A Twisted Midnight
Her hair flowed with the wind as she ran from the darkness which engulfed the forest yonder. The early morning beams of light lit up the night sky, meaning daylight would come sooner than she planned. Her indigo cardigan wouldn’t protect her from the brisk, cold morning that daylight brings with it. As she runs the last few inches to escape the shadows hidden under the forest pine, she hears a final roar of anguish as she runs further, without hesitation, back to her quaint little cottage. But as she looks back to the now quiet forest of shadows, she knows deep down this time will not be the last.
Part 1: Violet “Hannah! Jared! Mia! Family meeting,” Mother shouted as I finished fixing my figure. Mother always held a family meeting at the beginning of each month. So my siblings, Jared, Mia, and I were no strangers to that call. The call that echoed throughout the entire house, alerting any living creature the living room was about to be occupied. But this November meeting, however, created a strange feeling churning in my stomach. Creating an atmosphere of anxiety and fear. I slowly turned around, seeing nobody else in my room but myself and the stuffy air. So why did I feel the need to turn at all? I quickly exited my room, closing the door with a slam. I paused a moment then proceeded down the hall. The sunlight from the nearby window transformed the bleak floral wallpaper Mother selected into a meadow of daisies and sunflowers. As I turned the corner to enter the living room, Mia and Jared were already present. Mother was standing in front of the fireplace. Jared’s brown hair was unusually scruffy, but his clothes were the same as always. His blue eyes were prominent from the glasses he wore. Mia was the conservative type, and was rather mature in my eyes for only a thirteen-year-old young girl. Her blonde hair was slightly curled, unbeknownst to her. “Alright. Since Hannah has finally graced us with her presence, we shall begin the meeting,” Mother started. “Mia, what have I told you about going into Dandrige forest? I’ve repeatedly stated that it’s dangerous!” “But Mother, each flower blooms in the forest!”
“That is enough of that young lady! You will no longer go near Dandrige forest, dare I say inside Dandrige forest, any longer. Do I make myself clear?” Mia looked at the floor in defeat. In an attempt to help Mia, I released every ounce of anger Mother had instilled in me into one question. I immediately regretted it “What is it that you’re trying to hide from us, Mother?” I started. “Pardon?” Replied Mother. “I do not understand why you persistently tell us to stay away from a seemingly harmless wooded area. So what are you hiding?” Mother’s eyes furrowed in silent rage as she stepped towards me in a calm manner. The calmness is what scared me the most. The way someone can be so calm and so angry simultaneously is frightening to me. “Young lady, I don’t know what you think you know, but I can assure you, the next time you — ” DING! DONG! The doorbell sang, interrupting Mother before another. . .altercation ensued. “I see you were saved by the bell, Hannah. Luck is surely on your side,” Jared said mockingly. “Ha, Ha. Very funny, brother,” I began, “Mia, I’m terribly sorry about what Mother did. She’s being too protective of us, in my opinion.” Mia scooted closer to me and Jared on the couch with a confused look on her face. “Don’t worry about me, Hannah, but did either of you expect any company today?” Mia asked. “It’s probably just Father, you know how he forgets things for his store,” Jared answered. “But Father never rings the doorbell…” Mia continued, looking back at the door as Mother opened it. After a moment, each of us saw who
had rang the doorbell. Jared’s eyes lit up with delight as mine filled with disappointment. “Nathaniel, welcome!” Jared said, embracing his friend in a hug. His brother Jake, on the other hand, is a thorn in my side. From the first day we met to right now he has always done anything he can to get under my skin, and I haven’t a clue as to why. “Good afternoon, peasant. I do hope your day has been anything but decent,” Jake began as he condescendingly bowed. The annoyance of this fool was vaguely visible from my facial expression, so Mia walked up to me in hopes to help me feel better. “Don’t let Jake get to you,” Mia started, placing her hand on my shoulder, “Who knows? Maybe he is a good guy once you get to know him, and not such an irritation,” Mia finished, removing her hand from my shoulder. “Maybe she’s right,” I mumbled under my breath. But as I was walking towards Jared, Nathaniel, and Jake, Mother approached Nathaniel and placed her hand on his shoulder. Her usual sign that she desired the undivided attention of the room. “So boys, if I may be so bold, but why have you taken it upon yourselves to arrive at my home uninvited?” Mother questioned. “Oh, pardon the intrusion Mrs. Northcott, but we have acquired a piece of your mail,” Nathaniel said, nudging Jake to forfeit the mail. “We stopped by on our way to the marketplace to deliver it,” Nathaniel finished. The envelope was stamped with the red and blue insignia of a hound, alluding to the fact that it originated from City Hall. Jake retrieved the envelope from his bag then proceeded to give it to Nathaniel, who then passed the envelope to Mother. Mother then used the end of the quill on a nearby desk to open the envelope without roughing it up. She began to read the letter.
