Wrong Side of Heaven

Chapter 9: Amberlynn

*Written by @Dollengangergirl*

My head spun as my vision blurred and my already small space seemed to close in on me. My father? He was here?

 I had always secretly wondered when in deep thought where he was, but I never expected he was living in literal hell! How long had he been here? Did he even know I existed? Did he recognize me? Does he even know he has a daughter?  Questions of unbelievable importance bubbled up at the surface, but my throat tightened from excitement, fear, and other indecipherable moments so they would not escape my lips.

 "Why is he here again?" I asked Brandon in the most even tone I could manage, although I was internally screaming. 

When Brandon began his ramble about how he was to help me get out and how helpful he was, I couldn't help noticing how much this man looked like me. I had always wondered why I didn't have a whole head of blonde hair like my mom. She always told me I had his nose...well, I didn't know whether to take it as a compliment or insult then because I don't know shit about my father, but hey, it was something.

His eyes were not cold or harsh like the rest of the coal workers eyes were, always scrutinizing and silently judging me in my cage. Well, screw them. They weren't exactly magazine models, either.

 But my dad could be... my thoughts were interrupted when Brandon spoke again. "Did you get all that?" he queried in his usual slightly worried state.

 Without even looking at him, I dismissively waved my hand and nodded my head. "Yeah, yeah, I got that." 

Then my father began to talk and it all put itself together, like a puzzle that had lost a piece and found it again. "I need someone else here with me to open this cage, or it won't work," he informed me. "Someone in the same bloodline as you." 

Now that I thought about it, it made sense that my grandfather was able to open the cage. I need my mom! Or I could get my long-lost-father to open it... but what was that my mom said? Only tell him my first my name? Does that mean she doesn't want him knowing who I am?? 

And what would she say when she saw my father? Would they reunite happily or would she attempt to kill him for leaving us so long? Maybe she would do both. I don't know. 

Right now I need to focus on finding her. All of a sudden, I heard a loud sound erupt from the other side of the gates.

 "AMBERLYNN LAUREN DOLLANGANGER! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

 Wait a second...Mom?! 

"MOM! I'M IN HERE!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs. 

"Woah, quiet down! If you-know-who hears you screaming, hell come and make sure you don't talk," Brandon warned softly, obviously trying to calm me down in the kindest way possible.

 "But my mom!" I whisper-shouted fiercely, tears brimming and stinging my eyes.

 "We'll find her and bring her here for you. Promise. Now stay here and don't get hurt, ok?" Brandon soothed as he and my father began slowly backing towards the direction of the gates. 

"I'm in a cage," I spat irritably. "I'm not going anywhere." 

My father nodded for them to leave and they disappeared out of my vision. 

Would they find my mom? Would I be a part of a happy family again? Would I get out of here? All I could do was hope right now. But something told me I was going to need more than hope to get out of my prison.

 And even I knew my hope would eventually run out.