I am sorry
1079 Words
Disclaimer: This is a work of fantasy fiction. All characters, events, and cultures are entirely fictional and do not reflect real-world beliefs or systems.
“Damn!!” Thelma cursed as her fishing line snapped in the river—again. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she frowned in frustration. Of course she had to lose the line and her dinner. Again.
She let out a long, tired sigh.Oh well. Looks like she was going to starve tonight.
Suddenly, the sound of a throaty cough pulled her attention. Her instincts sharpened. She adjusted her leather armor and quiver, tossed the broken line aside, and rushed toward the crumbling building nearby.
“Sister!” she called out, voice tight with worry as she dropped to her knees beside a creaky wooden bed.
Sabrina turned to her weakly. Her cracked lips formed a faint smile—so dry, they reminded Thelma of lizard skin.
“Sabrina, you look like a lizardy,” Thelma teased, trying to lift the mood.
“Oh, shut up,” Sabrina murmured dryly. “Even on death’s doorstep, you still manage to annoy me.”
“You’re not dying on my watch,” Thelma smiled, gripping her sister’s hand. “I’ll protect you until the end of time.”
Just then, the rain began. Thunder rumbled outside, and they both giggled like children. Despite being twenty-four and twenty-five, they still acted like little girls in moments like this.
Thelma gently helped Sabrina sit up against the wooden headboard, placing a small meal in her hands—a piece of smoked fish wrapped in leaves. Slowly, Sabrina ate until her strength gave out.
A heavy silence settled between them.
“How did this happen?” Thelma finally whispered. “I left for one moment… and you were gone.”
Sabrina blinked back tears. She adjusted the sleeve of her thin white gown, trying to stay strong.
“The prophecy is unfolding,” she said softly. “They’re finally coming for me.”
“Stop,” Thelma snapped, her voice trembling with fury. “Our parents didn’t know what they were saying. Neither of us is dying.”
“You should’ve let me take the fall—”
“No!” Thelma barked.
Sabrina chuckled weakly.“Denying it won’t change the truth. This is our fate, Thelma. We’re the Dinarian princesses, and one of us is destined to die for the vampires’ longevity. I don’t want you to die, my love. Let me go in your place.”
“No one is dying,” Thelma growled, tightening her grip on her sister’s arm. “Not you. Not me. We’ll find another way. The vampires have done enough damage. We’ll wipe them out before they touch either of us. I swear it.”
“Thelma… he was kind. The one who found me. He didn’t want to kill me.”
Thelma’s grip faltered. That was Sabrina—always seeing light in the dark.
“Kind or not, they’ve destroyed too many lives,” Thelma said. “Have you forgotten what they did to Grandfather?”
“Shhh,” Sabrina hushed her. “We don’t know the full story. It’s incomplete—there’s more than we were told.”
“He raised me. I knew him better than anyone. He was a good man, and they killed him trying to protect us. I became a vampire hunter for him. I trained in secret, met witches behind Mum’s back—all for him. Never again, Sabrina!”
“I swear to you, Thelma,” Sabrina said softly, “the man I met was different. I couldn’t see his face well, but… he had empathy. I felt it.”
Thelma snapped. She slapped her waist, paced back and forth, then collapsed in the corner, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“You’re mad,” she muttered. “Everyone’s gone mad.”
“See the good in them, Thelma,” Sabrina said, crawling over to tap her gently. “And if one of us has to die… let it be me. It’s for the sake of our future children.”
“There won’t be any children if they murder us all!” Thelma shot back. “We’ll all die if we keep thinking with our hearts!”
“Grief changed you,” Sabrina smiled weakly. “I used to be the heartless one. What do you want from me, Thelma? How can I make you see we can’t change the prophecy?”
“I want them all to die!” Thelma shouted. “Every last one of them. From their children to their elders. They all deserve to burn.”
Sabrina pulled her into a hug, running a hand through her hair, brushing over the daisy ribbon still clinging to it.
“Grandfather’s daisy will always be with you,” she whispered. “Even if it’s fake.”
Thelma laughed tearfully.“He was my best friend. I miss him.”
Sabrina nodded silently.
Two days later…They sat by the river, staring at the shimmering water. At least for now, they were safe—but neither knew for how long.
Sabrina had fled home, afraid her presence would endanger Thelma. She snuck into a cart bound for another kingdom, unaware Thelma had hidden in the same cart—on her way to meet a forbidden witch who crafted deadly arrows.
Neither sister expected the cart to overturn on a rocky hill, leaving them stranded and lost. They wandered for hours, pretending they knew the way. Thelma acted confident, but Sabrina saw through her.
They were both screwed.
“Promise me… if they come for me again, you’ll leave me,” Sabrina whispered.
Thelma didn’t answer.
Then—the sharp grunt of a boar echoed from the trees.
The massive beast stepped out, sniffing the air.
“Don’t move,” Thelma warned. Sabrina nodded, frozen in fear.
Thelma slowly reached for the knife in her boot.
“Be careful,” Sabrina whispered.
With one swift motion, Thelma hurled the blade, slicing the boar’s throat.
The creature bellowed in rage. In its final moments, it lunged, striking Thelma hard and throwing her against a tree. She hit the ground with a sickening thud, her back arching in pain before her body went limp.
Her limbs refused to move. Her hearing faded.
Darkness crept in.
She was dying.
But the last sound she remembered before everything faded…was her sister’s bloodcurdling scream.
A single tear rolled down Thelma’s cheek.
- Writer