“Jared, pack a light bag for your Father and bring it to his store at the market. Make sure to pack enough spare cash for a carriage. I will allow you to accompany Nathaniel and Jake since they are also heading in that direction. But make haste, if you would,” Mother stated. Jared complied blindly to Mother’s demands. But I, on the other hand, needed to know what was going on. Later, I’ll look back on this and regret opening my ignorant mouth. But I shouldn’t let my thoughts dictate my actions. “Mother, what’s the meaning of this?” I hesitantly inquired. “This doesn’t concern you, Hannah,” Mother replied while roughly grabbing her suitcase from the hallway. Mother hastily brought her suitcase into her room and quickly began packing a light bag. I followed, persistent. “Mother! What did the letter say? Why does everything have to be made in a quick fashion? What is going o — ” I paused, finally noticing the intensified glare Mother was giving. The window on the back wall let the sun’s rays shine through and reflect on Mother. Mother put another article of clothing into her suitcase before she slowly turned and walked towards me. She paused two measly steps in front of me. Mother raised her hand and raced her hand towards my face to slap me. When Mother’s hand got close enough, I readied myself for the pain. SLAP! “You insolent child. You dare to question me?” “N-No, Mother,” I stammered. Then took a big gulp. Mother took a step forward, forcing me to take a small step back. “The next time you dare to question my reasoning, your porcelain face will not be the only part of you to feel pain,” Mother finished, dropping her hand and roughly shoving me out of her room.
With a sting in my cheek and a sullen look on my face, I joined Mia in the living room. A few minutes passed before Jared sauntered out of Father’s room with a light back. Jared grabbed his coat from the coat rack and readied himself to bring Father’s luggage to his store. A moment passed. Then Mother appeared, wearing her coat and carrying her bag in hand. Mia and I joined Nathaniel and Jake. “Alright, we shall take our leave. Jared should arrive at home before seven o’clock. Your father and I will be back the day after next. Whilst gone, no one should leave or enter this homestead under any circumstance. Is everything clear to you?” Mother finished. “Yes ma’am!” Jared, Mia, and I replied. Deep down, the thought of Father and Mother not being in the same home frightened me a little. Jared, Nathaniel, Jake, and Mother left without another word. In the mere hours Jared had been gone, the silence of our home was murdering me from the inside. After a few days of patiently waiting, Mother finally arrived home. Though, there were some. . .differences I noticed. Her eyes had changed from emerald green to ocean’s blue. The fingerless gloves she had worn when I saw her last, along with her boots, were worn down and filthy. It was most unlike her. The moment she walked passed me I felt an intense rage and remorse looming from her entire self. The longer Mother stood in her room unpacking, the more this aura grew with rapid speed. We never saw Father come home
A few days later, all three of us set the table and awaited Mother to serve. Mother is always punctual. We usually serve and eat dinner at exactly six o’clock. It was fifteen passed six, and Mother was quietly in her room. Jared made an attempt to check on Mother and to inform her dinner was ready to serve, but he returned with his face white as snow. When Mia and I asked what had happened, he did not respond. We were both understandably concerned, but I presumed he was ill. I wish I had been right. Jared said that Mother was ill, and that she would not be joining us for dinner. Strange, that was. Mother would never make up such an excuse to delay dinner. But I sat there, patiently waiting for Jared to serve dinner. After finishing the last of my plate, I stood up, with the intention to deduce what the issue with Mother’s falsehood had become. “Brother, may I be excused?” I requested. “I don’t see why not.” I left the dining area and didn’t turn around. I could feel Mia’s suspicious eyes staring daggers at my silhouette