Cursed Fire (Working Title)

Chapter Two

Just over a week had passed since Lily and Hunter's deaths. Annabelle was shut in her room, she hardly moved out of her bed since the funeral. Sean and Eve brought boxes of pictures to her room one evening.

"They're all the ones we could find of your parents. We thought you would want them for your room." Sean had said as he put the boxes down. "I can sort through them, so you can only use the ones with me in them."

Typically Annabelle would have laughed at Sean, she used to adore him. But now she could do without his obnoxiousness. A muffled "Thanks" was all she could get out.

No one had visited her room today, not yet anyway. She was unsure if she was happy about being alone at the moment, Annabelle desperately needed a distraction, yet she could not stand the pitied looks she kept receiving. Nevertheless, Annabelle dragged herself out of bed and slipped on the navy blue robe Eve loaned her – once she was feeling more up to it Eve promised to take her shopping, but until then Eve's closet was her closet – and quietly padded down the stairs. Though her original intention was to get a glass of water, she was surprised by her aunt sitting at the table with coffee. Mrs. Phillips was surprised by Annabelle's presence too.

"How're you doing today?" Mrs. Phillips asked dumbly. She expected the answer to be something snappy, but to her surprise Annabelle joined her at the table.

"I miss them. Are you doing okay?" Annabelle answered her eyes tired and glassy.

"I'm just happy you've come out of your room." Mrs. Phillips answered with a weary smile. Annabelle was a clone of her mother, the outrageously curly, red hair, the freckles dusted all over her short, thin body, even the way she possessed herself was like Lily. She felt awful having trouble looking at Annabelle, but how could she not.

"I just..." Annabelle swallowed against her closing throat, she was going to tell her aunt of how much she had missed her parents, but she thought better of it. "I think, maybe I should go to school next week. The longer I wait the harder it's going to be."

"Are you sure? I won't rush you." Mrs. Phillips responded, there was a small eagerness in her tone.

"Yeah, I thought maybe I should start doing things. Like today, maybe I could pick Billy up from school?" Annabelle looked at her aunt with wide eyes.

"O-of course! You know the way, right?" Mrs. Phillips refrained from looking as surprised as she had sounded.

"Yep, it's been a while, but I've done it a few times." Annabelle forced herself to chuckle.

"Eve and Sean should be home any moment, if you need help—"

"If they want to, that's fine. But, I don't need it." Annabelle smiled at her aunt.

"Look. I know that she's obviously depressed. I do. She has every right to be. But it's just weird, you know?" Eve had been ranting to Sean the entire walk home from school.

"I've known her almost as long as you have. Just give her time, Annabelle always just needs time." He answered. One of Sean's hands was clutching the strap of his backpack, and his face pointed down at the sidewalk.

"I miss Annabelle. It's like she died with them." Eve ripped out the band holding up her bun, purple tangles fell down to her waist. She was wearing her school uniform – plaid skirt down to her knees; white, long sleeved shirt, and knee high socks – but she had forced Sean to carry her shoes, she thought they were uncomfortable and ugly.

"We can check on her again."

"We always check on her. And she's always quiet. She's hardly said two words to me since she's moved in. Every afternoon I ask her how she's doing, she says nothing. Later on I tell her Mom's made dinner, nothing. After dinner I bring her a plate and throw it away the next morning. She's not eating, she's not talking. She's not LIVING, Sean." Eve yelled at him.