The World As We Know It Is Over

Drowning In Nightmares

The warm and delicious smell of deer stew reached his nostrils as his older brother, his protector, set the pot on the wooden dining table.

It was Sunday night. They always spent Sundays together at the seed cabin, it was a tradition. No matter how busy they were, no matter how serious things were, they never skipped family dinner.

"That looks amazing brother." Joseph said, smiling at Jacob.

"It better be. You know how hard it was to catch that deer?" John chimed next to him causing him to chuckle.

"Mhm, it was extremely hard to kill Bambi Johnny. Good job."  Jacob said as he chuckled making John scoff and rest his hand on his heart in mock hurt. On the inside, Jacob was proud of his baby Brother hunting that baby deer. And Joseph could see the pride in his older brother's eyes.

Jacob poured them all a good amount of stew in their bowls before taking his seat. Joseph took each of his brother's hands between his, for a joined grace. They all shut their eyes and waited for Joseph to say the prayer.

"We thank you God for laying this delicious food in front of us, for not letting us go hungry for another day. I thank you God for blessing me with such a caring family. And thank you God for keeping us safe under you gracious arms. Amen."

His brows knitted together when his brother's didn't confirm his prayers. Slowly blinking his eyes to see both of them looking at him with lifeless hollow eyes, bleeding from their chest.

"God was never there Joseph." John said. Blood spilling out from his mouth and dripping onto his stew.

"God was never on your side brother. It's your fault we're dead. You did this to us." Jacob spoke. Joseph flinched as two shots rang out watching as His brother's fell to the floor with a loud thud* there were bullet holes between their eyes, painting the wooden floors an ugly crimson red as the blood rushed out from their wounds.

The deputy walked up to Joseph with a wide smile on her face, the gun that she had just used to shoot his brother's in the head with was in her hand, swaying it around in pride.

Tears fell from his eyes as the deputy circled around him, walking over the corpse of his brothers bodies disrespectfully. He closed his eyes when he felt her presence behind him, her hands coming to rest on his shoulder heavily, giving him a tight squeeze. She closed in and took his ear between her teeth, laughing when he shuddered.

"It was all in your head. Your brothers and your flock died for nothing." She whispered the words wickedly in his ear canal. "God was never real Joseph."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joseph woke with a violent jolt, his breathing heavy and his body soaked with cold sweat. The salty tears burning as it filled his saddened eyes.

"Why God?" He sobbed as he rolled off the couch to his knees. "Why Did You Let Her Take Away My Family....My Flock? Why Did You Take Away My Family Once More?" He sobbed and shook with sadness, waiting for answers but receiving none.

As if something in his mind had snapped, the sadness went away and instead fiery rage took over, blinding him and turning his vision red, his ears ringing loudly and all common sense gone, buried deep in the back of his head now, maybe turned off.

He raised to his feet and looked around the room, breathing like an angry bull. An evil smirk crossed his face when he found a fishing rod leaning against the wall. Taking it in his hand to test the weight. He harshly pulled the string and hook till it snapped off the rod before doing the same to the reel. Now only the narrow stick remained.

Joseph walked heavily on the cold cement floor, his footsteps echoing through the narrow hall informing her that he was indeed coming. He fished out the key from his jean pocket when he reached the room the deputy was kept in. Quickly unlocking the door and walking inside before closing it behind himself and locking it once more.