L
ora never ventured outside alone. It was too easy to get kidnapped that way.
She spent day after day with her forehead pressed against the window, watching the outside world but never entering it. Because outside, there were monsters. Mother came and sat down beside Lora. She tugged on Lora’s braids gently, then swept her bangs off her forehead so she could press a kiss to her cold skin. Lora closed her eyes briefly, letting herself forget things she wished she didn’t know, for just a moment. “Daddy will be careful, Lora,” Mother whispered in her ear. “He’s always careful. Come away from the window. Come sit with me in the kitchen.” Lora wanted to believe her mother, but she couldn’t. The monsters were the reason Daddy had to go outside today. Alone, with only a shotgun and an old Bloodhound named Tag for protection. The monsters had taken her brother, Christian. Lora knew, as certainly as they all did, that Christian wouldn’t be recovered. He was gone now. It was no use. But Daddy had to go anyway. Because it was the right thing to do. Because not going meant giving up hope, and hope wasn’t something they could afford to relinquish. And because Daddy loved Christian as much as, if not more than, he loved Lora. “Daddy’s never gone alone before. Never.” Lora turned tear-filled brown eyes on her mother. Mother’s face went ashen. Her eyes widened, betraying a flicker of fear, but she composed her features, offering Lora a small smile. “Daddy is strong and brave, Lora. And we have to be brave for him. Can you do that? It will help. We can help Daddy if we are brave, too.” Lora nodded slowly. She swallowed over a lump in her throat, fingering a tiny gold cross she wore around her neck. Daddy had given it to her. Daddy had taught her to pray. She could hear his words, echoing around inside her head. When the monsters come, we pray, Lora. When the monsters stay away, we pray. When the monsters take one of ours, we pray. We always pray, Lora. We never stop praying.
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