Chapter 9: Blame

Thursday, July 9th, 2020

Location: Earth, United States of America, Dallas Texas.

“We need to talk,” said mom as soon as we got into the car.

“Ok, but can we stop someplace and get something to eat?”

Nodding, mom said nothing as she put the car into drive and left the parking garage. Her normal cheerfulness replaced by white knuckled calm that put my nerves on edge.

Taking a deep breath in hopes of calming my own nerves, I spoke.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Later,” said mom distractedly.

“We’ll talk about it when we stop and get something to eat.”

“Ok.”

My words hung in the air as my mother concentrated on driving. The tension in the air thickening as she clenched her jaw and scowled at traffic. Causing me to turn my own attention inward to finish my set up.

Third Deficiency: There exists no means available to you to procure a set of protective equipment. Please select a bound item skill: *Note* Bound item skills grow in power with the skill and no crating methods may change it.

In the following hour or two I plunged into a costume creator that was fully immersive and exciting as it turned imagination into reality. Or would be when I was done. Letting me create a ninja like outfit that provided as few grab points as possible.

Unlike the frilly dresses that it started me off with. My outfit looked more like an armored skinsuit or a leotard with armor with a few handfuls of cloth around the hips and belt that I couldn’t get rid of. For it appears there is a reason why all the girls wear dresses and the guys wear capes. The excess cloth a necessary addition to store some of the enchantments in the bound item.

Lastly it asked me to pick an elemental appropriate ranged attack spell.

So, I picked fireball just as mom pulled into the parking lot of a golden arches. Parking in a stall rather than going through the drive through, mom said nothing at first as she turned the car off.

A pregnant pause lingered in the air as my mom, Megan, Wolfforth, Swalwell refused to look in my direction. Her knuckles white on the steering wheel.

“Your brother was attacked yesterday.”

“Is he ok?” I asked curiously.

“Yes, just a broken arm,” said mom bitterly.

“Wow,” I said in genuine surprise.

“They must have been pretty good or brought a weapon to break one of Dougie’s arms,” I said in a jovial tone which only caused mom to grip the steering wheel tighter.

“It wasn’t Dougie who they attacked,” said mom in whisper through clenched teeth. Still refusing to look at me.

“What?!”

“A group of thugs attacked Tommy while looking for you!” spat mom as she finally whirled on me.

My mouth hanging open like a fish. I failed to find something to say as my mother tirade truly began.

“A good deal of the local school kids think you caused that explosion! They attacked your brother as retribution for what happened.”

“No, don’t bother,” spat mom as I raised my hand to object.

“I was there. I know what happened!”

“But that doesn’t change the past and your past actions. It doesn’t change that like some schoolyard thug you solve all your problems with violence. Causing the same problems Dougie had. Or do you not remember why the other school kids started ganging up on Dougie in the first place?”

“He was only targeted because the bullies that you beat up went after him to get at you! But now it’s far worse. You have a reputation young lady of beating up any one who goes after you, your family or your friends.”

“And everyone knows you visited him just before going to that party!”

“But,” I said. Trying to interject.

“Shutup!” snapped mom.

“Just because they’re wrong doesn’t change the optics of the situation and nor does it change how people are going to react.”

Breathing heavily, mom held tightly onto the steering wheel as she stared out the windshield. Tears flowing freely.

“Your father’s dead because he couldn’t let his fool of a daughter die.”

“Mom!” I said but mom just shook her head.

Swallowing she continued.

“You need to go.”

“I can’t have you around Tommy or Anny. I can’t protect them like your father could. I can’t protect YOU like your father could.”

“But, why?” I said as my heart raced. Tears at the corners of my own eyes as a pain tore at my chest. My frail body quivering as the storm of emotions rolled through me.

“Because I’m afraid!” snapped mom as she whirled on me.

“Just like what happened with Dougie. You’ve destroyed these boy’s social lives through violence. But unlike a fight between boys, you’re a girl. There is no victory when a boy fights a girl so they can’t get a social victory if they fight you! So, they’re going to take it out on the rest of us. And if you’re here to stop it then our house is going to be the one to blow up next!”

Panting all the while the look in mom’s eyes spoke of terror without end. Of a mother who would give everything for her children. Of a grief-stricken woman who couldn’t see a way out. A pained look that I imagined a wolf would give just before they gnawed their leg off when caught in a trap.

Deflating, the argument on the tip of my tongue fading away as realization strikes. My mind catching up for once before I opened my mouth. For I could now see that this was a reaction out of fear and grief over the loss of dad just as much as it was about me.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Ok,” I said in a quite voice to the sounds of my mother’s heavy breathing.

