Page 110 of See You Soon
"It's going. And yes. Yes, he knows."
"Well? Is he excited?"
I frown. We hadn't talked much about it. Danny finally opened up about my brother's death and I couldn't bring myself to pry further into his emotions. I always take what I can get from that man.
"Yeah, he's very excited. Shocked, of course since it's so soon but nonetheless happy."Not a total lie.
"Oh, that's good! I'm so happy everything worked out. I was so stressed out when I let it slip, please forgive my stupidity."
I chuckle.
"You're forgiven."
"Anyways, I gotta go. Harry’s rushing me off the phone, we've gotta go but I should be back from Europe soon and I'll call you."
"Sounds good, talk to you later."
"Talk to you later, love you baby girl."
Click.
I drive my car into the driveway in front of the garage. I get out of my Bronco, locking my car. My mother's garden looks well-kept even with the cold dry weather approaching. The skies are dark grey almost black. Another thunderstorm was approaching, I hadn't checked the weather app on my phone, I would have packed an umbrella before leaving.
Lightning illuminates the sky followed by heavy thunder piercing through. The air smells different, like nature and soil. I open the door to my mothers' house, and I'm met with darkness.
I frown when I don't see my mother in the kitchen or living room watching tv. She's usually in those two places when she's home. I take off my jacket throwing it on the couch in the living room as I turn on the living room light.
Something isn't right. An eerie feeling shutters through me and I'm confused.
"Ma!" I call out. "I'm home! Where are you?"
Silence.
My heart begins to pound and I quickly whip my phone out of my jeans. I plug in my passcode, swiping fast to my security cameras app.
My eyes widen when I realize my mother and I forgot to charge them. The battery on them is dead and has been since last night. My heart drops and fear begins to swallow me whole. My mind travels to the worst and I'm frozen with my phone in my hands, staring at the screen.
Something catches my eye when I see black peppered hair peaking out behind the couch, on the floor. I feel like I can't breathe. My chest tightens when I realize it's my mother's hair.
I run fast towards her, she's on the floor sprawled out unconscious in the middle of the dining room. She has clotted blood on the top of her forehead. It looks like she took a fall or worst. Someone attacked her.
"Ma! Oh my God, mom!" I fall to my knees carrying her head into my palms. She doesn't respond to me and it only heightens my frantic actions.
I check for a pulse on the side of her neck. Seconds pass by like years and my throat begins to pulse from the horror. My mother is my world, she can't be dead, she can't.
And then I feel it. It's faint but it's there.
"Ma, wake up!" I shout. I lay her head back down on the floor gently as possible before I shake her shoulders. She's not responding and I quickly grab my phone out and start to dial 911.
Suddenly, I'm being pulled back by my hair, I drop my phone before I can press the green dial button. I immediately go to defend myself. A loud shriek escapes me. I scream from the pain and I'm clawing at the hands that hold my short hair. My legs fight to gain balance and my attempts to turn around fail, my shoes make loud squeaking noises as I'm being dragged away.
I'm thrown to the side with so much force my waist hits the ground and my maternal instincts kick in and my palms stop my stomach from colliding with the floor. I protect my baby bump and I whip my head around to face my attacker.
My eyes bulge in confusion and I'm in shock.
It's Nora.The same blonde woman that Danny was with when I saw him at El Devine.
"You fucking bitch just had to take what's mine." Nora has a shiny thick knife in her hand, twirling it like it's a game.