as I calmly walked down the hallway. Seconds passed until I was afore Mother’s decrepit wooden door. I gradually raised my hand and managed a small fist to knock, but I then passively brought it back to my side. Knocking didn’t seem too good an idea. First off, it would notify Jared and Mia of my actions. Secondly, it would enrage Mother, no doubt. No, I shouldn’t knock. I have to walk in. I shan’t invoke the fighting spirit that is buried inside Mother, awaiting the chance to be unleashed. I opened the door and took a few steps inside. “Mother?” I paused. There was a questionable being in the far corner. I continued walking in the room, cautious. “Mother, is that you? Jared said you were unwell so I thought — ”
“Thought what, child?” Mother interjected, with a hoarse voice. Mother stood, turning her now pale cast upon me. “My stars! What pale skin you have obtained! Don’t fret, I’ll send Jared to get the town physician. He should be able to assist you,” I finished, turning around. I was inches away from the doorknob when Mother harshly planted her hand on my shoulder and swiftly moved my entire body to face her. With Mother’s eyes now a glowing violet, and her skin as white as sheep’s wool, she forced me closer. I could see each bump on her face. Each wrinkle was now focused on me. The intruder. The disturbance. The nuisance who had the audacity to make thine presence known in Mother’s once tranquil room. Mother whispered in my ear. I could feel each breath she took. Each syllable bounced off into my head. “What is it you most desire, Hannah?” I stiffened. What did she mean? What did she want? “I asked you a question, Hannah, so answer me!” Mother exclaimed as she violently shook me. “I know not what I truly desire, Mother.” Mother backed up a step and grabbed my face. “When night falls, Hannah, your true desire will find you.” Mother released me from her grip and I raced out of her room, quickly and quietly shutting the door behind me. I swiftly sped to my room and quickly but quietly shut the door behind me. I leaned against my door and listened to see if Mother left her room to terrorize anyone else. After a second or two, I stopped listening and leaned against my door, wondering if the events that occurred moments ago actually occurred and weren’t one of those peculiar dreams. When night falls? It just turned seven o’clock! Hardly any hours are left in this day before some sort of cataclysmic act transpires involving
my true desire! Would Jared or Mia assist me? No. To ask Jared or Mia for aid would only confirm Mia’s suspicions. Would Nathaniel or Jake help me? Considering the fact that Nathaniel wouldn’t believe me and Jake loathes my entire existence, l can only guess Jake would be my best bet. Maybe since he doesn’t care for the involvement of his older brother in his everyday life, that may be able to help me in this situation. Yes, Jake it is. I need Jared’s satchel, though. I don’t know how long I’ll be out. I opened my door slowly, making sure the hallway was safe for me to walk through. I left my room, and my door ajar. The hallway was blackened without candles. It had been forty-five minutes since I had excused myself from the table, and the dining area was eerily clean and darkened. I almost stumbled for the candelabra on the table when I noticed Jared’s candle was still lit, flickering light underneath his bedroom door. “Is Jared still awake at this hour?” I whispered to myself, checking the clock near the front door. It was now seven fifteen. I needed to make haste. I made my way to Jared’s door, silently grabbing his doorknob. “Ow!” I surprisingly whispered, jerking my hand back. Something isn’t right here. Jared is never awake past seven o’clock. It was too dark to notice what happened to my hand, but I couldn’t focus on that right now. I pushed through the burning pain on my hand and opened Jared’s door. Pure fear took over at that point. I completely froze. It felt as if I was having an out-of-body experience. Was this horror before me a dream? No, this was reality. My reality. “Mother, what. . .what have you done to Jared?” I quered, noticing Jared’s satchel on his desk chair and the candle on the desk.
