Kids in the Dark

Chapter 40

Ryder's P.O.V

We'd arrived at our dad's apartment 5 days ago and so far nothing out of the ordinary had happened unless you counted me breaking the toaster. The house was exactly as it had always been although since our arrival the mess it contained had grown considerably. The house did seem to have a negative effect on my mental health. More often than not I was awake late into the night, afraid to close my eyes and surrender to the horrors of my dreams. The others had picked up on this and were quick to my side when I awoke screaming, yet there was little they could do, but nothing I saw in my nightmares could do justice to the events of the 6th night of our stay.

It was around 7 in the evening and the sky had already grown dark. Theo had just placed a pizza order and was in the kitchen getting it ready. In the lounge, Marc and I were playing a hardcore game of Mario Kart which involved a lot of pushing and shoving and much choice language. The clock on the wall was ticking towards 8 when the doorbell sounded through the house. I heard Theo open it but my heart stopped when a familiar voice spoke.

"You little bastards" It was my dad and by the sounds of it, he'd been drinking, his words slurring together.

"Fuck you!" Theo spat and then came the sound of Theo trying to force the door shut on our father. "Shit." He then said and I saw him stumble back into the lounge. Our father was hot on his heels, clutching a beer bottle and brandishing it like a weapon.

"You two stay behind me," Theo said putting himself between us and our dad. I could see the red rise in our dad's face as his anger grew. In no time he'd opened his mouth and began to shout.

"You little shits have no right to be here. This is my house!" His voice grew in volume the more he spoke edging closer as he did. Theo moved backward forcing both me and Marc to do the same. We had circled back behind the sofa and were now back in the kitchen. The moment we stepped through the door our dad charged, beer bottle held like a club.

Theo fumbled around behind him for a moment before drawing out a knife. He clutched it firmly with two hands but they were still shaking violently. Drunkenly the man I loathed stumbled forwards, face blotchy with anger. Without a word, he charged again but this time he ran into the knife in Theo's outstretched hands. I watched in horror as a smile began to spread across Theo's face. He shifted his hands driving the knife in deeper the grin on his face widening as a gurgling groan escaped our father's lips.

All I could do was observe in disgust as the color drained from my father's face and the way his eyes shone with fear. He seemed to gasp for air as blood began to flood his lungs, in no time what little life he had left in him was gone. He went limp on and Theo released the knife, the body falling to the ground, blood covering the floor.

"I can't tell you how long I've waited to do that." Theo cackled observing the satin red blood that soaked his hands. His words were all that broke the shocked silence that had fallen among us. Instead of saying a word I tentatively approached my brother and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Theo, we need to go." Was all I could say. I turned to Marc who was stood frozen behind me. He seemed to break out of trance before locking his eyes with mine.

"I'll throw some stuff in the car." He suddenly said then he hurriedly left the room. With his departure, I turned back to Theo.

"Theo, come on let's go." I once again tugged at his arm. It took him a few seconds but he eventually faced me. This single movement seemed to snap something. In seconds flat he went from a monster who took joy in his actions to a broken 17-year-old boy.

"Shit Ryder, what have I done." His voice shook as he made to run his bloody hand through his hair.

"Theo n-" But before I could stop him he'd done it, blood staining his hair a gruesome red and leaving smudges on his face. In the moments between this and Marc re-entering his behavior switched again.