When the Sun Sets on You

Chapter III: Spark

Burning abrasions cut deep into my cheek, stinging angrily as I traced them with my fingertips. My eyes creeped open to reveal nothing but carpet, mildew enveloped in its scent. The sky outside had turned dark, moonlight dimly filtered through the window.

Faint whispers trickled their way to me from the hallway, 'Yes, of course. That would be greatly appreciated.' Curiosity struck me as I crawled to find their origin. Peering out from under the door crack to see the outside hallway was basked in lamplight. Casting harsh shadows across my parents faces as they sat against the wall. Their skin was creased with years of wear; grey hairs glittered from their scalps.

My mother pressed the receiver against her ear, 'The sooner he's gone I think, the better.' She paused for a moment, letting the person on the other side answer. 'We'll be in touch. Thank you.' She hung up the phone, sliding further down the wall.

My father cleared his throat. 'Well, what of it?' Even as they sat on the ground, he still seemed to loom over her.

'They're arriving tomorrow; to take him.' Her grip tightened on the phone.

'It's an opportunity of a lifetime this school.' He rubbed his eyes in fatigue.

'The question is, how did they know?' My father only shrugged at her question. Though this didn't seem to sooth her festering anxiety. 'What happens now to Edmond's Creek?' she swallowed a whimper.

'We're up to our eyeballs anyway, we take the money. Leave.' I shirked back at this remark, making the floorboards underneath me creak. They both glanced in my direction, waiting to see what made the noise.

Warning bells chimed in me; just who were these people on the phone? What did they want with me? Why would my parents leave Edmond's Creek now, after everything that was buried here? I could not fathom what anyone would have to gain from helping this family.

'I never wanted to take over this place; I was stuck with it. My father didn't give me a choice.' He turned his head towards my door, directing his words to me. 'Unlike the brat in there, I sucked it up. It's what had to be done. Now we've wasted our whole lives out here, and for what?' He kicked at the paperwork stretched out at their feet.

'You never wanted children, did you?' A chord of sadness rattled in my mother's voice; this worried me. It had been a millennium since she expressed emotion. 'God, what have we done?' she began to wail, shaking from her violent sobs.

'What we had to. To survive Satan and his hellspawn.'

'Oh, he's not a demon.'

'You know perfectly well what they are. If we don't do this Tristan will kill us, and he'll take the rest of the world down with him.' He placed a hand on her knee, attempting to be affectionate. 'We don't need to hold anything over ourselves anymore.' He pried her wet hands from her face, clutching onto them. 'We can start again.'

'Okay,' He kissed her fingers; and she melded into his touch. It was an unnatural sight to see them be intimate, and finally seeing it for myself only made me want to vomit.

From here I decided to take my leave, wriggling away from the door, doing my best to not make another sound. Leaving my parents to their deluded feelings.

⁂

Sleep continued to evade me. Long since my parents went to bed themselves, I continued to stare at the low ceiling over my head. Fixated on one patch of peeling paint. Believing if I could just focus enough, maybe I would be rewarded with a few hours of shuteye.

There was only one thing that could help at a time like this; now that my lighter was out of reach. So, I dangled my hand under my bed, weaving through piles of dust to retrieve the same getaway bag where I fished out my portable radio. Battery powered and discrete. My most prized possession.