Our Perfect Insanity

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

We walked quickly down the dark streets, night was already upon us. 

It was almost eleven, giving us little over an hour to find June. If my hunch was wrong, that would mean we wouldn’t have enough time to save June from Ariel. 

If Ariel kills June, I swear, she’ll wish she never spoke to me in the first place.

“John… I think this is the place…” 

Kathryn’s voice snapped me out of my musings, and I looked up, immediately getting chills through my body as I looked at the tall, dark, empty house.

It was at least two stories, not including an attic or basement, and the colors were dark black and grey. The windows were cracked and broken, the ripped, shredded curtains flying through the broken glass. 

The black metal gates were open, though they moved slightly in the wind, squeaking on rusty hinges. Weeds were growing in the yard, and the grass needed to be cut.

Welcome to the definition of a Haunted House, I thought darkly to myself.

I took Kathryn’s hand tightly in my own, before crossing the yard and waling up the old, rickety steps. A feeling of dread settled over me as we reached the top step, and my hand graced the cold doorknob.

I hesitated for a moment, before turning it, hearing the door creak heavily as it swung open, revealing the inside of the house to be worse than the outside. 

The floorboards didn’t look at all sturdy, and were cracked and stained with what looked like blood. The large, grand staircase looked old and cracked, the steps looking not at all safe to walk up.

Kathryn and I walked into the house, and my blood ran cold as the door slammed behind us. I think that tells us that we’re in the right place. I don’t think normal doors do that… 

I looked around nervously, and both Kathryn and I tensed as a low, feral growl erupted from the darkness near the staircase. 

Looking closely, I saw two, large, yellow eyes glaring at me through the darkness, and my own eyes widened in shock.

The large beast stepped out of the darkness, revealing it to be a large, pitch black wolf, its fur ragged and matted, its muzzle dripping with what looked like blood. The wolf’s eyes were hungry, as it snarled at Kathryn and I.

“Ah, I see you’ve met Hades. He’s my pet, so I’d appreciate if you wouldn’t hurt him. He’s such a nice wolf, when he’s not… hungry.” 

The voice that spoke was Ariel’s, and looking behind the beast, I saw two beautiful different colored eyes watching me, one blue, and one green.

The wolf, ‘Hades’, lunged at us without so much as a second’s hesitation. 

Obviously under Ariel’s orders, the wolf hurtled around me, and I heard a shriek as it mauled into Kathryn.

“No!” I exclaimed, turning and grabbing tufts of the wolf’s fur in my hands, attempting to pull the large wolf away from Kathryn. 

The wolf turned on me and bit into my arms, it’s sharp teeth digging into my flesh, trying to get me to pull away from him, but I wouldn’t. 

I wasn’t going to let the beast murder Kathryn.

“Hades! Enough!” Ariel’s voice snarled, and immediately the dog back away from me, his tail between his legs as he ran over to where Ariel was, her eyes still peering at me through the darkness. 

I blinked, and they were gone.

“Kathryn? Are you alright?” I asked quietly, looking down at Kathryn. 

The dog had ripped and tore into the flesh around Kathryn’s stomach, which was bleeding heavily. I looked at her worriedly, as her hazel eyes opened, filling with pain.

“I’ll be a-alright, just… just help me up, ‘kay?” Kathryn asked, and I nodded, helping her to her feet with my own bloody and wounded arms, before pulling her arm around my shoulders. 

Kathryn winced, as we took a step forwards. 

I was supporting most of her weight, but, Kathryn was still bleeding heavily, and I was worried, not knowing whether or not I could help her.

“I’ll be fine, John. We have to go save June.” Kathryn said, as if she was reading my mind. 

I nodded, and helped her forwards, supporting her weight. Looking around, I saw a door off to the side of the room.

“She’s in the basement…” I whispered, and Kathryn winced heavily at my side, before looking up at me.

“What?” Kathryn asked, and I gestured towards the door, which creaked open slightly, a chill seeping through it.

“The basement. That’s where Ariel is, where she’s keeping June.” I explained, and Kathryn looking over to the door, nodding her head and swallowing nervously. 

I adjusted my grip on her, and turned towards the door, taking a few steps, before we both heard a creak that made us freeze.

Within another second, the floorboards gave out underneath us and I found myself falling, before I hit the concrete ground, crying out in pain. I raised myself up by the elbows, Kathryn doing the same at my side, and looked around, seeing nothing through the darkness.

“So, you’ve found us. Congratulations are in order, I suppose…” A voice spoke through the darkness. I squinted as my eyes begun to adjust, before widening as I finally made out the figure of Ariel, holding my crying daughter in her arms.

“Ariel… let her go…” I ordered, and Ariel just smirked, showing off her sharp teeth before she laughed quietly, shaking her head.

“Jonathan, I told you I wasn’t going to let you win.” Ariel said, pulling out a shining, silver blade, and pressing it against my daughter’s throat.

My breath caught in my throat, as I started at her, seeing the evil glint in her eyes. 

I knew that there was nothing I could do, but, that still didn’t stop the shock as Ariel slashed the blade across my daughter’s throat.