Page 26 of Queen of Vengeance

Her chest rose subtly… unevenly, and fell in the same manner.

She was still alive.

I couldn’t find any noticeable injuries on her. I deduced that she was in shock.

Her face was pale, and her mouth was agape as she tried to draw in enough air to keep her alive.

“Me…ma.” I struggled to speak.

My throat felt like I swallowed a hot poker.

Mema’s eyes flickered at me.

She sat up slowly, holding her hand out to me.

I rushed into her arms, burning my face in her and sobbing.

“So it wasn’t a dream… I thought that this must be some horrible nightmare—that if I laid down, I would wake up from it. For some reason, I still can’t wake from this nightmare.” Her voice trembled, and she spoke as if she wasn’t fully conscious.

“Mema, we have to report this to the police. We have to face it… We don’t have a choice. I can’t sleep like this.” I tried to be the reasonable one, even if that meant getting the paranormal police involved.

The shock hadn’t fully settled in yet. Or maybe it had, and that was why I could think with unparalleled clarity.

In any case, I had to act fast before I was useless. I could feel Mema nodding as she held me tighter. “I’ll make the call.”

An hour later, the police arrived.

I was sitting outside, wrapped in a blanket.

The summer breeze swept through my poor little village, churning my stomach upside down. It was like the breeze was trying to comfort me, but comfort was the last thing I wanted.

I wanted answers. I wanted to sleep. I wanted my parents back.

But comfort? No.

I wanted to recount what had happened and why it had taken us so long to report it, but recounting it now seems almost impossible.

It was as if it was already a distant memory.

Maybe it was for the best that I could barely remember.

I either forget or see that graphic scene whenever I close my eyes.

Sitting outside, I overheard Mema talking to the agent about who might have done this. Without thinking about it, I spoke up. “It must have been Diesel and his wolves. One was here the other day trying to shake us down for money.”

The police officer turned to me and furrowed his brow. “Why didn’t you just pay him then? Your family could have avoided all of this.”

I nearly snapped my neck, turning to look at him. I was in disbelief.

Suddenly, the catatonic state I had been in dissipated, and a fiery rage replaced it.

“How is this my family’s fault? What Diesel and his band of assholes do is extort the weak. If anything, is it not your job to protect us? You’re the ones who have failed!” I shouted at him, balling up my fist and doing everything I could to contain my werewolf.

“Those are some hefty accusations, girl. I would be careful if I were you.” He took one step closer to me, staring me down as if he was going to hurt me. Then he turned to Mema. “We’ll look into these leads. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Despite his words, it didn’t sound like he meant it.

Deep down, I knew they wouldn’t do anything, especially against Diesel.

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