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𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗪 around the night sky as it made its way down the trees making them move back and forth. A raven flew down landing on a single branch close to a window. The bird let out a 'gurgling croak' looking through the window to see what was inside.

A strong gust of wind suddenly opened the window, letting the raven fly into the room. Crosses littered the room from the left and right sticking out like sore thumbs. Whimpers of pain mixed with fear filled air as a teenage girl slept in the middle of the room on her bed. Landing on the bed stump, the bird stared at the girl intently. Waiting for the scene in front of him to unfold.

The black haired girl trashed around in her bed seemingly having a terrible nightmare. A blood red gem appeared and disappeared on her forehead as if hesitating if it should appear or not.

Screaming at the top of her lungs the girl suddenly jolted awake grasping her head in pure terror.

The sounds of multiple locks being opened was barely audible before the door to her room swung open letting a woman run inside.

She grabbed the girl by her shoulders shaking them trying desperately to bring her back to reality.

"RACHEL" the woman yelled grabbing the girl's attention, "it's just a nightmare, ok." Rachel nodded, trying to catch her breath due to that so-called 'nightmare'.

Noticing the time her mother looked at her daughter. "You woke up a few minutes earlier than usual" she said, combing the girl's hair with her fingers, "you can head to Martha's place a bit earlier if you want". Her mother suggested.

Not wanting to risk having another nightmare, the girl nodded deciding to not go back to sleep. "I'm going to Martha's" she answered.

Nodding her head, Arella got up already understanding her daughter's reasons. Rachel didn't want to go to sleep again, she couldn't blame her.

Nightmares hunted her every single night, sometimes they even included her father. "I'll be out all day, Rachel" Arella started, "So you'll have to spend the night at the Kent household". Rachel nodded hearing her mother's words.

Lately her mother had to work two jobs instead of her one job as a nurse at the hospital. Things in smallville have been changing drastically over the years, and it was not for the better.

People lost their jobs or some even worse, their homes. Her mother was lucky to even have a job in the first place, a well paying one at that.

Getting up Arella made her way back to her room but stopped for a moment. "Next time, don't forget to take your pills" she turned to look at her before turning to the door. The soft 'click' sound of a lock made its way to Rachels ear indicating that her mother was back in her bedroom.

She let out a sigh as she rubbed the side of her face with her hand. Deep down in her stomach, her gut was telling that something was going to happen. But she just shrugged it off ignoring the pills on the nightstand and headed to the restroom to change.

She came out fully dressed and ready to go.

Grabbing the pair of roller skates she sat down ready to put them on, but she didn't. Her eyes lingered on the skates taking in every feature remembering how she had received the black roller skates with dark purple laces.

~

Rachel remembered that day like it was yesterday.

She had gotten up extra early excited since Martha had promised to bake her blueberry muffins for her birthday. Even Corvus was over the moon that day for the muffins.

Entering the Kent house Rachel and Corvus expected to only see a basket of freshly baked blueberry muffins waiting for them in the middle of the dinner table.

And she did see them.

What they didn't expect to see was a purple shoe box with a light purple bow laying on the table next to the muffins. When she opened the box she saw them,...one pair of black roller skates with dark purple shoelaces and purple wheels.

Her figures had traced the leather in complete awe as Corvus, who was on her shoulder, let his peak fall to the floor in surprise. She had never seen or owned any skates. Let alone know how to use them.

"I know you didn't want anything for your birthday but I couldn't help myself when I saw them." Martha's voice came from behind them making the teen and the bird turn to her, "I just knew they were made for you when I laid eyes on them".

Rachel set the skates down and embraced Martha with a smile muttering multiple 'thank you's'.

The elderly woman just chuckled, returning the hug.

Even Corvus who was a bird somehow managed to give the woman a hug in appreciation. Martha had made Rachel smile, something the teenage girl didn't do often anymore. Corvus was thankful for this kind hearted woman, even if he was just a simple bird.

Since then there hadn't been a day where Rachel didn't have her skates on. She took them from her house to the grocery store, even as far as taking them to school, even though she repeatedly got in a lot of detention for them.

~

Rachel smiled tying the last shoelace to her backpack. Rolling out of her room Rachel made her way down the stairs careful to not make any noise to alarm her mother.

