"Eve Marie! Get yo blanche ass over here, NAW!" The red-haired older woman screamed from the hot porch. It was a hot day in Louisiana, the heat withering the plants that were already dead as they surrounded the older woman's porch.

"I'm coming, ma!" Eve-Marie yelled as she dropped her bike into the grass and sprinted toward the house, the long wheat leaves pricking her skin, but she didn't mind. She knew she had to get back into the house for prayer and supper. She was already late, the sweltering sun starting to set as her foot hit the entrance of the house, her face immediately getting striked by the older woman's hot hand.

"You outta be a fool to embarrass me like this again! Get in the livin room and join em. Hurry on!" Mama Barre exclaimed before storming off into the kitchen, leaving her eldest daughter glaring at the floor out of anger.

"Sòsyè estipid." She hissed under her breath before storming into the living room with her siblings and grabbing her Bible.

(Stupid witch.)

"Alright, foos! Get on your knees and get to Leviticus chapter three verse thirteen." Eve-Marie growled before plopping herself on the ground.

"God ain't seeming to pleasant with your attitude, Eva." Eve-Marie's little sister, Jasmine chuckled causing the eldest girl to roll her eyes.

"If you don't shut up!"

"Eve-Marie! You best pe bouch ou! Talkin like that at your big ol age! You best go to bed without supper or prayer. Go redeem yourself somewhea else with allat attitude." Mama Barre yelled at Eve-Marie as she pointed out the door.

(Shut your mouth.)

"Whateva. Bon nwi." Eve spat before storming out the house and slamming the door shut. She grabbed her bike from the grass and sped down the field. The sky went dark by the time she reached the bayou, her tears of frustration streaming down her face as she threw her bike to the ground and slumped down on the ground next to the swampy lake.

She hated her life in New Orleans. She wanted nothing more than to run away from home and never come back. She hated the way her mother constantly degraded her but praised her younger siblings. She did everything she was supposed to do.

Eve-Marie was the eldest of five children. They were all fatherless, every single one of the kids having different fathers. Her mother took her anger out on Eve-Marie, making her obligated to take care of her siblings and be nothing but a good role model. She went to school, now going to the community college that was in town for her associates degree. When she wasn't in school, she was working or at home taking care of the kids.

Which included cooking, cleaning, homework help and Bible study, and even through all of that her mother still thinks she's unworthy of respect and making her own adult decisions.

"Stupid lady..tryna pin me down like her mans did to her....ion have no obligations here. Not like those rat bastards are grateful for what I do anyway. I spend all my money on them fools just for them to treat me like fatra...fuck em.." Eve-Marie mumbled to herself as she stomped across the swamp, pulling on twigs and hitting the branches out of frustration.

She walked and walked, the sound of crickets and branches snapping filling her ears when the sound of water splashing caused them to perk up.

"What in the..." Eve-Marie whispered as she looked over to see a figure swimming in the swampy green water.

"That best ain't be no siren.." She gasped quietly as she saw the figure a little closer, it's long black hair trailing behind them as they swam across the bayou, coming closer to Eve-Marie.

Eve took a step back, but gasped as she fell to the ground when the figure swam closer toward the edge of the lake. The water bubbled for a second causing her to squint her eyes, but gasp loudly and trail back as red, piercing eyes met hers as it's head popped from under the water.

"Oh..no no no, what the fuck.." Eve-Marie gasped as she stood to her feet and started to run, hearing the water that surrounded her move as the figure swam faster to catch up to Eve.

Eve was crying as she ran, the fear of God striking her as she started to pray away whatever demon was following her. She promised to never speak badly about her family again, but to make it out of the bayou alive.

"He won't save you, honey." She heard a voice whisper in her ear, causing her to gasp as she looked around trying to figure out where it came from. It continued to echo around her and she started to cry harder and continued to chant her prayer as she clung to her rosary necklace.

A loud, haunting laugh filled her ears and Eve-Marie searched around for her bike, crying harder as she saw it had been tossed into the swamp water. It sunk and sunk and she looked around as she tried to figure out what was happening to her.

"Who are you?!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled before sobbing.

"You'll see...you're exactly where you're supposed to be."

💙