26. Francina's mother
1280 Words
So, Francina has found her mom? Good for her. They do look similar… Just a little. One knows how to groom herself and the other doesn’t care. One is sociable and the other is just on-and-off. Boy, look at Francina shocked like that. Has she never seen her mother before?
“You can call me, Mrs. Peterson.” She was still introducing herself to the boy. “You look so much like someone I used to know, young man.”
I don’t know if I should let her tell me who she is thinking of or I just tell her about whose son I am. This is so awkward. What would be more awkward is to see her interaction with her daughter. Now, that would be awkward.
And would this be the time when I tell her about the mischiefs her daughter has been up to this whole time? I mean, she has to know what a monster she created, either through her womb or her absenteeism as a parent.
“How are you Francina?”
“I’m—I’m fine.” Francina did not even know where to look or how much interest she should show the woman.
“So far, I have picked up on that you’re a quiet one. Hm, I don’t know who you got that from. Because both your father and I are not quiet at all. Sometimes, there would be a battle of who can fit the most words in a day.” She burst out laughing by herself. She did not care if the others responded with same energy. She had been living alone for over a decade. She was very much used to the silent cues by now.
“Both of you, wash up and prepare for dinner,” she was headed out to prepare her guests dinner, they would be spending the night. It was amazing how Mrs. Peterson had settled in well into the palace and owned it as hers. She paraded around like the queen of that palace. She was already draping herself in the silk and precious stones of the palace. She was a real glam-girl.
Even Monkey was drawn to the woman. Monkey had hopped onto Mrs. Peterson's shoulder and hung there while she pounced around. It was no surprise though, to see Monkey that open with her because Monkey actually open with a lot of people. It was Heaven for Monkey to be taken to the kitchen for the first time. This made Monkey love Mrs. Peterson even more. She would a few pieces to Monkey to taste with her as she prepared the meal.
“Is she really your mother?” Kali was helping Francina clean up her wound and prepare for a bath since she would not let her mother get close. He applied the herbs mixed by the woman, “This is supposed to sanitize the wound.”
“So, is she?” he persisted on asking his question. They were now in bath tubs. This was the communal bath room. Each of them sat in their own tubs where they both relaxed. Kali had deliberately chosen one that was close to Francina. That way he would probe her more. “You know if you don’t answer I’ll keep talking.” He continued, “Or maybe, she is some hologram. Or… I don’t know, Imagination. You know, like back in that neighbourhood—”
“She is real.”
Now, he sat up and had his eyes pocked at Francina’s face to read her facial expression as she answered along. “Are you sure?”
“This is where I was headed the whole time.”
“So, you led me here just to see your mother? I should’ve just gone with Betty!”
“Relax, we’re also headed in the right direction… Well, we were until you dipped into the water and I had to go down with you to save your ass.”
Backing down and also a bit embarrassed, “Wh-why did you save me?”
“I know you have a bad image of me in your head—”
“Because you went around getting people killed!”
“They are not dead. And could you keep your voice down? I’m having a headache right now.”
“I saw them, Frans.”
Did he just call me ‘Frans’? I like it. I have a nickname now.
“You don’t have to lie. Your image in my head will never change, no matter what you say.”
Now, Francina also sat up. She was careful enough to keep her bust under the foamy water. She was looking directly at Kali who was at her sideway. “Jim told me that all the people we left behind… Whether we saw them die or we saw them get trapped, they are still alive. All of them.”
Kali was amazed. He was having difficulty believing her, mainly because he really wanted to believe her.
She may have done a lot of questionable things, but I’ve never really heard her tell a lie.
“This portal holds thousands of lives captive. These are the lives of people who never made it out of the portal. If you retrieve the totem and make it out, we’ll be free to walk out. Everyone will be released.”
“Wait. If I?”
“I’m staying behind, Kali. I have to help my mother.”
“On what?!”
“I want to find the people responsible for all of this.”
“That would be my father and he is not in here. You’ll have to get out of here to find him. You already know this!”
“There’s more of them. I have a feeling we’ll find the rest of them in here.”
“A feeling? So, you’ll go off of some feeling?”
“It’s a feeling that got us here.”
Kali was worried. He had no idea what would happen next. The entire time, he was just going with the flow. He would be following the people around and do as they did. He had no idea what to do if they left him alone.
“Look. Both you and I, got no training on any of this. But then, the whole time, I have been going with my intuition. When we’re lost and can’t find answers outside, intuition is all we have. I’ll advise you to follow your intuition as well.”
After bath, Kali coated Francina’s wound with a layer of honey, “It should fight off bacteria and hopefully speed up the healing process.”
The meal was impressive. It was layered all across the table. Francina had never seen this much food at a table before. She could smell all sorts of different aromas. She was very excited but still, she kept a calm exterior to fool the others. Kali wondered how long it must have been since he sat down to such huge buffet. The sight of the meal table surely reminded him of home. Mrs. Peterson obviously went all out for them, “I know, you have been feeding on rats and bats the past recent weeks. This meal should wash out all that memory. Bon appetit—”
BOOM! CLACK!
The door burst open and a troop of giant men and women swooped in. “Lady Mare, it’s time to pay!” They charged towards Mrs. Peterson with their blades and all sorts of weapons out.
In their eyes was only rage and passion to kill… my mother.
In their eyes was only rage and passion to kill.
- Writer
