A Child's Rage and Oaths.

Echoes of Terror; A Daughter's Oath to Protect and the Shadows of a Mother's Hidden Pain.

Lights off, Mia's mum said lightly, and the lights went off remotely. In the moonlight, she stared at her child, tears flowing. Losing Mia had made her panic, and she mumbled to herself.

Why did I have to see that picture? Who sent it and why? Her mind was full of questions, but she had no answers. "I'll have to find out who sent them; they might have bad intentions. Her heart ached at the mere thought, terror gripped her, but she shook it off because her baby was now in her arms and no one could hurt her at that moment. Mia turned in her sleep and held her mother tightly. It seemed she sensed her mother's intense feelings, and her embrace lessened her worries. She kissed Mia on the forehead, placed her head beside Mia's, and tried to fall asleep.

Mia woke up at 8:00 AM, which wasn't her usual wake-up time, but it was understandable because she had a very bad day and night yesterday. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was her mother's face. She stared at her for a long time, although her mother was sleeping. Her face still showed worries, fear, and terror even in sleep. Mia, you should make your mama happy. Stop being sad, find out what happened, and also make something tasty. Like Mmm, Mmm, Mmm. I can't decide, I will cook everything we like eating, Mia giggled at her thoughts.

Hey, first, let's plan an escape from her embrace, she smiled at her mama's tight hold as if she would run away in the night. Haha, mama. Slowly, she moved her body bit by bit until she was free. Wait, I can't just go, she thought. Her eyes, still sleepy, lit up when a cool idea popped into her mind. Yeah, that will work.

Her evil smirk meant she had an interesting idea to fool her mama. She gazed at a doll which half looked like a human being placed on the wall. Running towards it, she smiled while turning back at her sleeping mama. Ha, now you will be fooled, she said lightly. Hahaha. Her laugh was about to be noticed by her mama, but she quickly covered her mouth, dying of too much laughter. Eeeh, oops, she was about to hear me. She ran, placed the doll in her mama's arms slowly while covering it because her mother was turning her head a lot, and she didn't want her to spot her while giggling. Her mission was successful, and she tiptoed out of the room.

Aaaah ha! She will be furious when she wakes up, Mia laughed a lot while heading to her room. The thought of her mama's reaction made her laugh even more. She took a quick bath and wore a pair of blue jeans and a freestyle T-shirt with rainbow colors. She stared at herself in the mirror, satisfied with her look, smirked, and went to the kitchen, walking quietly so as not to make any noise because her mama was a light sleeper like herself. She was careful not to make any noise while preparing breakfast. She set the table with her mama's favorite table mats, cups, and plates. Everything was set to her mama's taste, and she smiled at her work, excited to see her mama's reaction. But her mama was still asleep, so Mia cleaned the house while waiting, listening to some songs.

Mama is still sleeping, she chuckled softly, closing the door behind her, and headed to the television room. The TV seemed to be on, but why? She moved slowly until she reached the door, opened it halfway, and peeked inside to make sure it was safe to enter. Her face filled with worry, and her fingertips shook while holding the door halfway. Slowly, she let her head in to search the room before entering. Oh, no one is inside. I'm crazy. Why did I worry that someone was inside? She laughed at her actions, mocking herself.

Suddenly, something caught her eye. Her heart raced with a mix of fear and curiosity as she came closer to take a clear look. Her fears came true! Her gaze darkened as she stared at the pictures shattered in the television room. Shaking in terror, she wanted to scream but stopped herself. Holding her jeans to calm herself, she mumbled, It's his photos.

Mama's panic was caused by these pictures, but who brought them? She teared up but fought the tears by biting her lips. She picked them up one by one, her heart pierced by a thousand needles, causing her to shake with anger. "Who dared play this horrible terror on my mother?" She was filled with rage as she tore all the photos and threw them into a burning bin outside their house. Forgetting that no one should see her outside, one of the neighbors spotted her burning the photos in a rage. Her every action showed that she really hated the owner of the photos.

"Ahhhhh!" She shouted and stormed back inside with such force that it caused her mama to wake up with a worried, panicked face. She went downstairs to check what had happened and found Mia checking the CCTV furiously. Each press on the laptop showed more of her anger. Finding nothing, she pushed the chair back, causing her mama to step back. Knowing she would only add to Mia's worry, her mother left her alone and went to her bathroom, crying, her body shaking from both cold and anger, worried for her baby girl.

Why did it have to happen now? Why?" Her voice shook with a hidden terror that she had always kept buried deep down, but some stranger had reopened old wounds. Why now? Her body was covered in a stream of hot water flowing from the tap. She cried, trying to calm down, but she couldn't. She went silent, looked at herself in the mirror, and made an oath.

Whoever sent those pictures knew my weakness. I will make an oath: no one, I mean no one, will ever take my child from me. Maybe when I'm dead, but not when I'm alive. I will fight whoever, whatever comes my way. Period. Her outburst made the shower heat up, and she had to finish bathing.

Her breathing was even heard by Mia, who was secretly listening at the door. Mia stayed to make sure her mama wouldn't hurt herself like in the past. Mia left when she heard that her mama didn't plan on harming herself. On her way back to the TV room, she imagined how her mama must have suffered all alone at home. She only had her, and she wasn't with her. To add to that, her mama had a mental breakdown years back. What if...??

