The Dying Wish

Chapter 3 - Family Reunion

"Well, this is-"

"Nice," Hank said, finishing Amy's sentence for her.

The pair were standing in a half-decorated half dilapidated room. It was clear why the recreational room was undergoing renovation. It wasn't exactly the most comfortable of spaces, with its eerie paintings that helped to remind Gentle Haloes' residents of their impending demises. One of the paintings of a family on a dark and dreary beach even had a figure in the back that looked eerily similar to the Grim Reaper eyeing up his next unsuspecting victim.

The worst thing about the room was the nature-inspired mural on the back wall. The flowers and animals featured in it looked like a five-year-old had painted them. You could not tell where the petals began or ended. Its centrepiece, the King of the Forest, was a stag with upside-down eyes and conjoined back legs.

"I think a blind person could have done a better job," Hank said in disbelief.

"I would rather be blind than have to look at that," Amy laughed, finally pulling her tortured eyes away.

Hank got to work removing some of the many white tarps that littered the room like unmoving ghosts while Amy used the palm of her hand to clear the dust from the top of one of the dozen round eight-seater tables.

"Hey, Amy, look." Hank was excitedly pointing at several tabletop games that he had just uncovered. "Fancy a game?" He asked, picking up two pool cues.

Amy said yes despite being more of an air hockey girl.

"Come on, Dad. You could at least take it easy on me. I have cancer remember," she grumbled as her father potted four solid balls successively.

"Do not play that card with me, Aimes. Cancer or not, I am still the pool God," Hank smirked.

His egotism was, however, short-lived as he accidentally potted two of Amy's striped balls.

"Thanks for the help," Amy chuckled as Hank berated himself.

The game ended abruptly five minutes later as Amy accidentally potted the eight ball.

"God damn it," she spat, trying to block her father's maddening grin from her line of sight.

"Good game," he said mockingly, holding his large hand up for a high five.

"Good game," she barked back, not leaving him hanging.

"Fancy a game of foosball? Or are you afraid of being beaten by your old man again?" He affectionally ruffled Amy's hair.

"Bring it on."

Before the pair's game could commence, the doors to the recreational room flew open.

Amy could make out the silhouettes of four humans shuffling uncertainly forward.

"Are you sure this is the right place? I mean, it is a shit hole," one of the voices asked anxiously.

"Of course, it is, Simon. Look over there. That guy looks a bit like Dad, does he not?" Sarah muttered irritably as she pointed out Hank.

Hank's mouth was slightly agape as he took a fearful step forward.

Amy moved with him interlocking her fingers with his until they were face-to-face with the newcomers.

"Hank!" The shortest lady of the foursome, Elizabeth, rushed forward and wrapped herself tightly around Hank's waist. "Why didn't you call me? I could have been there for you." She briefly turned sobbingly to look at Amy. "The both of you."

"You're here now, Liz. That's all that matters." Hank reciprocated his younger sister's hug, wrapping his long arms around the small of her back. He had missed this simple measure of affection from his closest sibling.