The drive was quiet and heavy aired. It was hard to breathe without being heard, sounded disgusting.
I hated the way of life, being indebted to your parents.
I loved them honestly, no matter how selfish they were sometimes.
I'd never done anything I wanted to do, it was always about how Danielle would be if I did.
Dad was that much in love. I wanted to be loved like that, in a way that nobody else was compromised.
I heard the sound of the indicators and forced myself up. I saw the large tree that had fallen across the road and automatically turned my eyes to Danielle, she hadn't even reacted to it when she saw it.
It was obviously rain had thrown it down, that meant that the roads were slippery and not safe for further traveling.
Instead of turning around to look for a hotel for us to stay, Danielle drove up a small road branching into the forest.
'I don't think that's a good idea!' I quickly mumbled but she ignored me and kept driving up the place.
I got darker to the point that the only lights were the headlights and that from the radio embedded in the dashboard.
I shrunk into my seat and watched as Danielle drove us to our deaths, a certain name swelled up in my throat but I couldn't bring it out.
I gasped when I saw a pair of glowing eyes staring right at me, I mean glaring. I couldn't comprehend what animals they were but an owl hooting made me conclude it was an owl.
I returned my eyes to the front and saw some lights ahead, thank God we were getting out of this_
The sound of the tire struggling to escape a hole filled the air and I groaned. So much for hope.
Usually when I see this in a horror movie I advise that you stay in the car unless the demon gets in too. The sound of the engine instantly stopped and it got horrifyingly silent, and I loved silence.
'Whoa..mom where are you goi_'
The door slammed at my face blocking all the sound that had escaped in for a moment, I sighed and fell back into the seat.
I watched her through the window as she squatted and disappeared for a moment before returning and entering the car. The engine roared up and the car moved on smoothly.
I used to think of learning how to drive, Matthew tried to teach me but I was too scared.
Eventually, I had to learn on my own because there was no way mom would teach me. I wouldn't ask her either way.
The car hit the tarmac and the car swooshed past the only glowing store, it had a gas station at least. The journey proceeded smoothly with beautiful trees swooshing past, I got worried when I realized the only house I saw was the store kilometers behind.
I saw small shack and sighed realizing that it meant someone owned it, although it could be a serial killer's, at least it was someone. Right?
The car took and rough turn and the sound of gravel welcomed me to a new place. Crickets, frogs sang. I heard I few owls too but what is new? I knew a sinister place when I saw one_
A distant cackle echoed when my eyes caught the massive dark twisted tree a distance from the car.
Œtre œ Œtre..
I felt a dark ominous presence staring at me from the back but when I turned, the shadow was gone and so was Danielle.
I panicked and looked in front only to realize the car had long stopped and she had gone inside. I fidgetted with the handle quickly opening the door and stepping out.
The chilling breeze welcomed me, creepily slipping through my hair like fingers. The tree stared right through me and I felt very alone, exposed, standing before it.
I tried to move but my shoe was tangled up in some grass, I yanked my leg away and walked to the house ignoring the ache I felt when the was out of the line of sight of the tree.
I stepped into the lifeless house and studied the dimly lit room. I swallowed the lump in my throat and shuddered, so much for posh living.
I ran my finger over the charred oak table, dust and cobwebs came off with my finger. I rubbed it over my jacket walking into the kitchen.
One of the cupboards was open with a wine bottle lying in it, cobwebs steadily held it in place explaining why it hadn't fallen and broken.
My eyes caught the open window and saw the greenhouse behind the house, that was another thing for tomorrow. I walked back to the living_ dead room and realized Danielle had gone up. I closed the door and followed her.
She'd chosen her room and mine was across.
'Go to sleep.. we'll deal with this tomorrow!' She closed the door forcing me to go to mine. I looked across it and saw the tree staring at me through the window. Roughly drawing the ancient curtains, I coughed when dust showered me.
I sighed. Tomorrow then I guess.
***
I didn't expect to move here after my dad went missing months ago. Moving was a typical thing in my life. The issue was this new place, it was special. It was eerie. The isolation and this creepy tree are not far from here.
It had wretched black leaves and about the tree was a spinney, inviting but spooky.
I gazed at the place hoping I was just being paranoid.
Or do new quiet and peaceful places come with this?
I knew Danielle shouldn't have been taking therapy from my old librarian. There was no such thing as peace. The only time it was meant was when the words "Rest in" came before it.
Besides, her husband was a pathologist!! They could've made some pact with Satan to_
'Samuelle!!' Danielle rushed in looking frustrated, I leaped away staring at her widely. She looked at me oddly. 'Can't you come down and perhaps give me a hand?' She rolled her eyes. I noticed her hand stretched out for mine. I turned and had one last look at the tree.
