Something Lost, Something Gained (BEING EDITED)

Chapter 28: Leland (Mini Chapter)

I hold the chubby six year old's face in my hands. She stares up at me with wide eyes. I hold a washcloth in my hand which I use to wash off her face.

"What happened baby?" I ask her.

Leland opens her mouth but no words come out. Her eyes flash pink as she uses her powers to talk to me. They're gone.

"Who's gone Leland?"

Mama and Margret. Her voice rings inside my mind.

"Come on baby lets go get you cleaned up and then you can tell me what happened." I grab her hand and lead her to the bathroom. Once we are inside I shut the door and run a bubble bath for her. She climbs out of her bloody clothes and into the water. I pick up my phone and text Bash to get some clothes at the store for her. "Alright, now can you tell me where Mom went?"

She shakes her head. I watch as her eyes fill with tears. I can show you. Her hand reaches out of the water. She places one tiny finger to my temple. Leland's eyes turn pink as she brings me into her most recent memory of mom.

Leland sits on the couch, holding a princess book in her hands. Mom is standing in the kitchen cutting up vegetables for soup. There's a knock at the door and Margret goes to answer it. Leland gets up from the love seat and follows after her older sister. She watches as Margret opens the door and standing in front of them is Ethan and a tall blond lady. Ethan's mouth opens to reveal razor sharp teeth. The skin around his mouth torn to shreds by jaws that open too wide. He raises a clawed hand and slashes Margret's throat. Blood sprays all over Leland as Ethan begins to feed on her dead sister. The tall blond woman goes inside and brings my mom to Ethan.
"Go, run Leland!" Her mom yells. "Go!" And like that her tiny legs are pumping hard and fast, pushing her farther and farther down the street. She turns to look back only once, seeing both her mom and sister dead on the ground, nothing more than bone. Leland begins to run again, all the way to the Coven's house. She goes up the steps and pushes the door open. Inside stands Esmerelda. She asks what is wrong and Leland shows her what she just saw.
"We are going to send you to your sister little one. It is not safe for you here."
And that is all I remember. Aunt Esmerelda opened a portal for me and I ended up on your front porch.

Tears stream down both of my cheeks. You have got to be kidding me.