Give Me Blood

Chapter 12: Back in Its Place

(Emily POV)

My little self rummages through the bed sheets searching for a missing baby-blue stuffed rabbit. After finding no luck between the pillows, I crouch down in my soft daisy patterned pajamas and look under the bed to investigate further.

Scanning the area I lock in my grin after spotting the rabbits white opal eyes shimmering in a dark corner. The rabbit's ear eagerly hooked by my clawing fingers is dragged out into the room enveloped in the warm orange glow of the nightlight.

"Found you." I say to Mr. Hopkins as I'm being lifted into bed by my mother whose strong arms wrapped securely around me. Her bergamot and lavender perfume instantly melting me.

She gives me a kiss on the head and gently strokes my brown bobbed hair. "We have a busy day tomorrow. One last lesson on tracking before we move on."

"Can we skip the lessons this time? They're so boring." I whined burying my pouting face into Mr. Hopkins.

"Have I ever said yes when you start whining?" My mother quips having had enough of my incessant protests.

"This sucks. Why do we need to be so careful of them if they run away from us anyway?" I huff. My mother stops brushing through my hair and hums thoughtfully.

"Some run away. And some don't. It's always better to be cautious or you could end up getting tricked. You can't always get back what was stolen from you. But giving away things, like trust, can be given away any time you choose to."

"Then I guess I'll just get to know them before I shoot them in the face." She flicks my forehead.

"How many times have I told you to think before you speak? What I'm trying to say is--catch them, before they catch you. Most of the time anyway."

"This is confusing." I say furrowing my brows while rubbing my new sore spot.

She smiles at me. "You'll understand more when get older. For now you'll just have to trust me and go to sleep."

In drowsy surrender I let myself be tucked tightly into bed. As soon as she does this, like a sleeping spell, my eyelids shut to let the dreams inside.

With a fading conscience I manage to catch her comforting voice one last time.

That night.

"Sweet dreams Emily. I love you."

Then suddenly. Unforgivingly. Like a needle prick through a vein the horrid sound of glass breaking jolts me awake.

I wake up crying. Not on that day. But today. I woke up crying.

My fingers find my cheeks to see if they were truly tears and not just heavy beads of sweat sliding down my face. I only cry when I am dreaming.

These dreams would most likely come to me every night while I stayed here. This infested place was nothing but a minefield to my psyche. I had to be careful not to lose my composure around them. Yesterday's events were out of my norm. Leaving my guns in the car was a stupid mistake on my part. I had to get my weapons back as soon as possible.

Scanning around the guest room I was escorted to yesterday by the awfully cheerful maid...housekeeper? I notice a wooden vanity across the room of my king sized bed. A large ornate mirror framed in wood carvings of daisies sat atop the vanity table which I quickly glanced over before noticing the scene directly in front of me.