My Inferno

Prologue

The girl sat in her room, gazing out into the sky as it became darker as minutes passed by. Colors of yellow, orange, red, and a purple blending together into a beautiful sunset. Clouds patterned the sky, the sun dipping into the horizon just above the forest of trees lined in front of her home. The smell of autumn approaching was refreshing, rather than the smell of murky water and smoke. She listened as the wind swept through the trees, crickets chirping within the darkening wooded paths. Frogs croaking from the lake just within an eyes view. She breathed in, her chin falling into her palm as her eyes shut. She looked down to the paper that was clipped on to her old kindergarten binder, an image of golden blooms basking in a single ray of sunlight within the woods drawn on. A smile made its way to her lips, and she gently plucked it from the clips that previously held it down. Slipping on her fuzzy slippers and fixing her nightgown, she made her way down the creaky wooden steps of her family's Cabin. Her mothers laugh howled through the first level of the home, and she barely made out the audible warm chuckles from her father. Approaching the dining room, she could make out her younger brother shooting finger guns towards their mother as he snickered. The girls father stood by the stove, the smell of cooked meat and vegetables overlapping with the seasoned fragrance that always seemed to lurk in the air. She grinned cheekily, placing down the paper and sneaking up behind the brown haired boy. Her mother giggled as the girl approaches, her arms raised high in the air before swooping down to squeeze the boy into a big hug, then departing to tickle at his sides. Her brother squeals, his feet kicking around as he smacked at his sisters hands while his laughter filled the room. She and her mother join in, their laughter all bouncing off the walls.

"I've got you now, you little punk!" The girl would shout, giving up on tickling and instead restraining her brother. A flash brightened the room as the boy squirmed, stray laughter bubbling out of him. He rapidly shook his head, slipping under the table and out, hiding by the side of his mother. The girl laughed and sat down, as her mother giggled at their foolishness. Her father shook his head while chuckling, placing down a polaroid camera, along with a blank photo. He returns to the kitchen, then yet again walking out with four plates of steaming food. The girls brother clapped his hands at his father, never failing to be amazed at all the tricks his father had learned while working as a waiter at the local tavern. The father placed the plates down, before bowing as the girls brother continued to clap, this time more enthusiastically.

"Thank you, thank you. I will be here all night." Her father said, his straight face cracking into a smile as he kissed his daughter and wife's heads, and finishing it off with giving his son a noogie. They all sat down, sharing jokes and laughing with one another. The girl's laughter ended eventually, looking at her happy family. At this point and time, It all felt absolutely perfect.

Oh how she wished it could remain that way.

...

Five years had passed. The girl was at home with her brother, closing a storybook and pecking his forehead. Bidding the sleeping boy goodnight, she walked downstairs and sat on the couch. She glances anxiously at the clock hanging above the door.

9:47 p.m

An hour late.

Her parents were suppose to be home an hour ago. She tried calling them, but both parents went to immediate voicemail. Texts were left unread. Her parents didn't usually do this. Usually, it was immediate pick up, or an immediate respond. Hell, if anything, their responses would take only twenty-five minutes, forty-five max. So why weren't they answering?

It was just an hour drive away. They were only gonna go hang out with a few friends at the bar, then come home. It was as simple as that. She could call the bars manager, but its possible she was just overreacting. Its only an hour. Their phones probably died.