I shivered.
She reached out for my arm and hustled me down to the kitchen.
'Okay! So..how can I help..?' I folded my sleeves and began to slowly place the utensils into the sink.
In case you're wondering who Danielle is, she is my mother. She handed me a small list and a grocery bag. 'I need you to go get us vegetables. And chicken breasts for our dinner.'
'Why do you say it like that?' I scrunched up my nose in disgust.
'Like what?' She looked at me daringly.
'Chicken breasts!' I mocked her, she slapped my arm and I chuckled returning to the topic. 'Mum? You know I can't go..'
'C'mon Sam you know your dad used to do the shopping but he's.. now gone..' She pulled out the guilt card.
Unfortunately, I had been out in the park that day when he went missing but what made it weird was that mum felt more guilty and found a way to put it on me whenever she did.
'I didn't mean that..but then..how will I get to..' She cut me off by placing the car keys right in front of my lips. I snatched them groaning and matched them to the shade. Making sure not to look at the tree, I got into the car and drove off the property. It had been months since Dad went missing, Danielle "didn't" take it too well..we hated the topic but we had to talk about it sometimes.
She gave me there's more to the story vibes.
I couldn't trust her, not that she was my suspected villain. She just tended to make me the villain and yet she was working late that day.
I didn't go to buy the groceries when I left, I first went to practice my shooting. I had a bow and arrows, they weren't mine but dad's. Mum didn't know I was practicing with them, she wouldn't be happy if I was. Everything was about her lately. I packed by a tree and headed into the woods where I set everything up. I took out my target and put it in place, I wasn't good though. Sometimes I missed the target.
I walked from the target and put distance between them. I held onto the weapon and looked at the target, when I was ready I let go. The arrow slipped past the target and hit something. I heard the Yelp and ran there, it was a person. I looked for the person but I noticed an animal, injured. It was a wolf, the lupine nature of the animal gave it off. I wanted to help it take out the arrow but it growled at me,' I want to help you!'
The animal struggled to move but fell unconscious. I rushed to it fearing that it was dead, lucky for me it wasn't.
***
I brushed some oil into the pan, I removed the brisket from the bags. I marched apace to the sink and ran water over it. Meanwhile, the pan was put to heat up, I placed the brisket into it. Beside the sink was the window, I looked through it every minute that passed.
In the greenhouse...
The creature awoke from the miasma of blood. Blood from its wounds. It noticed no arrow but a wound on its leg, softly licked it but the pain was unbearable. It slowly drew its tongue away and stretched it out for air to blow against.
Back at the House...
Danielle walked in, this was a bad beginning to this evening. Luckily for me, her eyes looked bleary. The biting wind had gotten to her. She shook her coat down her shoulders and placed it on the hooks at the wall.
'Brr! It's cold out there..' She rubbed her palms all over her arms to feel warm. She slipped next to me relishing the heat from the stove.
'Why don't you go relax by the fireplace?' I suggested already feeling uneasy. 'Perhaps you'll get a little warm. I mean..'
'Is that brisket?!' Her tone sounded challenged, I hated that tone. Reminded me of her first days of that mentally poisonous therapy.
And, this is where the tension filled the air. It was on common occasions that I kept being reminded that Danielle didn't eat red meat. My stomach lurched, there was no way I was telling her about the lupine creature. Usually, I had to lie..but amongst the stuff I bought, I managed to fit in some chicken breast.
'Uh...you know what? It is..but!' I rushed and pulled out the pack of chicken breasts. I held it beside my smirk,' I hope you're not mad?!'
She smiled and grabbed it then placed it in the sink.
Once again, I set my eyes on the greenhouse. I picked a plate and placed the half-cooked brisket,' uh..mum I'll be back. I'm just gonna lock the car?'
'Sure..honey you..' She was interrupted by the door slam. This was a little odd for her. I made my way through the clammy grass making sure not to set an eye on the tree. The crickets blenched away with every step I took toward my destination.
I looked at where I stepped as I increased my footsteps. When I noticed anything odd, I kept my leg up until I felt it was safe to resume.
Despite the distance I could hear whimpering, vaguely but I guessed that it was the creature. At last, I was there, I opened the door and slowly stepped in.
At the corner, I saw lime green eyes glowing. They were the creatures. It slowly stepped out of the darkness bearing its teeth over a threatening growl.
I held out the meat and slid it to it before closing the door. Outside I could hear the loud chewing. I had to keep it alive.
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