He lay in bed, wondering what went wrong. Did they exclude her? Did they neglect her? What had caused her to get such a black heart, the heart of a thorny rose? One with petals black as night? Or was it her own evil conscience, living inside such a sweet nature? All he knew was something had gone very wrong.
He remembered the days watching her twirl in the meadow, telling her not to eat any of the berries, love for his younger sister showing as he protected her from the evils of the world. “Bobcat!” She would call to him. “Look at the flowers I found! Bobcat!” He would smile and say, “We’ll give them to Mother; she’ll love them.” And she would run off, pink skirt swirling in the breeze, yellow grass around her knees.
Had it been when she was older? When Tiger was always irritated at her? At him? Was that it? Or was it something else?
He remembered when she was older, in her preteens, always happy. Always moody. Had it been then when she changed? He remembered twirling her around and around, telling her, “Don’t laugh, or I’ll have to tickle you!” She always did. But by then, he could feel something different, but not much. What had caused her to rampage? What had he done?
He remembered the near past, when she was fifteen, moodier, but always having time to play with him. Softball or kickball or whatever else. She had changed then, but what had ignited the bomb, he couldn’t tell? Was it the final argument? Was it deciding to go to college, without her? When she was always alone.
Then when the black rose unfolded with sharp, hateful thorns- he remembered the yelling, the screaming, the letters, the despair. The pleading. And all he could do was watch. Watch the evil rose unfold.
He jolted. Now she was gone, and he would never see her again. Dead, his little sister. He would never see her again, her smiling face, always cheerful.
Until the black rose blossomed.
Bobcat.
Bobcat, please.
Sister?
Bobcat?
Aura? Where are you?
I’m here. I’m always here.
I’m always here.
Always.
Always.
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Bloodthirsty: A Collection Of Scary Stories
Short StoryThe stories that will chill you to the bone and leave you in suspense, all at once. From Echoes to Once Upon A Dark Night, you'll be wanting more. Another must-read from Ara Redbridge.
