Norn didnt wake up in the morning.

His body was emaciated, the youthful sheen he had was replaced with shriveled, dry skin. His lustrous dark brown hair he had yesterday was now being shed, like a crown of age.

He never opened his eyes despite his sister calling or shaking or hugging him. Her tears never left his side. His breathing got fainter and fainter as the day went on.

We nursed him with small amounts of water and milk.

By the time lunch time came, Tamly couldn't take it anymore.

“Please we have to go to the village, Madam Myra can heal him! She will!”

She was getting hysterical. My parents tried to talk to her but she wasn't listening.

Although I did feel slightly annoyed that my family were exposed to danger on their behalf, I couldn't really blame them when all they wanted was a place of safety.

Looking at Norn, the boy was actively dying in front of us. There was no way a humble village healer could do much. Thinking back, even that Princess that I hated would find it hard to cure him.

Lylia was hugging Snowie. They chose to be in the same room as Norn. At first, I tried to take her away from the room. After all, I didn't want her to see another child dying. Even for myself, I still found it hard when children died. Would this negatively affect Lylia? I initially thought so, until she turned to me and said, “Daddy, nobody wants to be alone. Nornie doesn't want to be alone too.”

Yea, that's right. Let's give Norn a good sendoff.

I found Tamly sitting on top of a rock in the far end of our field. She was hugging her knees and looking forlorn. Her light brown hair fluttered in the wind. I approached her gently.

“Your brother needs you by his side.”

“Go away, you won't take me to the village to save him.”

“I think he is going to die soon and I know he would like you to be there when he does,”

“...”

“Im sorry Tamly,”

I left it at that. We were technically still strangers despite the label of being neighbors and there was only so much you could say to someone grieving. And what was worse was that she wasn't only grieving the death of her brother but of her entire family.

I went back and sat with my daughter. She asked me lots of questions about death and what happens afterwards. I answered her honestly. I think I left her with more questions than answers.

By mid-afternoon, Norn breathed his last. My daughter held his hands as he died. The contrast between the young supple skin of one and the withered skeletal hand was heartbreaking.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

We buried him underneath the willow tree near the duckpond. The tree was surprisingly unchanged from before. It was just a tree. Lylia put a toy over the grave.

Tamly never showed up. According to Father’s [Root Sense] he felt her leave through the gate and proceed south. I guess she planned to head to the village.

This close encounter made everyone realize that we were simply still too weak. To have security we needed more power. My mother looked at me before declaring that she wanted to be strong enough that no harm would befall anyone under her roof. My parents placed their trust in me. My daughter and even Snowie agreed.

A fire was lit inside of me. I clenched my fists in anticipation of making my family stronger and therefore keeping them safe.

—

“We have a visitor,” said my father in hushed tones.

He had taken on the responsibility of keeping watch at all hours. I tried to persuade him to let me do some hours but he waved me off, asking me to rest.

I rolled my shoulders and flexed my wrists. The battle with the Mindrotter had injured me but I was recovering fast.

I got up off the carpeted floor in the hallway, marks from the fight with the Mindrotter were still present.

Standing in front of the door was someone I didn't expect to see - Tamly.

Her hair was in disarray, her clothes revealed signs of struggle - a torn area, scuff marks, grass and dirt stains and she stood with an air of quiet determination.

She didn't look up as I approached. By the door was my father sitting down, his legs on the bare earth, casually holding his spear.

“I am sorry,” she said

I felt puzzled, “What for?”

“I am sorry we didnt tell you about the monster following Norn…that monster killed Pa and Ma and the twins…”

I kept my peace.

She continued on, “One night, Norn heard a voice. He told me it sounded exactly like grandma. He snuck outside and then he couldnt remember much. The next night the monster came out. All I remember was my Pa waking me up and pushing me towards the cellar, my brother came through and behind him was the monster. I felt so scared that I felt something come out of me. The monster suddenly started roaring and that's when the door was slammed shut. We heard alot of shouting and screaming and then silence.”

She lifted her head and looked at me before continuing, “After that night, my brother would start to have horrific nightmares. He would wake saying that the monster was coming for him. We cried so much in that cellar because we knew everyone outside had died. Nornie became weaker and weaker…and now he’s dead.”

Tears started streaming from her face, her voice started to break, “I went to the village you know and its a mess down there. There are bodies on the street, some were even people I used to know. I couldn't find Myra. I tried asking but then Garth saw me,” At this point, she unconsciously hugged herself as a shiver ran through her, “he, he had always fancied me except this time when he saw me, he had a hungry look in his eyes, even though he was smiling I felt danger so I ran. I screamed for help but nobody came, especially the guards. His gang chased me so I found a spot and used my powers. I became invisible and thats how I came back here.”

“You and Mr Delcia know how to fight, I…I want to learn to. I promise I’d be good and do anything you ask of me.”

My gaze softened. This teen had shown much more backbone and resolve compared to me at her age.

I nodded and said, “Of course we will help you. All I ask of you is to help my father with the farm or my mother in the house. And one more thing…dont ever betray me…I don't take kindly to people who do that.”

There must have been more venom in my voice than I thought because the last bit brought a shiver onto her and my father frowned and looked at me suspiciously.

Too tired to explain myself, I retired back upstairs. This time I slept.