Mother retreated from her hunched position over Jared’s stomach to turn and face me, Jared’s blood unfortunatly leaking from Mother’s mouth. Blackened blood stained Jared’s once white sheets. Disgustingly, his small intestine was in Mother’s tight clutches. Why? Why Jared? He was a good brother and a good son. Did I deserve this? Maybe. Possibly. But. . .this? Jared didn’t deserve this. “Pardon me, but who invited you to my feast?” Mother inquired, leaning her head to the side in curiosity. She dropped Jared’s small intestine on the floor. I panicked. I took a step forward, towards Jared’s desk. “Answer me, Hannah!” Mother raced towards me as I instinctively took hold of Jared’s satchel and the candle on the desk. The adrenalin took over as I got my hands on the extremely heated door knob and escaped Jared’s room, locking the door from the outside. As I rushed to fetch Mia, I could still hear Mother slamming and pounding her fists on the door, screaming for me to let her out. I bursted into Mia’s room without a second thought, the adrenalin still coursing through my veins. Obviously, Mia was initially upset with my actions, but as I explained the scenario I had put ourselves in combined with the continuous slams and pounds coming from Jared’s room, Mia hurriedly adopted a pair of shoes and began to run with me towards Mia’s door. I opened her door slowly. “Mia, do you hear anything?” “There’s not a thing to hear, sister.” A silence washed over the house, drowning out the adrenalin and replacing it with anxiety and pure fear. No slams. No pounds. No wind outside. All that existed at that point was silence.
I cautiously crept out of Mia’s room, assuring her of her safety, I checked the clock from afar. It was five till eight. Mia started behind me as we softly inched towards the front door. CREAK! “Dear children. . .” Mother started, “Why are you abandoning your poor mother this way?” Mia trembled. Slowly, we turned around to see Mother’s decrepit human body standing lopsided in the hallway. Every moment we stand here paralyzed with fear is a moment more to Mother’s advantage, and Mother knew it. Before I had a chance to figure out a plan of escape, Mother charged at us with full speed. I clutched Mia’s arm and tugged her out of the direction of Mother. After a moment, we were outside. The adrenalin was still rushing through my veins, but we made it outside. We ran a few more steps before I felt Mia reach for my arm and tighten her grip. Mother had caught up to us, and she had Mia’s left arm in her grasp. We were in a battle to keep Mia, but I knew I wasn’t capable of enduring such strength. Mia lost her grip on my arm, leaving me with no choice but to run. But I didn’t get far before I heard it. CHOMP! I should’ve kept going. I never should’ve stopped. But I did. I regret every part of me that told me to turn around. There was a lake of blood beneath her, and an appendage was missing on her left side. CRUNCH! CHOMP! Why? Mia didn’t deserve this. I know she didn’t. CHOMP! A single tear streamed down my face. “Mia. . .” I mumbled in devastation.
“Why the tears? Haven’t you always wanted to be an only child, Hannah?” Mother asked. I wanted to scream. Hollar at the top of my lungs. Something. Anything. But all I could do was stand, frozen. As I regained some semblance of movement, I turned around and ran in the direction of Nathaniel and Jake’s home. I’ve always desired to be an only child, but not by these alarming means. The sun was nearly set when I arrived at Nathaniel and Jake’s homestead. I assume it’s almost nine o’clock. I hastily made my way to their front door. KNOCK! KNOCK! I heard faint footsteps that grew louder the closer they became. The door began to open, revealing Jake at the opposite side of the door. “Who has the audacity to — oh, my mistake Hannah, I hadn’t seen you all the way down there,” Jake finished. “We are precisely the same height,” I said as I narrowed my eyes. “Look, as I would assume you already know, I don’t particularly care for your presence, let alone you as a person,” I started, “But as unprecedented events have risen, I’m in need of your assistance. Will you help me?” I finished. Jake looked my up and down, noticing a drop of blood on my shoe. “I’m feeling generous, so I will, in fact, help you,” Jake answered, dipping back inside for another candle. After a moment, he stepped back outside and quickly shut the door behind him. After leaving Jake’s house, I explained everything, including what had transpired with Jared and Mia. “Well then, seems you’ve gotten yourself quite a problem.” “You don’t say?” I responded, noticing a pocket watch in Jake’s pocket. “What time is it?”
