Here There Be Monsters (OLD VERSION)

Chapter 3: I Don't Think We're in Illinois Anymore

Fall 1991

The neighborhood was still the same as it had been every day that his dad had driven through it, normally Eli's head would be resting against the window though as he was lectured for whatever mistake he had made that day. But today's ride was silent, and though the neighborhood was as lively as ever, sun filtering through the leaves and casting tiny shadows on the sidewalk, neighbors walking bundled up against the Illinois fall chill, the thick invisible cloud of darkness hung over Eli's head like a threatening storm. His father sat in the driver's seat, staring forward and choosing not to break the heavy silence, emotions impossible to read on his face. Eli sat much the same, too much thought going through his head to worry about the length of the overgrown front yard or having to confront the bullies at school. Mom was dead. Even just hearing it in his own thoughts felt wrong, foreign, like somebody had placed in there and hoped he wouldn't notice. It didn't feel natural. What felt even more unnatural though was the funeral he had just attended and the dinner afterward, family friends approaching and giving their condolences, all while telling him how strong he was. No relatives showed up, and Eli wasn't sure he even had any, something he might have to ask his dad about later. But not now, not with his dad like this.

He didn't feel very strong like they had said he was, all he had done was call the ambulance to come tell his father she was dead and take her body to the morgue. He didn't stop her from pulling the trigger. His dad didn't have money for a clean-up service so the next day they had gotten a bucket and scratched the blood off the ceiling themselves, his dad not saying a single word as they finished the gruesome work. As his dad cleaned, standing on a step stool to reach, Eli had retrieved buckets of water. He could still feel when a drop of blood dropped directly on his nose, the smell threatening to overwhelm him, but he dared not move to avoid the attention of his father, whose emotions still hid behind a mask. Eli had a mask of his own, which he maintained as he wiped the blood away with his hand, the ring of a bicycle bell sounded just outside the house as a group of teenagers rode by their house, unaware of the scene within that peeling white house.

The truck suddenly came to a stop and Eli was pulled out of his thoughts, noticing the truck had pulled into the driveway. His dad got out of the truck and slammed the door, briskly walking into the house and barely giving a glance to Eli as he hurried behind him. He caught up and entered the house, closing the front door and turning to see his father already disappearing down the hall, almost at a run now. Hesitantly following, his father entered their bedroom and a few moments later a loud crash echoed through the house. Peaking through the doorway he caught a glimpse of his dad before a lampshade sailed inches from his head and shattered on the wall behind him, pieces scattering all over the hardwood. Yelping, he backed up and almost lost his footing as a bedside table came next, which hit the wall and left a sizable hole in the drywall before it fell to the floor along with the pieces of the lamp. Only now did he hear the voice of his dad yelling, a primal and gut-wrenching scream of pure rage, and panic rooted his feet to the ground. More curses than he had heard in his life spat from his dad's lips as he continued the work of destroying the room, everything left in pieces in a matter of minutes. All the while Eli stood just outside the door, pressed against the wall and afraid to peek into the room and get struck with another flying lamp.

When silence finally settled over the house the only noise he could hear was the labored breathing of his dad, and he realized he had been holding his breath and inhaled a small gasp. Suddenly footsteps approached and his dad stepped out of the room, standing and staring at Eli, the mask having completely fallen away. He was whispering something to himself and instinctively he leaned closer to try and catch what he was saying. Then his dad stepped forward, grabbing Eli by his collar, lifting him and pressing him against the wall, anger pulsing through his expression. His smaller build was no match for his dad's greater strength so he quickly gave up, mind freezing up as the incomprehensibility of what was happening overwhelmed him.