(11) Be Strong

Soleil

I'm sad because the ache in my heart won't go away. I know I said I'd win... but goddamn, why does being rejected hurt so much? I don't understand anymore. A whimper escapes me as I curl further into a ball, my bedsheets giving me what little comfort they can provide. Voices outside my door call my name, begging to be let in.

I can't let them in. They'll break my heart too. Mama and Papa left me. Mother and Father left me. Everyone I loved left me. And the one who is destined to love me has left me. Left me in a heap of tears. I can't remember the last time someone said they loved me. I don't think in the end, I will hear those three words. I love you...

"My beautiful angel, why are you crying..." She'd say, find me under my favorite oak tree.

"Babygirl, chin up. Angels don't cry, they shine." He would murmur after her, petting my head. Mama and Papa would bring strawberries and pies as we ate together under the oak tree. My sad feelings all gone because they made me feel better. Mama... Papa.

A knock on the door, so light it was like it wasn't even there caught my attention. "Miss Soul," the soft voice called through the door. Clara. "Can I come in? I brought strawberries and mango pie." my stomach did summersaults at that. Strawberries and mango pie. How did she...

I uncurl myself from my safe haven and padded towards the locked door. Sniffling, I open the door a smidge, "Clara only." I mutter, opening it enough for Clara to come in. I don't make eye contact with anyone and hurriedly close the door after Clara. The small child, carrying a tray and placing it delicately on the bed.

I stare at the tray, wondering how Clara knew about the sweets. The little girl in question gives me a large smile and pats the bed. Numbly, I sit beside her, wondering why a child is here. Why I let her in. Was it because of the sweets? The memory of having them with mama and papa.

"Miss Selena in the kitchens made them for you. Said they were your favorite. Here she left a note for you," Clara gives me a hand-folded note, lyrical and cursive beautiful writing written inside.

Angels have the most precious wings, Soleil. Fly high within the sunfilled sky.

A scoff escapes my lips at the ironic words. My name means sun and my parent's favorite nickname for me was Angel. How she this Selena person is... thank you. Wait... Selena... Nah it can't be.

"Miss Soul, would you like to tell me a story?" I hum grabbing a strawberry.

"What type of story do you want? I'm not much in the mood for fairytales." Clara giggled and shoved a pie in her mouth. I raise a brow at her before taking a bite of the strawberry. The taste sweet, reminding me of mama and papa.

"Tell me about your mommy and daddy!" I flinch and stare at her wide-eyed.  Who and what type of child would want to know about that? I shiver a snake of whispers slithered down my spine.

"W-Why?" the strawberry is forgotten, the broken heart of mine forgotten. All attention is now on the smiling child, her eyes lighter and more serious. Who is this child? She is not the little Clara from before. As if I'm seeing things, she winks. I blink.

"Because. It might lighten your heart. Go on, tell me."

"Fine." I smile softly and lie back onto the bed, watching the ceiling. "I was born as an Aquarius, to two loving and adoring people. Marie Cyrus and Vince Cyrus. My Mama and Papa. We all lived in a large cottage house near the forest of our small town. Peaceful and beautiful it was." I remember mama growing flowers and all sorts of plants around our home. The sculptures papa use to make and decorate our home with. Or the small river we all use to sit by and each lunch at.

"I grew up with a mama who could cook anything and everything, create a life with her small delicate hands. A papa who had a creative imagination and a passion for helping others. They were mysterious, yes. Their nightly walks in the forest as I slept but I never said anything. Never followed as a voice told me not to. I loved my parents to death and would never upset them." I remember wanting to ask once when I caught them leaving. But the look in papas eyes made me stop. I never once tried after that.

"Did you go to school, Miss Soul?" Clara asks, sitting by my head. I nodded and turned to her. Clara's eyes alight with wonder.

"Mama and papa taught at a local school and I went there. I made a few friends. Though, never ones that truly close. I guess they couldn't deal with the matching birthmarks my family shared." I unconsciously touched my birthmark behind my ear. I've always forgotten about that mark. Mama and papa hand one on their neck. However, papa's was bigger. "I never cared for people's opinions, always trusting my heart to my family. Though one day, I had gotten in trouble at school. I pushed a girl in class for calling my parents freaks. I lost control somehow, so angry that they called my family freaks and hurt the girl. My parents found me crying later that afternoon, upset that I hurt that girl and cause I was angry that she said mean things."

