42nd Country Road

Pictures With Memories

I woke up in the dark. Mark was still next to me. I looked up at him to see him fast asleep. I smiled. He was cute when he slept. I sat up slowly so I was sitting on the end of the bed. I took a deep breath and stepped down. It didn't hurt as bad as I remembered it. I slowly started to walk out the door. There was a long hallway with doors on both sides. I walked slowly holding my side, gently. I got to the end of the hallway and see a big room, with a kitchen on one side and a big worn down couch on the other, accompanied with a small side table. I walked over to it. A few pictures decorated the smooth, finished surface. I grabbed one of the pictures and looked at it. It was a little girl on her father's shoulders. They were both smiling, the sun dancing off their faces. There was a little note at the bottom that read: "Lily, you are the most precious little girl a father could ask for, I love you. Dad,"

A smile broke my lips as I peered down at the photo. I heard footsteps behind me. I turn around slowly to see Mark's squinted eyes.

"Morning," I said with a small smile. He yawns.

"Morning," He replied. He came over to me gently grabbing my waist and pulling me towards him. He kissed me. He pulled away and looked deeply into my green eyes and smiled. I smiled back at him. I heard someone outside. I perked up and looked out the large window behind the couch.

"Where's Jack?" I asked

"In his room, why?" Mark replied

"Someone's outside," I said quietly. I looked out the window. There was nothing but darkness outside. The darkness took over. I opened the door and stood in the doorway. A deer appeared in the bushes. I went back to normal and smiled. I haven't seen a deer since... I was with my family. I looked at it and it looked at me. I closed to door and sat on the couch, pulling my knees to my chest. Mark sat down next to me.

"What's wrong baby girl?" He said. I looked at him, my cheeks red. He had never called me that before.

"Just paranoid," I mumbled. He wrapped his arms around me playfully.

"Don't be," He said, smothering my cheek with kisses. I giggled and playfully pushed him away.

"I love you," He chuckled. I smiled back and laid my head on his chest. I heard the deer outside. I straightened up and looked out the window again. Mark pulled me back down.

"You'll be okay," He said in a soothing voice. He started to stroke my blonde hair.

"Mark?" I asked quietly

"Yes?" He responded

"I love you," I said quietly.

"I love you too," He replied. We cuddled on the couch until the sun started to touched the sky.

The sun met the hardwood floors in the living room and the kitchen. Jack came out of the hallway with his black eyes. I looked at him.

"I'm looking for pretty," He said, his voice heavy, "Do you know where she is?"

The darkness came over me,

"She's right here," I said. I got up from Mark's warmth and walked over to Jack, "What do you need?"

"I need pain, Pretty," He said, "Everyone else got some but me,"

"Now Jack, we all must be patient," I said, looking at him and smirking.

"But I'm tired of being patient," He said giving me a shove. His voice rising in volume. I hated it when he yelled while he was dark.

"Back off," I said anger rising in my voice.

"No," He yelled. That made Mark jump up off the couch and run over to me.

"Fine," I said. I grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. I grabbed a shard of glass off the floor and slowly ran it along his arm. He smiled, blood rushing down his arm. I let go.

"Happy now?" I said. He smiled.

"Very," He replied. Jack left the room and I went back to normal. I dropped the glass and turned to look at Mark. He pulled me into a hug. I pulled out and looked at me smiling.

"Breakfast?" He asked

"There's nothing to eat," I said

"I'll find something," Mark said walking into the kitchen and opening a cupboard. It was filled with multiple canned goods. My jaw dropped at the sight of all of the food. I half jogged over to him.

"Where did this all come from?" I asked him.

"With the house I guess," Mark said

"Oh my gosh," I said picking up a can of chicken noodle soup, "No way,"

"We have no electricity, but we could cook over a fire," He laughed.

"Please," I said to Mark. He chuckled and walked over to the fireplace already stalked with wood. He pulled a match out of his back pocket and started to light the fire. I started to think of Jack. I walked down the hall.

"What one is Jack's room?" I called to Mark.

"Uh, last one on the left," He called back

"Thanks," I said. I walked down to the last door. I opened it quietly. Jack was laying on his bed talking to himself, mumbling words that I couldn't hear. There was blood all over the walls and his white sheets. I slowly approached him. His mumbling stopped and he turned his head to me. His eyes still black with rage.