Blissful Dream, End (v1)

Wow, it ended up being longer than I originally imagined, not that it's really a bad thing. I hope you all enjoy the ending to this story.

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Karin woke up to the rhythmic sound of a horse’s walk. Nestled warmly between Kismet’s arms, she hardly noticed the frigid breeze of the night. The clomping of the horse’s hooves on the dirt road, the crickets chirping in the night, and Kismet’s warm embrace, eased Karin’s soul.

“Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

Karin looked at the bloodstained bandage wrapped around her arm. “I’m okay. It only hurts a little…where’s Nina?”

“Still at your mother’s home. I couldn’t calm her down; it would’ve been dangerous to keep you there.”

“Oh…I never should'a done that. She just made me so mad—”

Kismet shook her head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It was something that should’ve been done a long time ago.”

“I guess so…” Karin frowned. “Where we going?”

Kismet pointed to the entrance of a village under the dawning sky. “See that village just ahead? That’s Lesai, your new home.”

Kismet stopped at a small farmhouse toward the rear of the village. A warm glow lit the front window. She carefully descended from the horse, gently setting Karin down. A woman peeked through the curtains and waved at them enthusiastically before disappearing. Kismet knelt down in front of Karin and rubbed some of the dirt off of her face. “Are you ready to meet your new parents?”

Karin nodded shyly. Kismet stroked her hair once more before leading her to the front door. A man and woman greeted them warmly as they approached. The young woman gestured them inside. “Come in, it’s cold out!”

Stepping into the newly built home, the warmth from the fireplace enveloped Karin, a feeling she had long forgotten over the past three years. The nostalgia of furniture and decors overwhelmed her emotions. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she began sobbing.

The young woman rested her head on her husband’s shoulders, hand in hand, smiling at the joy they’ve brought the misfortunate child before them. The woman knelt down in front of Karin and embraced her. “Don’t worry, Karin. Everything will be fine now.”

She stroked Karin’s hair, calming her down to gentle sobs. The man knelt down beside his wife. “Welcome to your new home, Karin. My name is Ced, and this is my wife Allie. We promise we’ll take good care of you.”

Calming down, Karin rubbed her eyes. Allie wiped away the tears that trailed down Karin’s face. “After we get you something to eat, let’s wash you up and get you into a new dress.”

Allie led Karin into the kitchen by the hand. Ced stepped closer to Kismet. “That poor little girl...”

“It’s my fault. I should’ve done more for them.”

Ced shook his head. “Don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault that your work requires you to leave the city so often. Besides, if it weren’t for you, they probably wouldn’t even be here today.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Speaking of which, where is her sister? Nina, was it?”

Kismet frowned. “Before I brought Karin here, something happened. I had to leave her behind while I brought Karin. I was going to go back to check on her after I made sure Karin was fine here.”

Ced noticed Kismet’s grim expression. “That bad, huh?”

Kismet nodded.

Ced leaned his back against the wall. “What should we tell Karin?”

Kismet shook her head. “I’ll come back after checking on Nina. It’s my responsibility to tell her.”

Ced sighed heavily. “I see… Well, surely you’ll stay for breakfast before heading back.”

Kismet gave him a small smile. “Thanks, but I really should hurry back. Mind if I borrow Allie’s sewing kit? I’ll return it when I come back.”

Ced looked at her, puzzled. “Her sewing kit? Sure, I guess. What do you need it for?”

“Bye! I’ll be back later tonight! Enjoy your new home, Karin!” Kismet grabbed the small sewing kit from a drawer in the den and walked out the front door. Ced sighed with a frown as Kismet mounted her horse and trotted off back to Rokan.




Kismet knocked on the door. All that answered was the sound of Nina’s faint sobs. Kismet slowly entered the house, spotting Nina against the wall, holding her torn bear. Nina looked at her with desperate, swollen eyes. The sight of the child’s exhaustion was heart wrenching, her face more drained and pale than usual.

“Nina—”

“Kismet, Mommy is really hurt. Please save her!”

Kismet placed a gentle hand on Nina’s shoulder. “Nina. Mommy is dead—”

“No! No she’s not! She’s just really hurt.” Nina held out the bear. She had put all of the torn stuffing back into the gaping hole in the toy’s torso. “Please, Kismet! Please help her!”

Kismet closed her eyes and breathed deeply. “I’ll do the best I can.”

Nina’s arms strained against its physical limits, passing her beloved companion to Kismet. Kismet stared into its beady black eyes as it lay in her lap. It stared back at her, oblivious of the grievous injures it had suffered. Those eyes…they hardly resembled the eyes of their over-protective mother; the mother that worried over their health every time they coughed or sneezed, the mother that always glared at Kismet with a deep hatred, the mother whose eyes then pleaded Kismet, in her last moments of desperation, to save her two children.

Kismet opened the sewing kit and threaded the needle with a sturdy black thread. Her hands trembled as she sealed the bear’s wound. Nina watched earnestly, her eyes only half-open as they struggled against fatigue. Kismet tied the stitch closed and severed the thread.

Reluctantly, she gave Nina back her beloved doll. Nina embraced it weakly. “Mommy, you’re all better now. I was so scared.”

Nina began singing her favorite cheery song that she always sang, returning to her blissful dream. Her voice trailed off. Her breathing gradually slowed to a stop, and she became deathly still. Her small innocent smile tore at Kismet’s heart. Kismet draped her cloak over Nina and closed the child’s eyes. “Sweet dreams, Nina. May you rest in peace.”



Full: Blissful Dream, 1st Draft
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