Sixteen years ago…
Everything about the little girl was extraordinary.
Her features showed an intriguing mixture of East and West. The girl's eyes were twin moons, big and wide as though she was constantly curious… but they tapered and slanted in the outer edges like the corners of a boat so that it seemed like she was forever smiling. Her hair was dark gold, like moonbeams at night and streaks of sunshine during the day. Her skin—instead of being fair as expected of humans with blonde hair— was light bronze, as though she was dipped in honey.
Was the child pretty? Arguably so. A stranger who laid eyes on the kid for the first time would probably think she's worth a second look because of her uncanny hair and eyes. A longer stare would then give a conclusion that she could be adorable, at best… but not lovely at all.
But in her mother's eyes, she was beyond beautiful. She was perfect!
Right now, the five-year-old was looking up at her parent with a smile so pure and precious that her mother had to stroke the chubby cheek and smile back.
"Mama…" the child spoke in a foreign tongue. Her mother would speak to her in English and her incredibly superior brain made her learn the language faster than tying her own shoelaces.
The mother brought her face closer so that she could stare into those big, heavenly eyes. The rims of the orbs were dark as the earth, exactly the same shade as her father's, but the center of each iris was molten gold. This tiny being was indeed an amazing fusion of ancestral bloodlines from two different parts of the world… a perfect product of a love that was too beautiful, it was not meant to last in an imperfect world. And therefore... that love ended in tragedy.
"Yes, darling?"
"I'm five!" She held up five chubby fingers.
"That's right." Mama held the tiny wrist and kissed the tip of each finger, making the child giggle. "My baby is five years old."
"Mama, you are… uhm���" The daughter's eyes moved down and shifted to the side as she paused for thought.
"I'm what, darling? Mama is what…?"
The girl's eyes locked with her mother's. She grinned wide and answered, "You are six times older than me!"
She's right, the mother thought. I am thirty. She is five. I am six times older.
Nobody taught her daughter the equation. The little one figured it out by herself. Incredible. Frightening…
The mother's smile wobbled.
It's not her peculiar looks that made the girl special. It's her astonishing, inexplicable GIFT. It was both wondrous and powerful… a blessing and a curse.
The ENEMIES would stop at nothing to take control of it.
The little girl's father had tried to safeguard his daughter and he died in the hands of the cruel, merciless beasts. Now, mother and child were on the run and in hiding—chased like fugitives.
The child noticed the adult's change of expression right away. The child was incredibly intuitive as she was smart. Her very young and innocent heart, however, could not understand why her mother appeared to be getting upset. Was it her fault? Why did she always end up making her Mama cry? "You're angry," the young daughter assumed. Her lips pursed. "I'm sorry, Mama."
"No—no, my love—Mama is not angry." The mother drew the child into her arms, tenderly but fiercely. "You have not done anything wrong. I love you. Mama loves you more than anything!" And I will protect you with my own life, the mother vowed silently.
Just then the door opened and another woman—older than the child's mother—dashed into the room. She was a loyal friend who had committed to helping them and offered this secluded hillside house as a temporary shelter.
"THEY FOUND US," the woman announced. "There are three cars making their way uphill."
The mother stood up. "How much time do we have?"
"Five minutes max," the lady friend said. "We have to go… we have to leave now."
"No!" The mother shook her head. "We stick to the plan."
"There's still time!" the older woman argued. "We'll have a few minutes head start. We can make it. Come with me!"
"I can't risk it…" the child's parent argued. "We have a better chance of saving her if we do it as planned. I will stall them and you will drive as fast as you can…"
"I can't—I can't do it—"
The mother grasped the woman's shoulders. "You're my only hope. Promise me you'll take care of my child. The money is all yours…."
"I don't care about the money!"
"I know…" The mother embraced her friend fiercely. "I know you don't care about the money but it is yours anyway... I want it to be yours!" She stepped back and brokenly begged, "You are the only one I can trust. You're my only hope. Save her! Please… please, don't let them have her—PROMISE ME!"
With a trembling voice, the friend agreed. "I promise you."
The mother knelt down and stroked her child's head. "Baby… remember what we practiced? Do you remember what you should do if the monsters come?"
The child's chest started to rise and fall rapidly but she tried not to cry. Mama said she must be brave. "I remember."
"Baby…"
"Yes, Mama?"
The mother stared at the beloved little face that she could be looking at for the last time. "The monsters are coming. It's time."
Five minutes later, the monsters arrived. They kicked the locked door open and strode into the room, led by the worst monster of all… their leader. He sauntered forward while his underlings searched the room. "Where is the child?"
The mother refused to speak and held her ground.
"ANSWER ME!!!"
The mother's chin raised, and she gave him a defiant look. "You will not lay a hand on my daughter."
"Boss, there's a car leaving!" announced one of the beasts. "They must have escaped from the back of the house."
Their 'boss' dashed to the open window and saw a car speeding downhill. "TAKE ONE OF THE CARS! GO AFTER THEM!"
"Right away, boss."
Before his minion could turn away, the monster gave him one firm order. "Dispose of the driver but bring me the child alive. Go—I'll follow behind you!"
"Yes, boss!" Half of the pack of beasts left to chase after the escaping car.
The leader turned to the mother and found her laughing softly. "Do you find anything amusing, madam?"
"You'll never catch them," the mother snickered.
The monster narrowed his eyes. "Why do you say that?"
"By the time you do, they'll have reached the middle of the town," the mother declared. "The police will be meeting the car halfway!"
The enemy flashed her a wicked grin. "Is that so?"
"You may have killed my husband... and you can take my life," she snarled, "but you will never… EVER… have her! NEVER!"
The monster absorbed her words. His men were getting restless. "Boss, we need to get the hell out here," they urged.
The boss raised a hand to silence them. He walked unhurriedly to close the distance between him and the lady. And when they were almost nose to nose, he spoke softly… almost tenderly.
"You are right," he said. "I killed your husband. And I can take your life."
The monster took a gun and fired.
The mother fell to the floor. Her head was turned under the bed. There… she could see a little body crumpled like a ball. Good girl... that's my good girl. Shhh... stay there, baby.
That was what they practiced. 'When the monsters come, you must hide under the bed. Do not come out. Do not make a sound.'
"Boss, the police might come any minute. Let's go!"
"I'm coming," the monster said before firing another gunshot at the body on the floor.
The monsters left.
The mother's blood poured out and began to spread… lengthening its reach until it touched the little body hiding and trembling under her secret hiding place.
Mama told her to stay under the bed. Mama said to not make any noise. Mama said to stay still and not cry.
And that's what the little girl did while she stared in her mother's eyes. They were open... and looking at her.
Mama…?
Mama lay in a pool of blood.
Mama no longer moved.