Mommies: A Narrative Fiction

“Let me go! Let me go!” Ciara said, her shrill voice bellowing in the darkness.”
“Sorry I just do what Boss says- now turn around!”
A pair of burly gritty hands grab Ciara’s wrists and wrap them around a cold steel pole. Ciara feels metal click against her wrists as her captor’s yeasty breathe pounds against her neck. The hairs on her neck stand and her eyes begin to burn. Tears pool within her eyelids like a river blocked by a dam. Her body stops shaking and becomes tense. She can feel every muscle in her body fill with adrenaline. She hears her hair tear as several strands fall to the floor with her blindfold. She can see. Remembering her CSI episodes, Ciara quickly tries to identify her environment. The room is dark and grey, blood splatter

covers the floor and lines every corner. The room was dirty and had a very strong foul stench. She knew she wouldn't make it out alive. I have to get out of here, she thought.
“LET ME GO!” Ciara yelled
“Listen…Stop! Don't make me get boss!”
Ciara feels The Sandman move his hands abrasively against the sides of her face as he steps in front of her. “Please don't hurt me….I have a son” Ciara pleaded. “He needs me. You're wearing a mask...I haven't seen your face...I could just leave now. The police never need to know about this,” she quivered, her body trembling in fear. The Sandman moved in closer. His eyes were black saucers narrowing into slivers.
“What son,” he snarled, “You’re a drug addict and a piss poor mom. He is better off raising himself-like I did!”
The Sandman was only six when he was rescued from the abandoned house he shared with rats and roaches. He hadn’t eaten for days. His mom looked like Ciara; the same raven black hair, the same angel face, the same sad empty eyes. He looked away and thought about what he was doing. Just as he turned back Ciara spat in his face. The Sandman became enraged. He balled his fist so hard his knuckles became white and rose like mountain tops filled with snow. He opened his hand and struck Ciara in the face with a fury so great he brought her to her knees. She was no different than his mother who only appeared when she needed money or someone to smack around because she couldn’t find the money, or reach her high. Just as a tree when struck by a powerful bolt of lightening splits in half and scorches the earth beneath it, absorbing and at once releasing the violent impact, so did Ciara break and burn under the fury of The Sandman’s harsh calloused hands when they cut across her delicate face.
Before Ciara could catch her breath,The Sandman snatched a black bag and slapped it over her head. “HELP HELP,” Ciara implored.
Earlier that day…
“Ha ha ha ha….Since I started shopping at Bloomingdales, Nordstrom is like Walmart!” Marcus and Elizabeth chuckled, Zoey was quiet. “Why aren't you laughing Zoey?” “ I just don't… Think it's funny” she takes a sip of her wine. Zoey looks around Elizabeth’s beautiful house; it was so grand. Suddenly the doorbell rang, both Zoey and Elizabeth gave each other knowing looks. They both knew it was Ciara coming along for some Christmas shopping. “I'M HERE,” Shouted Ciara. The children could be heard upstairs clamoring to come down and greet their favorite aunt. Just as a dog loves its master and eagerly anticipates the treats it will be given, so did the eager children run down the marble staircase toward their loving aunt who always came bearing sweet treats. They barreled toward her enthusiastically yelling “YAY!!!” One by one they hugged and kissed Ciara. “I’ve missed you Ciara” the children shouted. Elizabeth had one daughter, Zoey had 2 daughters, and Ciara had her one son who was kept a secret from the other children. Never having raised her son, Ciara was a surrogate mother to her nieces.
“I’ve missed you girls so much” Ciara said cheerfully.

Aaliyah and Ariana squealed with glee. “Girls, do you want candy” asked Ciara
“Yes Yes” the girls chanted with excitement.
“Well you can get some from my purse, just don't tell you’re mommies.” The girls quietly agreed. “Ok we’re leaving now” yelled the three sisters. Both Elizabeth and Zoey kiss the girls on the forehead goodbye! The innocent little girls ran back upstairs for more fun. While the three women were gone Marcus, and Camron (Zoey’s husband) played on their XBox and the house was filled with a happy spirit… but not for long.
A few hours later the front door burst open. Both Zoey and Ciara were crying, Elizabeth was quieter than a mouse. “You almost killed us Zoey! Damn, why do you have to drive so crazy!” The girls walked downstairs trepidatiously and peeked their heads through the railings on the staircase.
“Ciara calm down we are safe now” said Elizabeth trying to control the

situation.
Marcus turned around suddenly asking, “what happened?”
Zoey looked down and started to sob. Elizabeth looked down and then looked at Zoey and explained, “Zoey was driving fast as it started to snow. She cut this man off on the highway. He followed her off the highway and honked his horn as we approached a light. Zoey zips past him and sticks up her middle finger. The man ran the red light and stopped his car in the middle of the street. He got out and pointed a gun at us and yelled obscenities.”
“What,” exclaimed Marcus, “Did he shoot you” Marcus continued while checking her arm and face for wounds or bruises. “No, we ducked and swerved the car away from him.” Cameron stood up and hugged Zoey. Just as a woman grieves when her errors cause distress to those she loves, so did Zoey grieve for the trauma she had caused.
“Zoe!”
“Yes my husband, Cameron”
“Are you guys going to tell the police?”
Ciara rose and in her frustration she declared, “No we can't tell the police because we didn't get his license plate! Also, we wouldn't have to if ZOEY wasn't such an idiot!” Cameron stood up and walked slowly to Ciara, his face straight and angry, “Don't talk about my wife that way. It was road rage, so calm down!” Ciara glared at Cameron and a tears rolled down her eyes. Camron’s words had seared into her soul. She was scared, she was hurt, and she did not have a comforter. Cameron reminded her of her ex-husband and the arguments they used to have.
“Does road rage also include me dying“ asked Ciara. Cameron looks at the floor and then at Zoey. He shook his head and sat down. Ciara grabbed her coat and ran out of the house.
“Come on Mikey give me a puff I need it. I will repay you later,” pleaded Ciara.
Mikey licked his lips lasciviously and looked Ciara up and down. He told her she could have the drugs if she let him take some pictures of her. Ciara began to tap her foot and pace quickly. “Fine” Ciara said as she took off her shirt and walked over to Mikey. Just when he took out his phone Ciara said, “I can't do this.” She snatched her shirt and tried to run out. Two big men blocked her and then laughed at her. Mikey laughed and then grabbed his beer, “Eh eh eh- no take backs!” The two men picked up Ciara and tied a black blind fold over her eyes. Everything went dark and suddenly Ciara found herself in a pungent room.
Ciara opened her eyes.

She felt as though she had been sleeping for a hundred years. Her thighs and head hurt intensely, her back was sore and her body was covered in bruises. When Ciara stood up she had on someone else's shirt. She heard a drip splat onto the cement floor. It was her own blood dripping down her legs. She began to shake and threw up. Ciara heard a car pull up outside, and a car door slam shut. “He is returning” Ciara thought with dread. It was like a nightmare that didn't end when she woke up. “God please don't let me die! I can get better. I promise I will clean myself up and get my son back. We can move to Florida and buy a big house on the beach. God if you just let me get through this I promise I will never use drugs again. I won’t drink, I won’t smoke. I will be clean and sober” Ciara pleaded with God to pardon her for her sins and rescue her. As the footsteps grew louder and closer Ciara began to pray out loud, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Amen.” Ciara opened her eyes and suddenly felt a sharp pain. She was overcome by a warm feeling and an overwhelming peace. As she rose she looked down and saw her body lying dead on the

ground.
Ciara was never heard from again. Her sisters did not report her missing, assuming instead, that she had moved to Florida like she had talked about for years.