Shadows of Darkness

7. Lightning

Into the golden lawn before a grayish-blue house, Molly stormed out of the car. The whole neighborhood knew that Rebecca was a strict single parent, but on a day like this, she was also a respectable authority.

As Molly stomped to the front door, the clacking swagger on the walkway caught up to her. She could see her mother's stern expression as though another pair of eyes were behind her head. Such certainty was also because they were much alike. Molly was her mother's shadow and reflection—an unescapable couple. Both had athletic built, their eyes the same lime-green, their heads equally strong. People called them twins, except Molly's raven hair was less dazzling than Rebecca's blonde curls.

The best strategy to deal with Rebecca Wolf, the only way to eliminate Molly's own shadow, was to close her eyes and run. Suddenly, a horrifying crack stunned Molly. The explosion spun her around. In her eyes were like those sinister imaginations. Like dreams or wishes of punishing someone she momentarily despised. But unlike those terrible hopes, this one persisted through the snap of reality—Rebecca crouched in a smoky black circle.

"Mom!" Molly screamed.

Rebecca fumbled to her feet. The grass on which she collapsed was fried. She glared at the sky the way she looked at a mischievous child. And the heaven, bright and unmeant, cast its warm rays upon the lawn.

"Molly, I'm fine," leaning on the kitchen counter, Rebecca said. "You don't have to do that." Her shivering hand snatched the phone away from Molly's ear. The woman could be adamant even when she was hurt.

"You're crazy," Molly cried and seized the phone. "You've just got hit by lightning. We're going to hospital!"

They spent an hour arguing about whether or not Rebecca should get to the hospital, but no one could convince this stubborn woman to do what she disagreed with. Not even her only family. But Molly was Rebecca, letting go of no nonsense. Moreover, Molly was Rebecca with nonstop, relentless whining.

Finally, Rebecca let an ambulance come to the house after Molly threatened to skip dinner. Sunday meant Shepherd Pie. And if Molly didn't praise her mother's precious special of the day, it would be the end of the world. When the paramedics arrived, Rebecca welcomed them with lemonade and sandwiches made with extra filling. She took the lightning strike too lightly, and a parking ticket would have bothered her more than the wrath of the sky.

At that moment, Molly decided that her mother was impossible. Nobody should be right about everything. And the minute the ambulance left, the pie went in the oven.

***

The next match was important; everyone in the team wanted the spot. In the middle of practice, Molly embraced the sweats and the advantage of three inches taller than her opponent. Winning meant a step closer to a karate camp in Japan. If she got in, for a year, Molly could skip the terrifying future—college.

The invigorating screams furred the back of her mind. Molly found herself unable to concentrate. Tara had already applied for a visa, but Molly hadn't even told Rebecca. A year in Japan. A year away from her mother and the mundanity. Then her mind rushed back to that big dark circle on her front lawn—that big surprise—while her body ran on muscle memories to fight.

Tara charged at Molly with the side snap kicks.

But that black circle in her lawn...

Tara's double-jump front kick flashed below Molly's chin.

The lightning...

Rebecca's face fell in that dark purgatory, and Molly's slammed against the floor. Molly's chest took the impact despite the fact that she was hit in the chin. Some chill collapsed on her, and it felt as though she had reached the bottom of the frozen abyss.

"You're not using your head, Molly!" the coach snapped above the faraway surface. "You clearly don't care enough. This means you can kiss the spot goodbye!" He disappeared into the glare of the cheering crowds.

Molly heaved, the air thinning in her lungs. Japan didn't matter anymore. Not since she saw that circle. A lump of pain grew inside her chest, determined to break through her ribs. Her heart drummed, the sounds of her blood pumping overwhelming the howls in the gym, which began to blur away.

***

Whispers pulled Molly from a hazy fantasy into a bright, ammonia scented room. She stared at the ceiling, choking on the humiliation of losing a fight to a little girl. Being six-foot-tall, Molly had a body made for sports. She could have been on a swim team if she liked water as much as she did her sweats. She played volleyball and basketball well, good at everything requiring being out of breath and muscular pain relief spray. But here she was, in the nurse room after losing to the smallest girl in the team.

When Molly raised her head, a nurse quickly examined her. Three of her closest friends were on a bench across the room. They jolted upright, trying to approach her, but someone restrained them and planted them back on the same spots.

"Take it easy now, Molly," the nurse said and trailed away.

Molly nodded. "How long have I been out?" She rose to a sitting position and gaped at two men coming through the door. "Father Jonathan!" She knew him, so her eyes were on another man in an intimidating uniform.

"Molly, there's something I have to tell you," Father Jonathan said, and his face began to blur as though he was in the water. He took her hands, sharing the cold of his skin.

Molly knew this part well. She had seen it many times, although nothing was ever personal. Her body stiffened, and her stomach churned. A tragedy slowly presented itself as she prayed for the time to move backward. "What's going on?"

"Molly, this is Officer Fletcher from the police department. We're here about your mother."