A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 3 (Part 1)

     Another year went by after Oliver finished his school year. The year is now 1819. It has been almost two decades since the passing of Oliver's family. But his mind never moved on from the traumatizing tragedy he experienced as a child.

     Oliver lies in his cold bed inside his silent bedroom. The darkness inside the room makes it impossible for one to navigate through. And the air is quiet until Oliver begins moaning as his head shakes erratically.

     Oliver sleeps peacefully on his bed, wearing a white cotton shirt and shorts paired with stockings. Suddenly, he starts grunting in his slumber as he jerks around the mattress—as if something is chasing him. The intensity of his memory pulls him into the past, making him furrow his brows and grind his teeth.

     Whimpering, Oliver reminisces about the tragic day of his family's deaths. Oliver submerges into his dream, travelling inside his memory and seeing his younger self with his father, mother, two brothers and sister. Oliver looks around, and the familiarity of the indoors arouses his fear.

     Oliver keeps his mouth shut as he stares at his younger self. He then glances at his father, Albert, reaching his hand on the front door. Oliver recalls what will happen next. His adrenaline surges in his veins as his eyes widen.

     Startled, Oliver begins panicking and yelling. He desperately hopes his attempt can change the past. However, despite his loud cries, no one responds or looks at him.

"Guys! Stop! Don't open that door! Please! Don't open the door! Don't open th—"

     Oliver witnesses the same hair-raising scene in his dream. He watches his father open the front door—and his family members collapse, one by one, as bullets shoot through their bodies. Then, he hears loud, echoing gunshots that pierce through his eardrums.

Oliver snapped out of his dream and woke up. "Gah!!" he screamed.

     Oliver got up from his bed and put his hand on his chest as he gasped for air. He lost his control over his breath as he panted loudly. His jaw began to shiver, and tears leaked from his eyes.

Suddenly, Layla yelled a snobbish shout, and her voice echoed through the walls. "Hey, kid! Shut up!"

     Oliver grabs a pillow. Then, he buries his face on it. He begins whining as he lets out a loud wail. He cries and cries, wishing for a change. However, he remains stuck in a cruel reality where miseries fill his heart until it shatters.

     Anger replaces his sorrows as Oliver groans and punches the bed. He then throws the pillow across the room as he screeches furiously. Oliver grips his hair with firm hands and runs his fingernails across his head as he conceals his gushing tears.

     Despite his efforts to stop his tears, Oliver's eyes stream down an ocean as he growls. He hops off his cold bed. Lashing out a blaring cry, he tosses his bedsheet and blanket as he stomps on the floor.

"Kid! If you don't shut up, you'll get the whip!" Layla yelled louder, and her voice went across walls from the other room.

     Oliver neglects Layla and her shout. He silences himself as his lips become a barrier to his cries. He then glances at the window beside his bed and approaches it. His forehead leans on the glass as he gazes at the dim outdoors.

     The feeling of acquiring liberty hastens in Oliver's brain, and he wants to gain his freedom. Without hesitation, he unlocks the window and slides it open. He then fits through the frame, steps on a thick wall trimming outside, and takes a moment to shut the window.

     Standing on the thick wall trimming, Oliver looks down. He sees a great distance between him and the ground. While staring at the grass in the dark, unlit backyard, Oliver takes a deep, sharp breath through his nose.

     The wind starts gusting as Oliver stares at the ground from the second floor. He gathers his courage as he takes deeper breaths. After getting his confidence, Oliver bravely leaps off.