The Darkness Inside

Two

Tom and Bryn pulled up the gravel drive way, dust billowing gently behind their car.  Izzy sat in the back and stared out the window.  They had just come from the funeral of her mother and father, Bryn's sister and brother-in-law.

Izzy had bounced around between friends but since she was still not legally an adult, only being 17 years old, Bryn was asked to become her legal guardian.  Jeff had no family and Bryn was Lilly's only sibling.  Bryn knew it was what her sister would have wanted.  Izzy was really Jeff's kid from a previous marriage.  She was fifteen when her dad married Lilly.  They agreed they'd help Izzy get some semblance of a normal life back and help her get back on her feet.

Now pulling up the drive to their home which still didn't quite feel like home, Bryn mentally kicked herself for not making more of an effort with Lilly's step-daughter when she had the chance.  Tom took Bryn's hand and assuringly squeezed it.  They glanced at each other and shared a doleful smile.

"Home sweet home."  Tom parked the car and unbuckled, turning back to Izzy.  "Doing okay?"

Izzy's face was unreadable.  She simply shrugged and unbuckled, opening the car door.  She dragged her tote bag along to the front porch which made Bryn's eye twitch.  All she could think of was all the dirt that would be tracked around the house now.  Tom could sense Bryn's uneasiness.

"Er, Izzy, few house rules.  Nothing major.  But no shoes.  We're going to replace the flooring anyway, so we might as well get used to it now.  Also, no showers or baths after 9pm."  He unlocked the front door and tossed it open for Izzy.

She kicked off her shoes and looked around the entryway.  "How come?"

"Hmm?"

Bryn took Izzy's bag from her and started up the stairs after stepping out of her high heels.

"Why can't we have a shower or bath after 9?"

Bryn stopped halfway up the stairs and looked back.  "Old pipes."  She continued up to the room they'd made up to be Izzy's during her stay.

"Right," Tom nodded.  "The pipes end up rattling for a few hours after.  Something we learned the hard way.  Bryn will show you your room.  I'll go get the rest of your things."

Izzy watched as Tom walked back out, jumping from the top step of the porch to the ground instead of walking down each step.  She sighed and turned back to the stairway.

The house looked creepy.  It didn't fit Bryn and Tom, despite how little she knew of them.  She headed up the stairs, skirting her hand along the wooden banister.  Along the wall on the way up was a small gallery of wedding photos.

She paused to admire them.  Bryn and Tom looked straight out of a glamour magazine.  She remembered when her dad and step-mom had gone to a wedding a month ago.  It must have been theirs.  Resuming her march up the stairs, her hand caught a splinter and she yelped, bringing her sore palm to her lips.

"You okay?" Tom startled her, coming up the stairs with two boxes stacked in his arms.

"Splinter."  She found Bryn in one of the rooms and Tom followed behind her, placing the boxes at the foot of the bed.

"Let me see," he took her hand and held it out in front of him, inspecting her palm.

Bryn threw back the curtains, letting the sun in from outside.  You could see the entire barn from Izzy's window.  The clouds were darkening, a storm on it's way.  She looked back at her husband and Izzy.

"What's wrong?"

"Iz got a nasty splinter.  Can you grab the tweezers for me?  And some Neosporin."