Even through the darkness, I clearly saw this tall figure too close for comfort, its shadow looming over me. I let go of the egg roll - finally - and whimpered. I had fallen into a trap. A fool. I was a fool. Now I was at the mercy of this nonhuman. I was unsure whether it was a beast or an alien. And I did not care. I screamed at the top of my lungs for Grandma.

I was surprised when the creature covered his ears - or whatever they were - and hurried off. I gazed at the egg roll. My stomach churned. I was no longer in the mood for egg rolls. I probably would not have breakfast. I got on my feet and scrambled down the hall. I collided into Grandma. I would have fallen back down if she did not act quickly. She grabbed my wrist and hoisted me back up. She held my face and asked if I alright.

I wrapped my arms around her as I trembled with fear. I kept whimpering. My teeth chattered. I definitely was not going to be alone tonight. Or sleep. I was scarred. I could not get the image of the creature out of my head. And it was a blessing.

I did not sleep until the skies turned purple. I was sooo tired and fell asleep in a snap in Grandma's cozy bed. I had sweet dreams and missed school. I did not awaken until the afternoon. I was peaceful - until I strolled into the kitchen. I somehow forgot the creature, so I did not mention it to Mom. She was at the counter.

I sat at the table and shifted my body to her. "Morni...I mean, good afternoon, Mom. Bet that it was strange to not see me this morning."

She was fixing a small sandwich. Her voice sounded off today. Dark and scratchy. "Indeed."

I tapped my fingers on the table. "Do you have a cold?"

"Afraid so, hon. My nose is not bothering me now. Just my throat. It hurts when I talk."

"Sorry, Mom."

She spun around with a large sandwich on a plate. "Do not be sorry, Susie. Not your fault that I am ill. Nobody is at fault."

"I know. I just feel awful when someone is sick - unless that he or she deserves it. And did you call me Susie?"

Mom put said plate in front of me and patted my head. "Susu. I thought that I called you Susu. Sorry. Difficult to pronounce certain words when your throat aches."

How come my own name was the only word that Mom mispronounced? She had no issue pronouncing Susie.

I pushed it aside and picked up the sandwich. I did not have to ask if it was mine. No tomatoes or onions. I am the only person in this family who despises onions and tomatoes. I will not eat them even if you paid me.

I licked my lips and bit into it. I chewed. "Wow. This is the best sandwich that I have ever had!"

Mom had returned to said counter and cleaned dishes. "I made it extra special because my Susie deserves only the best. She has had a tough time."

I stopped chewing upon the last sentence. And because I felt a strange taste in my mouth. It did not taste like a tomato or an onion. It was slimy. I did not recognize it. Maybe it was a new condiment that my parents bought for me and my siblings to try. They enjoy us trying new things. It is a bit annoying.

I had taken a huge bite of my sandwich, so I saw a blue substance in the middle. It made these squishy sounds and bubbled. My eyes widened. I suddenly felt sick and spit out the food. I dropped said sandwich and shouted to Mom. I did not know what this substance was, but it was no condiment. Condiments do not bubble or make squishy noises.

Mom strolled back to me. "You do not need to holler. I am in the same room."

I was wiping my tongue using a napkin. "What is in the sandwich?"

She hesitated. "...everything that you love. I even threw in extra cheese because I know how much you love it."

I picked back up the sandwich and pointed to said blue substance. "What the heck is this?!"

She blinked a few times. "You mean the blue stuff?"

"Yes."

"That is just jelly."

"'Jelly?'"

She nodded and smiled. "Your father and I got another brand of jelly for you and your siblings to try."

I was getting suspicious. "Mom. I know that every jelly is not the same...but jelly never creates squishy sounds or bubbles like that it is in a witch's caldron."

"This unique jelly has been around for years."

"Since when?"

"Since the 1990's."

"What is the brand's name?"

She hesitated again. "...shoot. I forgot. I will check now and fetch you something to drink."

"You do not mind if I look up the brand on the Internet - do you?"

What Mom did next made me scream. She grasped my hair and pulled back my head. She snatched that gross sandwich and tried stuffing it down my throat. I kicked and gripped her wrists. I could not understand why my own mom was doing this to me. Had she gone insane?

"Let go of my granddaughter!"

Grandma rushed in - with a gun - and aimed it at Mom and pulled the trigger. Mom released me and uttered a bloodcurdling scream. She fell in a heap on the ground and did not move. Liquid spilled out of her stomach. It was not blood. It was a substance. The same substance in my sandwich!

I jumped to my feet and ran to Grandma. Tears formed in my eyes. My bottom jaw quivered. I managed to talk somehow. "Why...why did you shoot Mom?"

"Susu. She is not your real mom."