Jake checked his watch. “It’s thirty past nine, and the sun just finished setting. Which means your rancid monster human replacement mother will hunt us down any second.” “Is your brother home?” I inquired. “Nathaniel? No. Your mother requested that he join her and your father on their visit to the Capital, thank the heavens. But he hasn’t returned since then, which is strange.” Jake answered, walking at the same pace as me. “She did? That’s peculiar. . .” I said, drifting off in thought. What am I aiming to accomplish by involving Jake? Why did Mother involve Nathaniel in a private visit to the Capital? What happened to Mother during that time? What happened to Father? So many unanswerable questions that I hope time can help answer. “Hannah, watch out!” Jake exclaimed as he shoved me out of the way, causing me to fall to the ground. “What was that for?” I angrily asked. “I don’t think it’s very gentleman of me to let a damsel walk straight into a wooden spike, now is it?” Jake replied. I tilted my head and saw a wooden spike was lodged in a divet on a tree exactly where I would have walked. “Oh…” “I don’t hear a ‘Thank you’,” Jake stated. “Thanks, Jake. Satisfied?” I said, actually very grateful that he had saved my life. But I would pass on before I informed him of that. “Good enough. Here, let me help you up,” Jake said, offering his hand. “I can very well get up myself, thank you,” I replied, pushing his hand away and raising myself off the ground. “Tch,” Jake replied, agitated.
I looked in the direction of the wooden spike, but the surplus of darkened night sky covered the forest like a blanket, leaving nothing but shadows from the moonlight. I walked forward a portion, trying to see what the darkness was hiding from us. Jake hesitantly followed. “Wait,” I quietly said, stopping in my tracks, allowing Jake to follow suit. After a moment, I pressed on cautiously. Eventually, after a step or two, an element emerged from the shadows. A carriage crash. Carnage. Two dead horses. A lifeless corpse in the wreckage. I walked up to a piece of the wreckage, noticing the Capital’s emblem engraved on the side. “What. . .happened here?” Jake inquired. I anxiously trudged, holding the candle up to the wreckage. I wandered until I noticed an object. I brought the candle closer for a better viewing of the object. “Aaaah!” I screamed, retreating a bit. “What now?” Jake said as he sauntered to where I was currently standing. A pale hand was lying out of the body of the dismantled carriage. “Give me the candle,” Jake demanded flatly. I forfeited the candle, confused as to why he was so tranquil at the moment. There existed a corpse just inches away, so why was he so calm? Jake brought the candle close to the body, struggling to identify who, or what, the body was. Jake slowly backed up, coming to a jarring conclusion. “No, no this cannot be. . . I. . .” “Are you alright, Jake?” “No! No. . .he can’t be dead. . .he just can’t. . .” “Who Jake?”
