The Final Tree To Fall

Almost nine years ago Banks Sawyer found out his mother died. She disappeared on Friday, March 13th. Five days later her body was found in the woods near the Old Alton Bridge. Her body was laid under a tree with branches that split and then came back together. The tree was said to be a portal to hell and that touching it would cause evil spirits to curse whoever did.

Banks had just turned eight years old the day before, he remembered the day his dad came and picked him up from school. His dad told him nothing in the car, he just sat there staring blankly ahead focusing on something in the distance, presumably the road, but Banks knew that wasn't the case. Banks figured there was something else going on but he didn't think too hard on it. He was really just focused on the fact that he would miss tennis practice.

When they pulled up to the house Banks instantly ran inside to go see his mother but he couldn't find her. He ran all throughout the house, going into every room to ask her what was going on. When he ran back to his father to tell him mom wasn't there he found his dad with his head on his knees sitting against the door.

"Dad? Is everything ok? Dad, where's Mama?" Banks sat down next to his father and tried to peer into his eyes but Aldrich Sawyer still didn't look up. Banks tried to poke his arm, he tried standing up and tugging on his dad but nothing would work. He just wouldn't budge. Finally, Banks started screaming, just screaming as loud as he could. His father looked up at him finally, his dark brown eyes bloodshot, his hair a rough blond mess atop his head.

He spoke in a low voice as if he didn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. "Your mama is dead Banks, she's gone."

"What?" Banks didn't understand, he couldn't. His mom had just been gone on a work trip. His mom was gonna come back, she promised she'd come back.

Suddenly Aldrich snapped, he stood up shouting his voice "She's dead! Your mother is gone! Can't you hear me, she left you! She left us! She is dead and you will never see her again."

Banks' lip started quivering, his whole body was shaking. He didn't want to believe it; he couldn't. He turned and ran to his closet hiding between the old jackets his parents stored in it. He grabbed his dad's old tennis jacket and hugged it close to his chest as he rocked back and forth. He waited for his mom to come find him like she always does, she would find him. She would tell him that everything was ok and that Dad was just tired. Everything would be okay. Mom just needed to come back

That was seven years and 364 days ago, today Banks Sawyer was turning 17. He went downstairs to find his father slumped over the counter with an empty bottle in his hand. He looked around to see seven more strewn about on the couch, coffee table, and counter.

"Aldrich?" Banks walked over and poked him in the shoulder to see just how out of it his father was.

"What did I tell you about calling me that, I'm your father, refer to me as such goddammit," Aldrich's words came out slow and raspy, the words blurring together.

"Maybe I'll refer to you as father when you start acting like one," Banks couldn't help but mutter under his breath as he stared at the broken shell of a man sitting before him.

"What did you just say to me," Aldrich tried to get up but as soon as he did he started swaying as his body gave up before him. Banks shot forward to catch his shoulders to stop his head from hitting the floor. Banks set him down and left him there shaking his head as he went to the basement. He had everything he needed for his spell; he just needed one last thing. His phone started pinging as he opened the door to lead down to the basement. It was the Tennis Team group chat that was blowing up with messages. They were all just some variation of Happy Birthday. Banks ignored them as he set his phone on silent to continue his task. He had the candles and the salt, he just needed to find his mother's old ritual chalk.