Page 9 of Scarred

“Why not share?” Amma asked. “I have the same father as Jo.”

“And I regret it every day,” Jo yelled from where she was sitting. “Every day!”

“Seriously,” Amma shouted back. “Can’t I have a second of peace from you?”

“Never!” Jo threw a piece of steak and it struck Amma on the forehead.

“Oh no…” Royian, who was sitting next to Jo, said and held up her hand. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Don’t think of what?” Amma peeled off the meat and tossed it up in the air before catching it. “I’m just returning Jo’s food.” The second the meat left her hand, she ducked.

Someone screamed a war cry and food started flying. Amma laughed so hard tears streamed down her face as she was pelted with mashed potatoes and peas. She gathered a handful of mashed potatoes and drew her arm back, but before she could let loose, her auntie Tiana’s voice rang out.

“Stop.”

Suddenly everyone froze. Amma tried moving, but her body refused to listen. She moved her eyes as far to her right as she could and saw her auntie Tiana standing with her arms outstretched. Tiana had the same powers as Poni. They could freeze time.

“Amma and Jo, you are both too old to be starting food fights.” Tiana frowned. “I want everyone to sit down and finish your meals like sophisticated women.”

Amma caught herself on the table when Tiana pulled her magic back. She snickered as Jo fell backward and landed on her butt. She quickly looked down at her plate and started eating what was left to avoid Jo’s glare. The rest of the meal was a little more civilized, and afterward many prepared to return to their home.

“I loved getting to know you better.” Dina gave Amma a hug. “I can’t believe we have never hung out before this.”

“I know, right?” Amma tightened her hug. “How about we chat every week?”

Dina stepped back. “Definitely. Take care and say bye to Mike and Sam.”

“I will,” Amma chuckled. “They ate so much that the last time I saw them, they were snoozing on the table.”

Amma stood with her mother, auntie, and cousins to wave goodbye to the family leaving. A long line of taillights snaked out down the driveway and toward the main road, and she wished they had a little more time to be together before the real world interfered. She turned from the door and stared at the couch, wondering if anyone would notice if she face-planted there and didn’t wake up for a few days.

“If anyone knocks on my door before I wake up, I will dissolve their molecules,” Jo warned.

“I’m with you.” Rachel yawned as she walked past Amma.

“I will make sure there’s food you can eat without cooking,” Lily said. “You girls head up to bed.”

Amma didn’t wait for another invitation. She raced upstairs, threw off her clothes, and dove into her bed. Within seconds, she was lost to the world of dreams.

Chapter 4

Amma

Amma had just closed her eyes when she was awakened to the smell of thick smoke and raised, worried voices in the hall. She punched her pillow and turned over. One of her cousins must be playing a prank. Maybe if she ignored it, she wouldn’t have to participate. She was drifting back to sleep when someone screamed in terror and she jumped to her feet, threw on a robe, and opened her door. The hallway was filled with women and girls in half dress, screaming and trying to talk over each other. Someone fell and Amma grabbed her before she was trampled.

Amma stuck her index finger and thumb in her mouth and sharply whistled. The hallway went silent as everyone turned toward her. “I can’t believe I have to say this, but we are not helpless. Stop screaming like you’re in a horror movie and ask for information. Mama,” she looked over their heads to Lily, “What’s going on?”

“There’s an angry mob outside our gates,” Lily answered. “We hadn’t expected them for a while longer, but I think our celebration caused them to move tonight.”

“What are you talking about?” Jo demanded. “Who are they?”

“Charlotte and I thought it would be better if we kept the information to ourselves. You girls didn’t need to worry.”

“Who are they?” Jo yelled.

“There’s no need to yell, Jo.” Lilly frowned. “The people outside are part of an ancient society that has hunted our family for generations, even back on the riverbanks of Africa.”

“What?” It was Amma’s turn to raise her voice. “Why haven’t we heard about this? We could have prepared.”

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