Chapter 34
Franklin died on Saturday.
Zack came out of the hospital on Tuesday.
Jack was never the same since Wednesday.
And Jasper…Jasper stopped counting days.
She woke in the night. Dawn was just breaking. Tears were in her eyes. She could still remember the fear. She had been crying in the dream. Haha…muma…hahahaha…..muma…muma..flash…flash…She rolled out of her bed. Her head hurt. Wha…what?... She picked up her blanket and pillow and pushed open the door. He's…he's…The hall was longer than she remembered it. She wiped her tears. Idiot...idiot…haha…Her parents were sleeping soundly next to each other; she knew not to wake them up though. Instead she sat down at the end of the bed and cried, praying her father would wake.
After ten minutes or so her tears faded, she couldn't go back to sleep. She watched from the window as the sun rose over the horizon. Her mother groaned. She gasped, looking around. Hahahahahahaha…your friend's an idiot and so are you…all of you…hahaha…Feet appeared from under the bed. Her mother stood. She felt suddenly afraid. So afraid, she covered her head with her blanket. Praying for her mother to notice and act like her father, or just walk away. "Rye…?" Lilac sobbed uncontrollably.
"Lilac?" She felt a hand pulled the blanket back. "Lilac, what are you doing in our room?" Lilac didn't respond. Her mother's face stayed still for a moment then it was gone and she watched as she pulled out a leather jacket and boots. "You know what, I think your old enough, what about it? You and me, hunting," Lilac sat up, leaning on her elbow.
"But dad always said you liked to do it with yourself." Her mother laughed.
"He scares away the game, that's what he means. I think it's time you learned." Lilac sat up fully now. The echoes of her dream filled her but she watched as her mother dug through her drawers, smiling. "What are you looking for?" Her mum looked at her. "My old hunting jacket, I hope it won't be too big." Lilac stood and hurried over, embracing the closeness.
The jacket was warm but the rest of her was freezing. The forest was full of mist. Her mum was holding a bow; in Lilac's hand was a smaller, lighter one. It was old too, but not from use. Lilac hurried after. "Shh! Watch your steps. Every piece of leaf litter, grass and especially sticks will make a sound." Lilac nodded, and watched the ground. The entire place seemed to be covered with something that made a sound. Her mum stopped suddenly, pulling out an arrow, Lilac tripped and fell to the floor. There was a sound of alarm from somewhere in the mist and hooves retreating. "Lye-li, I said watch your step; that includes sticking out roots."
Lilac stood brushing the dirt off her clothes. "But mummy! I can't. Everywhere is a bad place to step." Her mother blinked and looked her up and down. "I…I knew it, you're just like your father. Maybe, if I…hmm. Step lightly then." Lilac peered at her mother as she wondered away, her eyes watching everything at once. Then slowly and carefully, Lilac stepped on the ground like she would if she was trying to sneak past her parents.
The leaf moved and cracked. "Shh…Lilac," Lilac nodded, deep in concentration. "Right, shh…" She took another step, easing herself onto the path. At first it was every step that was too loud but she started to get it. She watched her mum, where she put her feet, but later not just that, how she put her feet, she didn't use the bow for a long while but by the time the sun was fully up, in the sky, she wasn't getting 'shhed' so much.
Then her mother stopped again, and turned to her. "Come swimming with me." Lilac looked around and felt stunned, this was the place. Her family's place. She smiled for the first time that day and walked over to the edge of the lake, loud as always. Her mum smiled as she went, maybe she needed more practice.
Hello everyone. Hope you like this. Mother and daughter time in the Mellark Family.