Short, short, short summary: Humor, adventure, romance and plenty of Fax, what more could I say?
:)
Hope you guys enjoy!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Lets Play a Game *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Prologue - Bleed:
The screech of my lose floor board woke me up in the dead of night.
It sounded like a gun shot piecing the night air rudely waking me up. Sleepy and sluggishly my gaze steadily swept around my room, looking for the origin of the noise. One thing was clear, someone was walking around in my room.
The lace egg yellow curtains were blowing, swaying in the spring breeze from my slightly open window. A diminutive about of the moon was spilling into my room casting eerie shadows to sulk and lurk along my royal blue walls, composing a spooky dance amongst them. Color pictures I drew and colored in looked forbidding in the dark instead of the pretty colored cartoons and princess they are during the daylight. What my eyes landed on next had me gasping for air. A human like shadow was standing in the far corner, unmoving now, still as a stone.
A bundle of nerves settle deep in my belly like rocks as I sat up.
"Uh... who's there?" I ask, fear in my voice.
The spooky-like shadow shift in the corner, and I suck in a big breath almost expecting some deranged zombie to jump out at any moment and eat me whole.
"Who..." I stop. It felt like my tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth. I was just deadly still in fear now.
"Kiddo, relax it's just me."
Confusing replaced the fear. "Mom?"
The dark shadow transformed into the shape of my mom. I let out a breath. It was my mom.
"Hey sweetie." She mumbled low and gentle. The glow of the moon bath her in vividness light, promenading her beautiful features.
"Mom, what time is it?"
She smiles and kneel next to me. "Late."
Suddenly the fear was back. It sat in my stomach making me feel sick. Something was off.
Her eyes, similar to mine, held pain, sadness and defeat.
"Max we have to leave." She said gingerly.
What did she mean we have to leave? I don't understand.
"W-what do you mean?" I ask confused. "We have to leave?"
"I'd messed up. No. We had messed up." She utter more to herself then to me. My mom looked up then, shocking me. Her eyes were filled with so much remorse and I don't understand why. I hate that.
"I just never knew it would come to this." She was speaking in code again.
"Mom, what are you talking about? I don't understand!" I cry out. "And why do we have to leave?"
I was shaking now. Fear surged throughout my shaking body as she remain deathly silent. The hush, harsh, silence surrounding us suffocated me. I need her to tell me everything was okay. I yearn for my mother to console me.
However, the only thing she said was: "Baby, there's no time. We need to leave right now."
Unexpectedly she scoped me up in her arms, placing me on her right hip bone. I was seven and could walk on my own, but something told me, her picking me up was more for her comfort then mine. While shushing me she snatched up my blue blanket to cuddle me with.
"Mom?" I ask sleepy.
"Ssshh." She said softly, gently pushing my head down on her shoulder.
Despite the fear I still feel, I felt safe in my moms arms.
As she walks out of my room, I shut my eyes and clutch her soft shirt. The soft thump of her heartbeat was a soft, gently melody, lessening the fear even more, settling me down. Between real world and dream world, the feeling of a light watery splash hit my hot forehead, coasting downward, veering down my nose. Salt fills my dry mouth when it reaches my mouth.
I knew what it was.
Tears.
And I couldn't believe it.
My mom was strong, tough, hot headed, and was never one to show any weakness, ever. And now she was crying. They were slow, and quiet, hitting my forehead.
.
.
.
Bang!
A deafening bang echoed from somewhere deep in the house startle me completely awake. I looked up at my mom. "What was that?" I questioned.
She shook her head, chock out a small sob and ran one shaky hand through my tangled bedhead. "It's going to be okay." She reassured me.
It didn't go unnoticed by me that she ignored my question of what that was. It didn't matter because I knew whatever it was, wasn't good. And things were not okay. I'm seven, not stupid. Far from it. I was smarter then your average seven year old.
I've noticed for the past few weeks now my parents have been more guarded and alert around me. Two weeks ago there was a phone call that caused that behavior. Whoever it was only had bad news. There's always been this secret that they're keeping from me, I was positive of it. Even more so now.
