One
Mona
Twelve years old…
Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.
Closing my eyes, I listen to Clara’s heartbeat. It soothes mine into a rhythmic beat beneath the bone of the cage it’s sheltered inside. My eyes feel heavy, but I strain to keep them open, ignoring the burning.
“Sleep, Mona.” My sister’s words hum through her body, making her chest rumble beneath my cheek. I huddle closer, curling my body against hers.
“Will you be here when I wake up?” I ask, already knowing the lie she’ll give me.
“Of course.”
Liar, liar, tongue on fire.
She breathes, stroking her finger down my arm. “When you’re old enough, I’m going to steal you away from here. Show you all the wonders that live beyond this island,” she whispers, cautious not to be caught speaking of such things.
My mind drifts to the shoreline. Visions of our day play like a movie in my head. My sister dipping her toes into the water, my excited squeals as Eli gave chase, pretending to be the beast that lives in the depths of the waters.
“Daddy says we’re to take over as leaders once we’re old enough.” I sigh, hating the idea of having to stand up and preach words I don’t believe in to worshippers blinded by the promises our father gives them.
I feel her exhale, the chest I lay upon deflating. “Do you not want to see what’s beyond our life here, Mona?”
I do. So much. The water calls to me in my dreams, urging me to explore, to discover if the world beyond ours is truly as bad as father says.
“I want adventure,” I utter, hiding my smile against the fabric of her nightgown. Her small hand strokes through my hair as she says, “And you will have it. I promise. We’ll have it together.”
Looking around the dull gray room we share, nothing but a bed and dresser filling the space, I breathe, “When?” I stare up into her brown oval eyes. Delight dances in them, making them almost appear amber.
“When you’re old enough, I promise.” She shifts. “Speaking of…” she says enthusiastically, moving me to sit up, pulling something from beneath the pillow, “I got your birthday present.”
Excitement warms my cheeks, tugging my lips into a grin. “But it’s not until next month.”
“Since when do I follow the rules?” She quirks a brow, her dark curly locks falling around her face. “Close your eyes,” she instructs in a giddy tone.
Doing as I’m told, I close my eyes and hold my hand out. Bumblebees buzz around my stomach, making me bounce a little on the mattress with anticipation.
A gentle weight placed in my palm alerts me to open my eyes.
It’s a small black jewelry box with the words Shiny Jewels by Ward Brothers blazoned across it in a squiggly font. My eyes widen, going between the box and my sister’s beautiful face.
Her long, unruly curls bounce around her shoulders as she becomes animated. “Go ahead, open it.”
With shaky fingers, I creak the lid open, my chest pounding. My stomach dips as I roam my eyes over the two silver chains sitting on a velvet pillow. Jewelry like this isn’t something you can get on our island. This must be from the city.
“Whoa,” I gasp, looking down at two silver chains with heart pendants hanging from them. They’re beautiful.
“There are two?”
“Yes,” she says, taking the box and pulling the chains free. “One for you, and one for me.” She unclasps one of the chains. “So no matter where I am, you know you own my heart and I love you.”
“Are you leaving me?” I choke out, the bees starting to sting instead of flutter.
“No. I’ll never leave you, Mona.” She leans forward to clasp the necklace in place around my neck. The small silver heart sits at the center of my chest, a little shiny red jewel twinkling in the corner of the heart. It’s then I notice the letter carved into the metal: C.
“C for Clara.” She smiles. “And I have M for Mona.” She slips the other necklace free and fastens it around her neck. My hand strokes over the C, joy beaming from inside me.
“I love it. Thank you.” I hug her tight and soak in the warmth of her embrace.
She lays back down and pulls me onto her chest again. I accept I’ll have to hide this from Father. The last girl to be found with jewelry from the outside world spent a year in father’s prison.
“Sleep, Mona. The darkness won’t consume you while I’m here,” Clara assures me.
My nightmares have been haunting me of a storm approaching.
Not tonight, though. She was right. Dreams of happiness and contentment fill my head as I drift to sleep.
But I was right too. She wasn’t there when I woke up.
Two
Mona
One month later…
Sand sinks beneath my feet, leaving echoes of my existence within the grains. Water swells and crashes, splashing my shins. The sun teases the horizon before heating my skin, bringing a glow to my flesh. I envision Clara looking up at the same sunrise, a smile on her pretty lips and an empty ache in her heart from missing me.