Only At Night

Chapter 10

They all piled into Peter’s police cruiser. Peter threw his foot down onto the gas pedal. They weren’t even buckled, but the situation was too urgent to worry about it. The entire time, Peter worried about if he would make it in time, if he would make it to the house before anything could happen to Noah. He changed his mindset, instead of worrying, he got ‘pumped’. He looked in the mirror and saw Jeremy, Maranda, and Brodie had worried expressions on their faces. 

“We’re gonna end it.” Peter said, breaking the silence in the car. 

“We will.” Brodie chimed in.

“Whatever it takes.” Peter whispered to himself.

“Here.” Jeremy said as he handed the bat to Brodie.
“Why?” Brodie asked.
“You can use it better than I can.” Jeremy smiled.

“Okay I guess?” Brodie said, confused.

Brodie handed the kitchen knife over to Jeremy. It seemed like an eternity before the car finally reached the Rogers’ house. When the house came, the car grew quiet. Peter parked his car outside of the yard. He got out and stood in the pathway to the front door. He looked up at the house, thinking of all that would be inside. He turned and quietly closed the car door. The rest piled out of the car and silently closed the door to the cruiser. Peter pointed to the woods.

“I want one person with me.” Peter said. “The other three will be in there, ready in case things go wrong.”

“Why split up?” Jeremy asked.

“If we all go in at once, we could all be killed at once.” Peter explained. “If we go in the house in two different waves we can better our chances.”

“I wanna go.” Brodie said. “My brother is in there.”

“No. I should-” Judy started.

“Judy, I need you here with Jeremy and Maranda. If something goes wrong out here, they will need you.” Peter suggested.

“Fine.” Judy said.

“Alright. Our goal is to get Noah and put an end to it.” Brodie said. “Nothing more.”

“Lets go!” Judy commanded as she lead Jeremy and Maranda out into the woods behind the towering brick house.

Peter and Brodie walked up to the front door. Peter pressed his ear up against it. There was no sound coming from inside. Peter reached down to the doorknob and slightly twisted it. It was unlocked. He quietly and carefully pulled open the door. He peered into the house, looking to see if someone had seen. There was no one nearby that Peter could see. He motioned for Brodie to step inside. He quickly pulled the front door closed. Peter took out his pistol and looked around. There were footsteps from above. Peter put his arm out in front of Brodie as his head shot to the ceiling. There was only one set of footsteps and it sounded as if it was right above them. Brodie looked at the stairs, ready for someone to come around the corner. Brodie readied himself, holding the bat out in front of him. Peter aimed his pistol to the stairway, expecting someone to at least poke their head around. Nothing came. Peter slowly approached the stairs. He stepped onto the bottom stair, looking down to Brodie, who was staring at the top of the steps. 

“Be careful.” Brodie warned as Peter slowly made his way up the stairs.

Peter put one foot on a stair at a time, being super careful. His worst fear was realized when he put his foot down on the second to last step and it let out a high pitched, loud squeal. Brodie, who was a few steps behind Peter, cringed. There was movement from the room next to the stairs. Peter put his finger on the trigger, ready for Maurice or Serenity to jump out. Peter stepped onto the last step and then onto the second floor. He pressed himself against the wall, hiding from the hallway. Brodie quickly followed, being sure to be quiet. He too, pressed himself against the wall. Peter took a deep breath as if he was getting ready to do something gutsy. Then, he stepped around the corner, aiming the pistol. The hallway was empty. Brodie stepped behind Peter. Peter took a few steps down the hallway, making his way to a door. He looked behind him.. Brodie was frozen, staring at the hallway on the other side of the stairs. He had his bat out in front of his as if he were ready to defend himself. He looked around Brodie. Serenity stood down the hall, staring at them. She smiled and laughed. Peter pushed Brodie against the wall and fired the gun. Pow! Pow! Pow! She ducked and ran into a room. The door to the room slammed shut. Peter walked past Brodie. Brodie noticed Peter had picked up speed and was now walking at a decent pace. Peter walked to the door she had dove into. Peter got against the opposite wall. He sued all of his force to kick the door in. The door flew open and peter burts into the room, his gun aimed. The room was completely empty except for a dresser under window against the far wall. Peter slowly made his way over to the dresser. A single picture frame sat on the dresser. Peter looked at the picture. It was a family portrait. Maurice and Serenity stood in the center. In front of them stood a woman Peter recognized. It was Mrs. Howell. Next to Mrs. Howell stood a teenage boy. Brodie pointed at the boy.