My dreams are plagued by fire. I couldn't escape until finally I forced myself awake. Of course, being the infant that I am, I cried. Well, screamed, but a lot of crying was mixed in there.

My poor, tired mother woke up and embraced me. She and her maids had no idea why I was upset and tried their best to calm me. Eventually, I stopped crying. I felt awful for waking everyone from their sleep.

They all sighed in relief, which makes me feel bad again. No! Stop. Why?!? It took everything in me to stop the tears. And then my stomach grumbled. My mother had tried to feed me. I, of course, refused because… BREAST MILK! Absolutely not! I am far too aware for this. Who forgot to wipe my memories before rebirthing me?!

Hideous cries came out of me until one of the maids, the young loud one, shoved a bottle of breast milk in my mouth. Forcing the milky bodily fluids to leak into my mouth! I'll remember her and kill her. My list of people to destroy is far too long. I already have 4 people on it.

Death

Keith - Brenna’s crappy husband

The God of Rebirth

The loudmouth maid.

Keeping my mind busy with murderous fantasies helped me finish my unsavory meal. After a couple of weeks of this, you'd think I'd be used to it, but I just couldn't! At least I was no longer hungry. I was now full and tired from crying. With the certain relief from everyone around me, I slept once again.

This time, I had a good dream. No idea what's going on and who the people surrounding me are, but I'm happy. That is until I hear yelling in the background. The yelling grew louder and louder. Until finally I popped out of my happy dream.

I wasn't upset enough to cry this time. Just really annoyed. I won't lie. Crying was my first option, but I'm also very nosy. So I tried opening my little ears to whoever was arguing.

“Where is she?”

I recognize that voice. It's the voice of that asshole, Keith.

“I'm too tired for this, and you have lost your damn mind!” My mother's voice rose with every word. “How dare you? After bringing our child into this world, you bring that thing into my home!”

I can almost see her point her fingers toward Keith's mistress. Listening in brought up some really bad memories.

In my past life, I think I was not a bad person, but I wasn't good either. I was once somebody's mistress too. I did what I did to improve the poor life I was given. So I can understand that woman's desire for a better life. What I don't understand is her not knowing her place! I never once wanted to present myself in front of THE wife!

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She's absolutely insane! To show up immediately after a child was born at that! Her role was only to collect an income until she found something better. Unless this has been going on since before Keith married my mother, I've got a bad feeling about this.

I hear hard glass hit a wall. Probably a vase or something. UGH! I really wish I could see!

“Get out!”

My poor mother. I can hear the distress in her voice. She needs rest, not this.

“Not until I get my daughter. You are clearly not well and need someone more nurturing to take care of her.”

This bastard! I will bite him if he touches me! Teeth or not!

“Keith! If you think I'd allow you to take my daughter from me without a fight, you—"

“Fight me? How will you do that, Brenna?”

A silent pause.

“I know you've noticed by now. You have no way to stop me, and you know it.”

Next, I hear movement coming toward my room.

“No!” A startling scream came from my mother, and I heard scuffling sounds.

My mother continued to scream and wail. It was horrifying. I couldn't see, and I couldn't help her! The only thing I could do was cry.

“Zinnia!” I heard my mother desperately shout my name, and my cries grew louder. I heard more scuffing noises and a slap!

“How dare you?!” This came from one of the older maids.

I heard a crashing noise and an alarming thud against a wall. The other maids gasped. And then there was movement once again towards my room.

I think the bitch slapped my mom, and one of the maids tried to shove her away, but Keith did something to her. Now he was headed to my room to kidnap me!

No, I don't want that! I hate this! I can't move! All I can do is cry out in anguish!

Suddenly, my room lit up, and I began to feel warm.

“What is this?” Keith's shocked astonishment forced me to look around.

“Fire!” he shouted.

It was fire! Why?! My room was on fire. Where had it come from? Not again! Am I going to die in a fire again? No! As an infant?

The shouting and panicking around me could not beat out the fear and despair I was experiencing. This wasn't fair. How could death do this to me? Have I been in hell all along?

“Ms. Brenna!” The loudmouth maid called out my mother's name. Next, I saw a figure moving through the flames.

My mother walked through. She was clearly exhausted, but she, thankfully, wasn't burned. Not completely, anyway. She did have red burn marks on her face, arms, and legs. But now she's trapped like me!

No! You can't let them see you die like this! You have to survive! I cried out with no words.

My poor sweet mother reached out and took me in her arms. She held me close and began to sing our lullaby. I barely know her, but I love her so, so much!

I never knew my parents in my old life, but I'd like to think that at least one of them loved me this much. To actually witness this was super overwhelming. I want to protect her, but I don't know how!

I cried softly into my mother's arms as she sang. I can hear her life being sucked away as her voice becomes softer and quieter. I then hear the voice of that bitch.

“Oh dear. The poor child will be lost at this rate. These flames are really strong.” I can feel her bitchy frown from where I am. “I thought you said she was incapable of doing this?”

“She was, as far as I knew. I don't think this is her. Anyway, it doesn't matter. My dad will be pissed, but he can't do anything about this now. If she wants the child this badly, she can have it. It can accompany her to hell.”

And the bitch giggled! She giggled at the thought of an infant child and her mother being burned alive!

I felt a droplet fall on my face. I looked up to see my mother crying. She continued to sing the best she could. I tried to wipe the tears away, but these useless hands were useless. So I did the next best thing I could do for her.

I laughed. Yes, I gave cute and adorable infant giggles.

She was shocked! I mean, I would be too if an infant child seemed to be entertained by all of this mess. I mean, I figured the last thing she should at least see was the laughing face of her child.

She smiled widely at me after the shock wore off. I won't let those people think we died in despair. We will die happily in each other's arms.

"Oh, um, but that's not part of the plan!” a voice rang out. I hadn't heard it before, and it sounded very far away. My mother heard it too and looked around.

One second there was nothing, and the next there stood a lady, a bit shorter than my mother. She had coily brown hair with caramel blonde highlights. Her skin was tawny brown that 100% glowed with a golden light on it. She nearly blinded us both with how stupidly bright she was.

"Oh, sorry, sorry.” She said as she toned down whatever that was. I blinked a couple of times, and there she was again, much clearer but far too close. Her honey amber eyes stared right at my mother and me with a very disapproving look.