Blood and Gold

Shining Like Light

Dusk was just taking over as Ivi put away the bucket of soapy water. The Camaro had been in desperate need of a wash, and she needed it semi clean to do the work she wanted on it. It wouldn't be too extensive, just some minor buffing and stuff to get the dents out. Her favorite music on her playlist flooded out from an old iPod on a bench nearby. Lost in her thoughts, she was complete unaware of the Camaro humming softly, almost like a purr, as she worked out the dents and scratches. It took a couple of hours, as her father interrupted her at around nine o'clock. "Hey, make sure you eat, kiddo!" He called, placing a plate down on the bench, knowing very well she would have forgotten.
"Will do! You heading to bed?" Ivi asked, pulling off her mask partially.
He nodded and was about to leave before he noticed her clothes. "Gosh, Ivi, you really need to get longer shorts, and you are filthy."
She looked down: they were just her blue coveralls and a simple red shirt. It was what she wore always to work on stuff. The coveralls were a bit short, but she wasn't going out in them right now. It was too late anyways. "Goodnight, Dad," Ivi called, laughing as he shook his head while walking out.
"Do you think they're too short?" She asked the Camaro, laughing to herself.
As expected, it didn't answer, and she went back to working on it.
Once done with the buffing, she washed it again and waxed it. Now, it was still old, but at least it was somewhat shiny. "How about your insides, buddy? Any dusting needed?"
With a small damp rag, she wiped down the dashboard and the radio, smiling at the little bee themed air freshener. There were silver dice attached as well, both needed a good wipe down as the silver design was grey with dirt. "There we are," she laughed once done, "now you are as good as new."
Ivi patted the car's hood gently, nearly jumping out of her skin as it seemed like the car rumbled a bit at her touch. "Uh, yeah okay. Goodnight," She stammered, cleaning up quickly.
Pocketing her iPod, she carried her food and backpack upstairs to her room. Food upstairs was a no-no, but she might be able to pull it off if she got up before her parents. After scarfing the now cold food down, the girl grabbed her sketchpad and pencil pouch, heading to the window in her room. After she opened it, a familiar rope ladder met her eyes. The same one she had made when she needed to be alone after she first moved here. It was small, worn and for some reason pink, but Ivi didn't care. It worked every time. Climbing onto her usual spot, the girl got comfy before opening the sketchpad to a fresh page. She absentmindedly drew a small picture of the Camaro, a smile on her face at finally having a car. Then, however, she frowned as she drew the random symbol from the steering wheel. What was it? A dealership logo? No, too trashy. Maybe a smuggling brand? Nah, too old. It was a Camaro, not really rare enough to be of any importance to black-market dealers. Still, it was entertaining to think of as she finished drawing the symbol. Simple, yet there was something about it that was, enchanting almost. Whatever, Ivi shrugged as she wrote the words she had heard before. "Greater than man."
The girl repeated the words out loud and fiddle with the heart necklace around her slender neck. It had been her mother's. Her real mother's that is. Ivi winced at the memory.
They had been visiting the pier close to their home, and Ivi's mother had knelt by her, pointing out the fish in the water. "Look, Ivi, what do you see?"
"Grey fish, goldfish!" The eight-year old had exclaimed.
Then, a glimmering silver fish darted out from the murky fronds around the lake and slipped in between the other fish with it. "Oh look, Mommy!" She cried, pointing at how it shined like a rainbow when the light hit it.
Her mother had laughed and picked her up, carrying her away from the water and over to their little picnic area. "Yes, it was pretty isn't it?"
When Ivi has nodded, her mother knelt down and took off a bright, silver chain with a heart pendent on it. "Come here," The woman said.
"This belonged to my grandmother, she passed it down to my mother, and my mother have it to me when I was your age. Now, it's your turn. One day, you will give this to your daughter, and so on."
Ivi's blue orbs had widened as her mother clasped it around her neck. "Look, it makes a rainbow, too," Her mother smiled, holding the pendant up to the light.
The rest of that day had been spent chasing fish in the shallow area and then fireflies when the sun dipped below the trees. Then, the two kids were ready to go home, and their parents packed everything up. On the drive home, William played 'I Spy' with her and kept cheating, but it was okay because he was bad at the game anyways. That was until a large black object appeared in front of the car, causing her father to quickly try and slam on the brakes, but it was no use. They were too close. The van slammed into whatever it was and they went flying before slamming back to the ground. "Mommy? Daddy?" Ivi called, but both were slumped over.
"Ivi, don't look!" William cried, pulling her to his chest.
The airbags had gone off, but her parents stayed lying still, impossibly still, like a statue. Then, something ripped off the roof of the car and she cried in fear. She poked her head up and stuck one hand up, just as a giant robot was reaching for them. A gold light came from her hand, and the metal creature was thrown back, just in time as helicopters appeared with soldiers in them.
Ivi opened her eyes, blinking as the built up tears made her vision blurry. She could still hear the man with weird hair telling her that they hadn't seen what they had. That their parents had just lost control and run into a tree. But Ivi never forgot its red eyes. She could never forget the monster that had killed her parents. Ivi shook her head, she really need to get over it. It couldn't have been a robot, those kind -the evil thirty foot ones- didn't exist. Right? She sighed heavily. If it did, she didn't know what she would do. Probably ask it why. Why did it come for them? The girl put everything away and climbed back into her room, taking a brisk shower before climbing underneath the covers of her bed. Maybe she would go for a run tomorrow, those always cleared her thoughts. Ivi sighed to herself, her eyes watching the necklace on her desk as she drifted off to a restless sleep.