The Infernal Society

Chapter 3

Alfie woke up in sweat. His heart practically beating  out of his chest.

"What was that?" he said to himself with a cough. He could barely breath. He held his hand over his chest and closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. The dream felt too real. Too...familiar. But where could he have possibly known it from. What was so familiar about the dream. Who was the girl? Who was the boy? And why did the room look like my room? So many questions were a whirlpool in Alfie's mind. He didn't know where to begin in answering them.

Loud footsteps came rushing towards Alfie's room. Uncle Tommet no doubt coming to make sure he was okay, probably startled him from screaming while he dreamt. At least, that's what Alfie assumed. It took Alfie moment to come back to reality. Tommet tapped his knuckles against Alfie's bedroom door.

"I'm alright Uncle!" groaned Alfie as he rolled onto his sound and hugged his pillow close to him beneath of mess of blankets that poorly covered him, just the way he liked it, to add. But...Alfie noticed his uncles shadow still in place from beneath the door. That's when his nose detected something...foul. A sour smell lingered in the air, like fear, and it was coming from his uncle. Alfie assumed it was due to his uncle being worried bout his night terrors, so he presumed. But it wasn't just that. The smell had something else to it. More distinct. Grief? Followed by another familiar scent that invaded his nostrils...

No.

Alfie jumped from his bed and ran to the door. When he opened it, he met the red-rimmed eyes of his uncle. It appeared he'd been crying, so hard that the veins in his head were still swollen.

"Uncle..?" Alfie studied Tommet who was discombobulated, a complete mess.

"Alfie...I...there's some I need to tell you." The stench of grief burned through Alfie's nostrils. That pungent scent from moments ago announced itself. Tommet reeked of it. Alfie stares at him with judging eyes as he waited for his uncle to explain himself.

"What's wrong?" Alfie's question was genuine. The poor boy had no idea, or, perhaps he didn't want to. But part of him was more aware than he thought. The smell was the give away.

"Alfie, she's..." Tommet choked on his words. His nose flared as a sharp breath caused him to hiccup. He turned his head to the side and faced the floor.

"D-don't," Alfie shoved Tommet. "D-don't you dare say it!" Alfie pressed his uncle against the wall. Do I dare let him say it? Do I let him confirm what I always considered to be the impossible? Alfie always knew the inevitable. But did it have to be now?

"She's gone..." Tommet gave a look of defeat. He was consumed in sweat and sadness.

A chill raised the gooseflesh on Alfie's skin as he dug his fingers over where his heart was. "No. No, no, no, no, no." he shook his head. The hairs on the back of his neck raised, his eyes widened and glossy.

"Alford, wait," Tommet tried to ease his nephew but it was too late. He couldn't protect him from this. He never could. Tommet hated how helpless he was. Tonight, he lost his sister, and his nephew lost the only person that truly understood him. Who was he to give him a love that can never be replaced? A mother's love is sacred. He would try his best.

Alfie ran down the hall. His uncle screamed after him.

"Alfie! Wait!" His sobs echoed through the hall. Alfie came to a sudden halt before the door of his mother's room....