The house on Maple Street

7

Aric pushed the door without hesitation, it was open. I wondered if it was left open by accident or the fact that she had seen us. The kitchen was dark and empty, other than a few small rosemary candles lighting and scenting the room. The dishes were dripping wet which meant they were done not that long ago. I wondered if mum was so against the outside, why didn't she come and get us, after that one hour we were gone.

I tightened my grip on Aric's wrist, my heart started beating faster as we walked toward the main source of light, the lounge room. just as we turned the corner to the lounge, there she was, sitting poise as ever on our purple velvet couch.

Her facial expression frightened me, it was empty and cold I almost wondered if I even knew this person sitting in front of me.

"Where were you"

Her words sent shivers down my spine.

"I'm sorry mum.. we, we wondered off the lake through the forest. I lost track of time"

Hearing Aric's voice gave comfort, but as I turned back to mum her ice cold glare still stained her face.

"Aric you are turning eighteen in three months, and Eden is only fifteen, how could you, both of you. After everything I've done to keep us together? Maybe I should chuck you to the wolves like I did your father"

I didn't know what she meant by that, as I have grown up with the knowledge that Vic ran away.

"You do know what this means don't you"

The stillness of her voice made the bile in my throat rise.

"Mum please, Eden won't last she barely made it last time. You can't do this"

I felt the burning of my tears as they made their way down my face.

"Ivy grab Eden, take her to the basement"

I watched as Ivy came from behind the wall, where I assumed she was the whole time. Barely looking me in my eyes, as if she was guilty. Realisation of what was happening finally came through. I dropped to the floor to weak and shaky to do anything other than cry and beg.

"NO....PLEASE"

I felt Ivy's slim arms shaking as she wrapped them around mine dragging me off the floor.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry"

Was all I heard of Ivy as she dragged me to my inevitable punishment.

I turned to look at Aric one last time, but I saw nothing on his face, I watched his numb expression as mum dragged him upstairs to his room with a key and lock. I never understood why these punishments included me in the basement and Aric in his room.

"One day Eden, you will realise I'm doing this for the better good"

She walked down the stairs, just to watch me get locked in, I felt anger rise in me as if someone else had taken over my body.

"I will never, ever understand the ways as in you continue to torture me"

Even I myself was shocked with what I had just said, as even through anger and tears I still did love my mum no matter how she chose to show it.

"Then you will never come out of this basement"

Those were her last words as she shut the creaking wooden door, leaving me to rot in my own hell.