No! It won't happen again. Not on my watch. Dad, if my instincts are right and you didn't die, then... Aah! I'm ready to fight you.She shouted at the top of her lungs, which made her so weak that she sat on the sofa.

The phone rang. Hello, Inspector John, how are you? Mia asked.

Hey Mia, long time, no see. I'm well and healthy, just a bit busier these days. Hahaha, Inspector John replied, his laugh making Mia take a deep breath before speaking again.

We're not okay, and that's why I called, she said, her voice tired, worried, and determined to find out who did what they did to her mother. Sitting while reading on the sofa, her head tilted up at the ceiling, her stare was so deadly that she would kill anyone found guilty of her mother's recent panic.

W-what?! Why? Should I come, and we talk about what happened? the inspector replied, covering himself with his coat, but

Mia stopped him.No, there is no need. He's already gone. I think I was too late yesterday. I tried to chase him, but my mama had called, and I couldn't continue the chase, so he escaped. Her voice was as calm as an ocean, which made the Inspector worry. I will call you again. Mama needs to eat something. She ended the call.

Inspector John's POV:

He was so worried. She talked in a calm way, which wasn't a good thing if he remembered correctly. He knew what had happened to them. He saw how Mia protected her mother from her father. Although she was only ten years old, she fought him and managed to tie him up before the police arrived. If not for her, her father might have killed her mother in a bloody murder.

Mia had stabbed him twice and pushed him so she could attend to her dying mother, who couldn't speak or move. That night, everything was covered in blood. Mia made sure her mama didn't bleed out, then went back to tie up her father before he regained consciousness and tried to kill them again.

Her clothes, dress, and jacket, once white, were all covered in blood. She stood in front of her father with a knife, threatening that if he dared to move, she would finish him. Her voice was full of rage and fury. Whenever she gazed at her dying mama, her eyes darkened. Her father saw she meant every word. Her stare made his blood boil in terror, yet she showed no fear, only worry when she gazed at her lifeless mama's body on the cold ground. But she hated that her mama had promised on her life that she shouldn't do anything to her father.

She screamed, saying, Thank mama she saved you. If not for her, I was going to kill you. Her eyes, red as blood, stared at him predatorily. When the police arrived, she was in the sitting room with the knife in her hands. Her head turned at the sound of the door opening.

Hey, this way, she directed, adding, Make sure you take him out of here, or my oath to mama will soon come to an end, and I will do what he did to her. Her smile left everyone speechless. She moved to her mama, laying the weapon down and embracing her, crying as if she wasn't the same girl who had made both her father and the police officers' blood boil in terror.

Mama, please don't die. I promise I didn't do anything to him, but I wish I did." Her stare at the tied man on the chair made the police hurry before she changed her mind. Her calm voice only added to the intensity in the already scary sitting room.

Hey, who will treat my mama? she asked softly, worry visible on her face and in her eyes.

Inspector John gently tapped her shoulder, assuring her, Nothing will happen to her. I only want to ask what happened." His voice was full of comfort, making anyone feel safe. If I tell you, will you treat her? Mia's eyes were full of hope and questioning as she stared at the inspector.

Yes, young girl, he replied with a soft smile.Mia stood up from her mama. Some officers took her to the car. She just watched her mama being taken away, which eased her heart.

But the mere sight of her father made her rage uncontrollable. Her breathing was loud, inhale and exhale. She turned to the inspector, staring into his eyes. Take him out, please, she pleaded, though her voice didn't sound like she was pleading. This made Inspector John observe her every move carefully. What he heard made him step back; no young child could be so straightforward.

Because if you don't listen to me, you'll have to take him out in a case because he will be dead. And I will be the one to end his life. She stared into the inspector's soul. Two of the inspectors ran out of the house with horrified faces and didn't come back. She smirked and turned to gaze at Inspector John. Parker, right? You didn't run away. Mmmm, I will talk to only you.

So you said I should tell you what happened here. It started in my room. My father came to stab me, but my mama tried to fight him. As you know, ladies are weak; she was overpowered. He stabbed her three times. Wait, he didn't stab her to kill her; he stabbed her to make her suffer. The first was in her leg, the second in her arm, and again in the same spot. She moaned in pain but didn't let me go.

She used her body to shield me. I was in a horror state, couldn't move or say anything because her cries made it hard to think. I thought he would stop, but no, he stabbed her more and more. I lost count. I fought for her to at least let me go so I could try to fight him, but she didn't. She told me I would die if I left her embrace. But it was useless because he was going to kill us soon or later.

Mia's explanation made some officers tear up, and the ladies cried but tried to hide it so Mia could continue.Mia took them to her room. They all saw that blood was sprayed everywhere. It seemed like someone had slaughtered a large animal; it was terrifying to view. Mama's embrace weakened because she had lost a lot of blood, and my papa was not giving up. So I shook off mama's embrace and pushed my papa with all my strength. He lost balance and threw his knife. I picked it up and stabbed him twice, pushing him towards the stairs and following to make sure he didn't fool me and plan to kill us. His fall was loud.

Then I went to my mama, made sure her wounds stopped bleeding, went back to my papa, tied him up on the chair, and stood to guard my mama from him. Then I called you, and you came. That's all.

Can I go to my mama, please?" She shifted from a heartless child to a crybaby girl.

The sight of her made Inspector John so hurt. He embraced her and made sure she stopped crying. He carried her and took her to her mother.

That was the hardest case Inspector John had ever handled in his life.

End of Inspector John Pov.