Where She Lies

Chapter 28: Angel

"Step away from them? Are you serious, mother?" I whirl around and snap.

My eyes taken in my mom's entirely different appearance. Her reddish-brown hair is tied up in a ponytail and strands are hanging around her face. Her cheeks have dirt smears on them and her emerald eyes look strikingly dangerous. Her shoulders are tense as she's aiming the pistol at us and I continue to stare at her in awe. She never wore combat boots before, not to mention with skinny jeans and a ripped tank top. I can easily spot the difference between her pale skin and the way her knuckles are turning paper white with a red tint from holding the gun so tight.

"Kimberly, listen to your mother." She snaps right back.

"Why," I step forwards and force a laugh, "Maybe I want to be like Anna. Isn't this what she did when she found out what you are? Didn't she resist you, too?"

"Don't talk about your sister." Vanessa seethes.

"Why not?" I cross my arms defiantly.

I don't know what's come over me, but it's like a switch has been flicked. I'm focusing all of my frustrations on her, and it sure is working.

"Just," She moves one hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, "Come with me, Kimberly."

"No." I say blatantly.

"No?" Vanessa scoffs.

"That's right, I said no." I hold my chin up high and stare her straight in the eyes.

"I'm going to tell you one last time, come with me!" She starts to shout.

"You killed your own child! You killed my sister! You killed innocent people! And you expect me to want to come with you? How stupid can you be!" I snarl.

"Because we could be a family again! Isn't that what you want?" Vanessa questions.

"No, Vanessa, it isn't, at least not with you." I continue to stand my ground.

"Oh," She laughs and her right eye twitches, "I see, you already have a family! How stupid of me! It looks like I'll just have to get rid of them first."

"Don't you dare!" I scream.

She pauses and looks at me with her finger on the trigger.

"If I don't kill them, you'll have to come with me." Vanessa smiles mockingly.

"I hate you," I grit my teeth together, "I hope you know that. I'd much rather stay here with them than go with you - a murderer. But, I don't want you to kill them, so let me tell you that I'm not choosing to go with you, I'm choosing to keep them safe."

"I only killed them because I had to. They all knew too much and they had to die. Don't you see, Kimmy?" She frowns at me.

"Don't call me that ever again." I scrunch up my nose in disgust.

"You had to kill your own daughter simply because she knew too much and rejected you? You chose to kill Anna over getting caught? Your own flesh and blood? That's just low." Esmee huffs.

"Stay out of this." Vanessa waves her gun at Esmee.

"Don't hurt anyone, mom, I already said I'm going with you. It's not like I have a choice anyways. Believe me, going with you is the last thing I want to do." I grudgingly start to walk over to her.

"Kimberly, don't." Quinn speaks up.

I stop in my tracks and come to a standstill.

"She'll kill you if I don't go." I say.

"Let her go, boy." Vanessa begins to look impatient.

"I'm afraid I can't let her leave with you." Quinn protests.