The Queen Of Spades

Chapter 2, Continued

After we were done at the social services place we went to Nada's house for the night, I would stay there until my new arm was ready. I said hi to Nada's niece, Lizzy, who was staying with Nada because her parents were deep undercover in Peru and wouldn't be back for at least three more years. Lizzy was seven years old with long black hair just like Nada that was always in two French braids whenever I saw her, she had hazel eyes and was about three foot five. She used to spar with Jade whenever we came over, and  I wondered if she knew yet? She whispered to Nada and pointed to my arm, or rather where my arm should be. I rolled my eyes and went to the kitchen for a snack while Nada fed her a fake story about what happened to my arm. My eyes landed on a bag of caramel popcorn and I walked back to the entryway shaking the bag in front of Lizzy to get her attention.

We walked to her room with the food and she took out the two black permanent markers we always use to draw on each other's arms. I swear that kid could be an artist with her skill, she gave me one marker and set out drawing on my arm. Every now and then she stopped and ate some popcorn, standing back to admire her work. Once she was done it was my turn and with a shaky hand I tried to draw my usual spirals and geometrical shapes. I frowned and tried to still my hand but ended up screwing the whole thing up. I apologized to her for ruining her arm and she started laughing. We sat on her bed eating popcorn and watching awful chick-flicks (her choice not mine) until Nada told us it was time to go to bed. I grabbed my duffel and went to the bathroom to change into pajamas, which, by the way, was a struggle. I still wasn’t totally used to having only one arm.

On the way downstairs to the living room I stopped to look at a picture on the wall. It was a picture of mom, dad, Oliver and Nada together at the office before my parents first joint case with Nada. I loved that story. Once I was set up in the living room, I went around turning off all the lights except for the living room light which I only dimmed. Then I took out my earbuds and turned on my music. Don't sleep, the monsters can only get you while you sleep. I fished in my bag for my knife and held it under my pillow as I lay there. And of course my mind started to wander, I had to block it out so I turned my music up louder until I couldn't hear my thoughts. But eventually the thoughts got louder and I couldn't take it. Screw it. I thought, getting up. I'm not just gonna lay here and let the monsters creep in my head.