Wrong Side of Heaven

Chapter 4: Katelyn

-Written by kk_love_books

*Katelyn's POV*

Many years ago I lost count of the hours I spent lying awake. Guilt running through my veins like water running through pipes, wishing I could shut it off with the turn of a handle. Watching her run out was more like a pipe burst, flooding every inch of my being.

For a moment I suspected I might be in the ocean rather than a house flood. For simply moving my feet one in front of the other felt like wading through a shallow sea. Each oncoming wave brought a new ripple of guilt.

Physically I knew I was in my home, opening the door to go after Amberlynn. I could still see and hear my physical surroundings, yet the more I moved my feet the deeper into the salt water I went.

It seemed that deeper I went the more intense the waves got. I could taste the sodium-chloride on the tip of my tongue, when I saw it.

The sight of an undersized, slick, matte black car barreling down my street caught my attention. Before I knew it, my only daughter was dashing into the road at the same time, seemly oblivious to the world around her.

"Amberlynn!"

The stranger's voice sounded distorted through the water that was now up to my forehead. I couldn't tell you why Amberlynn glanced over her shoulder at me, only for a moment.

That one moment was enough to pulverize my world.

At this point I was under the water, my lungs not willing to work. Waves were crashing above my head, but they no longer had any effect on me. My knees gave out as I witnessed the scene through water blurred eyes. Everything materialized in slow motion. The car didn't even stop, in fact, it sped up. She flew over the top and landed on the asphalt with a hard thud.

The sound of her bones cracking from the impact brought me back into the physical universe.

I forced my eyes to avoid looking at my baby girl. Doing so, they caught a glimpse of the car still going fast. I cursed whoever invented tinted windows didn't that give away any details about the driver.

Finally gathering the courage to glimpse at her was a mistake I couldn't forget. Yet a mistake that couldn't be avoided.

My body took control. Legs led me down to her. Ears listened for a heartbeat, a breath, a twitch, anything. Hands felt for a pulse. Though, my tear ducts refused to gift me. 

Amberlynn vetoed a gift as well. No faint breath or heartbeat. She didn't spring up from the ground and sit up. She didn't magically open her eyes as the color came back to her now dull yellow cheeks. No, instead I observed the life drain out of my only child, all the while waiting for a miracle that didn't come.

My voice box decided to work, as a last attempt. "Amber, sweetie! Come on, come back to Mommy! Don't leave me sweetie!"

Sirens filled the air and I vaguely heard someone informing me that she was gone.

I shook my head and murmured something about her coming back.

The voice told me that nothing on Earth that could bring her back.

A fire lit inside of me and new determination spread through my bones as I realized there was nothing on Earth that could bring her back.

"Amber, my little angel. Find your way, I'll see you there soon. But until then, say hi to your Dad for me," I whispered in her ear, holding her close to me.

More strange voices began to tell me things. Mainly to step away.

How dare they? This was my baby girl. My baby girl!

I could feel my eyes beginning to turn blood red and my hair beginning to fly out in all directions. Every muscle in my body begging them to say one wrong word.

A deep breath entered my lungs as I stared at my baby who was lying on the pavement unmoving with unhealthily pale skin and bruised limbs sprawled out in all directions.

Cutting out their tongues one by one for their offenses wouldn't help her.

"Just leave me to mourn." I commanded weakly, after taking one longing glance at my daughter.

********************************

I had just walked through the door and sat down when the doorbell rang.

"You've got to be kidding me." I scoffed while rolling my eyes.

The garnet ring on my ring finger glowed a bit, reminding me that it was waiting patiently to be used.

I got up to get the door, and saw a man dressed in a police uniform.

"Miss Dollenganger?"

"Who's asking?" I cautiously replied.

"We need you to come with us." He avoided my question.

"I'm afraid that's not what I asked. And I will not be going anywhere." I was not quite in the mood for games.

He crossed his arms. "We need you to come down to the station with us for your statement."

Another man came up to the door, wearing an identical uniform. They exchanged glances but stayed silent, waiting for my response.

The second man's eyes confirmed what I already knew. That either way I didn't have much of a choice than to go with them; whether I went peacefully or they used force was up to me.