“Look for yourself,” Jake finished, handing me the candle. I promptly took hold of the lightsource and brought it cautiously to the corpse. I waved the candle over the body, scanning for any recognizable signs. After getting a decent glance at the body’s face, I finally knew. “I cannot express how sorry I am for your loss, Jake.” “Nathaniel did not deserve such a death. He worked hard to make sure we had food to eat, clothes to wear, and he. . .he,” Jake trailed off into thought until he couldn’t hold back any longer. He cried. Sobbed, for most likely ten minutes straight. All I could think to do was hold him in my arms and let him cry. CRACK! “Stay here,” I said, rising from where I sat and taking hold of the candle. CRACK! I crept up to the spot where the noise originated from and brought the light up to inspect the sound. “Who’s there? Show thyself!” I screamed as I waved the candle around. Nothing came forward. “I guess it was just a wild hare.” I turned around, and was about to move my foot to walk back to Jake when something placed its hand on my shoulder. From the darkness, it spoke. “Oh, Hannah, how I’ve missed you. . .” The figure said into my ear with a deep voice accompanying its remark. I took a deep breath inward, frozen. In a moment of desperation to reach Jake, I glanced down to see a twig inches away from my shoe. “Why so tense, Hannah? Don’t you recognize your own Fa — ” CRACK! Jake instinctively jolted his head upwards to see me with an unknown figure grasping my shoulder. Jake then reached for the nearest tree limb and ran towards me, ready to strike. “Let her go!” Jake yelled, allowing me the chance to duck down while he swung at the unknown presence. I ran out of the way as I heard
Jake land a fighting blow. I stood behind him as the presence fell to the ground. I snatched the candle from the ground and pointed it at the darkness which protected the figure. There was a man cowering behind a bush, bleeding from the head. “Mr. Northcott?” Jake surprisingly stated, turning to me, confused. We both turned to the bush in bewilderment. “Father? Is that you?” I said, kneeling down to match his gaze. My Father and I shared a glance before he finally responded. “Tis I.” “Then allow me to help you up, Father.” I replied, offering my hand. “Let me fix you up. Jake?” “Hm?” “Please fetch the bandages from my satchel.” “Yes ma’am,” Jake uttered, promptly retrieving the bandages. I sat Father down where Jake was sitting, even though I silently knew Jake would gripe about it. After Jake provided me the bandages, I quietly covered his injuries whilst Jake continuously apologized for beating him with a tree limb. “Jake, stop apologizing, I’m not displeased with you for what you did.” Father declared, looking straight at him. “You aren’t? But — ” “Now that’s enough of that. A fighting spirit lies within that hard outer shell you place outside yourself. Never let that spirit die. Understand?” Jake straightened his posture as a sign of respect, but deep down will never forgive himself. “Y-Yes sir,” Jake responded. I smiled to myself, applying the final bandage to Father’s head. I gave the rest of the bandages back to Jake who quickly placed them back in my stachel.
“Jake, what time is it?” I reflectively asked. Jake reluctantly found his pocket watch and checked the time. “Five till ten, and the sun is completely gone, as you can see. Which means the monster who claimed your mother will eventually hunt us down and murder us any minute,” Jake answered with a grim facial expression. I turned to Father and gently placed my hands on his shoulders. “Father, how much can you recall when you, Mother, and Nathaniel visited the Capital?” “My memory is in shambles at the moment, but that I vaguely recollect,” Father replied, scratching his head. A mere feet away, a bush rustled. There was a loud roar that appeared close, but was truly far away. “Father, I require you to make haste, please.” Jake found the limb he used to hit Father and readied himself to hit something once more. Jake brought himself in front of Father and I and positioned the limb ready to strike. Another loud roar rumbled throughout the forest. “Your mother and Jared, along with Nathaniel and Jake, showed up at my store unannounced. After your mother had explained what the letter entailed and what we had to do, I retrieved my luggage from Jared and sent him on his way home.” “That seems sensible. Continue,” I demanded. “After collecting my luggage and closing my store, your mother invited Nathaniel to join us on our venture to the Capital. Your mother had to persuade him, however, until he reluctantly agreed. Nathaniel then sent Jake home. The three of us then purchased a carriage to rent for the time being that belonged to the Capital and were on our way. We arrived not long after, they escorted us inside and showed us to our rooms. But
