Before The Dawn

CHAPTER TWO

He was seated at the far end of the couch where he could see the whole of the living room and anything coming his way amid the uneven darkness. On his hand was a knife and the other was a baseball bat firmly gripped. He was sweating profusely as the second hand of the clock made a noise with the tick-tick sound. His eyes fixated on the few woods burning below the mantelpiece, a figure approached from it, at first blurry, and then clear enough to be seen. It was Steeve, his body was burning, and a dark red glow luminescent from the hollow socket of his skull.

"Good to see you again brother!" Steeve said as he the alarm rang from the wall clock.

"Nooooooo!" Stephen screamed waking up to reality, it had been a nightmare all long. Stephen looked at the time, it was 5:00, he hoped time would race and seven would clock, but it seemed it was the reverse happening. Two figures tormented him, that of Diana, his girlfriend and Steeve, his elder brother.

"What just do I need to do to stop you from tormenting me?" he asked the darkness and a wide laughter filled the room. He was neither afraid nor bold, he was just something, something like a mannequin covered in flesh. Diana walked steadily, smirking at him, while a crimson coloured rage filled the eyeballs of Steeve.

"Isn't today your birthday?" Steeve asked

"And you've forgotten what happened on this day?" Diana added. Stephen checked through his sturdy intellect, the memory he was searching for was within recollection, but it was a freaking nightmare he wouldn't want to recollect.

"Just tell me what I have to do to stop your torment? He scowled again, swinging the bat to hit something, someone, in a way like his preys were right in front of him.

"Just kill yourself!" Diana said

"A slow and painful death will suffice." Steeve added. There was a long silence, he thought he could survive with the dawn approaching, but the intimidation was overwhelming.

"Don't you love me Stephen!" Diana whispered into his right ears

"Don't you want to go fishing with me again at Bow River? Steeve whispered into the second ear and he screamed again, sobbing afterwards "Yes, I want all those. To be forever lost in your arms Diana, and catch the biggest fish with you Steeve. I will like that perfect home in Dark Harbor, where we can see the blueness of the sea and feel it's coldness at night. I want all those and many more, but killing myself isn't the way to get it!" he replied, and just then, an unending screech began. Stephen's ears were deafened to words and all his brain could posses was "Kill yourself to have some peace"

"Okay, I'll do it" he said and the screech stopped, a brittle smile followed.

"Good... Don't be a coward, just do it and feel the peace we feel" Steeve said roaming the room impatiently. Stephen picked up the Knife and brought it closer to his chest. The time was pacing slowly, it was few seconds to six, his heart was racing but he was a dummy, he couldn't stop what was about to happen. At six, he thrust the knife in his heart, and he gagged till his soul forced itself up his mouth. The woods below the mantelpiece had turned to ashes, and a coldly morning descended with the dawn.

6:00 Sunday 24th February

The phone rang from the table and a manly voice was heard at the end of the receiver.

"Hello, this is Chesterfield Police Department, how may I help you?"

"I want to report a case" The voice responded

"Go on, I can hear you!"

"My neighbour just committed suicide in his house, 4th Avenue, Sheraton way. This first house by the right"

"Oh! We're on our way. By the way who is reporting this?" the officer asked.

"Jamie Lancelot, the man who committed the murder of the suicide