Grabbing her bag that was lying on the ground next to the front door Rachel headed out . Putting on her earbuds, her playlist boomed in her ears.

Making her way through town, she hummed to the songs.

The town was dim yet dark as she rolled down the street since it was early. Seeing the pavement coming to an end she sat at a nearby bench to untie her skates. Putting on her sneakers Rachel headed her way down the gravel road.

The sound of the dirt crunching underneath her shoes was heard throughout the empty farmlands. Suddenly a familiar 'gurgling croak' reached her ears despite the music being blasted in her ears.

Turning around she came face to face with the raven that was on her bed stump a little while earlier. A smile spread on her face reaching out her hand for the bird to land.

Once landing the raven folding its wing back in place as it turned to stare at the person the hand belonged to. "I was wondering when you'd show up" Rachel told the bird, petting its head. "You are lucky mom didn't see you inside of my room" Rachel said.

The bird just 'croaked' as it made its way to her shoulder. "If she did, she would have skinned you alive" she shivered at that thought, resuming her walk down the gravel road until a small farm came into view. She slowly climbed the steps of the porch careful to not wake up the person sleeping inside.

Dropping her bag on the porch table she slumped on the chair letting out a tired sigh as she took in her surroundings, the crops moving in sync with the wind. The sound of metal pipes slowly coming in contact grabbed Rachel's attention turning to see a small wind shine at the corner of the porch.

Rachel liked quiet mornings like these.

A perfect morning to start the perfect day.

But the feeling in her stomach wouldn't go unnoticed any longer. The feeling that something terrible was going to happen lingered making her feel nauseous.

"You feel it too, don't you Corvus?" Rachel asked the bird who was standing next to her on the chair. The bird let out a 'croak' as if agreeing with her. Laying her head back she let out another sigh eyeing the ceiling of the porch for anything that was a tiny bit interesting. Her though started to feel droopy before she closed her eyes slipping into a dark abyss.

~

"Rachel" a soft voice called out her name,

"RACHEL".

Jolting awake Rachel suddenly saw the familiar face of Martha Kent standing above her, a look of concern decorticating her face.

"Are you alright?" the woman asked, her voice full of concern. The girl let out a tired sigh before answering a simple "yes" in return.

Not wanting to pry any further the woman diverted her eyes to the corn fields in front of them.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" she gestured to the sunrise. The teen now only noticed the sun beginning to rise at the end of the corn field.

"It is," she said in a low whisper, but Martha still heard it. Corvus let out a 'gurgling croak' also agreeing about the beautiful view in front of them.

They slipped into a comfortable silence seemingly enjoying each other's presence.

But it didn't last long though.

Opening her mouth Rachel was ready to ask how long she was asleep when pain suddenly waved off of Martha alarming the girl.

Without even thinking, Rachel quickly went to Martha's aid. "I'm alright" Martha barely got out before Rachel felt more pain wave off the woman.

Patting Martha's back Rachel waited until the pain was gone to sit the older woman down on a chair.

"You should go see a doctor" she suggested, "I'm alright" Martha insisted. Rachel rolled her eyes, "You're not fine. I can feel your pain." She stated, but Martha being stubborn as always, only waved at the girl dismissively/

"Shouldn't you be heading to school already?" Martha asked, as she looked at the girl. Rachel rolled her eyes, "Shouldn't you be seeing a doctor?" she threw back. Now it was Martha's turn to roll her eyes.

"Go now" Martha said, "before you're late".
Knowing better than to argue with the woman, Rachel grabbed her bag ready to leave. "Here" Martha said, handing the girl a cut sandwich, "for the way".

Rachel swung her back pack over her shoulder and started to make her way down the steps with a certain bird on her shoulder. "Rachel," Martha called out making the teen stop stopped dead in her tracks. She turned around and saw Martha with a smile on her face. "Are you ok?" Rachel asked gesturing to the smile on her face. Martha let out a laugh, "I'm alright" she answered.

"Ooook..." Rachel's voice drifted off.

"Rachel..." Martha began, she looked hesitant to speak what she was going to say and that surprised Rachel. Neither less she took a step towards the girl.

