Survivor Chapter 2

I run my finger along the silver blade of the knife. Dried blood stains are visible. Some are really old, but most are fresh. Fresh blood stains that promised never to appear…

I look at my sister. Her eyes are filling up with tears once more, her eyes asking for this one task to be completed. A task known as murder. One I may not be able to complete…

More sparks hit me, and the smoke is forcing its way into my throat, but I don't feel either. I drop the knife and bring my hand to my sister's flaky neck. I wrap my hands around it. It's dry and burning.

"Bethany, I'm sorry. I love you sister. I'm going to be a murderer." I whisper.

"I want this, Trease. You tried to save me."

I can feel myself begin to shake with anger. "No, I didn't try! I just cared about myself and let that stupid dresser fall on top of you! And now I'm killing you!" I snap at her.

"I want it. Calm down, and just hurry up. Then you can save yourself." Her voice is calm, but her words hurt like a bee sting.

"I love you Treasa. I'll see you soon, someday, sister." She murmurs. Her hands somehow gain strength to grab the knife that had landed beside her. She brought the knife to her throat.

"No, you won't die like that!" I yell. I yank it out of her hands and it clatters to the floor. Taking a deep breath, I grab her neck and bend it, ending her life with a quick snap.

I just killed my sister.

She's only 17; three years older than me.

I'm a murderer.

The words race over and over in my head and I burst into tears, sobbing loudly.

"Where is your sister?" A voice growls from behind me. No, not Dad. Anybody but him. Please.

I slowly turn and stare into my dad's eyes. He's covered in soot and has multiple severe burns but he looks like he could care less. He's already breathing heavily and when he eyes my dead sister on the floor and the knife, his nostrils flare and anger covers his expression.

"You. Killed. Your. Sister." He spits each word out and as much as I want to hang my head, I don't. He would see it as a cowardly move and hurt me.

"She was d-dying. The roof collapsed on her. I never laid a hand on her." I say calmly, instantly regretting my choice of words.

"So you didn't even try to save her?" He growls. And then he's charging at me. His huge hand grabs my shirt and he drags me out of the room. As soon as we go into the hall, the rest of the roof collapses, burying Bethany. My dad senses that the house is disintegrating and he sprints, letting go of me. I follow, because I have to get out anyways.

My dad darts down the steps and I go after him, nearly tripping and twisting my ankle. He swings the front door open and we scamper out. Just as we jump down the last step that leads up to our porch, the whole house gives away and the any roof that hadn't fallen before, collapses. I watch in horror as the house I had grown up in "dies", taking my two sisters, mom, and memories with it.

"So you killed your sister, you nasty little brat? Couldn't save her, you just had to save yourself." The voice is mocking and I flinch, remembering the trouble I was in.

A strong hand grabs my shoulder and pulls me backward. I stumble and drop to the sidewalk, receiving a huge scrape on my elbow. I stand and face my dad, ready to fight. He throws a punch to my gut, and I attempt to kick him in the chest. His eyes turn red and I swear I can see steam come out of his ears. I brace myself as he grabs me, and hurtles toward the house.

"You kill your sister and then try to hurt your own father?" He barks as he stops at the blazing house. I resist the urge to cower in fear.

"Maybe you should get a taste of your own medicine, see how you like being burnt!" He sneers and then I'm thrown at the house. The door easily breaks and I crash to part of the wall had collapsed. A sharp pain runs through my shoulder when I stop sliding. Then suddenly, I'm surrounded my smoke and fire. I try to get up but I hear my dad shout, "Remember, sweetie, I have a gun in the woods. Do not try to flee."

I look for the other escape route- the back door. But fire is blocking any way to it. No. No, please. The fire is eating away, at everything and in seconds it will light me in flames.

I roll away, but there's no difference, for the fire is coming from all directions.

I brace myself, and then it happens. A sharp, burning pain runs up my legs, up my body, down each arm. I screech in pain. I'm on fire and it freaking hurts.

I do my best to keep the fire off of my face but it fights back and wins and my cheeks burn as my skin is ripped away, revealing fresh, raw flesh.

I roll and roll, desperately trying to get the flames off of me. I give up on my pants leg and hobble to the front door.

Only problem is there's a gate of fire in front of it.

I try again to put my pants leg out and it dies eventually.

Taking a deep breath, I scurry through the "gate", screaming as the fire yet again hits my body.

I trip on the porch steps and smash onto the sidewalk, my right arm cracking as I do, but there's nothing to compare to the horrible pain my whole body is in. I begin to cry with heaving sobs and the tears flow down my crispy face, only making it feel worse.

"I never said you could come out, you little…" A voice snarls from behind me. I don't bother turning around. There's a gunshot and a sharp pain adds to the burning pain in my side. I grab it, beginning to sob even more.

"Get up, you coward." My dad sneers. But it's impossible for me to follow his demands. My body is in just too much pain to make even the slightest move.

"I said get up!" He repeats and there's another shot. The bullet misses though to my luck and I hear distant voices screaming and shouting.

"You are under arrest for child abuse and illegal use of your gun. Drop the gun and put your hands up. You have the right to remain silent." A female voice says coldly. There's a clatter and I can hear my dad cussing under his breath like a sailor.

"I would never hurt my child." He snaps.

"We saw you from the woods. You pushed her on the sidewalk and then made her go in the house. When she was out, instead of helping her, you shot her." She shoots back, not leaving one detail out. Then I see something in my dad's eyes I never thought I would see:

Fear.