"She sounded mean, Miss Soul." I nod at Clara, caressing her soft chubby cheek.

"She was. But my mama and papa made it all okay. We shared strawberries and mango pie under our oak tree." I take a slice of pie and launch into its sweetness. The taste of mango ignites against my tongue.  "One day we had some visitors. A man named Gregory and his wife Jane were old friends of my mama. They brought their daughter along with them. I remember Gregory telling me to play with her but I was so shy, I just hid behind my mother's skirts. I remember them laughing. The daughter, seeming really distant didn't spare me a glance. At the time I didn't care but she had said something really mean afterward. She had said 'her? A leader? What a mistake.' Those were her words, cutting deep. Her father hushed her, apologizing but me, being a hothead confronted the girl. She was so infuriating. Actually she reminds me of Damira. I had pushed the girl until she stumbled out of shock. 'Go away you meanie! You're on my land and you have to be nice! No nice means no dice!' I remember sticking my tongue out at her and storming upstairs."

Clara and I share a giggle. "What next?" she asks. The smile slips off my face as the sad parts come closer.

"This gets really bad, now Clara. Are you sure you want to hear the rest?" She nodded and I decided to keep going. "Well a few months after, my parents went out for their nightly walks. I had woken from a nightmare and wanted my mama and papa. Alone and afraid, I ventured after them into the dark woods. I had found them eventually but it wasn't a sight I should have seen. My parents were under attack. Men in dark clothes were beating them senseless. I shouldn't have screamed. I should have run and get help but I didn't. I caught the attention of the men. One captured me and help me hostage as they hurt my mama and papa. That was until papa broke free and helped mama. The two took me and ran, my crying loud of those to hear. No words could comfort me. I was terrified. Though the men caught up. Mama pushed me out of the way of being captured again. Her words rung deeply in my ears. 'Run, Angel! Go!'. Papa was shot in the chest as she said those words, my piercing screams echoing through the woods."

Flashback~

I watch as my father's limp body falls to the ground, his eyes frozen wide with pain. My mother pushes me further and we numbly run through the woods, leaving my father. They were chasing us. Catching closer. My mother paused, her breathing slow. "Mama?" I mutter in terror as her features pale.

"Angel... go now." I shake my head.

"No, mama, come with me. Mama!" the boom of a gun goes off in the background and slams into my mother's back. A gasp leaving her lips but she holds her ground, pushing me by the shoulders.

"I'll be right behind you, Angel. So is papa. Go on, Angel, go and get help."  I should have known she was lying.

"You promise, mama? You promise we will eat mango pie and strawberries under our oak tree?" I watch mama smile sadly, tears in her eyes.

"I promise, Angel. Now, go on. Run." She whispers the last part. I gulp hugging her tightly, tears streaming down my small face.

"I love you, mama!"

"I love you, my sweet Angel. Go Soleil, go, sweetheart." I nod slowly and took off running as fast as I could. I didn't turn to see the men catch up and take my mother's soul and leave her rotting

"I had gotten help from the police and found both my parent's bodies severed and hung from our favorite oak tree. The words carved in the tree in my dreams for years to come. Say bye to mama and papa, Sunshine. Whoever killed my parents knew I was still alive. That's when the police decided to put me in witness protection. I was shoved between homes for years. Until I came to be with my adoptive family. And then here I am on Howling Island." I finish, almost in tears. Clara was staring at me with a faraway look. A small smile on her face.

"Miss Soul," I nod at her for her to continue. "Be strong, Luna. Just like your mama and papa." And with that, she left me all alone. I stare at the door, my heart thumping wildly. Be strong like them? But... how?

A/N

Omg, I literally cried writing this. So heartbreaking!

Now we all know about how her parents died. Well sorta, we don't know who killed them yet.

Anyways, this was long. Just to make up for lost time. I've been going through some stuff and it hasn't been easy. Thank you for the 1k reads btw! I'm so happy!!!!! Thank you!!!!!

Thank-you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!