Page 104 of Fated to Monsters

I remain there, silent tears running down my cheeks as I stare into the eyes of my dead mother. How will I know when it’s safe to come out if she doesn’t tell me?

But when the bad people leave and many minutes pass, I wonder if I could stay down here forever?

Only, the fire that consumes my home and the smoke that fills my lungs makes it difficult to remain any longer. If I don’t want to find out what happens when the flames find me and the smoke fills my lungs, I must do something.

I push on the boards above me, but they won't budge.

“Mommy, you’re too heavy,” I say to my dead mother. “I can’t get out.” I push harder and wipe at the sweat and tears on my face. Coughing, I fall to my knees and beg the universe for an ounce of fresh air. “There has to be another way.”

I dig my fingers into the dirt, clawing my way under the house in a desperate attempt to escape. I don't want to leave Mother behind, but if I don't, I won't make it out either. Maybe it would be better that way. If I stay with Mother so she doesn't go into the afterlife alone. What if Daddy isn't there to help her find her way? Who will guide Mommy if I don't?

I stop digging and look back at where Mommy once was, but the smoke makes it too hard to see exactly. What if I'm too late and Mother already went without me? I don't want to be alone, there or here.

“What do I do?” I ask no one but myself.

But when a slight flickering of light appears near my fingers, my gut tells me that I must continue forward. I scrape my nails into the ground and rake out what dirt I can, frantic to find an exit from this hell.

I continue scraping away the dirt, throwing it behind me and going back for more.

Until finally, the cool night air greets me, and I squeeze through the small gap to free myself from under our burning house. I gasp for breath and wipe my nose on my shoulder as I take in the sight of the flames engulfing the house. Dirt cakes my face, and I scoot away from the fire, unsure of what I'm supposed to do.

Mother told me to wait. But now that she’s gone, what do I do?

I crawl away from the house and into a shrub, hiding from anyone who might wander by. I allow the tears to fall and pull my legs to my chest. I cry until there is nothing left that remains, the waterworks disappearing just like Mother does in the rubble of what was once home.

I fall into a dreamless sleep and hope that I never wake.

But the darkness is soon replaced by a faint white light and a glowing, but beautiful creature that hovers in the distance.

It speaks to me. “You must wake up, Wren.”

I rub my eyes, still in my dream, and shake my head. "I don't want to."

“Sometimes, we must do things we don’t want to.”

“I’m scared,” I tell the creature.

“You’re allowed to be afraid, but you mustn’t give up.”

“Mother is gone. I have no one.” I sniffle. “Who are you?”

“I cannot stay.” The creature flutters in and out of sight. “I’m already being pulled from this realm. But Wren, you must wake up. Wake up. Wake up.”

I shoot my eyes open, gasping for breath, and find strong hands that latch onto each side of me.

“Wren,” Bo blurts out. He tugs me to his chest and practically smothers me. “Angels, I thought you were a goner.”

I catch my breath and recall the terrible dream I had just had. One that felt too damn real.

No, it couldn’t have been a dream, it must have been a memory.

But that isn’t what I remember from that fateful day.

The version I’ve always known is of demons coming into my home and killing Mother.

My stomach sinks at hearing Parla tell the men to find and alter my memory.

Is that what really happened? Parla manipulated my recollection of that day in order to brainwash me into being on her side of the war? What other choice did she have? There’s no way I would have joined her if I knew she was the reason my mother was dead.

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