Tales from the Overlook

Fire Burns as the Snow Flurries

It was a marvel, really, that things weren't worse than they were. Despite everything that had happened, the general consensus was still that they couldn't simply leave Jack in a building that was mere moments from going up in flames. It was a matter of good luck that the cook had heard him in time, and even better luck that he'd been able to render him unconscious - it wasn't a graceful battle, the madman was pelted with whatever the rescuer could find while trying to keep out of the reach of the mallet that was swung at him with murderous intent until something hit him right and sent him tumbling down to the ground - and the best of luck that they'd been able to get him outside before he stirred. With Wendy's bad back and ribs, Dick's wounded arm, and Danny's being a child, and an injured child at that,  it was a team effort.

Jack let out a groan as he was placed as gently onto the snow as he could be, but with a startling speed, consciousness took its hold on him again, hauling himself to his feet, a puppet hauled up by its strings, looking upon the others with a pure malice that should never be seen on a human face as he took a few staggering, uneven steps towards the others. Even disarmed he could still be deadly, if the bruises upon his wife's neck were anything to go by. But then his face changed, just as the boiler ignited a look of horror and sorrow took its place. He whirled around but his footing didn't keep, sending him back down to the ground with a howl, landing poorly on his back, or more specifically onto the knife lodged in there. But still he moved, clawing pathetically as if he were trying to drag himself back to the Overlook even as it started to burn.

Wendy felt her heartstrings tug painfully when she saw her husband tumble down into a pitiful little heap on the ground, or perhaps it was simply just another ache of many that he'd brought upon her. Her head was spinning, the only thing that was keeping her from joining the weak soul on the snow was a strange sense of will that she couldn't quite explain even to herself. Of all the sounds that were assaulting her ears, Jack scrambling weakly in the direction as if there were still time to stop the inevitable destruction, his frantic muttering - 'nononono there's still time there's still time theresstill time theresstilltime nononono' - as he moved, the roaring of the wind, or the returning roar of the swiftly growing fire, she couldn't say which was frightening her the most. Perhaps it was the wicked combination that filled her with dread.

Danny winced as his father let out a scream so agonised and sorrowful that it was sure to haunt him for years to come. He winced, yes, but nothing more, because he had to be strong because the adults didn't have to be the only one's to stay strong. There were tears in his eyes, running down his steps, and never seeming to stop but he refused to cry out. A burst of hot air billowed out of the building with such a force that he was almost pushed over, but he managed to catch himself in the nick of time, though this was no easy feat for one so young. He couldn't bear the sight of his father  {Daddy? Can you hear me? Are you my daddy again or are you still the hotel?} throwing his hands over his head as he wailed. There was no pretty sights he could try and hide with, however, for his options were the almost darkness where the topiary prowled, the building that burnt so bright it hurt, or he'd have to face the hopelessness of the others.

Dick felt a surprising burst of pity towards the man who had brought about such sorrow for his little family. He could barely feel his arm, which had been burning to no end mere moment ago, but this was not the relief he'd hoped it would be. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't blame the man who was writhing and spasming in the snow before them, for he knew the ways of the Overlook, he knew it better than he wanted to. He'd get them out of there, he'd get them help, even if he'd need to stretch the truth to the hospital staff. It wouldn't be a lie, he was called there because there was an attack, he just didn't need to say who it was that was doing the attacking. He just had to hope that there was still time for them to get to a hospital, but seeing the woman in such a state didn't fill him with confidence.

The Overlook bellowed its death throes, the sounds echoed by the man it had claimed for its puppet. The fire raced with a hunger to match its own, places of murder and bloodshed and pain purified by flame. In the dead of night it shone as if it were the middle of the day. Smoke billowed up and covered up the stars, the heavy acrid scent clinging to everything as if marking its doom to go up and meet a fiery end. It was a delicious ending for a place that was so horribly monstrous. The party was finally coming to an end, but the guests had no home to return to for the world had moved on since they walked the world of the living. Perhaps they were finally free, an exorcism by fire setting them free from the corruption of their soul, but it seemed more likely that they would be stuck, doomed to walk the ruins of the once grand building until the time comes that the last of the foundations came tumbling down and the Overlook returned to the earth that it inhabited.