Page 33 of Bond & Protect

I’m not the only one in shock as we watch Mila throw her arms around the woman and she embraces her hard. The intriguing blade falls out of the woman’s hand and hits the floor with a clatter. I can’t resist edging forwards to see more about it. That thing saved us. I’m intrigued!

The blade is glittering, glowing, a bit like The Rift was a few moments ago. There is definitely some connection there. Somehow this is all linked. I can’t believe it! I know Mila said that she was connected to this town beforehand, but I didn’t know quite how much.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Elias says softly to us all. “I think we should go back to the safe house now so we can talk about it. I know it’s safe here now, but I’d rather be inside.”

We all look at one another in agreement. I have so many questions, and I bet Mila does as well. Being back at the safe house means that we can be hidden and we can relax as well. Check ourselves over to make sure that we don’t have any injuries. Especially Mila. The monster did something to her, and I need to make sure she’s all right. She looks okay at the moment, aside from all the color being gone from her cheeks. But I will make sure for certain as soon as I can.

“Come with us, Mom,” Mila insists. “I need to talk to you. I need to know what happened. I can’t believe you’re here. I’m baffled. How did you even…? You know what, don’t tell me. You can tell me when we’re back at the cabin with a mug of tea in our hands.”

Her mom looks hesitant, but eventually, she nods. She keeps shooting glances our way, which is understandable because she doesn’t know any of us and I’m sure she’s wondering why we put her daughter in danger. Even if we didn’t exactly mean for that to happen…

We still owe her an explanation, which we can do better at home. Thank goodness we’re all on the same page here, walking together to where we need to go. Soon, I’m hoping, this will all make sense. Soon, I’m hoping we will all feel much better and this shit will be nothing more than a horrible memory that we can overcome easily, together, with unity.

14

MILA

“Mom, what happened?” I ask her again, once we’re sitting down with our mugs of tea, just like I promised. “How did you know where to find me?”

“You told me.” She cocks her head to one side and eyes me curiously. “You texted me, telling me that you were in a place special to our family. You don’t remember that?”

I nod. “I do, but I just said that so you would know I’m safe. I didn’t think that would give you all the clues you needed to find me. I’m in shock.”

Mom reaches across and takes my hands in hers, looking at me with love in her eyes. “Don’t you remember? I always used to tell you the tales of this town when you were younger, the same as my mom and dad did to me. I told you it was where we belonged, where you would always feel safe. We talked about that so many times. That’s why I thought it was a clue.”

I suck in and hold a sharp breath. I wasn’t prepared for that. “Oh, I see.”

I guess I do remember all of that somewhere deep down in my subconscious because this was the first place that I wanted to go as soon as the stalking got too much for me. I couldn’t even imagine going anywhere else in the world. It’s almost like I was drawn here.

“I knew this is where you would be as soon as you said that to me,” Mom continues. “And I also knew that you needed me. I could just feel it. Deep in my bones, I could feel it.”

We have always had a strong connection, especially because it’s been just us for most of our lives. It’s been much harder than I thought it was going to be. Being away from her has killed me. It feels so good now to just be able to reach out and hold her right now.

“Mom, I’m glad that you’re here, but I have to admit it was very scary to look up and see you there. It was such a dangerous situation. Why did you get in the middle of it?”

“You think that was scary for you?” Mom scoffs. “I had to watch my daughter in the middle of the horrible situation, knowing that she was in danger... and more than that, knowing I always had the tools to help you, but I was too scared to give them to you.”

I narrow my eyes at her curiously. “What do you mean, the tools?”

She holds up a blade that I have never seen before in my life. Is that what Mom fought off the monster with? It all happened so fast that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. One minute we were all in hell, and the next, there was goo everywhere, and the monster was dead…

Well, I assume it was dead. I guess I don’t know that for sure.

“Like I said,” Mom sniffs sadly. “My parents always used to tell me about this town and how we came from here. I always thought they were tall tales, especially when they used to talk about The Rift and monsters. It was terrifying but thrilling to listen to because it was just a story. At least, that’s what I assumed until you were born.”

“Me?” I gasp in shock. “What has this got to do with me?”

“Your grandfather knew,” she says with a slow nod. “He knew from the moment that you were born, that you would be the one to bring our family back to this town. The same town he ran away from the last time the monsters escaped.”

“You… you never told me any of this.”

“Because I didn’t want you to leave, to come here,” Mom continues, tears pouring down her face. “I was so scared about everything I’d learned about this town. I didn’t want to put you in the middle of everything. With monsters. I wanted to protect you from that, but now that makes me feel silly. Because you came here anyway, and the blade didn’t protect you.”

“What is the blade?” I ask curiously. “How did it work like that?”

Mom shrugs, which I have to admit is a little frustrating. “I don’t know all the details, and I’m very sorry. I know that must be hard for you to hear. I wish I could tell you everything, but I didn’t find this blade until your grandfather passed away. He’d left it to you in his will, with a note saying to bring it with you when the town finally brought you back. It didn’t give me any instructions or anything like that, only the Latin words I yelled at the beast as I stabbed it. Something that I only did because I hoped it might save you. I didn’t know it would work.”

I hug her again because she’s so freaking brave. I can’t believe how brave she actually is. To throw herself in the firing line like that to protect me. I can’t get over her.

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