Once Beauty, Twice Beast

Willow- Prologue

Keevs made the amazing cover c: Love it so much! :)

Where It All Ended & How it all Started--

I don't remember much of who I was as a kid. I remember a few happy memories, with my mom and dad. But, it was really just that. Just a few memories. Nothing truly special, and nothing more than that. I still held them close to my heart, especially the last day before it all ended.

I was giggling, being six and easily entertained I chased after a butterfly. I heard mommy laughing, I turned towards her voice and saw daddy tickling her. His deep chuckle made me giggle and I ran for them. Squealing about how I wanted daddy to tickle me, also. They turned towards me, and my dad scooped me up. I was always smaller than normal six year old, so he had no issue and I never minded.

Daddy started tickling me, and lay me down on the picnic blanket where mommy began tickling me too! Taking turns they tickled me, gave me raspberries into my tummy and had me crying from laughter.

"I give in!" I laughed, and they slowly stopped ticking me. I sat up, wiping tears of laughter from my eyes. Mommy and daddy turned towards each other, and smiled. It was something I never really noticed back then. I thought they were just weirdos, staring at each other. "COOOOOOODIIES!" I screamed, getting into their faces.

Mommy turned towards me, and hugged me hard. Smiling, and even crying herself from laughing along with me. She pulled away from me, keeping me at arms reach and then looked me in the eyes. She had the prettiest eyes in the world. They were deep green, with pretty brown freckles towards the pupils. They were lined with thick black lashes, and I always had a habit of looking into her eyes.

"I love you, Willow. Never forget that." Mommy smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Same here, bugger." Daddy pipped in, smiling. He kissed the top of my head, and kissed mommy's cheek.

"Picture time!" My dad laughed, grabbing his camera. Taking the camera to face us, a blinding flash made me see stars. Mommy giggled, and kissed my cheek. Dad took more pictures of me and mommy, of mommy herself and even just a few of me that day..

It was perfect.

And to think I would lose them the next day...

********

I had lost them both in a freak accident during the night. They were picking me up from a play date late at night, because I had gotten sick. So I had all my little pet shops packed away in my hello kitty backpack, waiting patiently. Quietly sitting outside dangling my feet off the porch, I heard a car pull up.

Quickly getting up, and running towards them, I stopped in my tracks. A big black SUV was in the drive way, not my daddy's silver car. A women came out of the truck, and slowly made her way towards me. Something clicked inside me, and I felt dread. I felt like this had to do with the sickening feeling that came over me that night.

"Willow?" The women spoke, going down onto her knees two feet away from me. "You're mommy and daddy wanted me to bring you home to get a few things. My names Amelie, I'm a friend of your mommy's."

"Where's daddy? Where's my mommy?" I quivered, feeling tears prick my eyes. I clutched my stuffed elephant, Eli (E-Lie), a bit tighter. The women, named Amelie, sighed. A saddened look crossed over her face, and she held out her hand.

"I'll bring you to see them, but we have to grab a few things from your house. Will you come with me?" She spoke, and something twisted inside me. Trust her. A little voice spoke, and I felt myself trusting her. I reached for her small hand, and she smiled at me. "Good girl." She whispered, and led me towards the black SUV.

She put me into the car seat in the car, and she closed the door. I looked over on the other side of the backseat and saw two shadows. Warmth and love floated from them, and covered me. And I knew. Mommy and Daddy were visiting the angels.

"They are safe," I spoke from the back. Amelie looked behind her, and into my eyes. "Mommy and Daddy, they are safe with the angels." I inhaled. "I can feel them, in here." I pointed to my heart.

Amelie broke down into tears, and grabbed my hand. She cried for a long time, and I cried a bit too. But, I waited mostly till I was alone that night. After I stopped at my house.. Or, what was once my home..

Scrambling up the stairs, I turned towards my mommy's and Daddy's room. Looking under the bed, I found the big suitcase mommy used. For her "Extra clothes." as daddy always said, teasing her. I went towards mommy's jewelry and found the ring I had always loved. It was a moon stone ring, with a silver band. I slipped it into my pocket, and turned towards my bedroom.

Running in there, dragging the suitcase behind me, I threw it to the ground, Amelie came in shortly after I walked in. She helped me pack, and carry the bag to the black SUV. While Emelie was gone, I turned to look at my living room. Sighing, I looked around my living room. The same two loving shadows started to get clearer and slowly I saw my parents.

Gasping, I watched them with eyes like saucers. Mommy was holding on to daddy's hand, and tears were falling down her cheeks. She fell to her knees, and reached her hand out towards me. I slowly walked towards her, and touched her.. Or her now sparkling shadow.

"Mommy..." I whispered. Tears falling down my face.

"I love you, Willow. Stay strong, and always be the beautiful soul I know you are. Keep pushing, even when things get rough." My mother spoke, and hiccuped at her last words. "Know that your father and I will always love you, and that no matter what choices you make-"

"Hopefully all good!" My dad pipped in, smiling. He crouched down to, and grabbed a strand of loose hair. Only it fell through his fingers, and he started to cry himself.

My daddy never cried...

"We will always be proud of you." Mommy finished. "We will be looking after you, and will guide you as best as we can. You'll be special, Willow. You see us, when no one else can. Keep us close in your heart, as we will too." Mommy spoke, and kissed my cheek. It was like a warm touch, not like her normal kisses. "Be good to Amelie. She'll love you, and you will love her too."

"But, I love you.." I quivered. They smiled, tears falling down both of their faces. Slowly, I watched as they stood up, holding onto each other, and disappeared.

Shimmering into simply nothing at all.

Hiccuping, I turned away from where they had stood just moments before. Amelie walked in, and came rushing towards me. She hushed me with sweet nothings, but I pushed away. Grabbed at her hand, and turned towards the kitchen. Walking in, I brought my hand up to point towards the cupboard.

"Grab...The one with the black 'stache." I hiccuped, and watched as Amelie opened the cupboard. Grabbing my father favorite mug, with a black mustache on the rim, she turned towards me. "Thanks.."

"Come on, sweetie." Amelie spoke, and handed me the cup. I grabbed it, and held it close to my heart. Walking past where my parents stood, I cried out. Pointing towards a picture album that laid on the living room table.

Amelie grabbed it, and brought it with us. Buckling me into the car, I flipped countless times through the album watching as new pictures filled themselves in. It was my magical book, the connection between me and my parents.

It was my only entertainment the whole sixteen hour drive to Balton, Minnesota.