Suddenly, my mom stops. Her back went stiff as a plank, and her arms tighten around me. There was a clutter of noise coming from around the corner, our kitchen. From my moms stiff stance, it was very unwelcome.
"Is it dad?" I ask quietly.
"No baby."
My mom tiptoes and gracefully like a talent ballerina glides to the side, pressing her back flat against our hall wall.
And then we hear voices:
"Do you see her?" A male asks. I don't recognize the voice either.
"No." Another replies, voice hard and sand-papery.
Foot steps.
Whispering.
What's going on?
"What about the child?"
Any warmth in the dreary house was sucked dry as he laughs. "No. Don't worry about the kid yet. She'll be dealt with later. Right now our only job is the mother and father. The fathers already been taking care of."
They both laugh wickedly. Tiny bumps erupt along my pale flesh as I clung to my mother tighter. It feels like a steal claw was taking a hold of my heart and smashing half of it, the half that held my father. Something happened to my dad. But what? Fingers held on to me tight and fist the fabric of my pajama top. My mom bury her head into my hair. Her wet tears seep into my hair, her small frame lightly shake with tears and light sobs.
The two men moved farther away. My mom dashed to our nearest door which was a closet, opening it quietly. We both cringe at the slight noise as the door rubs against the hall carpet floor. Old and new jackets hung from one single steel bar. Above hung a light blub, a knotted chain dangling.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"Max." She breathed, lowering me to the floor. "Lets play a game, okay?"
"What kinda game?" I ask, the seven year old me suddenly appearing.
"Yes a game. A fun game. Almost like hide and seek. You have to stay right here and whatever you do, do not make a single noise. Please don't come out until mommy comes for you. The object of this game is for no one to find you. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Good girl." She murmured.
My mom hugs me tightly before drawing back. "I love you."
"I love you too." I whisper.
I didn't want to let go.
I couldn't let go.
Would she come back for me? I was scared the moment my fingers lost the small contact that I held, I would lose her forever.
My mom looks at me, sadness shadows her eyes. "I'm so sorry. Please never forget I love you."
And then she was gone, closing the door gently behind her.
My eyes fill with salty tears, vision blur as my tears run down my cheeks. My mom said she would come back for me, but I why do I feel like she won't be coming back? Her eyes had held so much stories left untold and pain. There had been anguish and just pure fear.
I roll up in a ball trying to appear smaller, wrapping my arms around my kneel up legs. I took some comfort in the smell drifting from the jackets hanging above me. It was the sweet smell of cherries and strawberries with a hint of mint, combined both my mom and dad.
.
.
.
It felt like hours of waiting. There was a scream and a shout shortly ago before silence. Motionless and scared I listened for any other noise. The house was as still and quiet as me now. Where was my mom? My dad? I shut my eyes, sobbing. Please, please I want to be any where but here. Flashes of my mom reading me a bed time story, filled my head. My dad giving me a piggyback ride around our backyard in a scatter of orange, and red leaves. Mom baking my favorite snack; chocolate cookies. I laugh through my noise. My dad would always steal some dough behind my moms back, always, claiming it was better uncooked. He'd blob some on my nose and ask, "Right kiddo?" of course I'll always agree because dads were always right. God, let them be okay!
Abruptly the door opens. I shot up, snot face, prepare to fight if I had to.
"Mom?"
"No Max. It's Uncle Dylan."
"Uncle... Dylan?"
He stood before me with a deadly pale face. He looked drained... empty. My uncle was my moms brother.
"Uncle Dylan... are they... " I couldn't even finish that thought.
However, he knew what I was about to ask. He nods. "I'm so sorry."
They were truly gone. Forever.
I collapse to my legs, breathing becoming harder and harder with every sob.
"Oh Max I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was late. I-I didn't get here in time." he sobbed with me, cradling me to his chest. I held on for dear life. I held on and wouldn't let go.
The game was nearly over. In fact it was just the start.
Very sad I know:(
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