Scarlet

*chatter chatter*

"Mom can I open them now, I wanna see, "I asked impatiently swaying my legs on the chair. I turned seven today and I was excited about the surprise mom had gotten me.

"Happy birthday darling," mom said as I opened my eyes to her bringing a cake lit with candles to the dining table.

I let out a shriek of excitement clapping my hands eagerly as she placed it in front of me.

"Yayyyyy!, cake thank you mom" I looked at my dad's picture that was placed on the shelves near the fireplace running over to get it and bring it over to the dinner table." almost forgot dad", I gave her a toothy grin before facing the cake.

My dad had died when I was still a baby so I had very little to no memory of him,

"But it's ok, I'm sure he's watching over us now", I said reassuringly to myself. Mom hugged me she was suffering too, I hear her crying herself to sleep sometimes. I have to be strong for both of us. I pulled back from the hug smiling warmly at her hoping to give her any sort of comfort in my smile.

"Make a wish dear," she said pulling a chair next to me. I closed my eyes tightly, opening my eyes to blow out the candles.

"Thank you, mom," I said grinning ear to ear," this is the best birthday ever", mom smiled while cutting the cake.

"It was my pleasure, anything to see this cute smile on your face," she said, pecking my forehead as she placed a slice of cake for me. I hurriedly dug into the cake. This is so good.

I thought as the sugar melted into my tongue, this was my first birthday cake. She must have gone through a lot to get it. I'll make sure not to waste it.

"Surh swheet" I muffled with much cake stuffed in my cheeks. mom chuckled softly as she watched me grub the cake." Slow down or you might choke on it, there's plenty more where it came from"

crash!

I jolted at the noise coming from the kitchen. I looked at mom her body tensed in fear she stood up abruptly facing the kitchen where the noise of the crash had come from. she stood in front of me protectively shielding me with her body shaking.

"Mom, what is that?"I asked, annoyed that our little birthday party had been disrupted. she bent down to meet my eyes, and I could see the fear in her eyes "what is wrong" I asked again confused as to why she was radiating so much fear.

"Look baby I need you to go upstairs to your room and do not come out, no matter what you hear, do you understand" I nodded, her voice was shaking. I was scared not knowing what was happening. I nodded abruptly running upstairs to my room, turning back to catch a glimpse of a man I closed the door quickly going under my bed there was a secret space under my bed. I curled inside trying to calm my racing heart.

Crash!, crash!

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh

I covered my ears crying as I heard the screams from mom radiate through the wood "mom, I'm scared" *sniff* I said to myself as I lay still inside here.

Two minutes later***

the screams had stopped, I couldn't hear anything. waiting. a bit unsure of whether I should go out or not. after some time I grew restless I pushed myself out. Walking to the door gently I reached for the doorknob my finger trembling in fear, taking a deep breath I opened the door quietly. I looked around.

silence

"Mom" I called out softly hoping she might answer but the only sound I could hear was the loud thumping of my heart. I quietly went downstairs the sound of the floor creaking under my feet hoping not to alert the intruder, the room below that was once decorated with candles and birthday signs was shattered, and broken glass spiraled around. I looked around the curtains had been turned to shreds, the table knocked over and cake spilled everywhere on the floor. I looked at it sadly before I continue my search amongst the rubble

Squish

I stepped on something, it was wet and warm.

I froze in my steps looking down at my feet to see the puddle of blood I had stepped in, the strong metallic stench everywhere making me sick. I traced the flow to.... please no

"mom" my voice croaked as tears flooded my eyes" please wake up, mom" I wiped my face repeatedly my words choked up. she layed there lifeless as she stared at me in shock.

I heard footsteps getting closer to the house, he was coming back, I stood in fear watching my mom's body, I couldn't move, the footsteps were getting closer. I tried to hold back my sobs but I couldn't stop the tears flooding my vision.

mom, please wake up, please

Click

Boom!

The windows broke as flames engulfed the room the force of the explosion sent me crashing into a shelf as it gave way crushing me beneath it. Pain coursed through my body blood dripped from my head, and my vision got blurry. mom was dead and I was going to join her, tears slipped down my cheeks I couldn't see what it was, as I was welcomed with darkness.

*********************************

I could hear sirens.

A woman's voice, "stay with me honey".where am I? so noisy, why am I so tired, I need to sleep a bit.

Two days later***

*beep, beep*

My eyes fluttered open, where am I?. I looked to my side, A woman stood beside me examining my body. she stood focused looking at the board in her hand, Her hair was tied in a messy bun .she finally looked up from her board to see me staring back at her. It took a few seconds before she rushed to check my condition apologizing for being in a daze.

"How do you feel?" she asked, looking into my eyes as she waited for my response. I nodded feeling too weak to speak. she proceeded to scribble on her board and checked my monitor before she left. The room became silent as the sound of the monitor filled the room, I closed my eyes drifting back to sleep. why am I here I couldn't remember which bothered me.

Later on, she came back with two other people. The woman looked aged and I had no clue who she was she looked relieved when she saw me also the man next to her. she made her way to my bed gently sitting beside me.

"Hello dear, how are you," she asked me, I nodded making her look towards the nurse.

"They were the ones who found your house on fire," the nurse said, I looked at the woman confused. My house was on fire, I looked at them. I couldn't remember being in a fire she cut me off in my thoughts, "What's your name dear"the woman asked

Scarlet

I thought trying to remember any more details but my head felt it was going to split into pieces. I groaned in pain as the nurse rushed to my side. she gave me medication making the pain vanish. I looked at the woman she held my hands to comfort me. I opened my mouth to say my name but no words could come out. she looked worriedly at the nurse.

"she trying to speak," she said, I kept trying but no words came out, they brought a book and pen asking if I could write. i nodded. she read it smilingly I looked at the man he had been quiet since he walked in,

"Scarlet, what a pretty name do you remember anything else like how your house got on fire," she asked concerned. I shook my head. The nurse explained further.

"It seems she has a slight concussion due to the heavy blow to her head with time she might remember, and she can't talk cause of the neurotic shock to her brain, I'll have to give her some sedatives to reduce the pain", the nurse said, the woman looked at me with pity across her face I thanked her and the who happened to her husband, the nurse showed them out.

I was again left to my thoughts, I was mute and lost my memory such luck I have. was I the only survivor in the fire.