Forlot - Books 10-12

Chapter Thirty

You really are...your mother's son.

You. Really. Are. Your. Mother's. Son.

Those exact words flowed around the inside of my brain as Mom, Little Amy, and I exited the house. I tried my best to forget, but theories filled my mind.

Why did Kira compare me to my mom?

What kind of question is that? Of course, I am like Mom. We are related after all.

But...after what I did...after I stabbed her in the stomach...she would then do the comparison.

My own mother would never do anything so evil. Like stabbing a person to death. And even if she did, it would be because she was defending herself.

Why am I making up suggestions from a comment that came from an insane woman? A murderer? She has no idea what she is taking about.

Mom snapped me out of my thoughts.

"You have had both a weird and difficult day, Jackson. Why do you not spend the night at my house? I will even let you and your friend Milo have a sleepover. You more than deserve it."

"Sleep...over?" Amy repeated the word that was strange to her, for it was the first time that she was hearing it.

Mom faced her and played with her little hands. "Yes, sweetheart. A sleepover. Do you know what that is?"

"Over...sleep?"

"Close." She touched the tip of her nose with a finger. "Boop!"

Amy laughed.

"Maybe your big brother would like to explain to you what a sleepover is."

"Yeah, yeah!"

My mom handed me my baby sister, and I cradled her. I, having on a sad face, glanced down at the baby. She was kicking with her little legs and cooing.

Without realizing it, I put on a smile. Not by force. It is just so hard for me to not smile at the adorable baby. She meant the world to me, and I cared for her so much.

"A sleepover is when one or more people visit a person's house and sleep there for the night," I said to her.

Amy cooed happily and clapped her hands.

I glanced up at Mom, still smiling. "That was your plan. To get me to smile and be happy."

She giggled softly. "I know how much you adore your sister, so..."

We walked up to the front door of her house, and the door was open a crack.

"Milo and the others must be inside," Mom guessed as she pushed open the door and closed it behind her as soon as we were inside.

We heard moans and voices and made our way to the living room.

There they were. Milo, Gabi Dollson, Vincent, and the broken dolls. My best friend was talking with and comforting the dolls who were waiting patiently - and I mean patiently - to get fixed. Gabi and Vincent were helping some other dolls locate their body parts and fixing them so that they were as good as new.

Mom apparently did not like the sight because she lifted up her foot and slammed it on the floor, creating a loud sound.

Upon hearing the noise, everybody stopped what they were doing and had their attentions on her.

"I did not say that we were fixing them."

Of course, Gabi Dollson was outraged. "What?! But you said—"

"I am aware of what I said to you all back in the basement. I promise you that we will fix them, but it cannot be now."

What did Mom say earlier? I could not recall.
——————————————————————————
"I will take you all to my home and fix you myself," my mom volunteered. "Then I will hopefully get you back to your normal selves."
——————————————————————————
Oh, right.

Gabi and Vincent were standing on the couch, and Gabi stomped her wooden feet like a little kid who is throwing a tantrum.

"That. Is. Not. Fair!" the doll shouted. "These poor dolls have suffered so much. The least that we can do is fix them right away."

"I will not repeat myself, Gabi," Mom said, crossing her arms over her chest. "You heard me loud and clear."

"You ungrateful human! I bet that if they were humans, you would help them."

"Uh, Gabi?" I piped up. "The dolls are humans."

"...oh." Her tantrum came to a halt. "I forgot about that." Her glassy eyes went wide. "Hold up. That makes this worse!" She pointed an accusing finger at my mother. "Why will you not help these young girls who just want to return to their normal lives?"

Mom gathered up the broken dolls and picked them up. "There are a couple of things that I need to do first. But I promise you, Gabi, that I will have them all fixed before morning. You have my word."

Glaring at her, the doll mumbled something under her breath, and Vincent hugged her and comforted her.

As Milo and I followed my mom to another room, an object that belonged to one of the broken dolls dropped to the floor. I took notice and scooped up the object.

It was a necklace. A pretty, green gem was tied to a black string. The gem was a jade.

I held onto it as we reached our destination. Mom opened the door to a tall and narrow glass case and set each doll inside. When all of them were in there, she shut the glass door and turned to us.

"Jackson. Milo. I do not want you or Gabi or Vincent to open this glass case and take any of the dolls out. Understand?"

We nodded. "Yes."

"That goes for you too, Amy."

Amy, who remained in my arms, was sucking on her foot.

I bet that you readers can guess that there would be some disobedience.

It was nighttime, and I had gotten up in the middle of the night to fetch some water.

As I was close to the kitchen, I heard faint sobbing.

And it was coming from the glass case.