Broken Bridge

11

I closed my book and folded up the chair. I walked back to Broken Bridge and put the chair and book away. I poured some water into a cup in the kitchen and turned around. Rose was standing in the doorway.

"Rose?" I asked. "What are you doing here?" Rose smirked and tilted her head to the right.This can't be good. I thought. Rose laughed.

"You remember." She said. "I want to finish what I started." She stepped toward me and, placing the water down on the counter, I stepped back. A devilish look flashed through Rose's eyes as she advanced, pushing me into a corner. I opened my mouth to yell for help but Rose covered it with her hand. "Don't. Say. A thing." She said. I spit on her hand, making her pull it away. A look of disgust formed on her face. "No one." Rose hissed. "Will come save you."

"What's going on here?"

Rose's head snapped around to see Autumn standing in the kitchen.

"Rose?!" Autumn said. "What are you doing?" Rose's hand snapped away.

"Nothing." She said shakily. "I was just talking to Luna."

"Just talking to Luna?" Autumn said. "I don't believe you."

"How dare you not believe your own daughter!" Rose said, gasping.

"After what you did four summers ago." Autumn said. "No." Rose looked between me and her mom. She looked like she was panicking. Well, she was panicking.

"I wasn't gonna do anything!" Rose yelled, the panic showing in her voice. People were beginning to come in, watching the scene.

"What's going on?" My mom asked.

"Rose was attacking Luna again," Autumn told her.

"No I wasn't!" Rose pleaded.

"Did she attack you Luna?" My mom asked. All I could do was nod. "See?" My mom said. "Rose did it." All eyes were on Rose.

"I-I-" Rose was speechless. She couldn't defend herself.

"I'm am so disappointed in you Rose." Autumn said. "Again?" Tears fell down Rose's face and she stormed passed everyone, out of Broken Bridge. Silence.

"Are you okay Luna?" My mom asked, coming to hug me. I nodded my head. Shock kept me from speaking. It had happened again? Will it happen another time? I hope it doesn't. I thought.

The others were out of sight and Rose was nowhere to be found. I sighed in relief. I can just finish my walk then tell mom what happened. I thought. I don't want my cousins and siblings to worry too quickly. I'm fine. A yell snapped my head up and I saw Rose pounce on me, her face twisted into an angry yell.

"Rose!" Was all I could yell before I fell to the ground, Rose on top of me. I used some of my strength to overpower Rose and rolled on top of her. Rose rolled on top of me quickly and we ended up rolling all the way into the water. A wave pushed me off Rose and she took that opportunity to jump at me when I popped out of the water. She shoved my head under water. I struggled but couldn't get her off me. I was quickly running out of water. Play dead? The thought quickly flashed through my mind. I had lost all air. I was going to die. I was going to be killed. If I could cry under water, I would be sobbing. I didn't want to die. But I was going to die. My throat began to hurt. Really bad. I needed air. Now. Suddenly I was yanked up. I gasped for air and was pushed into the waves. I saw a boat waiting in the waves. I struggled against Rose's grip but she shoved me into a wave. We reached the boat and I looked back, passed Rose. I saw someone on the shore. They weren't watching us. I opened my mouth to yell for help but a wave sent water flying into my mouth. I gagged and spat the water out. We had reached the boat.

"Luna, are you okay?"

I looked over to see my mom sitting next to me on my bed. I nodded. I was still a bit shocked. My mom squeezed my hand.

"It's going to be okay. Autumn is talking to Rose." My mom re-assured me. I nodded, smiling. Good. "She might have to live with Marc for the rest of the summer." My mom said. I nodded again. My mom smiled but I saw the sadness in her eyes. "Dinner's almost ready." She said. "I'll come up to get you once it's done."

"Okay." I said quietly. "Okay."