The Night Things Will Come

There's no happy ending, is there?

I remember that morning too well. The air was cold, the first of winter's frost, the same frost that had turned the soft spring grass into icy green daggers. Breath came out as clouds of fog that morning. I tucked the coffee stained road-map into my green suede backpack, tracing over the patches Petal had given me, she traveled alot and ALWAYS picked up some cool patch for me. I was still unsure why she would want to leave, San Francisco was the most wonderful place I could ever hope to live, despite that I really didn't feel fulfilled, that's why I agreed to run away with her. I didn't ask her any questions and I knew I should have, oh man I should've.

My bedroom door opened and I quickly threw the backpack under my bed, Nobody was supposed to be home. I felt my heart in my throat "Nicodemus, sweetheart?"
"Oh...hey Grandma... what are you doing here?"
She quickly sat me on the bed, her eyes were wild
"I haven't heard from your parents in a long time, I knew something was wrong, are you alright?"
she wrapped me in her embrace, tears trickling down her face. I gently pushed her away. They left because of you
I thought to myself bitterly. Why was she only just noticing that her only daughter was gone? It'd been two damn years since my parent's disappearance and it took her this long to notice. I guess they really didn't have a relationship
"I'm fine"  I muttered, thinking up an incredulous lie
"they didn't tell you they went camping? they left me here to take care of the pets, they'll be back soon"
"oh... would you like me to stay here with you until they come back? it can get pretty lonely at night..." she gently rubbed my leg and I felt my heart race, quickly pushing her hand away
"nah, thanks"
" I just don't really think it's a good idea for you to be here alone" her tone was angry, not unusual for her
"I told ya I'm fine Grandma, I'm 19, I can stay alone, you can leave now"
"Don't you EVER talk to me like that, you little brat"
"I'm sorry, I just... have plans, okay? I can't be late, they'll be back, I promise"
I stood up grabbing my backpack and she grinned
"Don't leave me without my kiss!"
I focused in on the broccoli between her teeth. She always smelt like garlic, even if she bathed which I doubt she ever did, the stench was permanently attached to her. I quickly gave her a peck on the cheek, dashing down the stairs before she could change her mind and.....

I paused to smile at the old family photo, it had been taken in 1979, when I was the ripe age of 6 and a half. I lost both front teeth the week before that photo was taken. My gummy grin was the highlight of the photo.
"I'll find you, I promise"
I glazed over my little brother, he was two in that photo, the biggest smile on his shiny little face.
"All of you"
I slipped the photo into my backpack and ran out the door. I felt afraid of what I didn't know, but stronger than that fear, I felt free. So free. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, I felt ten feet tall despite just being 6"7

I opened the gate on the side of her house and made my way through the yard, stopping outside Petal's Window
I scooped up a fistful of rocks, throwing them one by one at the window
"Petal! Pete! Pete! Petey!" The window opened up but my grin quickly faded as Petey appeared, bloody and distraught, she threw her bag down quickly.
I caught the bag and warily eyed Petey
"Pete? Talk to me"
She stopped to glance at me, her short blonde hair unfurling from her ponytail
"It's Clementine"
"Clementine Aberdeen?"
"Yes, something.... happened, we need to go now" she stared at me, her tired eyes pleading
"I.... I can't until you tell me what happened"
She rubbed her temples and groaned
"You promised me! no questions"
"Fine, alright, no questions" I held up my hands for a truce. I should've asked.

We left.
I left.
I left my horrible Grandmother and
I left all of my pets, one of my biggest regrets, even though I told Archie Matthews to take them. I knew he could give them a great home.
I left the truth behind, my whole life became entangled with lies.

My eyes grew dull and blurry as the clock hit 3am, we had no clue where we were going, but we knew it had to be far away. Time was a blur, Petal was fast asleep and I was so tired, I shouldn't have been driving, and to make everything worse I had a blaring hangover from the night before, something I'd become a fan of since my family was deemed missing. I didn't tell anyone of their absence, and I knew it would bite me in the ass later, but I felt like it was useless. I knew Police had other things on their mind, and my town couldn't handle another missing persons case. I held the bottle of whiskey I'd shoved deep into the suede backpack and chugged it down. The burn felt good, I felt focused. Why was it so damn hot in here? I drank a little more and my grip on the wheel loosened. Where was the temperature dial? I glanced down for just a second and we narrowly avoided a crash. We got an angry finger, a couple curse words and a long, fitting, honk. I quickly pulled over as my heart tried to break free of my chest and Petal sighed, I hadn't even realized she was awake. She shook her head
"Are you drunk again? Let me drive" I nodded slowly stepping out of the tiny car, something I still wasn't used to. My legs were naturally long, a trait surprisingly from my mother's side. She stood about 5'10, while my father was just about average at 6'2.