Lemon Zest

Chapter 3

Back to the story, after supper, they washed their dirt engraved plates, which might never be clean again, and put them on the drying rack.
"Now, tell me about your day my child," Shiro chirped barely even showing the sadness that drowned in his eyes. His daughter looked at him and her eyes darkened. Her eyes basically turned a black that was deep, like when you have the lights off at midnight, tears formed in her eyes.
"Papa, it was terrible. I saw people get killed on the way home. They looked at me with such a hunger that animals have. I ran to mama to hide," she whispered as tears pour from her small eyes.
Shiro wrapped his long scrawny arm around her. "Shhhh, it will be fine my little flower. I and your mother will protect you," he said with comfort in his voice. Her tears slowly crease to a stop. He smiled softly at her and spoke, "See, now get some rest and a shower." She gives him a half-hearted smile and dragged along. She rested her hand on the side of the wall of the bathroom. The smell of lemon overwhelmed her, almost knocking her over. She grabs a lighter from the top of her socks and lights the candles lining the sides of the room. The smell of the lemon becomes stronger but it also becomes brighter. She stares at the hose resting on the side of the rather large pail. She steps in the pail and pours the water on herself. The clothes get soaked and she starts to shiver but it doesn't bother her anymore. She scrubs her hair and it foams up. She rinses it thinking about what would happen if her family was in trouble. She would catch the intruder with the lighter or the knife hidden in the small of her back, where her skirt and shirt meet. The knife digs into her fragile skin as she straightens up. Small drops of blood color the water a light red. She doesn't notice the intense stinging as she finishes washing her hair. She washes her face, arms, and legs. She steps out and wraps herself in a tattered cloth. She walks into her room and as she flicks the lighter out to light the candles as she hears a creek. She whips out her knife and hands it out in front of her. She keeps her guard up as she lights the candle. Dark auburn hair greets her and she is pinned to a wall. She put the knife to her attacker's neck. His green eyes glow and she pushes more, blood dripping from the small gash in his neck.