I expected both my parents to be eagerly waiting for me. They were so excited about my date with Kane this evening and said they couldn’t wait to hear how it went.
As I reach the top landing, a shiver snakes down my spine causing the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. My heart beats erratically and I can hear my blood pulsing through my ears.
I get the prickly sense of being watched and my mind is shouting at me to get out.
At the end of the hall I can see the faint glow of my parents’ TV just beyond their half shut door. Thinking they must all be cuddled up watching a movie I let out a breath and take my final step off the stairs.
Run, my senses scream the closer I get.
I tiptoe to the end of the hall, my chest rising and falling in a rapid succession. Pausing at the threshold of their room, I take a deep breath, and with a shaky hand, I push the door open and enter inside.
I blink, and it takes me a moment to process the scene before me.
There’s blood. So much blood.
My parents’ things are scattered all over the room, but it’s the walls and floor that I can’t take my eyes off of. The room is painted in red.
At the foot of the bed lies my mom. Pale and eyes open, unblinking, in a pool of that deep crimson that covers everysurface. Her beautiful blonde hair a halo around her, her mouth open and frozen in time.
A scream rips through me as my eyes catch on a figure to the right.
My breaths quicken, my pulse racing as tears begin to fill my eyes and cloud my vision.
Just off to the right, I see my dad. He’s slouched in front of the closet door, head hanging and chest bare and bleeding.
“No, no, no.” My legs give out and I begin to scream as I crawl towards my mom.
“Mom! Mom! Wake up!” I beg, placing my hands over her chest, trying to stop the flow of blood even though I know it’s already too late. My hands are cold and sticky, and tears stream down my face.
I look over at my dad and know there is nothing I can do for him either.
Crew.
I need to find my brother.
I start to stand when I hear the floorboards creek and the creeping of footsteps behind me.
Getting the prickly feeling of being watched again, I swallow the sorrow and turn around.
My breath hitches, and my body begins to shake violently with sobs.
“What did you do!?” I scream with so much hatred I want to explode.
My ex-boyfriend stands in the doorway, watching me with a malicious smile. His hands are covered in blood, and he has splatters all over his clothes and face.
“Exactly what I told you I’d do,” Adam states, slowly stalking towards me. “I warned you, Hads. I told you I’d kill every single person you loved if you left me, and you didn’t listen! I watchedyou get out of HIS car!” he seethes, the carpet squelching under his feet as he walks towards me.
My stomach clenches, and I think I’m going to be sick.
My body shakes with hatred and fear. “Crew?” I choke out, asking but not wanting to know.
Standing toe-to-toe he reaches out a hand and caresses my face. I try not to flinch as the cold stickiness of blood makes contact with my cheek.
He shakes his head, and his eyes look almost sad. “I’m sorry, baby. It’s just you and me now.
How it was always supposed to be,” he says, his voice gentle, thumb running under my eye to swipe away the tears.
My heart shatters, and I swallow down the bile that wants to come up.
