My family did various experiments on me, trying to see what was really wrong with me. We all decided to keep this a secret from the town, who knows what people will say or do if they find out someone can just regrow limbs.
When my father came home and we explained everything to him, we began the experiments. First a finger, then a hand, and then my arm again. Each time they would grow back.
"Does it hurt?" Claude said while poking my newly formed arm.
"It hurts at first, but then it's fine." "Do you think we're all like this?" Lucas looked at my mom innocently.
"No! Or.. I don't know.. you said you have gotten cuts and scrapes before right?"
"Yeah.." Lucas answered as he examined a scar on his arm he got two years ago.
"Have they ever healed in seconds?"
"No.."
"Then we're not cutting off any of your limbs." My mom looked at Claude as well when she spoke.
As the night went on, my mom was a mess. Her black hair was covered in frizz and sweat. Her dark eyes were bloodshot from crying and she couldn't stop shaking. Lucas and I both resembled our mom with straight black hair and dark brown eyes, except mine and Lucas's weren't blood shot. Claude resembled our dad. We were all on tanner side and I had little freckles across my nose. I was the only one in the family with freckles, and also the only one who can regrow an arm after it's cut off.
My dad was pacing around the kitchen while biting on his nails. "How could... how.." he ran his fingers through his strawberry blond hair, his hazel eyes darted back and forth from me to my mother.
Seeing my family like this gave me a bad feeling in my stomach "am I a monster?"
My mom's face softened and she caressed my face. "No sweetie, you're just... you're.. you're not a monster.." she was struggling to say what I was, probably because she also didn't know.
My father slammed his hand down on the table to grab everyone's attention. "Okay so, we know her limbs can grow back, but what else.. it could be possible.."
My mom looked at him "you don't think she..."
"What?!" My brothers were jumping up and down looking back between my mom and dad.
My dad closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Vauldia, come outside with me." My body shook as he said those words.
My mom grabbed his shirt with pleading eyes "please Richard.. you can't.." he pulled away and grabbed my small hand.
"We will both be back soon." He put an emphasis on both like reassuring my mom that we would both make it back. This only made me feel more scared.
My brothers only looked more confused "what? Where are you taking her?" Lucas asked with his guilty eyes, he probably feels this is all his fault, but he doesn't understand that there are bigger parts at play.
My father left the house silently, my small hand in his. He led me through the quiet dark streets. It was maybe 10pm, not even the peacekeepers were around, and they're always around.
Dad led me to the slaughter house. My heart started beating fast and I stopped walking, but my dad pulled me with him. I tried to dig my feet in the dirt and pry my hand away from his but it didn't work.
My dad couldn't even look at me as I cried to him "daddy I don't wanna go in there.. I'm sorry dad! I'll be moreCareful!"
He didn't respond, he picked me up and placed me down on a table, I started to scream as he tied my hands and feet down with rope.
"DADDY NO! PLEASE!" But it was all for nothing. He didn't respond, but I could see the tears in his eyes as he put a cloth in my mouth to quiet my cries.
He picked up a saw "I'm sorry sweetie but.. if my guess is correct... you and I should both be going home tonight together... and if not.." my dad turned to me with tears streaming down his face, "then I won't be returning either." I screamed and struggled, but I couldn't stop the torture that was to come.
By the time father and I came back to the house, the sky started to get lighter and the birds were waking up. Dad hurried me home as fast as possible. He said if anyone saw us covered in blood we would be in trouble. We tried entering the house as quietly as possible but my mother was awake waiting at the table. My brothers were asleep next to her, but all three of them waited as long as they could.
When my mom saw me she bursted into tears and ran to me.
"Oh my sweet baby, oh I'm so sorry!" She hugged me tightly, so tight I could hardly breathe.
Lucas woke from our mother's crying "hmm? Is dad and Vauldy back?" Lucas yawned and rubbed his eye.
My mom just kept her eyes on me. "It must have been scary right?" I didn't respond "well it's okay, you're okay, you're here and you're safe."
I yawned, it's been a long and bloody day. "Can I go to my room now?"
My mom smiled through her tears "yes sweetheart you did very well today. Go get some sleep.." I yawned and waddled to my room. I threw off my bloody blue dress and collapsed in my bed. I still had blood on my hair and face and well everywhere, but I was too tired to get up.
There were a lot of things that happened to me that day. Things I don't wish to remember, but one thing was learned that day.
I don't die.