The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 18

Cassandra stood in the living room of her mother's old house in Canton. The peeling paint on the ancient wood trim and the faded cabbage rose wallpaper were as familiar to her as her own hand. Late afternoon sunlight spilled across the wooden floorboards, bouncing off the crystal cat figurines on the bookshelf.

The Canton house had been sold five years ago when her mother decided to down-size and move into an assisted living community. Cassandra had been sad to see the for-sale sign go up in the yard of her childhood home, but she respected her mother's wishes. Madeline Pierce had taught her to not get attached to places and things. People were far more important. As long as her mom was happy in her new place, that was all that mattered.

Cassandra wandered through the dream house in a daze. Childhood memories flooding back. Falling down the stairs on the night of prom and spraining her ankle. Sitting at the kitchen table doing homework while her mom kneaded dough on the counter for homemade pumpernickel bread. Decorating the Christmas tree they bought at a local farm. Curling up in a ball on the couch while her mom tried to comfort her during her first breakup.

She explored each room and its treasure trove of memories. Eventually, Cassandra ended up in the kitchen. She knew she was dreaming and expected to find her mom puttering around the stove making dinner. "Mom?"

A pair of slippers stuck out from behind the kitchen island. Alarm bells went off in her head as she surged forward. "Mom!"

Her mother lay prone on the floor, blood running from a deep gash in her temple. A wound pulsed blood from her side, a deep puddle forming around her.

Kneeling beside her, Cassandra pressed her fingers to the side of her neck checking her pulse. An unnaturally slow pulse beat weakly against her fingertips. "Mom, hold on! I'm going to call for an ambulance!"

Fumbling with shaky hands, Cassandra pulled her phone out of her pocket. Her mom raised a frail hand stopping her. "No, dear. You need to listen." She released a rattling breath. "I have something to tell you."

Oh, god.

Tears streamed down Cassandra's cheeks. "No, you listen, I'm going to get you help. I can save you."

"You already did, by being my daughter." Her mom croaked weakly. "I love you so much, Cassie. I'm so proud of the life you've made for yourself. You're the bravest and kindest person I know."

The tears came faster now. Cassandra didn't know why she wasn't dialing the phone. Her mom had obviously been attacked but something in her mother's gaze told her it was already too late. "Okay, I'm listening." It hurt to say the words, but she forced herself to spit them out because her mom was dying and it was what she needed to hear.

Her mom was barely conscious now, fading fast. "Its in my old jewelry box on the dresser."

"What is? You're not making sense." Cassandra held her mom's hand tightly as if she could hold her there through will alone. "I love you. Please don't leave me."

Her mom's eyelashes fluttered. "Promise me you'll find it."

"I...promise."

"Good...."Her mom's face went slack.

Cassandra shook her. "Mom?"

Silence.

"Mom?" She said more urgently. "Mom!"

Cassandra woke with a blood-curdling scream shooting up in bed. She tore at the blankets, tumbling violently to the floor. The pain jarred her fully awake.