Apple pie was my favorite.
But the way my mama made it was better than anyones.
Cindy made it with a secret.
Dashing sugar into the center when she folded it.
Every defiance made her smile.
Fire warmed the pies and cooked them through and through.
Getting everyone into the bakery was easy with the promise of sweetness in every bite.
Happiness was high in the air, smiles lining everyones faces.
Indeed, it was noon as we sold out.
Just as the customers left, Mama Cindy fell to the floor with a great gasp.
Kindness choked Mama.
Longing for life allowed her to be taken by the doctors.
Minutes, hours, days passed before I heard any news.
No one seemed obligated to tell me.
Oblivious, they were, to the fact that Mama was no longer making apple pies with that small defiance in the center.
Please don’t let it be long.
Quitting was never an option with Mama.
Ready…
Set…
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
Unless her eyes being closed, her breath being slower meant she was healing, I wouldn’t speak to the doctors.
Very often, I held her hand to my chest.
Whispering prayers to whoever listened.
Xenoblasts, those crystals, carved deep marks in Mama’s frail arms.
Yesterday, she was fine.
Zero, now, was her heart beats.
I walked through the heavy oak door, coming upon a sight I could have gone without.
There Professor Williams stood, her teeth in the neck of her teacher assistant. The assistant’s face was pale, eyes closed as Professor Williams took another heavy gulp from their vein.
She pulled her head up to look at me, retracting her teeth from the neck of the student. “Can I help you, Miss Davis?”
My mouth snapped shut. “I—”
“Do you have a good excuse for interrupting?” asked the student as they sat on the large desk of my Professor. They crossed their long, brown legs and pushed their glasses onto their nose. “I was having a pleasant time.”
Professor Williams tightened her navy shawl around her arms and tugged at one of the many necklaces and jewels on her neck. “Well?”
I cleared my throat. “I wanted some help. My grades are slipping, and I...You know what? I should go.”
“Nonsense.” Professor Williams grinned, blood slipping out of the side of her mouth. It felt rude to point it out, so I looked at her feet. Her toenails were painted a dark green with golden lines in it.
“Really, I should,” I mumbled, reaching my hand back to turn the doorknob.
The teacher’s assistant licked the blood from Ms. William’s skin. “See you in a few days.” They reached behind me and opened the door for themselves and left me alone with my Professor.
She flicked her tongue out to run it over her lips. “Please, sit.” She gestured to the chair on the opposite side of her desk.
I gulped and took small steps to the wooden chair. “If I interrupted, I can, um, come back another time.”
I would never come again, not in a million years, no matter how far my grades slipped.
“You’re fine, darling.” She crossed her legs and fiddled with her nose ring. “Now, your lower grades are on the writing portions of tests. You do better with factual, multiple-choice questions.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I just need some guidance.”
She grinned, though it seemed awfully wicked. “I think I can do just that.”
“I think I just met the happiest person in the world.” Polly sneered. Her red hair fell over her face as she leaned against the chair’s arms. “What a wonderful sight.”
Katy’s lip was dark with blood, and her blonde hair tainted with the rusty color. Still, she had a smile on her lips. “What’s wrong with being happy when I know that I’ll win?”
“In what universe? On what planet,” asked Polly. “Your here with me. The one you hate the most.”
“And who said anything about hating you?” Katy had a sweet innocence to her tone, and leaned her head up to Polly’s ear. “Why, my darling, I love you.”
Laughter bubble up Polly’s throat, throwing her head back. “You? Love? Oh, honey ... You only say such that if you’re capable of love.”
Katy raised a thin brow, her smile falling into a scowl. “And you need to learn when to lie, Polly. It’s quite simple, actually.”
“That’s the thing; I’m not a liar.”
“Polly, darling, I’m sure you’ve lied to those people out there.” Katy nodded her head towards the door. Behind it, hundreds of people stood, their hopes high that Polly had killed Katy. Katy had killed over a third of the population, and Polly vowed to end her.
With a sigh, Polly shook her head, and grabbed the dagger that sat on the table beside her. “I’m sorry, love.” She slid the blade across Katy’s throat. Blood splattered against her face and clothes, but she ignored it.
The dagger clattered to the ground, and Polly licked the blood of her lips. The metallic taste felt nice on her tongue.
“Time to handle these people,” said Polly. Her fangs slid out of her gums, and the once blue pupils, turned a deep red as she longed for more blood.