when I entered mine…” Father paused with a frightened look on his face. Another roar ensued, this time louder, and closer. “Father, if you are mentally or emotionally incapable of completing this task, I will not force you. But this information would help us dearly.” “But when I entered my room, the man who escorted me to my quarters locked me from the outside in. When I abandoned all hope in begging and pleading to release me from my chambers due to the hunger that eventually came over me, I heard a scream.” Father continued. “A scream?” I asked. “Yes, a scream so gut wrenching, it made my insides churn. It made me wish I was never able to hear. The scream continued on for hours until finally, silence. The silence you would only find in a mortuary. The silence made it to where the sound of a quill dropping on the hard wooden floor would shake the planet. Later on in the evening, we were all required to attend the dinner they had prepared for us downstairs. We ate, drank, but your mother never attended the dinner.” “Was she feeling ill?” I asked again, glancing at Jake guarding us. Another roar ensued, this time sounding closer than before. “No, she was not feeling unwell.” Father answered. “Then why was she not present at the dinner?” I quickly questioned. “Because, for five-thousand bills of credit, your mother had been chosen to practice new torture methods.” I inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying my best to take in such chilling information. “T-Torture methods? What k-kind of torture methods?” “The kind that changes you as a human being.” Father quickly answered. “What occurred on the way home? Is this the carriage you, Mother, and Nathaniel used to return home?” I interrogated hurriedly, making note
of the roars that grew closer and more frequent. Father made a quick glance at the dismantled carriage before answering again. “That is indeed the same carriage we used to return home. But we did not get too far before. . .before your mother’s eyes became as black as tar and she bit straight into Nathaniel’s neck, removing an entire chunk of his flesh. The coachmen heard what was transpiring from his perch, so he proceeded to jump off his perch and, unfortunately, fall under the carriage wheels. Before I realized he was under the wheel, he was run over by his own carriage as the horses started to run. Nathaniel was bleeding uncontrollably while your Mother rocked the carriage back and forth until the carriage tumbled down the hillside and into the forest pine, destroying any semblance of the carriage.” Father finished with a sorrowful look. A final roar was heard from what felt as if inches away from us. “I am grateful that you shared that with me, but now we must. . . run!”I demanded loud enough for Jake to overhear. Without hesitation, we raced in the opposite direction. From the days my curiosity got the better of me and I entered the forest, I never forgot certain areas that were locked in my memory, and those areas helped me find my way home when I was lost. “This way!” I shouted, pointing in the direction of the cottage. After dodging trees and bushes, we approached the cottage. There were footsteps, no. . .stomps that shook the ground as they drew near. The cottage I had once called my homestead was eerily clean on the outside, except for the path of blood from what I had only assumed Mia’s corpse. A chill traveled down my spine as I turned to Jake. “Jake, what is the time?” I hesitantly asked. “Ten till eleven o’clock,” He answered, a concerned look accompanying his reply. “Then time is not on our side. . .”
A tree fell in the distance, then another tree fell closer. Mother was hunting us at last, teasing us with the idea of a swift death. But I knew she was going to enjoy every moment she had of torturing us until either she was terminated or we each perished one by one. Father ushered Jake and I inside the dark house, listening for the padlock we never utilized before this moment to click, affirming the lock had done its job. After a moment of false security, Mother slammed at the door and raged through the wooden door. Father snatched Jake’s and my arm and rushed us to my room, the farthest from the front door. “Father, what has come over you?” I said, struggling to become free from his grasp. He shoved us in my room and locked us from the outside in. I looked through the keyhole to see Father standing in front of my door. “Father! I know I am not silenced! Please answer me!” “Stay here. Let Jake protect you,” Father said through the door. I stole a quick glance at Jake again before I turned back to face the door. “Let us assist you! You know you are unable to slay her alone!” Jake interjected. “Forgive me,” Father said as he walked straight towards front of the door, right as Mother had finally dismantled the door until there was no longer an obstacle in her path. “Cornelius,” Mother greeted with a hoarse voice. “Violet,” Father responded flatly, matching her stare. “I had presumed you had lost your life in the accident,” Mother stated walking slowly towards Father. “Then you were sadly mistaken.” In my room, Jake had taken over monitoring the events that were transpiring with Father whilst I watched the clock tick on, sending us closer and closer to the darkest of the night.