“Thank you,” said mom quietly without looking at me.

A minute, then two passed as the two of us fought to get our emotions back under control.

Eventually mom said, “I’ll go in and get us some food.”

“Ok, but can I borrow your phone?” I asked.

“I need to call some friends to find a place to stay.”

Mom nodded and without a word handed me her phone before going in to get food. Giving me the opportunity to punch in Amber’s number. For if there was any hope of salvaging this situation. If there was one person who mom might listen to, then it would be Amber. If not, then a place to stay for a few days.

Afterall that’s what best friends are for.

Right?

~Ring~

~Click~

“Did you talk to her?” said Amber excitedly.

“What did she say?”

Confused, I stared at my mothers’ phone.

Why would Amber be talking to mom?

“Hi Amber, It’s me, Izzy.”

“Oh.”

The disappointment and change threw me off.

“It’s YOU.”

“Look, if your calling to ask for a favor because your being kicked out, don’t bother,” said Amber in a snide tone.

“It was my idea.”

“I talked your mother into it.”

“But, WHY!?”

“Because it was tearing my BOYFRIEND up. You’re a trouble magnet Izzy and put all the rest of us in danger each and every time you played hero. Now the bullies are afraid because the biggest, baddest, bitch has blood in her eye. So, they are striking now before you get the chance to retaliate against Richard through THEM.”

“What!?” I said. My voice filled with outrage and loud in the confines of the car.

“Why would they want to do that!”

“I never start a fight!”

“They always attack me first!”

Laughter came through from the other end and not the pleasant kind. No, this was Amber laughing AT HER.

“But they always do!” I said. Though it sounded childish as I said it. Causing me to bite my lip in frustration.

“Izzy, Izzy, Izzy,” said my friend as she caught her breath.

“You really do look at the world through rose tinted glasses.”

“Do you even remember why RICHARD hates your guts?”

“Do you even know why he ATTACKED CHRIS to get to you?”

“Because he’s a bully with a small penis?” I said, confused at the change in subject.

“No, you moron,” snapped the other girl.

“It was all the way back when you were going at it against Jamal back in Junior high. Richard and his friends were waiting in line to use the restroom Jamal was hiding in. Back when Richard just moved in and didn’t know of our local tiny firebrand. The same one he tried to stop from walking into the men’s restroom.”

“Oh, that’s right,” I said as the memory surfaced.

“He shoved me so I put him down.”

“Good times,” I said with a nod that Amber couldn’t see.

“And that’s the problem!” snapped Amber.

“We’re not in Junior high any more but high school graduates!”

“You need to grow up Izzy.”

“And you need to pull your head out of your ass!” I said. My breath labored as I struggled to keep the shaky phone next to my face.

“You’re just blaming me as to why Derick broke up with you! When it had nothing to do with ME but with you sneaking around and dating other people behind your boyfriend’s BACK! You’re a slut and a hypocrite. In case you’ve forgotten, I was fighting JAMAL back in Junior high because he caught you making out with STEVE in his own HOME. Just after you two started going steady! I was fighting to protect YOU from HIM!”

Silence lingered on the line for several minutes as I caught my breath. My weakened body making even sitting upright difficult at the moment.

“And now I don’t need you anymore,” said Amber in a frosty tone.

“I’m pregnant and there’s nothing you can say or do to come back.”

~Click~

“Bitch!” I screamed as clenched the phone to my chest and began to cry. The tears and pain in my heart burned as I wailed. For how long, I don’t remember, but mom wasn’t back yet with the food by the time I had managed to regain some self-control.

Trying a new number, I called another friend.

And another.

Each and every one ending with Amber’s victory of pushing me out of my family’s life as not a single one was willing to help. Turning to the few, more distant family members whose phone numbers I happened to remember. Mostly because my parents made me for in case of emergencies and I couldn’t get ahold of them.

And so, I called Grandma and after the usual round of catching up we got around to the purpose of my call.

“Look, sweety,” said Grandma.

“You shouldn’t have picked a fight with those bullies.”

“But I didn’t grandma!”

“Hush now!”

“You’ve always been a bit of a rebellious brat. Picking fights where you don’t belong and now it caught up with you, and even cost me my son.” The pain in grandma’s voice was made me wince.

“I’ve spoken with your mother at length about all this and if you hadn’t assaulted that boy in front of his parents then none of this would have happened.”

Confusion filled me as that was NOT what happened.

Unaware of my inner turmoil, Grandma continued.

