CHAPTER 34: Birthday Girl

For the last few hours, I sat in bed, crying my eyes out. I didn't dare go down the stairs, for I knew that Peater was going to beat me up. Badly. All because of one incident . . .

One incident that was purely unintentional.

But other than crying fruitlessly, the memories of the good old days were beginning to flood through my head. Suddenly, a flashback to my twelfth birthday began to play through my mind like a videotape.

It was a Saturday. But it wasn't any old Saturday, no. For one thing, there were no zombies lurking about, and the sky was clear and cloudless. It was my birthday, but I had no fancy party to throw, because heck, everyone at school acts like a freaking jerk towards me. Sighing, I decided to go downstairs, and reflect on how lucky I was to be alive and breathing. The house in which I lived in was nice; it wasn't too small or too big, and it was close enough to Humber River to go skating in the winter, or to go fishing in the warmer months. I smiled. Without the courage and bravery of the remaining plants in Toronto, this house would be a wreck, both on the inside and on the outside. I sat beside a window and smiled as I saw several young sprouts play Red Rover on their front yard. I wished that I didn't have my ability, because without it, I could live a carefree life.

But I'm a Maccabaeus, and there's nothing I can do about that.

I shuddered at the time when I discovered my powers as I glanced at the permanent tattoo on the back of my leaf. Sure, it looked pretty and cute; being a rose with a snowflake on it. But it was a reminder that I had weird powers as a plant, which gave me the urge to put green paint over the mark before I went to bed every night.

I eventually wandered into a room with many decorations on it. I then heard whispering, and the occasional shuffle.

Then the lights went out.

The windows were immediately closed, leaving me surrounded by darkness. I looked around, panic washing over me like a tidal wave. "H-he . . . hello?" I called out as I raised my right leaf in the air, ready to send an icy jet at my assailant, even though it meant that I'd kill somebody on my special day . . .

Then the lights came on.

I saw Adria, Alana, my father and my mother jump out from behind chairs, couches, and the pile of ten presents in a corner. Balloons were released into the air as my twin siblings ran over to me and tackled me to the ground.

"Happy birthday, Elyssia!" they squealed.

"Hey . . . thanks!" I laughed as I sat up.

"But hey ― you kinda scared the hell outta me when you turned out the lights!"

Instead of replying, Adria and Alana just gave me twelve pinches.

"A pinch to grow and inch!" Adria exclaimed.

My mother and father then gave me a hug.

"Happy birthday, Elyssia. This will be a happy year . . . yes?"

my mother whispered. I nodded, tears of happiness coming into my eyes.

"This is no time for crying, little one! Why else do we say "Happy birthday"?" my father playfully scolded me as he shot a pea at my head.

I giggled as I rubbed the pea stain off my face.

"It's time for presents!" Adria yelled as she and Alana grabbed the boxes and pushed them over to me.

Picking the small present on top, I tore away the wrapping, which revealed a carving of Adria, Alana and I, ready to face anything. On the bottom, messages were carved.

I'll be there to beat up the zombies ― and maybe talk their ears off! ― Adria

Uh . . . I guess that I'll be your conscience, and I'll protect you from Ellen and her Nazis . . . I'm guessing . . . ―Alana

May you have my wisdom and a bright future! ― Mom

Uh . . . I hope that you've inherited my strength . . . and . . . I'm the one that helps you out . . . right? Um . . . happy birthday in any case, Elyssia Antonia! ― Dad

I grinned as we worked on opening the rest of the presents, which were tiny trinkets of jewellery.

At the end of the day, I felt truly happy that I was twelve going on thirteen.

I quickly found myself being hurled back into the arms of reality. My face was tight with tears I hadn't realized were flowing as I recalled my last birthday with Adria and Alana. I also realized that I was hungry. I was desperate to panic, but I realized that panic got people ― and plants absolutely nowhere. Trying my luck, I decided to search the room for any food scraps. I eventually found a hunk of cheese, and some crackers to go with it. Feeling lucky that mould didn't begin to set in, I decided to set these items down on the bed before I quietly tiptoed down the stairs until I was close enough to see the living room, while keeping myself hidden. I could still see Mary's body, which still oozed out blood, but at a much slower pace. Peater, meanwhile, was sitting on the couch moodily, muttering to himself.

"Jeez . . . I swear I heard her crying . . . but I don't care . . . she killed her own aunt, I ought to kill her . . ."

I gasped, quickly sending him off the couch.

"Who . . . who's there?" he asked.

I saw him slowly approach the stairs, and I sucked in a breath. As soon as he saw me, he let out a low growl.

"And didn't I tell you to keep out of my sight?"

I sighed, and tried to reason with him once more.

"Peater, I didn't mean it. I wish that I could take it back but . . . my instincts got the better of me. Please understand . . . it was an accident . . ." I pleaded, grasping his leaves as I did so.

Peater immediately twisted and turned until my arms hurt so much that I had to let go.

"How is killing someone an accident?! You oughta learn how to control your instincts, Elyssia!" he exclaimed.

Grabbing a knife from the floor, he proceeded to try to stab me. I dodged and ducked, when finally I had no choice but to close my eyes and remember the good times. The laughter, the smiles, the memories . . .

"So . . . you're gonna stand there and let me kill you?" Peater laughed, jerking me out of my thoughts.

Then I found myself running out the door.