Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time

Chapter 29

 Brendon sits at the edge of his bed dressed head to toe in black. Five hours. As the clock ticks by, the musician just waits for the universe to prove or mask some sort of horrible truth. It's hard enough to sit still, let alone quiet his brain. Numbness shook hands with pain. The unconscious mind was now tainted with everything retched and unholy. There was a time of peace when Brendon didn't believe in God. There was a time of peace when he thought that Patrick was still alive, and if there was a heaven, Tyler would be there.

The musician stands on his feet, slowly leaving the room. He takes a few steps out the door before collapsing onto the ground in the hallway. His dogs rush over and greet him with excitement. He weakly brings up his hands to run over both of their backs. If only his pups could read the negative energy surrounding him. If only they knew their mother wouldn't be coming back home. Brendon leans against one of the walls and drops his head to the side. Solemn tears fall down his face. It's shocking to him how much salty water has sprouted from his eyes, but his tears of pain may never run out.

Suddenly, his stomach grumbles. Hunger. It's a feeling that had been foreign to him for a while. But he couldn't eat. Not now. His efforts to resist eating soon cease as he gets up from the ground and walks into the kitchen. He avoids looking at the pictures on the fridge and digs around for items to make a sandwich. Throughout this time, he notices other feelings coming back to him. The physicality of being human. Nothing could have been more safe, although he wishes every second that he would erase his memories.

He manages to sleep a few hours later; exhaustion snatches him like a thief in the night. He doesn't dream about anything out of the ordinary. No more nightmares. Although at the tail end of the dream, he's standing in a field. He sees Sarah in one of her beautiful spring dresses. Just before he can bring her into an embrace, he hears the doorbell ring and the dogs bark. He shoots up from his bed, trying his best to keep his composure as he quickly slips on some pants and a shirt before walking to the door.

Two police officers. Brendon already knows why, but he can't show it. Not yet. He perks up his attitude just a tad and says, "Yes, officers?"

"May we come in?" One of them asks.

"Yes, what is this about?" Slips out of Brendon's mouth. His mind threatens to leave his body again.

They all sit down at the dinner table. One of the officers speaks, "We regret to inform you, but your spouse Sarah Urie was found deceased at Canyon Back Trail."

Hearing the confirmation of her death slashes Brendon in the soul, "Oh my god." He whispers as tears build up in his eyes.

"We know this information is extremely hard to take in, but we would like to ask you a few questions surrounding the unfortunate event. A grieving period is acceptable..." The officer trails on.

But Brendon decides to answer anyway. A simple lie with the dash of inevitable honesty, "Yesterday, she told me she was going to go for a run on that trail to clear her head. Our relationship has... had been rocky for a few months. We had our fair share of arguments. Usually she'd go to a friend's house. I didn't question why she didn't come home." More tears. The officers take notes.

"Her death was... unsettling and the attacker is partially definable as of now. We do not have to give you the details at this time unless you would like to know."

"H-how." Brendon musters.

The officer hesitates, "Over the last few months, there has been a string of attacks. Her death followed under this pattern. Her chest was torn from the nape of the neck to the stomach by some sort of animal."

The images flash through the musician's mind. He stands up and walks over to his countertop. He drops his head and he can't help but start to wail. His nails tearing through her flesh. Her blood covering his hands. He was this monster, and all he wants to do is scream it to the world. But he can't. And he doesn't know why he wants to be innocent with a guilty conscious.