Chapter Fifteen: Her Only Sin

Hayden stood with his head down.
Hayden
I was careless. 
Amros
You were. However, you did not know what this Cameron child was capable of. 
Hayden
All the more reason not to have acted on sheer ignorance. 
Amros
You can’t blame yourself entirely, friend. Arkain and Suri’s death cannot be held on your shoulders forever. 
Hayden
I just can’t bear it, Amros. The hope for this world and my daughter, killed. 
Amros
Loss has to be seen as normal, Hayden. You should know this by now. 
Hayden
The boy, Cameron, he is mine. I will own his skull in the near future. 
Amros
As you wish. 
Merdos ran through the wall in panic.
Merdos
My lords, Gemma has escaped.

The burnt down church was completely surrounded by cops and a few firemen. The scene was being scoped for evidence and bodies. 
Officer 1
This is so weird, only body we found was of a priest.
Officer 2
Why is that weird?
Officer 1
He had a bullet lodged in his head.
Officer 2
Interesting. Maybe he had it coming?
Officer 1
What he do? Commit a sin so horrible a bullet fell from the sky and landed in his head?
Officer 2
I don’t know, just a thought.
Officer 1
Couldn’t have been a robbery. I mean come on, who the hell robs a church?
Officer 2
Maybe it wasn’t robbed. Maybe some guy came in and just blew the place up.They laughed.
Officer 2
You think it’s wrong that we’re laughing right now?
Officer 1
Honestly, after seeing what happened to this church, I don’t think I know what’s wrong anymore.
Officer 2
What’s that? 
In the middle of where the church was stood Gemma, her red coat glimmering in the sun. 
Officer 1
Girl, come here. 
Gemma did not move.
Gemma
Arkain! 
Officer 2
She looks like one of those kids from that high school who’s missing.
Officer 1
She could be. 
The officers walked forward. 
Gemma
Arkain! 
Officer 1
Excuse me, kid?
Gemma
You made me a promise. You can’t break it. 
Officer 2
Hey!
Tears were falling down Gemma’s face. 
Gemma
You can’t be dead, you can’t. 
She fell to her knees.
Officer 1
I think she’s the blind one.
Officer 2
Gemmy? Was that her name?
Officer 1
Something like that. Alright, let’s haul her in. 
Gemma
Arkain, I’m still here, I’m still alive. Where are you? 
The officers grabbed her.
Gemma
Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Arkain! 
They took her and put her into the back seat of the car. 
Gemma
ARKAIN! 
She sat in the car. 
Gemma
I’m alone, again.
She cried like she did when she was young.

18 years ago…..
Doctor
Mrs. Lee, it’s a girl.
She held the baby girl in her hands with her husband next to her. 
Nurse
Can I have the name you’d like for her? 
Mrs. Lee began to cry.
Mrs. Lee 
Gemma, Gemma Rose Lee.

16 years ago…. 
Mrs. Lee
She doesn’t cry, it’s amazing. I have not lost any sleep at all.
Friend
I wish my kid wouldn’t, he never shuts up.
Mrs. Lee
Did I ever tell you what her first word was?
Friend
No, what?
Mrs. Lee
Cry!
Friend
Really, why?
Mrs. Lee
We were watching a movie called Her Only Sin and I was crying because the little girls parents died in it, and she turned an looked up at me and said it.
Friend
That’s crazy. My son’s first word was bastard. Not my fault his father's a lowlife bastard.

13 years ago.....
Gemma sat down with her mother waiting for the eye doctor.
Gemma
Mommy, I'm scared.
Mrs. Lee
It's okay baby, no matter what, it will be fine.
Gemma
I know mommy. I just always want to be able to see you.
Mrs. Lee
Right now, take a picture of my face with your eyes, and engrave it in your heart. You'll always see me, you'll never be alone.
She kissed Gemma on the forehead.
Gemma
Smile, mommy.
Mrs. Lee smiled. The Eye doctor came out seconds later giving the news that Gemma was going blind.

12 years ago.... 
Room full of people shouted happy birthday! 
Mrs. Lee
Now make a wish!Six year old Gemma thinks and blows out candles. 
Mrs. Lee
What did you wish for baby? 
Gemma
If I told you, it wouldn’t come true, mommy. 
Mrs. Lee
I hope it comes true. 
She kissed Gemma on the forehead.

6 years ago…
Police officers knocked on the Lee household and the babysitter opened the door and called Gemma down. 
Officer
Gemma, your parents got into a car accident. 
Gemma
No! They went to go eat. They’ll be back later. 
Officer
Gemma, I need to take you to your grandma’s. 
Gemma
Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Mommy, daddy! 
He put her into the car.
Gemma
Mommy!
Her only wish she ever made while blowing out her birthday candles was to never be alone. 
Gemma
He said they’d die, he said I’d only have him in the end. 
Officer
What you say back there? What did he say? 
Gemma
Nothing. 
With the loss of all she knew, 
Gemma
You will be my only sin, my only real sin. 
she gave birth to a monster.