Memories,

Chapter Two

Father

It was the eve of Johann's fourth birthday, and by his standards, it was one of his best days ever. No one he saw that day had given him anything but smiles. And they weren't the ones he usually got, hollow and full of pity; these were true, happy smiles. Even though it was just a few of his mother's best friends, none of his schoolmates, he still felt as if they were his friends. They had willingly come all the way out here for him! No one had ever cared that much about him before. Well, besides his mother. She loved him like no one else ever would, and he knew it.

Now everyone was leaving, it was only his family now. He had already shown his mother all of his presents, now he gleefully ran off to do the same with his father. Someone had even given him a nice, new, shiny red ball to play with! Maybe his father would join him! But then again, he was a busy man, one of the best (and only) doctors in the area. So Johann wouldn't be too surprised if he didn't have the time. But… It was his birthday wasn't it?

So he might as well try.

Johann ran down the corridor that led to his father's study. He pushed the heavy oak door open with quite some effort, a smile crossing his features as he caught sight of his father. He was smiling too. However, he wasn't looking at his son. He was staring at something that was lying on his desk. Johann walked up to his father, tugging on his sleeve to gain his attention.

His father turned to face him slowly, still smiling.

"What is it Johann?"

"Father, can you come out to play? I got all sorts of fun things today! Oh daddy, please?"

His father reached down and ruffled his blonde hair affectionately. A hint of regret flashed in his eyes and Johann's heart fell.

"I'm sorry my son, but not right now." He turned Johann around and gave him a gentle push. "But don't let that stop you from having fun now, you hear?"

Johann smiled sadly.

"It won't."

"Good. Run along now, Johann."

Johann turned and walked out of the room slowly. His father turned back to his desk, still wearing his smile. He picked the revolver up from the desk, and held it up to his head. At the sound of the gunshot, Johann whipped around, only to be greeted by a terrible sight. He ran back to his father's side. He was dead where he sat. Johann's eyes widened in shock.

Blood. There was so much, it was everywhere! Splashes of crimson dotted his father's once immaculate clothing, and stained his precious papers. It dotted his face, his hands… Johann tugged on his sleeve, hoping to awaken his father, but it was all in vain. His father's corpse, instead of stirring, pitched forward off it's chair, and would have toppled onto his son if not for a quick scramble backwards.

Johann's mother by this time, had reached the study and rushed forward to embrace her son, crushing him to her protectively.

"Shh… It's alright darling. I'm still here…" She cooed, carrying him away from the body without so much as a backwards glance. "It's alright… Your mother will never leave you. I'll never let anything hurt you my sweet. It will be just us now, okay darling? We won't need anyone else…Just us…" His mother's words did little to assuage his fears. But she was right. He let her soothing words, now barely intelligible, wrap themselves around him and carry him into blessed sleep.

His mother carried him away, resting him down upon his own bed, before walking back to lock the room that had once held her husband, but now only held his lifeless corpse.

She would never open it again.

Oh, hey I'm posting the first four chapters up tonight. Did you know it's 12:20AM right now? XD I'm supposed to have been in bed at 11. Sigh.