Page 51 of Firefly

Simon opened his eyes and knew something was wrong. His heels ached as if they had been struck repeatedly, and the ceiling he was staring at was most certainly not Rebecca’s. He sat up and gazed around the dining room. It was a space no one used in this house, and he couldn’t imagine how he’d ended up here.

He stood, dusting his pants and jacket as dread bled through him. Stuffing his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a folded sheet of paper. He unfolded it with shaking fingers, already knowing who it would be from.

You still think you can outsmart me. I would ask when you’ll learn, but I imagine it will be too late when you do.

He crumpled the letter into a ball in his fist, seething.

“Mama?”

The small voice coming from the fourth floor caught his focus, and he darted up the stairs.

When he reached Rebecca’s room, he stopped, staring at Sarah, who was wiping tears from her eyes. Moving around the bed, a pale hand was the first thing he saw before the rest of Rebecca’s still form came into view.

He dropped to his knees beside her.

“Rebecca… Rebecca, wake up.”

He touched her wrist, already knowing there would be no pulse. Leaning, he pressed trembling lips to her forehead, feeling her cool skin against his mouth.

Pain tore through him as he lifted her into his arms. She was so light. So frail. He wanted to hold her close and never move from the spot, content to petrify wrapped around her, shielding her from the world the way he never could when she was alive.

A small sob shattered the frozen moment, and he looked up at the girl wiping tears from her eyes, attempting bravery for a mother she didn’t understand was already gone.

Slowly, he stood, moving toward Sarah. Each step away from Rebecca tore at the gaping hole in his chest. He wrapped Sarah in his arms, lifting her, and squeezed her gently.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “You will be okay.”

It was a lie. Nothing would be okay ever again.

He moved blindly, taking the stairs two at a time as Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and wept. Her small chest rose and fell as tears ran down Simon’s collar and onto his skin. He had been wrong to assume she didn’t understand.

In that moment, he remembered the letter, knowing her wishes. She wanted him to take Sarah and go. Get her as far away from Alexander as he could.

“Simon. Put my granddaughter down.”

Simon’s arms loosened as he bent to set her on the floor. She squeezed his neck tighter, not releasing him.

“Simon. I said release her.” There was a bite to Alexander’s tone that promised violence.

He tilted his head, whispering in Sarah’s ear. “You will okay, but you’ll have to let me go for a moment. Do you trust me?”

She squeezed tighter but, after a moment, nodded her head, and her arms fell to her sides.

Simon turned to face Alexander, and Sarah laced her fingers through his, facing him as well.

“Come here, Sarah. I am your grandfather. That man is not your family.”

Her tears had dried, and the small girl squared her shoulders, reminding Simon painfully of Rebecca.

“No.”

Alexander’s jaw clicked as he bit down on unsaid words. He swiveled his gaze to Simon. “Bring her to me, Simon.”

Simon’s legs moved mechanically, dragging Sarah behind him. She stumbled to her knees, but he was forced to keep walking. Agony twisted through him as she began to cry again, tearing her hand from his.

She turned, running from them, and Simon’s body moved, chasing after her.

When he reached her, he scooped her up, and she fought like a feral animal to get out of his hold. “Please, Sarah, stop fighting me. When I bring you to him, I’ll run so he can’t use me. But you have to give me a chance to get away.”

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