“You know what I want, Cornelius,” Mother said as she began to circle Father. “I know what you are never going to acquire,” Father replied. Standing behind Father, Mother creeps. “Where are they, Cornelius?” “Do you take me for a fool, Violet?” Father asked in counter to her question. “Not especially, because I’m quite sure you know where my weapon is placed.” Taking a deep breath inward, Father retorted. “Go ahead,” Father uttered as Mother brought her hammer down upon his head. Not a second after, Father fell to the floor, unconscious. Mother retrieved four nails from where she had found them and hammered them into his hands and feet, nailing him to the floor. “Hannah! I can smell you. . .where are you hiding?” Jake turned around with an anxious look in his eye. I looked down at the pocket watch in my palm, and it was twenty till twelve. Midnight. Mother began making her way down the hallway, her fingernails falling off as her body continued to slowly decay. “Han. . .nah,” Mother called out. Jake approached the keyhole once again. The only object Jake could see was Mother’s glowing violet eyes staring straight into Jake’s brown eyes. Jake quickly backed away and stood in front of me, still holding the stray tree limb he bonked Father with. He stood in a protective stance and readied himself for battle. Mother unlocked the door from the outside, and slowly opened the door. “Well then, I see Nathaniel’s younger brother has made the mistake of associating with you, Hannah. How sweet,” Mother mockingly stated. “Now I will offer this once and only once. Join me in this life eternal, or perish and join your siblings in the afterlife.”
Jake looked down at the floor for a moment then raised his head to match Mother’s gaze. “May we have a moment to discuss?” Mother nodded, and then Jake turned around to face me. “We cannot join her, Jake! It’s a terrib — ” “Do you trust me?” Jake whispered. I looked straight into his eyes, and found my answer. “Unfortunately, I do,” I answered. “I have a plan, follow my lead.” Jake finished. He turned around to face Mother once more. “I shall join you,” Jake answered, walking to stand by Mother’s side. “Hannah?” “I would never stand by such a monster as you, Mother.” “Very well. Jake, fetch the rope in her satchel and bind her at the wrists.” Following blindly to her demands as Jared has before, Jake binded me at my wrists. What is his plan? Was I doing the right thing? As Jake finished my binds, he slipped a nail into my hand. Mother walked quietly out of my room and Jake followed, holding me tightly at my wrists. We walked out of the hallway and into the living area where Father was nailed to the floor, a lake of blood near each nail. I nearly regurgitated when we exited the house into the cold night. After what felt an eternity of walking through the forest, we abruptly stopped. “Sit her down there,” Mother ordered as she pointed to a fallen tree trunk. As soon as I was forcibly sat down, I began using the nail to free myself from the rope. “What do you believe is the most dreadful way to die, Hannah?” Mother inquired. I foolishly thought of the most frightening way to die, clueless to what would come of it.
“Got it,” Mother declared. “Why did you kill Father?” I angrily interrogated, halfway complete freeing myself from the rope. “I haven’t killed your Father. When he comes to and feels the pain, and the blood he’s lost finally catches up to his circulatory system, then. . . your Father will die. A father’s care for his child creates his own mortal enemy,” Mother answered, bathing in the moonlight as the clouds revealed the moon. I made a quick glimpse at Jake, silently alerting him that I was free from the rope. “You had always desired for your Father to be home forever, I only made that a reality,” Mother said as she turned around to face Jake. THONK! Mother fell to the brisk grass, unconscious. I dropped the cut rope on the ground and stood to face Jake. “Why are you just standing there, you imbecile? Run!” Jake ordered, as he readied himself to finish Mother off. “Die and I will never forgive you!” I yelled as I began my sprint home. “No promises!” Jake yelled back. I chuckled, the first time I was able to laugh in a good while. My hair flowed with the wind as I ran from the darkness which engulfed the forest yonder. The early morning beams of light lit up the night sky, meaning daylight would come sooner than I expected. My indigo cardigan wouldn’t protect me from the brisk, cold morning that daylight brings with it. As I run the last few inches to escape the shadows hidden under the forest pine, I hear a terrifying roar of anguish as I run further, without hesitation, back to my quaint little cottage. But as I look back to the now quiet forest of shadows, I know deep down this time will not be the last.
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