The Price of Humanity

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"Mr Michaelson, please don't make me do this." My dad's voice pleads. I manoeuvre past Gale, standing beside him, to try and see what's going on. 

Mr Michaelson is reaching out for my mother, who is actually managing to hold him at arm's length with a ladle. My father is standing nearby with his axe from the garage at the ready, raised above his head.

"You have to do it Richard." My mother tells him, flicking her eyes between my father and Mr Michaelson, there's a worried tone to her voice. But dad doesn't seem able to do what my mother is telling him to do.

He holds his still in its position as if he's ready to swing it at Mr Michaelson, but doesn't move it, almost like he's frozen.

I stare at my father wide eyed, is he really going to kill our neighbour?

"Mr Michaelson..." My mother warns, somehow looking both strong and terrified in the current situation. I stare at my mother, her eyes shine with fear but her stance is that of a fighter's, ready for battle.

Why are they going to battle Mr Michaelson?

Zane also stands in the room, looking terrified, he's standing near the door next to his twin. He noticed us when we arrived though, since he turned around and looked between us both.

"Don't let her see this." Zane demands to Gale, who grabs onto me and uses his arm to guide me behind him.

The height of my two brothers' stops me from seeing anything, so I have to stand on my tip toes to try and see past their shoulders.

I don't get to see the whole scene in the kitchen but I see bits and pieces. I look over at my father, axe still in the air.

After a couple of seconds, just as I was about to focus my gaze on my mum, my father makes up his mind. He lunges at our neighbour.

A little too late however because my mother's arm grew weak a couple of milliseconds earlier and Mr Michaelson is already lunging at her. Gale's reflexes are quick as he turns around and pushes me back away from the door of the kitchen.

We stand in the living room and he shoves my face into his chest so I can't see anything. He also shoves his face into the top of my hair, comforting both himself and me.

I hear a loud scream from my mother, an ear-piercing scream that makes me clutch at Gale tighter. I can feel the tears from him in my hair while tears threaten my own eyes, wanting to soak his shirt.

There's silence for a while, apart from the groaning of Mr Michaelson, and nothing seems to happen. Everyone seems froze to the spot - as if when they move reality will set in and what we heard will be real.

After a few seconds, I lift my head up from Gale's chest and lean to the side very slowly and cautiously, scared at what I might see. I want to know what's happened, but I don't want to see anything I don't want to see.

However, I decide I don't want to see anything at all in the vicinity of the kitchen when I see Zane's face.

His skin is pale and he's looking into the kitchen like he can't look away, like his eyes are glued to what he's staring at. He seems to be in a state of shock, panic and fear all at the same time.

A few seconds later a warrior cry comes from my dad, which also seems like it's mixed with a loud sob. I hear a gruesome crunch and Mr Michaelson stops groaning. A loud thud reaches my ears, I look up at Gale who looks rooted to the spot with fear.

He looks down at me, his tiny little sister who's terrified and clutching his arms. He decides to do play the big brother role and do something.

Gale looks back into the kitchen and closes his eyes, sighing, he looks like he's about to burst into tears at any point. He pushes me away, holding onto my shoulders, still blocking my view and commands me once again.

"Go upstairs and get everyone's suitcases into the car okay? And don't look into the kitchen." His eyes are welling up and he's trying to be brave for me. But he should know better than anyone that when you tell someone not to do something, they go ahead and do it.

I start to move towards the door in the living room, but freeze when I see past Gale. I immediately feel the tears and start to lose my breathing again.

Mr Michaelson is lying flat on the ground, his body behind the kitchen isle but his head peeking out so I can see it. My dad's axe has obviously left his hands and is currently embedded in Mr Michaelson's head.

Blood spills out of his head and covers the ground. What scars me however is that our neighbour's eyes are looking straight at me, with the axe planted in his head. 

I cover my mouth to stop the scream that wants to come out. I start shaking and crying as I realise what's happened. My dad's a murderer.

I pull my eyes away from Mr Michaelson to see my dad cradling my mother. Her neck is bleeding, the blood has spread onto her white shirt and all over dad's clothes too.

I look at dad's face, his eyes are closed and he's breathing deeply as if trying to calm himself. I see the blood spatters on his face too, but I'm not sure who's blood it is.

I turn my attention back to my mother who's sobbing, clutching tightly onto dad's arm. Gale goes up to her too and comforts her. She looks up at him and pulls him close, whispering something into his ear.

He nods and embraces her tightly. I still don't know what the hell is going on.

I look at my mother's neck, not only is she injured, but there's teeth marks mixed in with the blood. The bite marks looks similar to the one on Mrs Michaelson's neck. 

"Zane?" I say quietly, my eyes still fixed on my mother's neck. Zane's gaze flies to mine quickly and he notices where I'm looking. He stands in front of me and takes up the same position Gale had a minute ago.

"You need to go upstairs Champ, okay? I need you to go upstairs and stay in your room until I come get you." I stare at him like he's insane.