Chapter 53 In Her Mind
~ IN HER MIND
I saw myself laughing. I was just a little girl, probably around the age of seven to ten. I stood beside a man I assumed was related to. He looked just like Susan, his eyes were exactly like mine and I could easily tell that he was Susan’s father and my grandfather. He held me close, smiling at me, and I was laughing as if he had just told me a joke.
"You’re a young, beautiful woman, Erica. One day you’ll take over the family business," He said delightfully. I laughed again. I could tell I didn’t understand what he was saying — I just found him funny.
"Would you like to take over the family business?" He asked
"What’s business?" I asked, my voice was cute and innocent as a button.
"It’s what we do. What sustains us and it’s only because of the business we can get you as many dolls as you want."
I smiled brightly "Then I want to join!" I chimed "Let’s do business."
He laughed at my innocence.
"Erica, come over here," Someone said. I turned around and saw Susan walking into the room, holding a plate full of potatoes.
"Are we eating that?" My young self asked.
"Yes, of course. Don’t you want to eat it?" Susan asked, smiling at me as if she wanted me as her daughter. Maybe, at that moment, she did.
"I do. I love potatoes," I said, taking a piece. I shoved it into my mouth, but it was too hot, so I blew on it and chewed carefully.
"Be careful with that, and don’t touch anything without washing your hands," Susan said.
I watched my young self run off to wash my hands. I looked really happy, and everyone else around me seemed that way too.
It was like I was living a dream — but it didn’t feel like a dream. It felt like a past I don’t remember living.,
I could see everyone around me; they all looked so happy. Susan was there, Mario was there, and even some others I didn’t know yet.
It looked like a festive day. We all gathered around the table — all seven of us.
Before we started eating, Grandpa leaned closer to me. "Would you like to say grace?"
I nodded eagerly and closed my eyes. "Thank you, Lord, for the food we are about to eat, and bless the hands that prepared it. Amen." I said it so fluently, as if it wasn’t the first time.
They all said “Amen”
When I opened my eyes, we all started eating. It was nice and felt very peaceful. Then Susan said, "I heard you got the Ore code."
Grandpa replied, "Yes."
"When are we finally going to see it?" She asked.
He hesitated for a moment before replying, "I can’t let anyone get close to it. It’s very dangerous."
"I know it’s dangerous, but we can help—"
"I don’t need help," He said, cutting her off.
Susan groaned. "You still don’t trust me, do you?"
"You’re weak, Susan. I can’t trust you."
"I’m not weak, I’m the strongest daughter you have and you know that!" She said, her voice rising.
Grandpa didn’t seem to care at all. Susan then said, "What do I have to do to make you trust me?"
"Nothing," He said casually taking a bite of potatoes
"Okay fine. You can’t trust me but what about Mario? What about the others? You don’t trust them too?"
He hesitated, then shook his head. "No."
"But Dad—" Before she could finish, he quickly cut her off.
"If this is the reason you invited me for dinner, then I’m leaving."
"I’m sorry," Susan said, her voice lowering.
Grandpa didn’t say a thing and just continued eating. The rest of the dinner went by in silence. The only person who talked was me, and it was about a math test I had taken two weeks ago in school.
Later that day, after dinner, Grandpa and I went on a walk. He looked so tense and upset.
"What’s wrong, Grandpa? Why do you look upset?" I asked.
"Nothing."
"Come on, there’s gotta be something," I insisted. "Mommy said we should always talk about our feelings, it helps." I smiled.
He sighed. "I guess you’re right, but regardless, you’re too young to understand." He paused before saying, "I need to protect the Ore code. No one must have access to it, at least not someone I don’t fully trust."
"You don’t trust Mommy fully?" I asked.
"I do, but it’s complicated."
"Do you trust me fully?" I asked innocently.
He hesitated for a moment, looking at me, then lifted me into his arms. "Let’s go."
That day, Grandpa took me to the place. We got in the car and drove for a while until we reached a cabin in the woods. He took my fingerprint and worked for hours while I sat nearby, playing with a toy he gave me.
When he finished, we drove to a secure location where he kept the Ore code and then we headed home.
But as soon as we stepped inside, my heart dropped. The house was under attack. The whole place was filled with chaos, gunshots, shouting, and panic. Grandpa told me to hide as the shooting went on.
I hid behind the couch as bullets tore through the air, the sound deafening. I covered my ears with my hands, but it didn’t help. I could still hear the screams and the gunshots. I didn’t even realize when I started crying, shaking, and praying.
That moment was the scariest of my life, and it only got worse when I saw a trail of blood creeping toward me. They had killed someone, and I knew whoever it was had to be part of my family.
~ BACK TO REALITY
I jolted awake, gasping for air. My heart raced, and my chest burned with pain. I turned to Carlos, who kept asking what happened, but I couldn’t respond. I fell against his shoulder, crying and shaking.
"I remember," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I remember where the Ore code is."