Totally Bubbly- Cheesecake's New Stories: The Second Series

Cheesecake's New Stories #14: The World Has Stopped

The world has stopped.

Hours after the earthquake, the group settles down for the night. We can see nothing through the thicket; no stars twinkling above the leaves or rays of shimmering moonlight. The only light we have is from our lamps and flashlights which don't give a wide circumference of illumination; however, it seems to be enough for everyone to forget their worries.

I sit by a fire further away from the tents, separated from the rest of the group. The flames radiate a controlled violence of warmth and danger. Once again, I have put up my barriers, but this time, it has almost nothing to do with their safety. I actually want to be alone.

  This is crazy, I think to myself, biting my lip and subconsciously playing with my hands. It's a trick of the woods-The Darkness. They know your weakness and are trying to use it against you. Don't lose control. Cherry is fine.

I take a deep breath. The heat of the fire makes my eyes water. I curl into a little ball, and with one last shaking breath, I fall to sleep as though stumbling through a vast darkness of forgotten memories.

 I am running through a small yet familiar place. It is rundown and bland, filled with the smells of damp cloth, soap, and dust. A fire is dying in the furnace, and flashes of lightening threaten me through the broken window. My heart is racing. This is it.

I stuff all the food from the cupboards into a small basket. All the clothes have been packed and put next to the door. My mind is winding with the horrors of this woman. What did we get ourselves into? We should've left years ago. We should've known that she was a monster behind the proper behaviors of a rich girl. 

After setting the food next to the rest of the supplies, I quickly run towards the bedroom; however, I trip over the dress that is too big for me. I grab the wall before I lose my balance, and my left hand quickly makes its way to my stomach. I gently slide my hand over my belly, trembling even more from the panic, and a tear quickly escapes my eye. You would not be able to tell from just looking at me, but my stomach protrudes ever so slightly.

Warmth touches my hand and collarbone. I turn my head to see a tired, anxious man with golden eyes. The yellow streaks in his light brown hair are now beginning to fade into gray, and his tan skin is far from flawless, covered in blisters and scabs and bruises, as they've always been. He turns me around, kisses my cheek, and takes my hands away from my abdomen. A gleam of optimism used to shimmer in the back of his eyes, but these past few years have worn away his happiness. Now pain makes its appearance through his longing stare.

"She's going to kill us, isn't she?" I break down. Even in the steady grasp of his hands, my trembling makes its way to my arms. "Maple's going to kill our children, Lemon!"

"No she won't," says Lemon with an aggressive determination. "I won't let her."

"Where are we going to go?" I plead for an answer even though I know he has none. "How are we going to survive? We have no money, no other job, no place to live. It won't be safe for the baby." I look down at my stomach again.

Lemon takes my chin and lifts it so that I'm looking directly into his eyes. "We don't have any more options, sweetheart. I need our son to be safe. I need you to be safe. I promise that I will protect you-"

"But I need to protect you! I need you!"

He sighs, looking down in grief. His breath is uneven, and makes a straining noise as he inhales.

"Your hands are shaking again." He takes my hands and puts them against his heart. It beats steadily, but his breathing causes his chest to tighten.