“I can’t stress how disappointed I am in you!”

“Your father loved you and you abandoned him!”

“Leaving your parents to fend for themselves!”

“But grandma, that’s-”

“Shut up!”

“Not one more word out of you!”

“I know why your calling and no.”

“Its high time you face the consequences of your actions!”

~Click~

Numbly, I stared at my mothers’ phone. Heart sinking as I burned inside at the idea of my grandma blaming me for my father’s death.

Several minutes passed in the silent car before mom opened the door again and placed a to go bag in front of me before holding out her hand. Placing her phone in it she silently put it away as I opened the bag.

A burger, fry and an un-noticed drink was in the cup holder next to me. My stomach loudly protesting its emptiness as I ate.

“Why?” I asked between bites.

“Why what?” said mom.

“Why did you lie to grandma Lindy?”

“I didn’t,” said mom with a shrug as she turned on the car.

“She misunderstood what happened and I left it.”

“Is all this because Amber’s pregnant with Dougie’s baby?”

After eyeing me for a moment, mom shrugged.

“Some of it is.”

“We need you out of the house and away from the family. Amber’s parents are furious and kicked her out.”

“Then why go through with all this?”

“Why didn’t you just tell me that you needed room for the baby?”

“You’re doing it again,” said mom with a sigh. Her poster and tone speaking more than words at the sleepless nights and utter exhaustion she must feel. Both physically and emotionally.

“None of my previous points have changed, Elizabeth.”

“Kicking you out simply solves both problems at once.”

“I see,” I said as I opened the car door.

“Where are you going?” asked mom as I stepped outside. Still wobbly. Hands clutching the remainder of my food and drink along with a pair of bags from my hospital stay.

“Not your problem,” I said as I shut the car door and walked away.

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Simon Hainsworth smiled at the Lieutenant Colonel with the salt and pepper hair with the bright and cheerful girl in his lap. Her orange and filly dress, blond pigtails, and childish demeanor a stark contrast to the giant spiked Warhammer that leaned against the wall in the hospital next to them.

“Daddy!”

“Can I have some Ice-cream?” asked the girl while batting her eyes.

Simon smothered a laugh along with Lieutenant Jameson as Fredrick McDivitt groaned.

“Griselda, Mayhew, McDivitt,” snapped her father.

“What are you, six?”

“Act your age and get off my lap!”

Moping, the girl slid off his lap. In doing so she missed her father looking over his shoulder at the Lieutenant who nodded and left the room.

Simon hid a smile at the byplay.

“Back to what you were saying,” said the Lt. Colonel.

“You suspect your son in setting all this up and organizing multiple kids with magical powers?”

“yes,” said Simon with an internal wince. For he felt pained in doing this with full knowledge that it would hurt his son. However, he truly believed it would be for the best if his son were caught and convicted rather than kept free. For what kind of fate could his son have if something like this loomed over him for the rest of his life?

Murder charges have no statute of limitations and it was only a mater of time before this wound up in court. Better now and getting it over with, regardless of the results. Then letting this fester.

“To attack a girl no larger than my daughter,” said officer.

“Yes. My wife and I spoke to her and her parents for nearly a half hour before the incident.”

“Oh, and was there anything interesting about her?”

“Nope.”

“Then how would you describe her?”

“She seemed to be a bit of a tomboy,” said Simon with a shrug. Which was followed my more retelling of the same incident. After about a half hour the conversation shifted.

“So why was the casualty count off?” asked the Lieutenant Colonel.

“Pardon?”

“The body count is off. The scattered remains of two additional hands and legs were found in the wreckage.”

“The doctors think those used to belong to Izzy, sir.” said Jameson. Speaking up from behind the LT. Colonel.

Both men turned at the young man in his early twenties.

“Explain.”

“I overheard the nurses say that the doctors doing the autopsy brought up photos of the arms and legs when they heard about one patient’s odd scar patterns at the same location. The current scuttlebutt is that someone used magic to heal her. It would explain why she came in looking like an emaciated skeleton.”

“Perfect,” said the officer as he slapped his legs. His daughter cleaning herself off from the ice-cream bar she had been quietly eating in the background.

Standing, Fredrick thanked Simon for his cooperation before leaving the hospital room.

“Jameson, what room is this girl in?”

“She was discharged earlier today, Sir.”

“Then you have your work cut out for you Jameson,” said Lt. Colnel McDivitt and his daughter made their way to the elevator.

“Right on it, sir,” said the young man sarcastically, yet softly. All the while pulling out his phone and made to follow his commanding officer.