George
"Clarkson? Are you still awake?" I ask while looking at the wooded ceiling.
"Yes," he whispers.
"I really wanted you to be comfortable in your sleepâ"
"It's okay, George," he whispers again.
"Sorry if I let you sleep on the floor," I whisper and bite my lower lip. "Tuna doesn't want you on the bed, I guess."
I shift my weight and look at the cat beside me, who's sleeping peacefully.
"Yes, it's alright," he clears his throat. "He almost bit me and scratched my arms a while ago."
"Yeah," I chuckle. "He's too protective of me."
"I won't harm you, tho. I'll just sleep here. How would sleeping be so dangerous? Is it dangerous?" Clarkson asks.
"It...is. Sometimes," I mutter.
"What!?" he gets up. "How?" he looks at me with his angry innocent eyes.
"Shh...shut up!" I mutter through my gritted teeth. My hand grabs a pillow and throws it to him. He catches the pillow with one hand.
"Sleep," I command with glaring eyes.
He dramatically opens his mouth in disbelief.
"I'll be the one who'll sleep on the floor tomorrow. Fair enough?"
"No, the cat should sleep on the floor tomorrow," he says, lying down with his back facing me.
I laugh. "He's just a loyal cat, Clarkson," I say while brushing my fingers on Mr. Tuna's caramel fur.
Silence.
"Clarkson?" I ask while watching the cat sleep.
"Hmmm..."
"When will I become a full werewolf?" I shift my weight and face the ceiling.
"Soon, when you're ready," he whispers in a sleepy voice.
"When I'm ready," I whisper. "I won't transform then."
Silence follows.
"Georgina..."
I hear a feminine voice. Turning my head at the window, I see a group of fireflies in the form of a lady.
"W-Who are you?" I ask while squinting my eyes because of the bright yellowish-white light of the fireflies.
Fireflies.
"It's me, your mother." The group of Fireflies enters the window. The cool wind blows, which makes the green curtains swirl. They fly in place, scattered like glitters on a black canvas. The amount of light they created illuminates the house.
"C-Clarkson." I shift my gaze from the fireflies to the floor.
But he's gone.
"Calm down, my daughter. This is just a visit in your dream." From the scattered form, the fireflies unite once again, forming the shape of a lady. "At last, I get the chance to call you 'my daughter.'"
"Y-You're my mother?" I ask in confusion. "I-Is this what you look like? Shinning like a huge light bulb?" I blabber.
She laughs a bit. "No. I'm sorry if this is my way of visiting you. As soon as I finish my tasks, I'll visit you, personally."
I'm still in shock. There are so many questions in my head, but I don't where to start.
Why did she leave?
Why didn't she visit me personally?
My mind is flooded with so many questions, but the only thing that escapes is the tears falling from my weary eyes. I should be happy, right? I finally got a chance to meet my mother. After 18 years, I heard her voice. After 18 years, I'll finally have the story of my family. After 18 years, my identity will be complete. I should be happy that I'll finally get answers.
But instead, I cry.
"Don't cry, George," she coos. The figure flies beside me and forms a sitting figure of a lady.
"What took you so long, Mom?"
Of all the things I can ask, those words escape my mouth in a whisper.
"It's for your safety, George."
"Damn safety," I scoff.
Tears roll down my eyes as the fireflies vanish.
"George?" I hear Clarkson's voice. I sharply open my eyes as I gasp for air.
"I heard your sobs," Clarkson says worriedly. "What happened Nightmare?"
Nightmare?
Is it?
Is seeing your Mom in your dream nightmare?
I keep silent and sit at the edge of the bed.
Firefly.
I always dreamt of Fireflies when I was a kid. I always thought that the Firefly lady was my imaginary friend when I was younger. The last time I dreamt about it was on the night before Jared acted as my babysitter.
Darkness.
I stood at the center of the dark space. My ears heard nothing but my breath escaping from my trembling lips. The ranging beats of my heart echoed in my ears. Stretching my arms out, I tried taking a few steps, but I still saw nothing. I felt a vibration on the ground as if an earthquake occurred.
"Hello?" I asked with my trembling voice but only heard the echoes of my voice.
"Is anyone thereâ"
A scene of an army of people approaching flashes. I remain frozen from where I stood. The bright sky suddenly turns into a night sky. The full moon shone on the army approaching. I fell on my knees as they became nearer and nearer. The tall grass brushes my skin as I sit there, waiting for their attack. Their sharp fangs glimmer from the corner of their mouth.
"Stop!" I immediately covered my face with the palms of my hands.
The vibration stopped. It became silent once again. I moved my hands away from my face as I looked around, sitting at the edge of the cliff. My right hand held a sword stained with blood. I roamed my gaze and saw a massive group of people at the bottom of the cliff.
"She is the Alpha!"
Alpha?
Mixed emotions filled my heart as confusion ate my mind.
"Wh-what's happening? Where am I?"
"Georgina," I heard a soft female voice say.
With that, I turn around. The scene became my room. I was standing in front of my bed, facing a figure of a lady formed by fireflies near the door.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"You already forgot me?" the feminine voice laughed a bit. "I just want to check if my friend is doing well. It turns out she's not," she motioned her left hand at the bed, where I saw myself sleeping.
"You have a new friend?" she asked.
I shifted my gaze from the bed to Jared, who was sitting beside my sleeping body.
"I think so?" I hesitantly answered.
"Is he kind?" she seriously asked.
"I'm not sure. We just met weeks ago."
"You should choose your friends wisely," she warned.
"I only have a few friends, Miss Firefly. And one of them is in my imagination," I chuckle.
Silence.
"Is this really happening?" I asked as I watched Jared worriedly touch my hand while I shook violently.
"Yes."
"It's a bit impossible for that guy to show a worried face," I chuckled. "Wait, why am I shaking like that?"
"Now is not the right time. I'll go now," the lady said.
"What? No! I have so many questionsâ"
A laugh of disbelief escaped my mouth. I should've taken that dream as a hint.
"George? Are you okay?" Clarkson asks. Both of us are sitting at the edge of the bed.
"I met my Mom," I whisper.
"Really? Where? When? How?"
"She showed up in my dream," I say softly.
His hand reaches for my cheek. He made me rest my head on his shoulder.
"How can she do that? Is she not human? Aunt Liz and her are sisters, right?"
"What did she say?" Clarkson asks. His fingers play with the strands of my hair.
"She'll visit me as soon as she's done with her...tasks."
What's more important than her daughter?
"I see. I guess you should be more active in the class. Your transformation is getting nearer," he says as he rests his cheek on my head.
"Transformation?"
"Your werewolf form, Miss."
* * *
Apologies for the late update, I was busy preparing for my upcoming final exams this week.
How was this chapter?
:>