Martha had always been confident when she spoke, it was a way to let people know she is not the type of person to be pushed around or stepped on.

Taking a step up the porch, Rachel walked closer to the woman. "My son's family is coming to visit soon in a few days" she started, meeting the girl's eyes "and I would like for you to look after them while there here".

In utter shook Rachel mouths fell to the floor.
The one and only Martha Kent was asking her to look after of her nephews, who Rachel had only seen once and probably don't even remember her.

She met them the day Rachel and her mother moved to smallville, she was only eight.

"Uhhhh..." she started, searching every inch of her brain for a way to respond. "Promise me you will," Martha pleaded. Looking at the woman in-front of her, Rachel looked for a sign that this was a joke.

But there was none.

Pinching the bridge of her nose the teen let out a sigh. "Look Martha" she started again, "as long as their feet are standing in smallville soil, I will look after them like they are my friends" she stated.

A smile spread on Martha's face hearing those words come out of the girl's mouth. She hugged the girl with happiness pouring out of the hug. Even though Rachel wasn't the type for hugs, she could help to return it.

"Thank you" Martha whispered and I planted a kiss on her forehead.

~

Rachel slammed her locker shut, turning around to roll to the entrance of her school when a voice stopped her.

"Hey Rachel" Sarah's voice made her stop. Turning her head she was met with her only friend in this entire town.

Sarah Cushing.

"Hey Sarah" Rachel greeted the brown haired girl. Sarah smiled, "there's going to be a bonfire this week, your coming right?" she asked, as they started making their way out of school.

Rachel crinched, hesitating to answer, "I'd rather not" she answered, making Sarah frowned, "What? Why?" She asked, Rachel gave her the 'you know why' look.

Sarah let out an exasperated sigh. Even after all the time she has known the girl she had never convinced her to go to an outgoing and she will not give up for her name isn't Sarah Cushing.

"You know" Sarah started, but something in her voice gave Rachel the clue that she had something up her sleeves. "What if Ms. Kent 'accidentally' caught wind that you haven't been spending time with your best friend, what do you think she'll do?" Sarah innocently asked as they both passed the opened stores.

Rachel narrowed her eyes at the Cushing girl knowing what could happen if Martha found out she hadn't spent time with someone other than her or Corvus. Martha would force her to go to a party to spend time with her so called 'friends' at school as she would quote it.

Rachel turned to look Sarah in the eye, "What friend?" She teased. Sarah punched her shoulder playfully as they both let out a laugh.

They exchange a few more words before biding each other goodbye and going their separate ways. Once Rachel neared the dirt she took her skates off and walked off to the barn she went to this morning.

The closer she got though the stronger a feeling in her gut told her something was off. And it wasn't wrong. Upon arriving though she saw something unexpected.

Standing there on the porch was Doctor Frye talking to her Rachel's mother. They seemed so invested in the conversation that they hadn't noticed the fourteen year old girl arrive.

Rachel stopped in front of the porch steps, "Mom?" she asked. The two women turned their heads hearing her. "Rachel?" Her mother's tone was surprised, as if not expecting her daughter at all.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, Rachel looked at her in confusion. "Uhhh..You told me I could stay here because you wouldn't make it home today" she answered, trying refresh her mother's memory of this evening.

"What are you doing here?" she raised a brow. Her mother looked at Doctor Frye before turning her gaze back towards her daughter.

There was something in her gaze though that made Rachels stomach feel like it was being squeezed, and not in a good way.

"Where's Martha?" She asked, she couldn't feel the woman's emotions as if she wasn't of here.

Arella let out a sigh looking at her daughter, "Rachel, Martha had a stroke-" "What" Rachel exclaimed. She climbed up the steps opening the door to the house only to be stopped by her mother.

"Rachel, look at me," Arella demanded, grabbing the girls shoulders forcing her to meet her eyes. "Rachel," her mother said in a low voice, "she didn't make it".

The person that Rachel trusted with her darkest secrets had died...she had lost the only person that truly cared for despite knowing what she really was.

Rachel's breath get stuck in her throated she felt her lungs stop working.

She felt her whole world crumbling down trying to process what her mother had said.

Martha Kent was gone.

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