Chapter 25

The Day

The memory I'm about to share with you is something I dream about almost every night. It's more like a nightmare than it is a dream. This day will always been burned into my memory. This day is something that will haunt me for the rest of my life. I've asked myself countless times what I could have done to save them. I thank the goddesses every night that I am alive. I thank them for Lucy…I swallowed dryly at the thought of her. I felt hot tears stinging my tear ducts when I thought of her all alone. I knew she felt abandoned again, and angry. I shook my head furiously and bit my lip in apprehension when I remembered the final words she had said to me. I hate you.

I was nine-years-old and back at my parent's ranch again. Our family dog, Pidgey, and I were running through the field on our acreage. The sun shined brightly from above and warm rays flushed my cheeks as my bare feet pattered against the dirt. Pidgey barked happily and nipped at my ankles as we ran in a playful blur. The grass had been so lush and green, like cut emeralds, soft and billowy. I was smiling from ear to ear as I spun happily in the field like a spinning top. The cottonwood trees were in bloom and soft tufts of white rained from the sky and tickled the earth.

I remember how everything smelled. It smelled like fresh honeysuckle and newly mowed grass. Spring was my favorite season. I laughed to myself as I toppled to the ground in faint exhaustion. Pidgey licked my face excitedly as I scratched behind his ears.

"You shouldn't let him lick your face like that." The deep husky voice of my father sounded. I jumped in surprise. I thought I had been alone in the field.

"He's just a cute wittle puppy." I crooned as I continued to pet the soft fur. Pidgey panted soundly but resisted licking me. Our dog was only well behaved when dad was around. He didn't listen to mom or me, and he wasn't allowed inside with Lucy.

"He probably has wood ticks." My father continued sternly, his silhouette came into view as he peered over me. Pidgey stopped panting and slinked away in apprehension. I scowled and jotted upwards to follow him. "Hey hey hey…" my dad continued as he grabbed me softly by the collar of my dress. "You're mothers inside making lunch. Why don't you go help with your sister?" even though he had asked a question I already knew it was more of a command.

"Yeah…fine…." I said in a brunt tone. I wasn't used to having a little sister quite yet. Lucy wasn't even one-year-old and she already required a lot of attention. I was used to being an only child and having all the attention of both parents focused on me. I was a little jealous of Lucy and all the newfound attention she got. Strangers were always poking in and looking at her carriage. They said she looked like a little cherub baby with her gold locks and round face.

"That's my girl." My dad smiled and his eyes glinted. I remember how he looked that day. He was in his usual gardening clothes with a sickle in his hand like always. His face was rugged and course on account that he hadn't shaven in a few days. He used to be clean shaven almost every day until the baby came along. A lot of new changes were happening with the new baby. I scowled angrily as I felt a twinge of jealousy prick through me. I folded my arms and stomped towards the house in a childlike tantrum. I could sense my dad shaking his head as I walked towards our tiny ranch home.

I wish now more than ever that I would have hugged my dad, or told him that I loved him in that moment. That was the last conversation I had with him. I wish I would have looked back one more time and get a good look at him. As I continue to age, my memories of both of my parents begin to fade. I can only remember key things about them. Every time I smell dark earthy soil I think of them both in their gardening outfits plowing our fields. Both mom and dad loved the outdoors and gardening. I remember my dad's smile and the tinkling chime of my mother's laugh. Odd things…

I didn't look back, however. Instead I stomped towards our porch, fuming in my little mind. I wanted to play with the dog, not Lucy. The door shut with a clank behind me and the wafting smell of broiling cucoo could be smelled in the oven. Mom was always cooking something, most everything we ate came from our farm. She was chopping up fresh lettuce and ripe red tomatoes when I entered the kitchen. Lucy was sitting on her hip bouncing up and down while my mom frantically tried to multitask.

"Daddy says I have to help." I scowled as I sat down at our quaint kitchen table. It was wooden and plain but we had a lot of great family meals there. The kitchen smelled like fresh pine and spice. Mom sighed happily as she put down her cutting knife and stepped away from the counter. Lucy gurgled and babbled nonsense. I glared at her. She always interrupted me when I was talking.

"It's a good thing he told you to." She laughed to herself quietly as she took the seat adjacent to me. Lucy thumped the table and drooled on my mother's shoulder. I stared at her in discomfort as my mother went to hand her to me. Holding the baby always scared me. I thought I was going to drop her and that she was going to break into a million pieces if I wasn't careful.

I took her cautiously. She was getting heavier and heavier by the week. I had seen her feeding from mother's bosom the other night. I had a nightmare that she was sucking my mother dry but I was too afraid to ask about what I had seen. Mom did look unusually tired. Her eyes remained cheery though. Lucy had my mom's sapphire eyes and blonde hair. I looked more like my dad. We had the darker features in the family. "Careful…" mom chided as she watched me warily as I situated Lucy onto my lap. She cooed and grabbed a handful of dark hair as she yanked in wonderment.

