Darkness Flickers

Chapter Three

< Isla >

I was walking out of my house with my two beautiful daughters in hand: Lily-Rose and Olivia. They are mostly referred to as the twins. However they looked nothing alike.

One resembled the opposite parent. A little funny when you think about it.

Lily-Rose had naturally brown and blonde hair cascading down past her shoulders. Full eyelashes with a small pointed nose. Full rosy cheeks and fair skin – making her look ethereal in the most perfect possible way. Icey blue eyes accompany her winter glow. She was quite tall for her age, as well as quite slim. Both me and my husband talk about applying her to model in those toddler shoots.

She much resembled me; although I shall always argue her attitude comes from her stubborn Father. He thinks otherwise.

Olivia was the more timid twin. Sweet doll eyes with a mixture of earth-like colours. Her hair was slightly darker, more of an auburn colour. She had fair skin but her cheeks remained cold and icy. Some light freckles dotted around her sweet face. Her cheeks weren't as full as her sisters. They were more sunken in and her face was a little more defined compared to the other children at playgroup.

She very much resembled him. My husband I mean. They were a little closer than I was with her – but I could never envy that.

I looked up at my husband, Ace. Oh how lucky I was...

He was handsome. So handsome. He was a great father too. Honestly, he was anything I could have asked for in a man. He was goofy and outgoing. He never failed to put a smile on my face.

He had brown eyes, like a puppy, and soft brown eyelashes. I always question how it is that men get the lovely luscious eyelashes. He had dark brown hair which was almost always freshly shaven into a fade along the sides, with some longer waves at the top. His build was strong and confident. His skin was always flawless – which I for one was always jealous of.

We were taking our children out for a small picnic across from our house in a wooded park.

It was chilly, the very end of autumn. Orange leaves scattered across the plains. Trees protecting us from the harsh winter winds slowly trying to creep into our town. It remained quiet and lifeless: in such a beautiful way. We stayed alone together in this forest of wonders.

The girls squealed with delight. Their angelic faces plastered with nothing but evidence of fun and love.

Everything was going so well.

Once Ace had suggested an innocent game of hide and seek, everything crumbled...

The man.

The man in the black suit. A devilish smile haunted his face.

He stole me away. Away from my family. Away from the love of my life. My children.

I now lay in the dark. Beaten and bruised. They stick in my mind. As if they were some kind of addiction that I felt I needed to stay alive.

Except, I did need them to stay alive. They are the very reason I am here today.

Alive that is. They aren't the reason I am here locked away in a cold room alone.

Alone...

At least that's what I thought.

I could hear the faint breaths of someone. Someone young. My memory was too fucked to remember if he had dragged any other victims in here. My face remained on the stone concrete beneath my tired body. I wheezed slightly as I tried to talk. My mouth was dry – as if being trapped in a desert.

I was trapped. Just not in a desert.

My voice broke into a faint murmur, "Help.."

< Avery >

It takes me a few moments to analyse her voice before thinking about how to respond.

What if this was a trick?

I sigh harshly and sit up straighter. I cough painfully

"I can't help you.. " I say gently.

I look ahead, waiting for her response. I hear some shuffling and groans – I assume they were sitting up.

"Did he take you too.?" She replies. Her voice was quiet.

I could smell the metallic warm scent of blood. I take a brief minute to reply; although that minute felt like eternity.

"He knocked me out." I say coldly, "What happened to you?"

She takes another few moments. At this point in a civilised conversation, I'd be getting impatient and end up walking away. Except this wasn't very civilised, and there was no where I could walk away. If anything, this random woman could be my ticket out of here.

I hear her sniffle and sigh gently (and I prepare myself for a whole life story), "I was out with my daughters and husband. We were playing hide and seek while having a picnic... when this man- no. Monster appeared out of no where and he just..." She breathes gently, "what am I doing here?"

Her voice sounded muffled. I could hear she was covering her mouth. Perhaps for warmth. I glance around when realising my eyes have focussed some more. I see her shadow and I stand up. My legs feel like jelly as I take my first few steps. I hear her gasp a little.

"Sorry.. I'm coming over to you, is that okay?" She does not reply. I roll my eyes and say slightly louder "Say your answer. I can't hear you nod or shake your head."

"Right.. yes that's okay.." she sniffs. Some hints of embarrassment revealed in her voice.

I stumble clumsily over. I reach for the wall and press my back against it, sliding down beside her. Her shaky breaths feel close. I shuffle a little, piecing together what to say.

"I'm Avery.. Avery Cole." I hold my breath waiting for her response, listening closely to her struggle to find words.

"Isla Spencer.."