The Next Generation

Chapter 18: Coral's memory

Coral was in the dojo, she had a cable on her neck to the untrained eye. It looked like she was charging but in reality, she was healing her body.

Coral stared into the floor, trying to repress any memories from that night.

"No... Stop... Don't hurt her..." She mumbled to herself, didn't even realizing she was crying. Then she gasped and had a flashback to that night.

Flashback

Coral woke up on the rooftop gasping for air, she was alive but she couldn't move. She looked down at her neck and saw gem shards on her hand.

"No..." She turned her head and the rain was causing her vision to be blurry, she saw Novo fighting someone as best as she could, then Leo helping her. That's when she realized a baby Leah, crying right behind them.

Coral groaned in pain as she tried to crawl over to them. That's when she heard the most heartbreaking and painful scream she's ever heard.

Novo screamed in agony and heartbreak as the weapon stabbed her through the chest. That broke Leo and he screamed her name as the woman pulled the blades out.

"No... Stop it!" Coral grabbed baby Leah and tried to get to Novo but when she turned around Novo was lying next to her, eyes opened... Lifeless...

Coral was crying as baby Leah cried for her mother "No... Novo..." She closed her eyes as Leo broke down.

Flashback ends

"-ral? Coral?"

Coral opened her eyes and she saw Leo and his siblings in front of her, he was wiping the tears off her face.

"What happened?" Coral moved his hand away and took off the cable.

"Nothing"

"Coral.. I know that was a panic attack. What did you see?"

"... I saw her that night... She wasn't moving, her eyes were open, her arm was extended like she was reaching for Leah... Oh Stars... Leah was so tiny"

"I remember.. how about we do one of those breathing exercises you taught me? Those always helped when I had my shared panic attacks.."

Coral looked at the ground, she picked up a ribbon and tied it around her neck as a bow-tie.

"Alright"