Phoebe was pouring through a thick book full of fascinating science facts that were far above her grade level as she walked to Helga's house. Phoebe would have rather been working on the fifth science fair project at her house, honestly. Helga probably would have rather worked on it there as well. Her mother's alcoholic tendencies had taken Miriam from a lethargic blob that just slept all day to a possessive and angry, even violent. It was either work on the project at the Pataki's or not work on it at all and fail, which was simply out of the question.
Once she reached the Pataki house she heaved a sigh and smoothed her sweater down before she knocked on the door. As she waited for someone to answer, she glanced around the outside of the building. It was strange. It was...quiet. She pulled up her sleeve to glance at her watch. It was 4:47. Usually Bob Pataki was usually home by now with a beer in his hand and angrily shouting at the Seahawks, either glad that they were doing well or angry that they were losing. There was no in between. The silence was unnerving. It was even worse than that. No one had answered the door. No one even acknowledged that she had knocked. Frowning, she extended her fist and knocked once more.
"Mr. and Mrs. Pataki?" Phoebe called through the door. Still no answer. She thought that perhaps she knew the Pataki family well enough to enter. She stepped inside, walking slowly inside. She didn't notice the blood on the floor until she stepped in it. She stumbled back and nearly slipped in the sticky substance before she looked up. She had already started screaming before she fully understood just what she was looking at. Big Bob Pataki, mangled and twisted into the light fixture hanging above her, the source of the massive pool of blood being his slit throat. She ran into the living room, only to find Miriam hanging on the wall upside down, two iron bars in her feet, another two in her hands, which were spread straight out to her sides. There was another bar through her throat and she was smiling. Unwilling to see any more, Phoebe turned and ran. She'd managed to sprint the two blocks between her house and Helga's in only a few moments. She told her mother what had happened as quickly as she could, trying not to cry as she spoke. Her mom proceeded to call the police. Phoebe didn't process much else about that night, aside from seeing Gerald's father when he came to get her statement. She just wanted to forget, but it would be years before that could happen. What had happened to the Patakis? Who could do such a thing? Most unsettling of all...where was Helga?
Hey everyone! This is just the prologue. Please review and follow if you want me to love you. 3