to add that to the list!"
Avalon then continued, carving crimson lines into the flesh of both the man's arms, chopping them into fine pieces once there was no longer any room left for vertical cuts. She then dug deep into his legs, doodling anything that popped into her mind. She made a flower, a swirled design, a sword, an axe, a gillyeatine, each becoming more violent than then last. 
At this point, Avalon was beginning to get frustrated that the man hadn't cracked yet. Her victims didn't usually last long past the arms. She leaned back over him, preparing to carve "rapist" into his leg, when he finally yelled, "STOP!" in a wavering voice.
Avalon looked up at the pained expression in his face, taunting him with her knife poised over his leg perilously.
"So, ready to talk now, are we?"
The man gritted his teeth from the pain, wincing as he slowly began to sit up in the chair, tugging at his restraints as he did so.
"Maybe I did it because I enjoyed it. Are you happy now?"
Avalon slowly and deliberately began to rise from her position at his legs, dragging her knife lightly upwards as she did so. As her face came closer to his, he continued to elaborate upon his answer.
"Maybe it gives me a certain satisfaction to be in control of women. I like control. Women are things: things that I can do whatever I wish to, and I swear if I were free, I would hunt you down and do the same thing to you. Just. Because. I. Can."
Avalon's face was now mere millimeters from his own, nearly touching. She stopped, her lips right above his ear to make sure he heard every word she said.
"Yes, that's good enough. However, I have one more question for you. Who controls you now?"
"No one, not even you, you bitch," he replied savagely. 
Avalon smiled, tearing the buttons of his shirt as she did so. She pressed the knife tip once again, this time right into the center of his chest. 
She began to carve once more, asking as she did so, "Who controls you?"
The man denied it, over and over again while the knife first made a slant upwards, then a slant downwards. Avalon carefully made the second slant twice as long as the first, taking great care to make sure it was accurate. Then she finished it off with another upward slant. The man looked down and saw the mark of Avalon carved upon his chest. An abstract symbol of an "A" connected to a "V". 
He gazed at it in horror as Avalon lifted the knife upwards and rested it on the center of his neck.
"I'll ask one last time. Who controls you?"
she said as she began to apply pressure to the knife. Blood began to well at the knife's point, slowly beginning to tear into his neck. 
Gasping, the man finally shouted with tears streaming down his face, "You! Alright! You do! Avalon Silvers controls me!"
Avalon smiled in satisfaction, pleased with her work. Without releasing pressure on the knife, she continued to bait the man.
"Soooo, would you agree that I own you now? That you belong to me?"
He hissed, frustrated but defeated, and responded, "Yes, you do."
 "Good. I think we're done here then," Avalon replied, abruptly releasing the knife and sticking it back into the belt at her waist. She stepped behind the chair, causing the man to try to follow her progress in confusion, but he couldn't turn around.
"Wait, does this mean you're letting me go?"
Suddenly, there was a loud, cringe-worthy crack as Avalon grabbed the man's head and snapped his neck. His body fell limply in his restraints as Avalon said to the corpse, "Yes. I am letting you go. To hell."
She then pulled her bloody gloves off, reaching once more into her belt and getting her phone. She dialed a number, raising the phone to her ear until she heard the gruff voice pick up at the other end.
"B, I'm ready for cleanup."
"Have fun?" B asked teasingly.
Avalon smiled wickedly, replying in a deeply satisfied voice, "Oh, you better believe I did!"