Murdera

Chapter 1: Beneath the Surface

Indie's family surrounded her, their faces aglow with warmth and happiness. They were in the kitchen, busy preparing for Christmas. Luna, her little sister, sat on a stool, her small hands moving eagerly as she mixed a bowl of red velvet cake batter, the spoon clinking against the sides. Mrs. Kane, Indie's mom, stood beside her, guiding her hands with a gentle smile, her eyes shining with warmth and patience. The scent of sweet vanilla and melting chocolate filled the air, mingling with the sound of sizzling cookies on the baking sheet. Mr. Kane, Indie's dad, laughed, his deep voice rumbling as he helped Indie measure out ingredients for a batch of sugar cookies, his hands moving with a practiced ease.

But in an instant, the scene transformed into a nightmare. Blood erupted everywhere, like a dam bursting. It splattered the walls, the countertops, and her family's faces, as if a gruesome painter had unleashed a frenzy of crimson brushstrokes. Luna's eyes went wide with terror, her small body trembling as she stared at her hands, now covered in blood, the spoon slipping from her grasp like a tiny, deadly sword. Mrs. Kane's smile twisted into a scream, her eyes frozen in horror as she stumbled backward, her festive holiday apron now a blood-soaked rag, clinging to her torso like a macabre shroud. Mr. Kane's laughter turned to a deafening silence, his eyes locked onto Indie's with a haunting plea for help, his face pale and shattered, his body slumping against the counter like a puppet with severed strings.

Blood pooled on the floor, a dark, spreading stain that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Indie's heart raced, her breath caught in her throat. She tried to move, to scream, but her voice was trapped in her mind, her legs heavy and unresponsive, as if rooted to the spot.

And then, the dream shattered, leaving Indie gasping for air in the darkness of her room, her sheets tangled and damp with sweat...

Indie woke up with a start, her heart still racing from the terrifying dream. She glanced at her clock and saw that it was already 10 am. She threw off her covers and rushed out of her bedroom, still trying to shake off the vivid images from her dream.

As she entered the kitchen, she saw Luna, her little sister, standing at the table, covered in blood. Indie's heart skipped a beat as she rushed towards Luna, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

But as she got closer, she realized that the "blood" was actually just ketchup. Luna was giggling and trying to wipe the sticky condiment off her hands, while Mrs. Kane was cleaning up the spill on the floor.

"Luna broke the ketchup bottle," Mrs. Kane, her mom, explained, looking up at Indie with a calm smile. "It's okay, sweetie, it's just ketchup."

Indie felt a wave of relief wash over her, followed by a sense of embarrassment at overreacting. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down, but her heart was still racing from the adrenaline of her dream.

"Hey, Luna, you little messy monster!" Indie said, trying to sound lighthearted, while secretly still trying to shake off the lingering fear from her dream.

Luna giggled and held up her ketchup-covered hands, "Indie, look! I made a mess!"

Indie couldn't help but laugh at her little sister's antics, and slowly but surely, the darkness of her dream began to fade away, replaced by the warmth and normalcy of her family's morning routine.

As Indie and her mom cleaned up the ketchup mess, her mom suddenly turned to her and said, "You know what? I think I'll surprise Dad at his office today. I made his favorite dish, and I'd love for you to come with me."

Indie's face lit up with excitement. She loved seeing her parents happy and loved how they always made time for each other.

"Yes, Mom! I'd love to come!" Indie exclaimed, already imagining the smile on her dad's face.