Chapter 16: Flames

Some weeks later

"Mom, it’s Saturday. Can we please go out with Aunty Cleo today?" Katherine asked, her bright green eyes pleading with a puppy-dog expression. She knew I couldn’t resist.

"Yes, babies, but be safe. Cleo!" I called out.

"Yes!" Cleo’s voice came from upstairs.

"You can take my babies out, but please, look out for them. I don’t want any harm to come to them," I said firmly, my voice slightly strained.

"I’ll definitely look out for them—that’s why I’m their aunt, you know," Cleo answered with a reassuring smile.

Stepping out of the children’s bedroom, I headed downstairs toward the laundry room, a tight knot of unease forming in my stomach.

"Celine, bye! We’ll be back before 3 PM tops," Cleo shouted from the front door.

"Okay, be safe, Cleo. Take care of my babies," I said, giving my girls a big hug and planting kisses on their cheeks. I watched as they walked through the front door, Katherine and Catherina giggling and holding Cleo’s hands.

As the door closed, the house felt suddenly empty. I forced myself to focus. There was laundry to do, dinner to prepare, and I couldn’t let myself overthink.

I placed the clothes in the washing machine and loaded the dryer with the next batch before heading upstairs to the kitchen. As I began chopping vegetables, my phone buzzed on the counter.

A single message popped up from an unknown number:

"I wonder what they will look like with a little shade of blood."

The knife slipped from my hand, clattering onto the countertop. My heart stopped for a moment, then started pounding in my chest. My fingers trembled as I stared at the message, the words burning into my brain.

Placing the phone in my pocket, I sprinted to grab my keys, leaving the house in nothing but a tank top and shorts. The chill of the air outside barely registered as I jumped into the car.

"Cleo isn’t picking up," I muttered under my breath, panic building with every unanswered ring. "I hope they’re okay. Please let them be okay."

I drove to the children’s playground first, scanning the area for any sign of them, but they weren’t there.

"Cleo! Where are you?" I finally screamed into the phone when she picked up after what felt like an eternity.

"We’re at the park. What’s wrong?" Cleo’s voice was calm, oblivious to the fear consuming me.

"Are my babies with you?" I demanded, my voice shaking.

"Yes, they’re with me. Why do you—"

"Listen to me carefully. Hold them close. Someone is trying to kill them—and you. Get out of there now. Wait for me by the gate. Do you hear me?!"

There was silence on the other end before she stammered, "Okay, we’re coming."

I pressed the red button and floored the accelerator. My hands were gripping the wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

When I reached the park, my eyes darted frantically across the area. They weren’t there yet. Where are they?

Then I heard it.

"Mama!" Katherine’s voice broke through the chaos in my mind. I turned around and saw them running toward me. Relief flooded my body as I dropped to my knees, scooping my girls into my arms and holding them close.

"Mama loves her babies, always," I whispered, pressing kisses onto their cheeks, my heart pounding against my ribs.

"What was that, Celine?" Cleo’s voice cut through the moment. I turned to see her standing a few feet away, arms crossed, her face a mixture of anger and confusion.

"What’s this nonsense about someone trying to kill us? Is this some excuse to get your children away from me? Are you saying I’m irresponsible and incapable of taking care of them for an hour?!"

"Cleo, it’s not that! Please, listen to me!" I pleaded, but she shook her head, turning toward her car.

"Kids, get in the car and stay there," I told my daughters as I ran after Cleo.

She was only a few steps away from her car when it happened.

As she pressed the unlock button on her key fob, the world erupted into chaos.

A deafening explosion shattered the air, a massive fireball engulfing her car in flames. The ground beneath me shook violently, and the force threw me backward onto the rough pavement.

My ears rang as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. My vision blurred, but through the haze, I saw Cleo lying on the ground, motionless.

"Cleo!" I screamed, crawling toward her, ignoring the searing pain in my arms and legs.

The sound of sirens grew louder, cutting through the fog of my panic. I reached Cleo, shaking her gently. "Cleo, wake up! Please wake up!"

Her eyes fluttered open, and she groaned. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived.

The realization hit me like a tidal wave—someone had tried to kill her. Someone had tried to kill my family. I found myself lossing consciousness