The Prize

Part Three

An icy silence swirled through the room. Mrs. Correia slapped a hand over her gaping mouth, while Mr. Correia's hands trembled, wishing he had his pen and notepad to keep busy. Mrs. Quinones buried her face in her hands, making vague sniffling sounds. Mr. Quinones narrowed his eyes into cold, angry slits.

Ohhh my God, thought Mr. Correia, heart hammering in his ears, I should never have bought the thing...this is all beyond my understanding!

Time melted and dripped down his skin in cold, hard drops. He quivered as the moments became liquid, seeping their sharp blazing selves deep into the bone. If anything burned, it was silence, silence that spoke the truth long before words could.

"Even after all we've been through," snapped Mr. Quinones, folding his arms over his chest, "All we've saved, all we've prayed, all we've done in tribute to our beloved Joselina...you betray me and her...like this?!"

Mrs. Quinones shuffled into the living-room, her chin wobbling, her eyes red-rimmed and bleary.

"I do not see it as betrayal. I want to save everything she had!"

Her husband didn't respond. He walked over to the fireplace, grabbed one of the logs from its brick platform, and lit it with the nearby lighter. The Correias shuddered; it was much too hot for a fire...what was he thinking?!

"Let's get out of here!" cried Mrs. Correia, springing up, "He's going to burn the house down!"

Mr. Correia shook his head.

"I don't think so. This method is completely ineffective."

"Oh, so you'd be fine if he burned us this way?!"

"No. I'm just letting you know...." He squeezed her hand gently. "We'll be all right. I promise. I-I...." He sniffled. "I'm so sorry I didn't take this more seriously, Claudia."

Claudia blinked, unsure of what he meant by "this", but suddenly envisioned Joselina's million-watt smile, aglow from within.

"Will you two shut up?!"

The couple froze. Mrs. Quinones stormed into the room, her brows arched, her lips contorted into a sideways scowl. That was her voice, Mr. Correia thought, I didn't think she was capable of raising it that high!

Mr. Quinones snapped open the burgundy box, allowing the ivory moon to dance in the warm amber light. His wife's mouth dropped into a perfect oval.

"It seems all this family's misfortune comes from the water," he snarled, watching gold-orange flames crackle and hiss in the fireplace, "So now I'll end this once and for all!"

As Mr. Quinones lowered the ring toward the fire, his wife tackled him to the floor. The Correias froze as Mrs. Quinones wrapped her hand around her husband's wrist, grunting as she yanked his hand closer to her.

"I can't let you do this!" she screamed, "This is one thing we have to remember her by!"

"Stop!" cried her husband, "We already have enough...that weren't given by killers!"

"But they're not ours anymore, Oscar! They're the public's! Why can't we have one thing for ourselves?!"

"Because...." He grunted, his voice straining as his muscles burned, pushing her arm further and further back. "We...have...enough!"

Mrs. Correia couldn't take it anymore. She jumped up and shouted,

"That was given by a cold-hearted killer! It's cursed!"

"Claudia!" Mr. Correia gasped, "Stay out of this!"

"Well, you're the one who got us into this!"