Chapter 6
“Please!” I squealed, unable to understand why the door to the bedroom was rattling, the windows crashing in downstairs.
My mother, in all her beauty stroked my coppery hair, her pale blue eyes filled with nothing other than love as she lifted me into the air-vent that lay behind the wardrobe; attempting to shush my cries of confusion. My father shoving the dresser in front of the door as shouts echoed from just down the stairs, the shouts of men, voices that I didn’t recognise. What was happening? Why is mum shoving me and Sarah into such a small place?
My sister smiled at me, soothing my tears of terror as mum closed the vent, “It’ll be okay Ariel, we are just going to play hide and seek.”
“Mum, don’t leave me!” I sobbed, still unable to comprehend the situation we were in.
Sarah placed a hand over my mouth, muffling my cries and squeals as mum turned around to look up at us, her hair pulled into a tight bun on the top of her head. But that was how she always wore it, she said it was easier to manage that way.
“Do it now!” my father shouted, grunting as someone shoved the door from the other side.
“Sarah, whatever happens stay in the vent. Please, don’t let Ariel see. Keep her safe.” My mother sobbed, I had never seen her cry before, it was strange. Why was she so sad?
Who was trying to get in? Why did we have to play hide and seek? It was late, I had been in my bed when the shouting started, but dad woke me. Why had he done that? I don’t understand. I looked up at my sister, what did she know?
“Promise me you'll protect her Sarah!” my mother whispered quickly, the echoing bangs closing in around us.
“I promise mummy.” Sarah cried.
Mum put the vent cover back as I tried to push it away, I didn’t like small spaces, the fabric wardrobe was pushed in front of the small hole we were laid in; Sarah pining my arms down with just one of hers. Why wouldn't she let me go? Why couldn’t I go with mum?
“I love you, always.” I heard mum say, the fabric of the wardrobe almost transparent as I watched her stumble towards my father, barely able to move in the tight space. I had never seen them like this, they were so strong, mother didn’t cry. I didn’t like it, I wanted to get out.
Though I knew that I couldn’t, Sarah told me to stay quiet, that it was important we weren’t found. I didn’t understand, but I knew something was wrong, that someone wanted to hurt us. But why? Was this because I put blue paint in Lucy's hair at school? I didn’t mean it; it was just a silly joke. It’ll wash put in the bath.
Father stepped back as the door was ripped from the hinges, using his body to protect mum from the shards of wood that rippled through the room. He lifted his shotgun, ready to pull the trigger at a second's notice. But it wouldn’t aid him, the intruders weren’t like mum or dad, they were different somehow. They didn’t need to breathe as we did, they didn’t need to blink to keep their eyes moist. The four creatures stepped in, surrounding my parents as I attempted to cry out, Sarah's hand preventing me from doing so as she held it over my mouth.
But I had to help them, I had to warn them that the gun won’t work, I needed to help. My parents stood tall and defiantly in the face of death, the creatures closing in around them, blocking any chance they had of escaping. Sarah pushed my head down, whilst keeping a firm grip on me, shielding my eyes from what was to come.
Then, I heard it... The ear-piercing screams that filled the room, the screams of my mother...
I woke in a panic, my vision blurred against the harsh florescent light above where I was laid, it took a second before I had the courage to move, to test my legs. Yet, despite my fear, I was back to normal; I could move my entire body without any issues. My mind raced over all that had happened in the past few days, and that dreadful night seven years ago... Why did they have to kill them? Why couldn’t we make some sort of deal with The Chosen? A sort of truce. I sighed deeply, it wasn’t like that was ever going to happen, they were undead, they didn’t care who they killed so long as they get to carry on their sad eternal existence.
But I just couldn’t help it, I wanted everything to go back to how it was when I was younger, I wanted my life back. My mother, father. I wanted to grow into a woman alongside my sister. Show her that I was capable of taking care of myself. I didn’t want to be a witch, I didn’t want the power, the responsibility. I just wanted to be me, a normal teenager. At least, that’s what I had always thought.
I looked around for the first time once my eyes had adjusted enough to the blinding light, noticing that there wasn’t one window in the room; the walls made of thick stone. My heart thumped in reckless motions within my chest, the room was small, smaller than what I was used to; the petite bed I was laid on hard and uncomfortable. Beside me was a chest of drawers, a single glass of water sat upon it. Yet, that was all I could see, the room bare and unwelcoming.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, using the stone wall to help me to my feet, my entire body unsure of its self. There were two doors in the room, one at either side, curious I turned left and headed for the closest door, taking a deep breath before I opened it. I sighed when I poked my head into the space that was smaller than the room itself, no toilet, just a shower cubicle; how did they expect me to pee? Though, I supposed that the undead has no need for toilets, did they? I mean, did vampires have to urinate? Could they?
I shook my head in disgust, why was I thinking of a vampire’ bowl movements? That’s just weird. I closed the door slowly, turning on my heal and heading for the heavy metal door I believed would lead me out of the petite room, only; as I pulled the handle it wouldn’t move. The door wouldn’t open. It was too heavy to pull.