Heat causes my six year body to perspire even more. Sweat pours from my forehead, my armpits and, embarrassingly the seat of my pajamas, as the room swirls into a vortex of ash, soot, and charcoal blackness.
My eyes water through my tears as the smoke chokes forcing me to cough for my mother’s assistance as she now has vanished within the darkness. Except for the enormous flicker of red orange flames shooting everywhere I see no sign of her. A pair of strong arms carries me through the blackened haze as a feminine voice shouts an order.
“Get her out of here now!”
I try to see who is speaking but the tenebrous smog conceals them in shadows. I make one more attempt. Nothing. I do identify a figure though lying in a circle of crimson on the floor.
My mother. Dead. Blood everywhere.
I cry out for her. No response. The fire follows us.
The scene changes.
Now I am older, dressed in a long flowing robe of a dress, bare feet touching tiled marble floors, as I sit by the open window looking across the ocean waiting.
I look toward the golden copper engraved mirror hanging against the wall. I admire its intricate carvings. The nautical design. The aquatic shapes. I admire the artist’s attention to detail. A true dedication to the sea.
I gaze again from the widow. From a distance I see a fleet of a hundred ships approaching.
“They are coming Aoide,” a male voice informs me.
He is right. Worry begins to take over.
Sandra let out a great, big yawn while still attempting to keep her brain focused on her locker combination. This time her dreams had become vivid, all too real, to the point that it kept her awake at night. She slapped her face one more time hoping that would keep her alert for her classes. Obviously, it was not helping.
Come on Cassandra. Get it together. Just get through the day.
Today seemed to go awry the moment she got out of bed. She could have aced her pop quiz in Algebra if she been more astute. She barely paid attention in Biology class especially when the teacher called on her to answer a simple question about marine life leading to very awkward situation in front of her peers. Finally, she dozed off in History forgetting to write down the chapters she was to suppose read for her homework assignment. To top it all off, Calliope texted her that she had a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon and would not be attending school today. Oh Great. Even the best friend bailed out on her. What else could go wrong?
Add to that her Uncle Lee’s unexpected dinner with the wealthy Gregorys and she could file all this under the really bad day category. After the strange situation with Callisto and Calypso Gregory a few weeks ago at the theme park, the last place she wanted to be was at their house. She was not looking forward to tonight’s dinner.
She sensed another approaching. A boy full of rage and hate, blond, pumped full of testosterone leaned next to her locker exuding an aura of cockiness that immediately turned Sandra off.
Chip Laughlin, wearing his usual letterman jacket, grinned at her hopping to get her attention.
“Well lookee here,” he cooed. “Looks like the poor little, chinky is all by her lonesome. Too bad your boyfriend isn’t here to protect you.”
“He’s not my boyfriend you racist bastard!” she spat. “Besides I can handle myself particularly dumb jocks that are members of the KKK!”
“What do you call me?” growled Chip grabbing her arm. He tightened his grip on her sending a signal to Sandra that this psycho meant business. He really meant to do her harm.
“Let go of my arm,” Sandra demanded.
Chip cackled. “Or what? You’ll stab me with your samurai sword?”
Fortunately for Sandra, Uncle Lee and Aunt Brit believed that their niece should always protect herself so they enrolled her in self defense courses at the community center back in Portland. Applying what she had learned, Sandra raised her leg to dismantle her assailant with a hard kick to the groin with her knee.
Holding his privates with his two hands, the stocky football player howled in pain as he crumpled to the ground mumbling a slew of curse words. Students watching laughed, took pictures on their phones, and broadcasted the incident immediately on Youtube under the title Karate Girl Kicks Jock In the Nuts.
“You…slutty…chink! Chip huffed. “I’ll…kill…you!”
“Eat pavement you bigoted moron!” she told him. “Oh and for your information. I’m Chinese not Japanese. Get your racist encyclopedia out and get educated!”
“SHAN! LAUGHLIN!” shouted a voice of authority. Principal Meyers stood with total disapproval as he tapped his foot. “MY OFFICE NOW!”
A trip to the principal’s office? Yup, file this under really bad day!
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