Lost in the Flames

A Box And A Video

"Brian, are you sure?" I ask, gripping his hand tight between my own, boney hands.

Brian has been out of the hospital for a day and a half now. He had to get stitches and needs to take pain pills for the next 2 months.

"Go, I'll be fine. Avory is coming over," he tries to sit up off the couch.

"What's going on with you two?" I slowly push him back into the couch.

"Um, were kinda...dating," he says.

"Oh. I thought something was-" I pause, realizing what he had just said. "What?!?"

"Ally, calm down." He rests his hands on my shoulder.

"Calm down? How can I possibly calm down?" I might be overreacting slightly but, I'm just territorial.

"I was going to tell you but, you were off with your father. When you came back, when I was about to tell you, I got shot!" He shouts before gripping his stomach.

I sigh. "Your right, I'm sorry Brian I just. Don't leave me, okay?" I whisper.

"I would never, you know that Ally."

I nod. "I'll see you later," I hug him lightly before making my way to the front door.

...

As I arrive at my fathers apartment building a wave of uneasiness washes over me.

I've never been to my house after the fire. I'm surprised there even is a house. I just assumed the county mowed over it and left the empty land alone.

"Ready?" He asks.

I nod slowly, and follow him to his car.

The ride is quiet and calm except for the occasional light conversation.

When we arrive, my father and I step out, staring wide eyed at a huge two story house.

My dad looks down at me and gives a sympathetic smile before knocking on the door.

A woman about 5 feet opens the door with a baby in her arms.

"Yes?" Her squeaky voice somehow calming me.

"Hi, my name is Tim Beckett and this is my daughter Ally. We used to live here before, well, may we come in?" My father asserts.

"Of course! It's so nice to meet you," her smile welcomes us as we follow her to what seems to be the living room.

My father and I take a seat on her couch while she puts her child in a baby pen.

"Can I get you some coffee? Soda?" She asks, taking a seat on the arm chair in front of us.

"No thanks," my father smiles.

"How long have you lived here?" I interrupt. Enough with the small talk, I need answers.

"About nine years now. My husband and I bought the land right after our wedding. We spent our honeymoon clearing out the rubble and rebuilding this house from the ground up. We had all three of our kids here. This house holds a special place in my heart," she smiles, placing her hand on her heart and looking around the room.

She seems so sweet.

The rest of the conversation is just talking about this amazing the land and weather was and still is. I'm actually happy that she was the one to buy the land.

"Well, thanks again for having us Karen. We should get going," my father and I stand from the couch.

"I almost forgot. Before you go," she stands and walks to her fireplace, grabbing a box from the mantel. "When my husband and I were looking through the rubble, we found this. It has a lock and code so, we never bothered opening it. We wanted to give it back to you but everyone said you were dead."

She places the small box in my hands.

"I hope that whatever is in this box answers all the questions you could possibly have," she smiles.

I look up from the box, a hot tear rolls down my cheek. "Thank you."

She nods, waving up goodbye.

"Well," my father says, gripping the steering wheel. "Open it."

I graze my fingers over the steel box.

"It has a code? I don't know what it would be."

"Your birthday Ally. Our passwords were always your birthday," my father laughs lightly.

A small smile appears on my face as I click in the numbers.

My eyes widen slightly at the contents.

"Well?"

"There's a letter," my fingers pull it out. "And a video tape," I half ask.

"We can watch the tape later. Read the letter," my father looks at me then back to the road.

Dearest Family. I am hiding under a table in the closet but, details aren't important. I hope that you survive this horror and read this letter. If I had one thing to say it would be that I love you. No matter where I go in death, I will always be with you. I know the accident wasn't set accidentally so, I grabbed the surveillance tapes. I hope they help in the future. Love always, your heart and soul, Mom

Tears swell in my eyes as I read the letter aloud.

As I look up, my father is parked in his driveway with red, puffy eyes.

After a 3 hour, or what seems to be, hug, we run inside, putting the tape inside the DVD player and pressing play.

Forget chairs! I kneel in front of the T.V. with the letter pressed against my chest.

I want whoever set that fire to be thrown in jail so fast and for so long that they rot and shrivel up to the point that they become their cell. I want them to die in pain and with hate as my poor mother did.

The video is quiet and dark for the first two hours. It's a side view of the house with a perfect shot into the kitchen.

All of a sudden, a short woman opens the window, crawling inside.

"No," I cover my mouth with my hands, muffling my words.

"Do you know that woman?" My father asks.

I shoo him away, watching intently at the screen.

A small light shows through the window and I just know she turned on the stove burners. She then crawls back out the windows, pouring gasoline all over then, running away with a perfect view of her face.

All I can do is scream. This is not happening.

"Who is that?" My father raises his voice, shaking my shoulders.

I the box at the screen, cracking it.

I cry into his arm as he holds me against him.

"I-It's Ms. Burks," I stutter.