The Viking Alpha

Motherly advice

(Cassi POV)

This was familiar. Where had she seen this place before?
Squinting, she looked around the room. No one was here. One of the lamps on the ceiling twitched. The old jukebox in the corner was playing Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash. Her sneakers stuck as she stood on the cracked, dingy, yellow, and green linoleum floor.
She knew this place. But where?
'Hey baby girl.'
Turning she saw a woman behind a bar. Wearing a yellow waitress dress uniform. A slice of pie on a small plate in front of her on the counter top.
She…she knew her. This woman. She looked about Cassi's age.
'Well are you going to just stand there gawking or come give your mama a hug?' Chided the woman playfully.
Mama! This was her mama.
'Mama?!' Hurtling forward, the woman came around quickly and caught her daughter in her embrace.
Crying in her mothers hair she squeezed her hard.
After a few moments Debbie pulled back and gently pushed her daughter down in one of the yellow swiveling bar stools.
'Now, little missy. No time for tears. We have to talk.'
Sobbing Cassi clutched her chest. 'I can't believe you're here.'
Her mother smiled. 'Let's get that head of yours screwed on right. How about some pie?'
Debbie dragged the plate closer to Cassi.
Taking it with a laugh, she took a bite quickly.
'Mmmmhmm. Oh, God! This is good!'
'Now now. I know I taught you not to talk with your mouth full.' Debbi scolded playfully.
'Sorry.' She mumbled as she covered her mouth as she chewed.
'But this is a dream, mama. No rules. No manners required.'
Debbie's face softened as she gently tucked some hair behind Cassi's ear.
'No baby. This isn't a dream.'
Cassi stopped chewing.
'What?' Looking around again she took in the old diner. Everything looked the same as she remembered. Her mother worked here before she was born. Cassi worked here when she turned sixteen. Same truck stop. Except…
'Hey…the booths are supposed to be green not yellow.' Looking again she spotted the calendar on the wall behind the bar. December 1999.
'Where are we? How are you here?'
Her mother laughed with a shrug.
'A little place your daddy made for me. A place in time he remembers me fondly, I guess. It explains why I look so young.' Her mother shrugged. 'Not that I'm complaining. '
'What?'
Debbie sighed. 'Well, it's a bit of a story. You see, I never moved on. To the afterlife. Even after I died I was still waiting on your father.'
'I'm confused.' Cassi furrowed her eyebrows trying to make sense of her mother's words.
'I never moved on. I've been kind of hanging around. I was with you the whole time. After you met your father he eventually tried summoning me. Very soon after he visited my grave. It worked. After I was finished screaming at him for being a total nimrod he created this little place for me with magic. Easy access, he says. Until we can be reunited. The stupid, stubborn, brilliant, man, your father. So anyway, he visits me every chance he gets.'
Cassi blinked rapidly while her thoughts slowly caught up.
'If…if I'm not dreaming…you're really a ghost…and-and this place is meant…and if I'm here…that means…that means I'm-'
'Kind of dead.' Debbie finished for her gently.
The memory of James gripping her hair and slashing her throat came into her mind like a clap of thunder.
'Oh..oh-n-no.' She sobbed. Putting her hand over her womb she remembered her baby. Her son.
'But not quite dead yet.' Her mother spoke softly again.
Looking up at Debbie through a haze of tears Cassi blinked.
'What?'
Debbie sighed and grasped Cassi's hands that were still on her stomach.
'Your baby is back there. In the land of the living. Still in your body, fighting for you both. You have to go back. There is not much time.'
'But you-I can't just-'
'Yes you can, baby. You have too. I'd fight for you. I did fight for you. Now you are the mother. It's your turn to fight.'
Cassi sagged in her seat. Leaning her elbow on the bar she cradled her head in her hand, exhausted.
'Mama…I can't fight anymore. I'm not strong like you were.'
'That's a bunch of bull, Cassandra!' Snapped Debbie.
Shocked at her mothers tome she sat up.
'What?'
Debbie fixed steely eyes on her daughter.
'Now I know we didn't have much. I know I did not do everything right. I know I was not the most perfect mother. But I know damn well I didn't raise a quitter!'
'Mom…it's…too much. If I let go…I won't have to try anymore. To fight. I can be at peace. With you.'
'Yes. That's true. But what about your son? My grandson? It's your choice. But it's a bit selfish if you choose to let go.'
'Selfish? How? To spare him the difficult life he will be born into? He's still in my womb and he already has to fight. How is that fair?'
'Didn't anyone ever tell you? Life isn't fair, Cassandra. In any world. It's selfish that you would deny your son to live. To take the choice away from him. Besides,' Debbie straightened in her chair. 'You said it yourself. He's fighting already. He is strong. He obviously wants you and him to live. He loves you and his father, clearly. Will you deny him the knowledge of his father? Was that fair that Lucas was taken from you?'
Thinking on her mothers words, Cassandra sighed. 'No.'
'Now then,' Debbbie stood and gently dragged Cassi up with her. 'Put your big girl panties on and kick some ass! Show the world you are not one to just lay down and take it. Go show those bitches what happens when they mess with you. Go fight with your son. Make me proud. Now go!'
With that Debbie shoved her daughter back.
With a gasp Cassandra opened her eyes to find herself lying on the cold concrete. Blood puddled underneath her. Clasping her neck she didn't feel pain. No wound. Pulling her hand back she saw bright white light coming from her fingertips before it extinguished.
Cupping her stomach she collected herself.
'Thank you, Sam. I'm sorry.' Taking a deep breath she stood. Surprisingly she was feeling steady. Actually she felt…strong. Powerful. In-fucking-vincible. Smiling sardonically toward the stone steps leading out of the pit she spoke again.
'Let's go kick some ass.'