The Nightmare (2)

  REBORNED

 Episode seven

 

Then…I saw her. I sobbed. I haven’t cried in a long time

And I did.

“Nona!”

I ran to where her body laid and tried to wake her up by shaking her body vigorously. I saw that two of her legs were scalded by the fire and she could not move. She could not breathe and she kept groaning in pain. Good God, she is alive! I sighed shakily in relief and wasted no time in attempting to carry her up.

I managed to carry her up by placing her on my back and quickly ran out of the burning house despite the difficulty.  I managed to go run off to a safe distance before the burning house crashed. I laid granny down on my arms and she coughed weakly.

“Dove?” her rasped voice rang through my ears.

“Nona, are you fine? I’m so sorry that I fought with you and left you. I’m so stupid…why did I leave you? This time, I am not leaving you” I sniffed.

“Dove… Are you crying? You haven’t cried in a long time” she laughed and tears flowed from her eyes.

“Nona, hold on… let me ask for help” I was about to lay her on the ground but she stopped me.

“Dove…I want to tell you something” she said

“Nona…when you are well, you tell me, ok?” I reluctantly answered back.

“Dove…I didn’t  raise you up to disrespect the command of your elders, listen to me” she commanded and held my hands.

“Remember when you were around eight, you came to me and threw a tantrum because a boy made fun of your scars?” she asked and I nodded.

“I went to the parents of the boy. In an argument, they pushed me and I scraped my one of my knees. When you saw blood on my knees, you cried… Dove… for me…No one cried for me…I didn’t cry for you, dove… but you cried for me” she said, her voice shaking.

“That was the first time I cared for you…I never cared for you for three years after your rescue but I did” she cried and smiled.

“Remember when…” she coughed.

“Nona, are you alright?” I asked and she nodded weakly.

“Remember when you were eleven; you grew insecure about the scars on your body and you didn’t like how it made you feel left out… that why whenever you wanted to dress yourself, you didn’t trust me to see any ounce of scars on your body…that’s why you started wearing cotton sweaters to hide your scars” she said, her voice weak.

“I tell you, you can hide your scars today, tomorrow… but not forever. Just because you are different doesn’t not mean that you are not human. You are a warrior, Dove” Nona said.

“I love you, Dove… so much but you can’t fight fate… I will meet my…husband in heaven and watch over…you” Nona said while trying to breathe properly.

“Nona…what are saying? Just stop already, if you are gone, where will I go?” I cried.

“Wherever your feet take you to…” Nona drawled.

“Dove, your name is now Deidre... it means sorrow. In whatever you do, justice and sorrow , in any way, must follow… in the path of revenge, you must do what it takes to acquire justice.” Nona said and clasped my hand.

“Do it…for your family… do it…for me…do it for anyone those bastards had touched” she added.

“And bury me outside the village… my ancestors was buried there and it is my turn to be buried there…” she drawled

“Remember Dove… you are not original, you are my daughter” Nona said and her hand slipped from mine.

Her eyes became unfocused and her body felt limp. That is it…no movement from her and she gave up her life like that…

“Nona… No! No!” I screamed and I sobbed

“Why are you selfish?! Nona! Why?! Don’t leave me! I love you too Nona” I yelled.

“Can you hear me?! I said I love you! I’m sorry, Nona… I didn’t tell you that I love you” I cried.

I cried until it was dark and carried her body to the borders and buried her. I was tired of crying and I am already numb to the pain. This time, I will do what I have been waiting to do. There is no need for the name ‘dove’, I’m now Deirdre… this time, those bastards would pay for what they did to Nona, and I will make sure of that.

‘Now, no need to hide these scars anymore’ I thought as I tore down my almost burnt cotton sweater.

I took one last at Nona grave and left. Thank you, Nona. I will miss you… and I will catch those bastards who took my family and you.

I went to the silent village and asked few people who were there on what happened. The people managed to tell me that there was a revolt against the visitor, Mr. Rogers and those protecting him. But the revolt backfired as the visitor sent many backup to chase the people away because he was angered by their resistance.  Now, I get what Nona meant by ‘those bastards’. Since the ownership of the land has been transferred to the visitor, the village chairman was murdered at the end.

How unfortunate… well, he got what he deserved. He didn’t think of the villager’s welfare but the money. I don’t feel sad for him…

I don’t know where to go but something is telling me where to go. There is a place far from this village, fishermen from the village talk about the place and nicknamed it the Death Hub.  From their description, it is a place where skilled assassins and poison makers stays and do their missions. I want to go there and learn to how to fight.

I don’t know where Gladys is, I think I might have lost her but since I met her out of the danger range, she should be fine… I saw Ox carts passing through the borders as I was mindlessly walking and ran towards it. It seems the villagers are leaving the village. I managed to board one of the carts so that I might go to my destination aka The Death Hub…

This time, I’m coming back to the city as Deirdre… I don’t need anyone to correct my name. I no longer have the identity crisis of who is Dove and Deirdre … I’m now Deirdre.

…And I’m coming back as Deirdre…