"Oww…." I muttered unenthusiastically. I had pulled Lucy's hair back one time. Mom yelled at me something fierce and I was grounded from the dog for a whole day. I saw mother peer at me from over her shoulder as she stirred some sort of dark broth on the stove.

"What is your father doing?" she didn't skip a beat as she continued to saunter around the kitchen. She opened the cupboard and grabbed a few jars of spices, sprinkling them into the pot.

"He's gardening and yelling at the dog again." My mouth watered as I looked at the steam rising from the pot. It smelled delicious.

"Him and that dog…" she spoke playfully. "He just doesn't want Pidgey getting you sick." She stirred the pot and the steam in the air dissipated and floated closer to me.

"Dad's out in the woods all the time. I don't get why he can come inside but not the dog." My mother didn't answer but instead laughed boisterously as she pulled her honey blonde hair into a loose bun. Lucy wiggled uncomfortably as she fussed about in my arms. She wiped her eyes tiredly and let out an arid whimper.

"Speaking of your father, lunch is just about ready. He should come in and wash his hands…" my mother mused to herself. "I'll go get him and why don't you put Lucy to bed. She looks like she's getting cranky." I tried to suppress a smile as I rose from the table. I liked when Lucy was napping, that meant both parents all to me.

I nodded and walked down the hallway to my parent's bedroom. Our house wasn't the biggest in all of Hyrule. But it was home and I really loved it there. Outside of our kitchen was the living area with a large bookcase and a few plush couches centered around a fireplace. The living area then extended into three rooms. The lavatory, my room, and my parent's bedroom. Lucy woke up crying so much in the night my parent's moved her from my room to theirs to make matters easier for all of us.

I entered their room and crossed the bed to get to her crib. It used to be my crib. Father had to fix it up a little and repaint it but it looked just as good as new. I lay Lucy down, she was already becoming limp in my arms. Her eyes drooped. I couldn't help but admit that she was kind of cute. Her fussiness has subsided and the house was quiet. I heard the flame that lit the pot cackling in the kitchen. Not wanting to stir Lucy, I quietly tiptoed out of their room and back to my lunch. I was starving.

When I reentered the kitchen I was ready to go off and start bantering to my mother about the events I had planned for today. I wanted to go out and pick flowers in the field, and help stich the dress mom was making for me. I skipped over to the table and saw my mother's figure standing in the doorway. She stood very frigid and an icy feeling crept over me. The wind howled and shook the door, it was eerily quiet.

I strained my ears and eyed my mother curiously. I heard barking outside. It was Pidgey. Pidgey never barked. A sick feeling crept over me, some sort of nausea I will never be able to explain.

"Mommy why is the dog barking?" I was trying to sound brave but my voice cracked and came out like a whimper. I folded my hands together tentatively as I watched my mother staring hollowly out the door. She didn't answer, she stood there frozen peering outside. "Mommy?" I whispered softly.

"Go hide in your room now Alusha." She spun around wildly, her eyes looked dangerous and frightening. A shiver went down my entire spine and caused me to tremor. I took a step towards her, curious as to what she was seeing out the window. She walked towards me hurriedly and pushed me away with a force that I wasn't used to. I nearly toppled over from the impact. This was not my mother's behavior.

"Mommy is Pidgey going to be okay?" My face began to contort in worry and fear. I loved that dog. Was daddy hurting him?

"Go hide NOW! ALUSHA GO HIDE!" she shoved me forcefully into the direction of my room. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. They felt like lead weights as I ran through the short passage way of our house. I glanced at the two doorways and decided to disobey and go into my parent's room instead. I felt the strong sudden urge to check on Lucy. I opened the door to the room and slammed it hurriedly. I heard the barking continuing and I covered my ears. My head spun as I looked for a place to hide. Under the bed. Lucy was sleeping soundly. I felt like I should have taken her under the bed with me but mother forbid her to go such places. I whimpered and slid underneath the bed. I pressed my face against the cold hardwood as I listened intently to the outside. Pidgey was barking and snarling like I had never heard him before. The front door banged shut and caused me to scream. I heard my mother's voice outside. She was yelling. My eyes began to water as tears began to stream down my face. Pidgey whimpered like he did when I had accidently shut her tail in the door. Did he get into the coop again? Was dad hitting him? I listened vainly for Pidgey to bark again, he didn't continue.

There was a blood curdling scream from outside. I slammed my eyelids shut and pressed my hands so hard against my ears I thought they might bleed. I then heard my father's voice. He was yelling, but it was different than from when he yelled at me. His voice was deep and very very angry. I heard his thunderous yell and then he stopped abruptly. There was a gurgle and another scream. I wailed and sobbed as I listened to the unknown noises from outside.

