A Mate's Rebirth

*Epilogue*

8 years later...

Castle Rock, Maine

It's Christmas time in Castle Rock. The town is filled with snow, and Christmas cheer. Kids are on vacation, happy to be home with their families, and play outside with their friends. The Kramer Family have their house decorated for the holiday season. The lights are up, they have their tree in the living room with some presents. Even their daughter is looking forward to the most wonderful time of the year.
Nadia Gray is in her room, looking through her closet. She has long red hair, gold eyes, and pale skin. She had a small box of her belongings that mean so much to her. A picture of her birth mother, Belle Whitehurst. A necklace with an earth and turtle charms hanging. A gift from someone who gave her a family. She puts her box away in the closet and head out of her room.
Nadia came downstairs as she hears her older sister, Jane, is playing the piano. She is 16 years old. Jane has short blonde hair. She is playing a Christmas song. Nadia went to grab her coat, boots, a beanie, a scarf, and gloves to put on to play out in the snow. Nadia went over to Jane.

"Wanna play in the snow with me?" She asked.

"I'd love to, Nadia, but I can't." Jane said with a smile. "I still have to practice. Just stay close to the house. Mom's making soup for us." Nadia nodded and went over to the front door.

"I'm going outside!" She called, wrapping a scarf around her neck.

"Okay. Just don't go to the streets!" Suzanne called from the kitchen. Nadia shuts the door. Suzanne is stirring the soup, smiling at the wonderful smell. "Almost done." She said to herself.

XX

Nadia is giggling as she is rolling down the hill as snow is falling. How she loves the snow at this time of year. That's the best part of the holiday in Castle Rock. Nadia got on her feet, brushing down her coat and her hair. Before she is about to do another activity, she started to hear voices. But they are singing. Nadia looks around and see no one. Where did the singing come from? The song sounds like a nursery rhyme. Nadia started to follow it.

"Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.
You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey."

The song is coming from the sewer drain. Nadia kneeled down as the song ends. She could hear giggling of children.

"Hello?" She called. "Who's down there?"

"Chop off your head! Chop off your head!" The voices of children cried out. Nadia jumped back in fright. Giggling is heard again. Nadia couldn't see what was down there. She tried calling out again, but she hears her mother calling.

"Nadia! Soup's ready!" Suzanne called. "And get away from there! You might fall in!"

"Okay, mommy!" Nadia said. "I'm coming!" Suzanne went back inside the house. Nadia turned back to the sewer drain, expecting to hear singing or voices again. But it is silent now. The girl shook her head. There is no way that children could be down in the cold drain. Nadia ran back to the house to eat dinner with her family.
After she is gone, slight growling is heard from the sewer drain, and a red balloon appeared. Floating above the drain, covered in snow.

The End