The Bleeding Rose

A Furious Mother

The house shook as an aggressive pounding thundered at the front door. The slams echoing through the Clover household. 

Trey padded over to the bowing door. Rubbing the bleariness out of his eyes as a yawn forced his mouth open. He unfolded his glasses and pushed them onto the bridge of his nose. His younger siblings trailing behind him like ducklings as they went to investigate. Trey clicked a light switch, the room being cast in a yellow glow that faded to leave the darkness of the house to peek out at the edge. 

"Its a monster!" One of his younger sisters cried, her eyes looking up at him widely as she clung to the fabric of his pajama pants.

"No, its not a monster" Trey reassured, patting the top of her head as he peeked through the peep hole to see a silhouette outside the door.

"It's come to eat you!" One of the oldest of his brothers threatened the littler boys. Raising his hands up to look like claws. 

"Hey, don't scare your siblings. Everyone go back to bed" Trey ordered, his tone void of any anger, more so drained and tired of their antics. One hand clamped down on the door handle while the other pointed out towards the siblings rooms. Groans of protest rose into the air. But they didn't say anything else as they marched off to their rooms. Once they had disappeared into their rooms Trey turned back to the door. Pulling it open to reveal the very upset looking Mrs. Roseheart.

"Where is he! Where have you hidden him!" She screamed at him, poking a rather accusing finger into Treys chest. Not giving Trey any hint as to what she was screaming about. 

"He? Do you mean Riddle? I haven't seen him-"

"Oh don't you even start! I know you and that other boy lie like snakes. You're hiding him from me. Where is he?"

"No, Mrs. Rosehart I haven't seen Riddle since he got home yesterday. Is something wrong? Is he missing?" Trey questioned right back, a dread dipping into his stomach. Others in the household began to stir at the racket Mrs. Roseheart had been creating. Caters head peeking out from his room, eyes just barely open as he peered down the hallway and to the open door. Treys mother and father also bustling tiredly out of their rooms and to Treys side. 

"No, he's not missing, he ran away because-"

"Riddle ran away?" Cater suddenly appeared over Treys shoulder. Worry seeping through his tired gaze. 

"Because you all have spread your poison!" She finished. Trey and Cater exchanging worried glances before looking back to Mrs. Roseheart. 

"Woah woah, back up a step there. Riddle ran away?" Cater said with concern and doubt. 

"Riddle would never run away" Trey agreed, shaking his head from side to side. 

"Riddle is like, the most rule abiding and reasonable person we know. He wouldn't just run away for nothing"

"...Mrs. Roseheart...why did he feel the need to run away" Treys eyes narrowed, both Cater and Trey eyeing her up and down.

"No! this is not an interrogation. You are going to hand over my son right now or-"

"I told you Ma'am he isn't here. What did you do to him that he found the most reasonable and tactical response was to run away? Riddle-"

"Nothing that would prompt such a reaction. He's just being childish and reacting in- in teenage impulse" She seethed, clearly becoming frustrated and uncomfortable with their persisted questioning. 

"Riddle is too reasonable and level headed to just run away because of 'Teenage impulse' so I am only going to ask one more time. What did you do to Riddle?"