Car honks.

Screams.

Loud screech.

Glass breaking.

Head pounding.

"Tia! TIA!" My name yelled by a scratchy voice laced with fear.

Sirens.

"Ambulance, now!"

"Tia! Don't fall asleep!"

When had my day gone wrong?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Tia, are you listening?" The voice sounded stern and tired.

"Yeah. I'm in charge. Max has baseball practice at three, needs there quarter to. I drive him there." I listed off the instructions previously listed to me. Dad gave me a small smile.

"I'll be back by six." The promise hung in the air between us as we thought of why the promise was even needed. Today was another day scouting for work. His current job barely provided for us. Just thinking of our situation made me start fiddling with the necklace laced around my neck.

A sapphire hung at the bottom, cool to the touch yet comforting. My mom had given me the necklace, before she died that is.

The door opening snaps me out of my thoughts in time to see dad leave. "Good luck!" I called after him, fingers ceasing their fiddling for the time being.

He flashed me a quick grin before closing the door. Seconds later the sound of an engine reached my ears, signifying his departure.

Turning away from the door I looked around. "Max!" Where even was that brother of mine?

An energetic child slid into the kitchen as if summoned. "You called?" His hair was all messed up from whatever crazy thing he had been doing in his room. The dog trailed behind him, panting. I had the feeling they were rough housing, ending with Max failing.

Warily, I edged away from the dog. It looked at me, seeming innocent. I was not fooled.

"You want to go to the park for lunch before baseball?" I switched my attention back to Max, the one I knew wouldn't kill me.

He didn't even need to think the question over. "Can Who come?" Of course he asked if the dog could come, man's best friend and all that bullcrap.

'Who' looked up at me eagerly, swishing his tail back and forth. Who even names a dog Who? It is literally the worst name for a dog. My brother does, that is who.

"Fine. Get the leash." As soon as I started speaking Max cheered. He dashed to the closet. "Don't forget your gear!" I added before he got too excited.

While Max was getting ready I was left with the devil creature in an uncomfortable silence, at least for me. I sent the dog my dear glare, so cold it could freeze he sun. Crouching down to get on his level I said "Don't you dare think of ruining my life again on this trip." The dog just wagged its tail.

"Ready!" Max made his presence known. I stood up, looking at my brother with a smile as I made sure he had everything for baseball. Then I remembered I needed to make sure I had everything.

Sunscreen, yep. Wallet with singular ones, check. Camera, present. Keys, in place. I had everything needed in a drawstring bag.

While checking the dog had scampered over to Max who hooked the leash on. I looked up at noticed the fabric attaching my brother to the death machine. A tensed feeling circled me. My brother could now easily be kidnapped by a dog. Yes, that is a thing that can happen.

"Let's go then." Opening the door, I looked outside. Traffic is the most noticeable thing. Not jsut any traffic, bad traffic. Drivers must be getting really impatient, good thing we were walking instead of joining the mass.

Max and the dog led the way to the park as I watched the traffic, and everything else. Dude, don't litter. Mrs. Caran has a new yellow pickup truck. Very few people were at the park.

The park, when had I last been there? Right, earlier that day, midnight to be exact, with Steven Millers. The thought made me smile before frowning.

A time before that, probably only seven months ago, I had gone to the park with the beast. Mom, the beast and I. Dad and Max had been fishing.

We had walked, traffic being as bad as it is today. There is a beach at the park, it had been hot so after the long walk we had gone swimming. Usually lots of people were swimming, but bad waves made the beach empty.

Waves being big just made them more fun, so mom and I still swam, along with the spawn. It had been fun.

Somehow the dog got caught out in the bigger waves, waves taller than a house crashed around it. I didn't hold my necklace in nerves then, because mom still had the necklace. So I watched form shore.

And mom, she dove back into the water, straight to the waves. She freed the dog.

I always wondered what had been her final thoughts. Did she think of her death, or back on life? Did she think of how she shouldn't have saved the dog? Was my dad, Max and I her last thoughts.

I'll never know. The dog once free had made it back to shore without sparing mom a second glance. Then a a wave crashed. Police say her leg got caught on the leash and a rock. I was never able to figure out her final thoughts.

Max snapped me back into reality, making me realize we were st the park. "Tia, watch!" He proudly pulled out a Frisbee and looked to the dog. "Who, sit." The dog obediently sat. Sure, it behaved now when nobody was dying.  My hand absent-mindedly fiddled with the sapphire as Max flung the Frisbee far.

Instantly the dog bolted off, part of me hoped it wouldn't come back, and caught the frisbee. It trotted back proudly like a peacock.

"Who did it? Who did it!" Max chanted, using the stupid pun.

"Very nice." That was my cue for leaving to buy dogs, the food kind, the kind I can actually stand. The line was short and I thanked the girl behind it before returning to Max.

A glint in the sun caused me to look at my watch as I handed off one of the dogs. "Mighty Max, we will eat on the way to the fields." He nodded in response, one hand holding the good dog and the other a leash connected to the bad dog.

We walked in silence, both if us devouring he hot dogs. Ketchup dripped onto my arm, resembling blood. Traffic was still bad as we reached a crosswalk. The light told us we were good to walk.

Halfway through the dog ran into me, causing me to trip and the sapphire to pop out of its hold on my necklace. "Hang on!" I called to Max as I bent down to look for it. There was a need to get the gem back.

A blue glint in the sun caught my eye. I snatched it up, standing as I put it back in place. As I stood up I only registered green main things.

One, I was in the middle of the road. Car honks.

Two, the dog was dragging Max to the sidewalk. Screams.

Three, the light was green on two sides by me. Loud screech.

Seconds. It takes very few seconds to see things flash before my eyes. Glass breaking.

I feel pain. Am I on fire? Or bleeding? Head pounding.

"Tia! TIA!" My name yelled by a scratchy voice laced with fear. Who knows my name? Max.

Noise surrounds me. Noise. Piercing through me. Sirens.

I fly. Suddenly, I fly on a bed. It keeps me safe and I fly. Should I close my eyes? "Ambulance! Now!"

I should close my eyes. "Tia! Don't fall asleep!"

Something warm and liquid surrounds me, water. "You her family?"

"Yes." The voice sounds like mom, is it mom? Has she come for me?

"Get in." Flash of darkness, it welcomes me. Beckons me.

"Tia, don't sleep. Who will watch over me?" Not mom, disappointment coarses through me when the hysterical voice is revealed to be Max.

"Who will." I agree, not knowing if Max can hear me or not. I take a step into the darkness, which turns into dazzling light. Mom is there, I take another step.

"Losing her! Clear!" No, I don't want to go back. A dash of electricity tries to stop me from reaching mom. I try to reach her, ignoring the shocks. More steps.

"-ot worki-" I'm fighting it "-ear!" Another shock wave. I'm so close by now. I can see her smile, I miss her smile. I miss her, can can I reach her now?

"TIA!"

"-gain. Cle-" I win. My hands grasp hers as the last shock wave soars through us.

I feel nothing. I feel everything.