When The Darkness Arrives

Chapter 3

I was sprawled across my bed, imagining how life would be if mom was still with us, when I realized it was 3:00. I hopped out of bed, saying "shit." again and again, and scavenged around my room, looking for the car keys, accidentally knocking over my lamp, which sent a loud crashing noise through the house. Only then had I realized if I was too loud, dad would give me a lecture about being late to pick Seth up, which would only make me later. I found the keys laying beside my coat. I snatched both in my hands, and made a run for the back door. I could hear dad yelling at me for being so careless, when I slid my shoes on, I ignored him and told myself Seth needed me. I left the house, slamming the door behind me and began running through the ever so cold snow, to the car. I sat in the car, and froze my hands, when I grabbed the steering wheel. I didn't have time to wait for the car to warm up, so I just began driving, not even stopping when I saw a small figure waving their arms, in my rearview mirror. I would pay for just leaving, but right now, the only thing that mattered was Seth.

As I pulled up to the school, I saw Seth sitting on a bench and shivering furiously. I leaped out of the car and ran over to him. I suppose he hadn't seen me since he jumped when I touched his arm.

"School was out so long ago, where were you?" Seth demanded, his brown eyes wet, either from the cold, or crying, I really couldn't tell.

"We'll talk in the car, okay? You've been in the cold for long enough," I stated, and grabbed his arm, carefully.  He came along without a fight, and jumped in the, now warm car, and smiled at me.

"Alice, I'm not mad at you, especially if it was dad that made you late. He always yells and makes people late," he said, as he buckled himself in.

"I left you in the cold for nearly an hour, its okay to be mad. I have no reason why I was late, I was just being stupid," I stated with a sigh.

He just shrugged, and I gave him a quick kiss on his pale forehead before I closed his door, and headed for the front seat.

That was the thing about Seth, he always saw the good in people, and would always make the best out of every situation. It was something I wish I could do.

The whole drive home, Seth never said a word to me, he just stared out of his window.

When we arrived at our house, I slowly pulled into the driveway, and shut the car off. Seth quickly undid his seatbelt and made a run for the house, although he couldn't run very fast with his huge winter boots. I slid out of the car and followed him to the front door. Seth yanked it open just as I  came up the walkway. We had a huge house, which dad could barely pay for since moms death, because all he does with his money is buy alcohol.

"Dad, I made new friends, and-" Seth  began as he slid his boots off of his feet.

"Seth, I don't care. Go to your room," my father demanded with so much force that even I was scared for Seth.

Seth looked over at me, his eyes filling with tears, when I leaned down and told him I want to hear all about his friends, after I talk to dad. He nodded, looking at the ground and sulking. Just as Seth left the room, my dad walked over to me and slapped my right cheek, while yelling cruel words in my face.

"You selfish bitch," but that was all I heard before I zoned out, thinking about how much my cheek was burning. I was so zoned out I barely noticed dad reaching for my arms. I flinched away, but it wasn't enough. He had both of my arms in a tight grasp, and was shaking me, while yelling so loud, I'm sure Seth could hear. Tears began filling my eyes but I quickly blinked them away.

After dad let me go he demanded I get him a beer, and then he didn't want to see me for the rest of the day.

I ran towards the fridge and handed him a beer, only staying long enough to know he took it in his hand before I made my way to the staircase.

I made it downstairs, and to Seth's bedroom, without dad screaming words at me, or telling me to do something for him again.

I asked Seth about his new friends and he told me how many new friends he got, and how much he liked his teacher, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.

After he told me all about his day he looked me in the eye.

"I don't like when dad gets in these moods. He hurts you, doesn't he?" Seth wondered, quietly.

"No Seth, I'm okay. He hasn't hurt you right?" I demanded, full of concern.

'"No, I'm okay too," he answered, smiling.

It was only after he told me more about his new best friend James, that I realized that it was getting late.

I ran to the pantry down the hall, and grabbed Seth some chocolate pudding, a juice box, and a small bag of Doritos for dinner. I couldn't go upstairs without dad getting mad again. I took the easy route.

I tucked Seth in, turned on his tv and told him not to stay up too late.

Before leaving his room I kissed his forehead.

"I love you, Alice," he murmured.

"I love you too, Seth" I replied as I left his room, and tiptoed over to mine.

I closed and locked my door, as if that would protect me, and I ended up face-up on my bed, struggling to keep my eyes open.

I lost the struggle and let sleep drift me away from reality.

Everything was black.

Until I saw flashes of white and I knew I had to wake up, otherwise I would have the same nightmare I have had night after night since the accident.

I couldn't seem to open my eyes, no matter how hard I tried and I let my body relax as I watched my worst nightmare happen again before my very eyes.

Mom and I were on our way back from the grocery store, our trunk of our small beat-up car was full of  groceries, and we were both singing along to Can't Keep Waiting by Autumn Hill.

Mom bobbed her head along and quietly sang the lyrics, and I was singing my loudest, trying to make her laugh.

I succeeded.

Her blue eyes glanced my way, and she gave me the biggest smile. She was beautiful when she smiled.

"Oh, I love you, Alice" she said chuckling.

"I love you too, Mom." I said, wrapping my arm around her arm.

She was looking back at the road, and I could tell she was concentrating on something. I tried to ignore it.

Silly me, thinking I could only see the Dead People, as I call them, at night.

I looked straight ahead and I saw one of them, just standing in front of our car.

But my instinct must have been fully alert.

"Mom, watch out!" I screamed, and yanked the wheel, my way.

Next thing I knew, we were upside down in the ditch. I was just barely conscious, but when I looked over and saw blood running from my mother's forehead, I reached over and checked her pulse.

There was a very dull, faint, pulse.

"Mom, wake up. Don't leave me, Mom. I love you. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Hold on, Mom. Help will be here soon, please just wake up. Wake up, Mom!" I screamed in panic.

She never woke up.

Not when I sat beside her hospital bed, when she had machines breathing for her.

Not when Seth started kindergarten.

Not when I called for her before I fell asleep. every night, begging her to come home

She never woke up, and she never would.

Its my fault Seth would grow up without a mother, and it was my fault my dad drank his days away.

Its my fault she's gone.

It was only when I felt hands tighten around my wrists, that I woke up, and looked straight ahead, into the black eyes of the dead.