She walked as her golden locks hovered in the air, her clothing clinging to her body, and her eyes looking down at her watch every few seconds. Maya felt the cold air blowing against her skin. She stopped in place and untied her purple and white plaid shirt from her waist and slipped it on over her blue tee shirt. Sure, she was supposed to be getting fire wood for the campfire. But, she walked deeper into the forest as someone called her name.
"Maya!" called familiar voice. If Maya didn't know any better, she could have sworn that it sounded like the gold monkey that worked for Lord Zedd. But, how was that possible? Tommy had killed Goldar five years ago after Katy scarified herself to save her. "Maya!"
Maya took slow steps, almost robotically. It was as if her brain was having a hard time telling each foot where to step. The area appeared to be foggy and dark. Her eyes flicked over the dark, thick tree trunks that were packed together, leaving enough space to allow someone to walk through. Maya pressed her hand against the bark, while she inhaled the musty smell of the leaves after the rainfall. As she walked she spotted funny looking orchids that looked like a monkey's face. She had never seen a flower with a monkey's face on it. Were these just ordinary flowers or were they some type of trick? She didn't know.
Meanwhile, a woman with Carmel shoulder length hair sat next to a camp fire. She was dressed in a pink tee shirt and a pair of grey jogging pants. The woman grabbed a grey jacket and slipped it on. In the top right corner Coach Oliver was monogramed in pink letters. Looking down at her watch, she noticed that it had been over 15 minutes since Maya had left to go get fire wood. Why wasn't Maya back? What if something had happened to her? Kimberly would never be able to forgive herself if anything happened to her precious niece. All day she had been thinking about the day of Katy's audition and how she gave her life to save Maya. It was the five-year anniversary and she couldn't help from being protective of Maya. She was the only part of her sister that she had left.
Kimberly left the campsite and left to search for Maya. As she walked the wind blew her hair in all directions, messing up her hair. But, she couldn't worry about that now. She had to find Maya. Only then would she be able to have peace. "Maya!" she called out as she walked through the fog. "Maya!" Kimberly walked for over an hour calling out for Maya. But, the fog was only getting thicker and thicker. She continued walking and not stopping for anything, until she bumped into a figure with golden locks. Maya was safe. As a few tear drops appeared in her eyes, she scooped Maya into her arms.
"Are you okay?" Maya questioned as Kimberly gave her a kiss on top of the head.
"Where have you been?" Kimberly asked letting go of Maya after nearly squeezing her to pieces. "I was really concerned."
"I thought I heard someone call my name and I saw some funny looking flowers they looked like a monkey's face was in them-"
"-Maya, who was calling your name?"
"I don't know," Maya lied while looking down at the Orchids with the monkey's face. "It was a strange voice."
Maya tossed and turned in her sleeping bag. All she could see visions of a blonde-haired lady that looked like her mother shielding her from a gold monkey. It was the fifth time this week that she had that dream. Waking up, she wiped the sweat off her face. Carefully turn her flash light on, she shined it in Kimberly's direction. Her aunt was still asleep. This gave her the perfect opportunity to sneak into Kimberly's double sleeping bag and sleep close to her. True, when they usually went on camping trips, Tommy was always sleeping in that sleeping bag with her. But, he was away on his internship on an island. Maya knew her uncle wouldn't mind if she got in the sleeping bag with Kimberly. After all, she hadn't caught on to why Maya was lying next to her in bed every morning for the last few nights. She could just say she heard two wild animals fighting outside the tent.
She slowly crawled out of her sleeping back and quietly got in Kimberly's. Being careful not wake her up, Maya snuggled up against her and got comfortable. As Maya was getting settled, Kimberly began roll over. To avoid answering questions, Maya closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Kimberly let out a yawn as she sat up in bed finding a guest in her sleeping bag. She noticed she wasn't alone in her double sleeping bag. Immediately she knew it was Maya. For the last few nights she had woken up to find Maya in bed with her. The previous night, she had woken up and Maya had her arms tightly wrapped around her. Maya had told her that she want to keep her company, but she knew that wasn't the reason because Maya was squeezing her tightly. She wanted to know the real reason.
Maya felt someone shaking her and she slowly opened her eyes. "Maya, why aren't you in your sleeping bag?" Kimberly questioned as she stared down at Maya. "And don't tell me that you want to keep me company. Otherwise you wouldn't be squeezing me tight."
"Dreams about a gold monkey that I barely remember," Maya confessed squeezing her necklace which was Katy's last gift to her. "All I remember is being at my mother's audition and the monkey attacking. And I passed out."
Kimberly gathered her niece in her arms and held her close. "My sister gave her life to save yours," she revealed. "Goldar was about to attack you."
"What was my mother like?" Maya asked snuggling up closer to her aunt and best friend. "I don't remember much about her."
"She was a fine woman and a brilliant actor," Kimberly started as they moved to mouth of tent and took a seat. "She tried out for many roles and didn't have much luck until the audition."
The campfire was sit crackling when they went outside. The light of the its flames were dancing across the dark tree trunk, curling, and twisting into various shapes, while giving off a small amount its self. Bright glowing embers appeared to move in rhythm with the flames. Maya's eyes started to search for the garish that was giving light and keeping them warm throughout the night. "Is that the only audition she had?" she questioned looking up above at the bright twinkling stars that hung above them with invisible strings.
"Yes, she was going to be in a movie," Kimberly continued sitting and watching the beautiful great outdoor scenery. "But, she was also in plays in high school. She really loved you a lot. When your father left she got a full-time job as a waiter. She had no one to take care of you. So, I gave up my chance to be in the Pan Global Games to help her out-"
"-do you regret it?" Maya gasped. She never once heard her aunt talk about getting that opportunity. If she did hear it, she didn't remember. Over the last five years she never heard of the Pan Global Games. "I know how much enjoy gymnastics-"
"-Maya, I don't regret it," Kimberly promised as they got back in their sleeping bag. "You needed me. I've always felt guilty over persuading Katy to go to the audition. It was her dream job and she would have made a better living for the two of you. Maybe if I hadn't persuaded her-"
"-you didn't know," Maya interrupted laying her head on wide fluffy pink pillow. "You only wanted the best for your sister. Uncle Tommy is doing his internship because it means he'll make a better living to support the three of us."
"That's true," Kimberly added snuggling closer to Maya. "I've been aiming to ask you, were those flowers Monkey Face Orchids?"
"I don't know. They just looked an Orchid with a monkey's face."
"I've heard of those Orchids and I've been wanting to buy some to put in our green house with all of my rare plants-"
"So those Orchids weren't playing a trick on me," Maya yawned pulling an extra blanket over them as the wind blew.
"I've been wanting some of those for a long time," Kimberly stated wrapping her arms around her niece. "Tomorrow morning lets go buy some seeds and plant some in the green house."
"I love the idea," Maya answered as they both drifted off to sleep.
Author's Note:
The Monkey Face Orchids will play a big part later in the story.