Twenty-Four
“Really, I don’t know what possessed you to do such a stupid thing!” Mom’s eyebrows burrowed together as she gently placed a cold washcloth on her daughter’s swollen foot.
Anaya held her breath as the cloth felt like it weighed a ton. She leaned into the sofa and bit back a moan as she fixed her eyes on the blank TV screen on the wall in front of her.
Mom let out a huff and walked away.
She squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears.
She wasn’t dead nor was she dreaming. She was very much alive and unfortunately, awake as her foot vehemently protested.
Anaya slowly lifted the now-cooled rag and saw a purplish indentation that ran across the top of her foot. The picture frame narrowly missed all of her toes.
“You could have broken something.” Mom continued as she set Eli down on the floor next to the sofa.
“I’m fine.” Anaya replied through her teeth.
“Humph.” Was all the woman said as she handed a red truck to Eli.
“Twuck!” The toddler squealed as he grabbed the plastic object.
“Where’s Dad?” She desperately wanted to change the subject.
“Working at the Plant.” Mom replied as she watched Eli at play.
“Doing what?” Like she really cared.
Mom turned and stared at the darkened TV screen.
“He really didn’t say only that it was critical that he be there every day.”
“Oh.”
“You must be hungry.” Mom walked away again.
“Yeah.” Anaya leaned forward to press her stomach against her knees.
“Twuck?” Eli held the red truck up towards her.
“No.” She shook her head and pointed to her foot. “Ouch.”
“Ows!!!” He squealed as he threw the toy down on the floor.
A smile formed on her lips. She watched as Eli pushed the truck across the room when his body suddenly became enveloped by golden beams. With her eyes, she followed the trail to the enormous window in the back of the room where the light filtered through.
She slid off the sofa and limped to it. She hissed as she gazed through the glass.
The ocean now gone, replaced by a vast grassy meadow which spread for as far as she could see. The sun hung in the middle of the light blue sky.
“Oh, there you are.” Mom’s voice came from behind. “I had a chicken salad sandwich made for you.” She placed the plate down on the oval table.
“Thanks.” Anaya mumbled.
“I got tired of all the water so I changed the scenery.” She said as she moved to Anaya’s side.
“Oh.”
“How’s the foot?”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
“Good. Now, eat. We’re all going out this evening.”
“What?” She turned to Mom as the woman bent down to pick up Eli.
“There’s a celebration taking place down at the Quad. You know, to celebrate our survival.”
The pain suddenly transferred from her foot to her head. She was out for a few days and now for some reason, everything felt foreign to her.
“I’m not going.” She stated as she hobbled to the table and sat down.
Mom straightened. “This is not negotiable. When you’re done eating, you will go up and change.”
“Mom, I–”
She held up one of her hands which cut off Anaya’s objection. “You won’t necessarily be going with us.”
“O-okay.” She cocked her head at Mom. “Who then?”
“There’s a family next door who has a daughter around your age. You’ll be going with her.”
“But, Mom!”
“No buts, Ana.” With that, Mom and Eli disappeared up the stairway.
Copyright © 2013 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
Redemption (The Underverse series) 
If only it was a boy next door. She might be more interested in going.
Great to see another installment! I’m looking forward to the next one.
The acceptance of the parents for the new regime without explaining what is happening to Anaya is a bit worrying. Being a teenager she 15+ so is interested in having girlfriends and possibly boys to look at her so why doesn’t she want to mix? Your writing implies but does not state that there is something that is eerily wrong with the whole setup and that she is suspicious. Her parents on the other hand are just glad that their family is intact whatever. We have met automatons earlier are they still on the scene? The episodes can’t come quick enough for me.