Black Holes and Revelations
Chapter 3
SSS
A/N: This is the only story that I keep getting negative reviews on. I can't say I honestly care; like I've said a thousand times, this is a website, not The New York Times. Sorry if you don't like it, but here's a simple solutions; DON'T READ IT!
SSS
We sit in silence for a good long while. Aubrey rocks back and forth, clearly on the verge of tears. Claire whispers to her, rubs her back, kisses her forehead; all the things a mother does to comfort her child. I watch as Aubrey grasps Claire's hands, and as tears begin falling from her eyes.
"Shh..." Claire doesn't know what else to say to her, nor do I. We both have no idea what's outside the walls that surround us.
"I want to go home, Mom." Aubrey whispers to her, and Eileen comes over to her.
"It's ok, sweetie." Eileen tells her softly," It's going to be over soon. I promise."
"Does she always get like this?" I ask Henry, who nods and continues to look at her.
"I think Bree hates this shithole more than all of us put together. But at least you all are here with her now."
"Is there absolutely no way out of here?"
Henry laughs slightly, and replied," No. We've pretty much decided thtt if there was, we would have found it by now."
"Look... when we cme here, we came through a hole in the wall. It lead us to the bowling alley. Maybe we can all go through there."
"That's how I got here too. Eventually, the hole disappears."
His pessimism annoys me. I contemplate hitting him, grabbing him and telling him to think of a way to get us out of here, but honestly, he's bigger than me, and holding a shotgun. My prospects of kicking his ass without a weapon aren't good.
"Plus, I'm willing to bet that your room has strangely sealed itself, right?'
"How did you know?"
"How do you think I got here?" He asks before walking away.
When I look back at Claire and Aubrey, I see that Aubrey has her head rested under Claire's, and that Claire is stroking her hair. I was always jealous of their relationship; not so much of the fact that Claire was closer to Aubrey than I ever could be, but because Claire always focused all of her attention on Aubrey. It sounds selfish, and I mentally reprimand myself for thinking this way, but I always almost... resented my own daughter because she was my wife's top priority, a position I once occupied. I hated myself for feeling that way and still do. If this is hell, as Henry told me it was, then I deserved to be here for having these thoughts.
There is a deafening shriek outside the door, but it isn't a human. Jake goes to look through a miniscule hole in the door.
"Pyramid-head." He whispers," Everyone be quiet, stay low to the floor."
I wonder what could possibly have a pyramid-shaped head, if this things name is literal. I almost don't want to picture it. Aubrey's tears stop suddenly, and fearlessness pours from her like rain. The tears that she doesn't wipe away dry, and she gently pushes Claire down so she's close to the floor. Jacob, Henry, and Aubrey stand facing the door, holding their weapons. I never pictured my daughter as a gunslinger, but when she flips from tears to fortitude in two seconds flat, she seems to fit the title well. The shrieking noise fades, and the three standing visibly sigh with relief.
"Ok, everyone, it's good. The darkness should be clearing zoon."
"It's late, Henry. We might as well stay here." Eileen tells him with a yawn.
For the first time I notice that there are cots spread all over the room. This is where they all sleep.
"Aubrey, I'm sure you and your mom can fit in your bed, and Jack, you can have my bed." Jake tells me.
"No, no, man... I'm not tired. It's ok." I reply, not wanting to steal the poor guy's bed.
"No, seriously, it's my night to stay up and keep watch."
If I wasn't so tired suddenly, I would have refused his bed still. He helps me pull it over beside Aubrey and Claire who are already cuddled together, falling asleep. I swallow the feelings of resentment and jealousy and lay down to go to sleep. One day back with my previously thought to be deceased daughter, and already, I'm complaining. What the fuck kind of a father am I?
SSS
I wake up to a scream the next morning. My eyes shoot open, and I sit up, terrified of finding someone dead or dying. I find no corpses when I turn around, but to my horror, I see that Aubrey is missing. Claire is crying hysterically, and Eileen tries to comfort her, but she is inconsolable. Jake, normally composed and fearless, looks terrified as he turns and runs out of the store, calling Aubrey's name.
"She wouldn't go off by herself. She's smarter than that!" Henry snaps at Jeremiah, clearly infuriated at the suggestion that Aubrey ran off. He takes off after Jake, and after gently touching Claire's arm to comfort her, I tell her I'll be back and run after Henry.
The feelings I had last night have resided and they feel alien to me now. Maybe it was just the stress of the day fucking with my head, making me think bad things about my daughter. Whatever the reason, I feel no acrimony towards my daughter anymore.
I mentally swear on my soul that I won't lose her again. I won't watch Claire suffer her loss all over again, and I won't grieve for my daughter again.
Even if the impending darkness strikes, and I know that it will, I will not go back to the hotel without Aubrey.