Whisper

The beginning

I watched as she woke up. I frowned, wishing I could tell her to get out of there as soon as possible. Her innocent eyes shouldn't have to see the horrid scene that was waiting for her in the basement. No one dead or alive should have to witness such a picture. Unfortunately I had to. I have no idea what was on the man's mind. But he wouldn't listen to me pleading with him to leave them alone. I told him over and over to leave them be. That they did nothing to deserve such a gruesome fate. But he didn't hear me. Very few are able to.

I sat defeated in the corner crying as I watched the scene before me unfold. After he had done what he came to do, the room was silent. he washed his hands in the bathroom. He looked around at the bright colors and finally left the scene like he just finished a great work of art. But, it was quite the opposite. The scene that was before me seemed like something from a terrible nightmare.

That poor girl upstairs will have to learn to live without her parents and little brother because of him. Why did that man have to do it? Who would want to kill this family who had never done anything to this man? I couldn't move for many hours. I tried to get up many times but found I was too weak. I could do nothing but sit there looking at the mutilated figures. I couldn't take my eyes off them. The entire scene seemed too grotesque to be even remotely real. I thought I was trapped inside some terrible dream, but no matter how much I willed myself to wake up, it never happened.

I was finally able to stand and walk up the stairs and into the girl's room. I watched her body slowly rise and fall with each life-giving breath. Then I thought of how still her family was in the basement. Never again to be able to breath so carefree like this girl. I gently stroked her dark brown hair and nudged her ever so softly to wake her up.

Just as I thought, she gently opened her eyes and sat up. She could sense that something was wrong. She looked around her room and her eyes stopped as if she could see me. Her eyes were a brilliant sky blue. She had a few freckles splattered across her cheeks. Her skin was slightly tan, which complimented her facial features. She was so beautiful. She reminded me of my little sister before the accident. I haven't seen her for almost two years.

She got out of her bed and walked over to the door. She placed her ear against it, listening for any signs of life. After a few moments of stone silence, she slowly reached for the door knob. Her hands grasped the cold metal and paused, taking a deep breath before she pulled the door open. She looked down the empty hall and started walking. She stopped at a door and opened it. She looked around the room and put her hand over her mouth as she realized it was empty. She walked through the kitchen and frowned with worry.

"Mom?" The girl yelled through the house. No one answered her.

She went back to her room and fumbled around in her jeans that were discarded on the floor. She pulled out her phone and started to dial a number, then put it up to her freckled cheek and ear. She listened intently for a few seconds, but when a sound started coming from the basement she froze. She listened for a minute more, but the noise didn't stop. She held tightly to her phone as she walked down the hallway into the kitchen. She continued to walk slowly through the house and down the stairs to the basement following the haunting ring.

I watched in horror as she continued to walk down the stairs, getting closer to the scene she shouldn't be allowed to see. I screamed and reached out to her but she couldn't feel my grip on her arm trying to pull her away from the basement. No matter what I did to stop her, she continued on, like some force was pulling her towards it. I slumped down on the last step and sadly watched her walk to the door. Her hand firmly gripped the knob and started slowly turning. I cringe as the door opens a mere inch. She pushed it open and froze with fear. She screamed when she saw the scene. The scream was so full of emotion that it was indescribable.

Once she was able to move again she ran up the stairs straight past me. I ran up after her and watched as she fumbled with her phone and dialed another number. After only mere seconds I can hear a woman on the other end. She spoke quickly and deliberately, "Salt Lake City 911, what is your emergency?"

"My family is dead! My brother, my mom, and my dad! Help me please! Please! Help me!" She nearly screamed into the phone, and I don't blame her.

The women on the other end spoke next in a comforting yet firm voice. "It's going to be alright. I need to know your address, so I can send help."

The girl stated her address quickly while holding her hand to her temples. Her freckled cheeks were shining as fresh tears were streaming down. Her bright blue eyes had faded significantly and were now a stormy blue. I started to cry with her as she nodded to what the women on the other end said and hung up. She ran out of the house and across the street to her neighbors. I followed quickly, trying to keep up with her quick strides. Once she reached the door she banged until someone finally answered. When the woman first opened the door, she looked like she was about to yell some mean words to whoever thought it would be fun to bang on the door at six thirty in the morning. But as soon as her eyes met the girl's swollen red eyes, her look of anger melted away instantly. She reached out and embraced her. And as soon as the two came in contact, the girl started sobbing uncontrollably.

The woman stroked the girl's dark hair and asked, "Echo! Whats wrong?"

So her name is Echo. I look at her shaking body and gently place my hand on her shoulder. Maybe she could feel me, because for a second or two her sobbing was only a whimper, but it quickly returned to a sob. I take my hand away quickly. It must be my imagination. How can anyone know I am here? It's not like they know that I can see what is happening, but no matter how hard I try or how loud I yell, no one will ever be able to hear me, let alone, know I am there. But this young girl, sobbing with distress is different. Somehow she can vaguely sense me.

Echo sobbed into her neighbor's shoulder and quietly said in an almost indiscernible voice, "They're dead! They're all dead!"

I watched her neighbor's face cringe at the words. She cried with Echo and held her for what seemed like hours. She continued to hold her till the policemen came with ambulances and police cars with bright flashing lights. Policemen in tan uniforms and black pants exit the cars, and some rush into Echo's house. Others start to make their way over to the comforting neighbor who was still holding Echo's shaking body.

This policeman had a very soft and kind look to his face. I frowned as I imagined a policeman similar to this one telling my parents the terrible news later that night. I shook my head as I brought myself back to reality and watched the policeman take off his black hat and say, "Hey, sweetheart. My name is Alex. Can you tell me your name?"

Echo looked up at the kind policeman named Alex, wiped her cheeks, and sniffled a little before quietly answering, "My name is Echo. Echo Rivera."

Alex pulled a smooshed little tissue sample from his pocket and pulled out the last remaining tissue. He handed it to Echo who hesitantly accepted it and wiped her cheeks with the worn tissue. However, the tissue did nothing to dry her face because fresh tears began to fall immediately down her cheeks again.

Alex then looked up at Echo's neighbor and spoke to her, "Thank you for helping Echo, Mrs. um..."

"Mrs. Allen. And it's the least I can do. Echo is such a good girl." Mrs. Allen said as Echo slumped down to sit on her neighbor's porch step.

Alex was about to say something to Echo, but then a voice came from his walkie talkie. He walked away and leaned his head towards his shoulder where his walkie talkie was strapped. He listened for a few moments before he moved his hand away from it and put his hand on his chin. Then he ran his fingers through his hair and walked back over to Echo and Mrs. Allen.