Echo of a Bird's Cry

THE HERO ANGEL OCTOBER 29

Eden wakes with a startled jolt. A sob rattles around inside her chest before it breaks lose. She reaches blindly for me. I hold her close, rocking her in my arms.

"Shh, brown eyes. You're okay."

She cries harder. Eden hasn't been herself and that's completely understandable after the events that happened. She saved her sister. Eden is a hero. I just did what needed to be done.

She snuggles into me, softy hiccupping.

I pat her back, wishing I can take her misery away. "You're okay, Eden. You're alright."

She grips me tighter.

"Talk to me, brown eyes. I need you to talk to me."

She shakes her head.

Eden hasn't said a word since that night. She hasn't eaten much and when she's not in bed, she's absently gazing at nothing. She hasn't been herself. I can't help her if I don't know what's bothering her.

I her hold until the tears stop.

"I'm hungry," Eden sniffles.

She dresses in a baggy black hoodie that swallows her and worn black jeans. Taking her hand, I lead her to the kitchen table.

The clock on the wall reads 3:00 A.M. The witching hour. I glance out the wide kitchen windows. The darkness stares back, anticipating things unknown to me. Whatever lies dormant in the shadows silently watches. The sun is asleep. No one is up, even Sandy is sleeping.

It's oatmeal with sliced bananas for breakfast this morning. I'm not actually hungry but I figured it would encourage her to eat more if she has someone else eating with her. I sneak glances at her between spoonfuls of oatmeal, trying to put together the puzzle that is Eden Willmore. I'm afraid the pieces of Eden will splinter into even more parts and I'll never connect the pieces.

She takes a few small bites and shoves her full bowl away. Her big brown eyes shift to me. There's a question in her gaze.

"What is it?" I ask

"Can you come with me to my mother's grave?"

"When do you want to go?"

"Now."

The moon is a huge silver boulder in the sky that we seem to be racing toward as we drive through the stretching ribbons of dark road. Eden rolls down the window and the cool night air blows against her face, sending her curls flying in the wind.

"Stop the car," Eden shouts.

My foot slams down on the brake, bringing us to an abrupt halt. My forehead almost hits the steering wheel. I turn over to look at her. "What's wrong?"

Her fingers fumble as she unbuckles her seatbelt.

"What are you doing?"

Once she's free she opens the car door and takes off.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

She runs into the night. Eden disappears into the woods.

Parking the car in the side of the road, I run into the woods after her, bellowing her name.

"Eden."

I'm surrounded by darkness. The deep quietness of the night eats away at my sanity.

"Eden."

Beyond the echoes of my screams, I hear nothing. My heart pounds in my chest as I spin around, unsure of which direction I came. Everything looks the same in the dark. The thought alone of Eden being out here without protection is enough to drive me mad. Anything could happen to her. Anything. A rustling noise to my right draws my attention. I run toward the sound until my foot snags on something, causing me to trip. I fall quickly. My forehead hits the edge of a rock and splits open. Blood pours down my face and red fills my vision, blinding me.