Police sirens blared in the distance, sounding waves of panic through my head. Everyone around me moved as a whirlwind of colors, leaving me frozen in time. I stood in the middle of the small living room as the officials filed in one by one. As they trudged in, knocking snow off their shoes, Mom rushed to take coats, hats, and scarves while Dad offered refreshments. How could he be worried about hydration when our world was falling to pieces? I wanted to move, to yell out and pause this horrible scene, but I couldn't. My brain was now on the defensive, trying to decipher the night's tragic events. How could I have been so stupid? I asked myself, mulling over what had happened. Why hadn't I stopped him when I had the chance? This is my entire fault, no doubt about that, and when the police find out that I could have stopped it, I'm done for.
Flynn, you know what Dad said about Erinbrooke, don't you?" I asked my brother as he played along the bank of the river.
Oh, c'mon Rae! Live a little. Dad isn't here," Flynn retorted sneering playfully down at me, as he balanced on one of the moss covered rocks. He swayed back and forth with his arms spread like an eagle.
Be careful!" I shouted, catching my breath when his shoe slipped on the moss, sending him tumbling to the ground with a soft thud. He hopped up in a hurry, wiping off his now dirt covered trousers. The wetness of the ground, already seeming to harden from the coldness of the winter's night. I wrapped my arms around myself, glowering at Flynn.
Flynn, please can we go home now? It's freezing!" Pleading with him almost never worked, but I thought I would give it a try. He looked back at me as he headed up river a bit to a small patch of ice. He took a few steps back, and before I could yell for him to stop he took a running start and leapt right onto the ice. I could tell right away that something was terribly wrong. Crackling sounds buzzed through the air as the ice whined at Flynn's weight.
FLYNN! Jump back, the ice isn't strong enough." I ran toward him and reached out my hands to no avail. What help could I be? His arms flailed in the air, trying to regain his balance. Panic struck me deep. Sending chills through my body. What do I do? What do I do? I looked around for anything to use for him to grab onto so he could hoist himself over. I spotted a broken branch across the way and went to fetch it. I bent down and picked it up, running back I noticed, Flynn had already fallen through.