The door slammed open again and I suppressed the urge to cry. I bit my lip until I felt the warm blood drip into my mouth. The footsteps thundered through the house and I heard them nearing the bedroom.

"Alusha! Alusha!" my mother sounded terrified, her voice cracking. I heard my bedroom door open and shut. The front door banged once more and a second pair of footsteps was heard. "Please, please please no. I have children." I heard my mother pleading. There was a thunk and something that sounded like nails digging across wood. There was a hard bang on the floor and it vibrated the whole house. I heard the sound of something that resembled a pig and the maniacal low laugh of an unknown male. I dug my palms into my ears but I could still hear my mother whimpering.

"Please don't hurt them. Please not them. Take me please please please." I heard two pairs of alien voices. The voices were not of a language that I understood. They sounded off in clicks and rumbles, I heard my mother sobbing in an animalistic cry. I heard the sound of metal against metal and the clunk of horrid footsteps across the floorboards. It was silent except for the soft sobs and wheezed breathing of my mother. Another loud thunk and then a very solid sound. It was the sound of a clever chopping through a thick piece of meat. Except it wasn't a pig that was being cut. I heard a surprised gasp and then a choking noise from just outside the door. Another clunk and my parent's bedroom door sprang open. I saw stars my eyes were shut so tight. It wasn't until I felt something wet against my knees that I realized what was going on.

The foreign voices clicked and conversed quietly. They sounded pleased with themselves and I heard their footsteps heading back towards the front door. I dared not to open up my eyes. I could have sat there for an hour, two hours, I'll never know how long I sat there frozen in time. I was in shock, I could hardly breathe. I didn't want to open up my eyes.

The wet pool continued to seep across and wash over my body in thick clumps. I took my hands away from my ears and slowly relaxed my eyelids, allowing them to open. My hands hit the ground and they came up red and soaking wet. I wailed loudly and nearly choked on my own sobs. There was a stir from above and I clamped my mouth shut immediately. Where those things coming back?

Another stir and then I heard the low whining cry of Lucy. She bounced irritatingly in her crib demanding to be taken out. I let out another heart wrenching sob and crawled across the pool of my own mother's blood and from underneath the bed. I was afraid to look at the doorway. Lucy was staring right at my mother when I approached her crib. She stopped crying and looked up at me innocently. I had always looked at her with such apprehension, and at that moment I felt more love and such a strong will to protect her it was almost overwhelming.

With feeble hands I picked her up from the crib. My blood stained hands dyed her milky white arms pink as I bounced her frailly in my arms. The weight that lay behind me was too much to bear. I coddled her closely to my chest before I found the strength to turn around.

There lay my mother. Strewn about on the floor like one of my old ragdolls. Her eyes were open and stared coldly up at the ceiling. A huge gaping wound stared at me mockingly from her chest. It bubbled and oozed blood while the rest of her body lay lifeless and still. I felt numb and sick looking at her. That wasn't my mother at all. That was some sick shell of the woman I had once loved and adored dearly. Where was my mother? Lucy looked at the body and then back up to me. I cried silently and she poked the tears as they came down my face.

Before I had time to think of what to do next, I heard footsteps echoing through the house once more. My heart pounded so hard I thought it was going to beat right out of my chest. I remember thinking of a plan to stop whoever was coming in the door. I was going to fight whoever it was.

When the door swung open, I could only stare and hold Lucy tightly to my chest. It was a man. He was very tall and had dark skin that I was not accustomed to seeing. I stared at him with saucer eyes as I watched him look at the lifeless body of my mother. He stood there expressionless as he peered at the woman on the ground. He took a step and picked up her hand, dropping it in a more natural position.

"Was this your mother?" his voice was deep and stolid. His voice was smooth and sounded like a dark winter's night. I said nothing as I watched him like a hawk. Lucy wiggled around uncomfortably.

"Was this her mother?" he pried again, motioning to the baby in my hands. I shakily nodded and he slowly shook his head. "Those monsters…" he growled. I felt my shoulders relax when I realized he meant us no harm.

"Was that your father out in the field?" he queried. Fresh tears stung at my face when I realized they had gotten him too. He caught on to my expression and nodded grimly as he eyed the two of us.

"I can take care of you." He said somberly as he extended out a massive hands. His arms were covered in decorative gauntlets and he dressed like a Lord or Count. His suit was black and embedded in gold trim and silver lining. I felt like I could trust him.

"What was his name?" Link asked quietly as he watched the dying fire in front of us. My eyes stung with tears as I recounted the acts that had happened so long ago. This was my first time I had told anybody about how Lucy and I had become orphans.

"Dragmire." I said slowly as I wiped new tears away from my eyes. "Ganon Dragmire."