Running the Line of Death

Chapter 1

"Aren't you excited?", her words were meant to sound happy and hopeful, but held no true emotion behind them as they left her mouth. However, she managed to hold a fake smile in hopes to comfort the expressionless child sitting in the seat beside her.

The lady was a social worker from the St. Lucas orphanage. The child she desperately tried to cheer was Ashton Angelo. Ashton wasn't necessarily a troubled kid but lived a troubled life. At the age of 7 he lost his parents, Dahlila and Edgar, to supposedly suicide. Ashton was walking home from school, excited that he was finally on summer vacation. It was warm and sunny, birds were singing, people were smiling, it was a good day. Or so he thought.

Ashton had reached his home around 4 and went to knock on the door, as it was usually locked.

One knock. No answer.

A second knock. Still no response or sounds of footsteps.

Ashton knocked once more, anxiously. After a few seconds and still no response he tried the doorknob. The knob felt warm as if someone had firmly grasped the cold, shaded piece of metal recently. He turned it, slowly, carefully. Something in his mind screamed something wasn't right. The door creaked open. The once comforting home was now gray, dingy, and unfamiliar. Empty bottles of alcohol laid scattered on the floor; the furniture pushed around. Ashton, oblivious to what was patiently waiting for him, stepped in. His breathing was shallow, his hands ice cold from fear of the unknowing. Despite the anxiety shortening his breath, Ashton managed to call out into the dark room. "Mum? Dad?"

No response.

He tried once more. "Mum! Dad!"

Still nothing, no sound piercing the dead silence except the single echo from his own voice. Ashton, shaking with fear, absolutely terrified, walked slowly through the living room, down the hall to a large room. The old door was cracked open and a small hint of light flickered through the cracks, slightly illuminating the hall. Ashton outstretched his small arm to the wooden door, old memories of joy rushed through his head as he pushed the door open. Ashton peered his head in ever so slightly and the memories stopped. He stood frozen in pain and fear as he watched, back and forth, the movement of his parents swinging lifelessly from the ceiling.

"Ashton?" The social worker had pulled over after seeing Ashton's distraught face in the passenger seat staring blankly at nothing.

"Ashton", She called once more. Ashton, as if he just returned to earth from another land, shook his head and looked over at the social worker. "Yes?", he responded. Ashton managed to hold a straight face as if nothing had happened, the tone in his voice didn't quiver regardless of the terror trapped in the poor boy's eyes. The images of what he saw raced through his head; images that would bring nightmares to anyone else, but somehow brought a sense of comfort to Ashton, suggesting this wasn't the first time this "thing" had showed its presence.

The social worker's face had settled a look of confusion and worry; she was unsure of what had just took place. Ashton gleamed a fake smile to calm the nerves of the social worker,, who had seemed to be consumed by anxiety.

"Are you ok? " The words the woman spoke had meant to sound confident and comforting, but fell short due to the slight uncontrollable tremor in her voice.

Ashton took a small, subtle breath before speaking in a warming tone, "Yes, Ms. Rosabella, I am alright. Don't worry." He gave one more enticing smile and changed the subject before Ms. Rosabella had time to question his response. "Are we almost there? ", Ashton eagerly asked.

A moment of perplexity delayed her response. Ms. Rosabella and Ashton were on their way to a small area known as Crowestowne, where Ashton's new adoptive parents lived. The town was a fair distance from the orphanage, and was approximately a two and a half hour drive. Per the delay of dismal from Ashton, they had about another hours drive ahead of them. Ashton, realising this delay, relaxed his eyes and allowed his body to slowly drift into a state of tranquility, eventually falling asleep. Ms. Rosabella glanced over, finally at peace knowing Ashton was at rest. "Damn, that kid has been through a lot" A hint of remorse filled her tone at the thought of his past.