Rosewood: Part One

Five Years Ago The thunder was what woke me. It had been so loud the house seemed to tremble. I rose up sharply in my bed, sweat drenching me and fear flowing through my veins as my emerald green hues scanned my bedroom. 'There is nothing here.' I assured myself but I swallowed nervously and slid my legs over the side of the bed. I felt a sliver of terror as I touched my bare feet to the plush carpet beneath me and stood. Was there a monster beneath my bed ready to drag me under? I am twelve and I know monster's aren't real but what if they ARE? My friends would tease me. I shoved that fear away and stepped towards the doorway. Rain pattered on the window outside and a shadow moved. My gaze flew towards the window and I watched as that dark form swayed in the wind. I knew it was the moss that hung from our cypress tree but what if it was the hair from an old witch? I raised the blinds to check. Good. It was moss. I moved away from the window and reached my doorknob, opening it. The door made an ominous creak as it showed me the way down the corridor. It was black and frightening like the den of a hungry wolf. I took a timid step and then another, forcing myself to go towards the stairs. Something was horribly wrong. I could feel it. 'But there is nothing here, right?' I asked myself. Downstairs something crashed and I froze at the top of the stairs. My gaze scanned that terrifying abyss below me. It was just the cat. It had to be. My parents weren't awake yet. They couldn't be. They didn't have to work until after I left for school. My mother Angela and my father Richard were hard workers. They did everything for me and my brother. Jase, my older brother, was no longer alive but his room was still intact next to mine. Beloved Jase..I missed him so. I wanted my big brother now. I descended the stairs with soft steps, canting my head so I could see into the living room. It was as dark as the rest of the house. Another spark of light lit the space around me and thunder followed close by. I tensed and quickly found the hallway at the base of the stairs. My parents door was open with the light off. Their door was always closed. "No!" A sharp cry rent the night. It was my mother's voice. I gasped and turned to look towards the living room. Our front door was open and rain fell furiously on the pavement nearby. My heart beat matched the chaos in the sky as I slowly reached out and pressed my hand to the wall beside me. I made my way down the hall. I didn't want to go in there. What was there? I rounded the corner and stopped. The back of the couch faced me and on it a dark form hunched over. I could hear a wet slurping sound and the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. The figure there raised it's head and between pale blond hair, brilliant blue eyes pierced me. A growl escaped it's lips as crimson trickled down it's chin. I screamed, the fear that had filled me finally broke through. I turned to run but the creature vaulted over the back of the couch, lunging for me. We both crashed to the floor, it pinned me there. I could feel it's hot breath on my neck and I whimpered, reaching out to try to pull myself away. It grabbed my arm, holding it in place. My gaze moved wildly, trying to find anything or anyone to help me and it landed on the form in the floor near me. A tear escaped down my cheek as I stared at the blood soaked body of my father. He held a cell phone in his lifeless hand. The screen glowed. I screamed out for help but the sound of my cry was cut off by the piercing pain. It was biting my neck! I closed my eyes as tears fell. I felt warmth trickle down my neck and I realized this was the end. I was about to die. I heard the sound of it drinking and my heart beat quickened with terror until all feeling left and my heart began to slow. I opened my eyes. Darkness creeped on the edges of my vision but everything quieted. It became peaceful. Maybe now…now would I get to see my brother?