Lex Talionis

Only a Dream

          I sat at the edge of the pier looking out into the lake, my feet touching the cold water as my sister Ella ran past me holding our fat cat. Ella's squeals and laughter sent shivers down my spine as I continued looking into the water, the two-headed koi fish avidly swimming about.

           "Why don't you go play with your sister, Clare?" My mother asked as she approached me. I could feel her worried eyes fixed upon me. "This is not easy for her either."

          I shrugged. "I don't want to play. I'm too old for that nonsense."

          "Honey, you are still a child." My mother laughed as she knelt next to me and directed her eyes to were mine were fixated. "Get your feet out of the water."

          I did as commanded but did not tear my gaze from the odd animal before me.

          "I don't want you or your sister going into the water, okay?" My mother stated as she forced me to look at her. "It's dangerous."

            "Because of the fish?" I asked knowing about the radiation in the water. I had known for a while. I had seen the frog eggs die while some mutated and became strange animals with too many legs.

             "Because of the radiation." My mother sighed. "I know this adjustment has been hard on you, Clare. But soon the war will be over and we will be able to return to our normal lives."

            I looked her in the eyes but she said nothing more. I knew deep inside that after the war things would never go back to being the same way they were before. The animals and plants knew it. Every day I would notice the smallest difference in the mutation of the frogs, or the coloration of the plants. They were adapting to their new environment, why would they evolve so quickly if not to survive in an environment that would not change?

       "Okay." I replied as I threw a small pebble into the lake scaring the two headed fish away.

         "Clare, baby, you have to understand that even though the war has been hard on us you are still a child under our care. You are my little girl."

          "I'm almost seventeen, mom." I smiled as I saw the two-headed koi return. I wondered how those two heads could live in one body.

          "But you are still my little girl," she laughed as she kissed the top of my head, "and I don't want you to forget that."

          "I get it, mom, you don't want me joining the forces." I nodded. "Don't worry, I won't. I don't support the war."

          "But they will force you to be in it, baby," my mother continued harassing me as I threw another pebble into the water, "they need every  man and woman in their war efforts. Just know that me and your father will do everything it takes to keep you and Ella safe."

           From the depths of the lake I saw a large mouth open wide and envelop the large two-headed koi. Another giant koi with razor-sharp teeth swallowed the deformed koi in one gulp. My mother, too caught up in her thoughts, missed the giant animal emerging from the depths of the lake and submerging back in the blink of an eye.

          "Clare?" My mother's voice brought me back to reality.

             "Yes?" I turned to look at her.

           "Where you listening to me?" She demanded eyeing me suspiciously.

            "Of course," I lied, "do not worry. I will never leave your side."