21

House on fire

TW: if you have a fear of fire dont read this one k?

"He's not coming is he?"

Maggie Tozier had waited for her son to arrive. It had just been his birthday. And he was unable to come and visit on his actual birthday. He had promised he would rent a car with Bill and Stan, his two best friends, and they'd road trip there way to Derry, Maine.

He had called saying there was a problem with renting a car, since none of them were 25, but he told her he'd figure it out, find a way to see her.

Whenever Stan had come to Derry to see his parents, Richie came along and stopped by to see his mother while Wentworth was at work.

"That faggot better not come here."

She hated that word. She loved Richie no matter what. And she had started to really hate Wentworth.

The phone rang, and Maggie was quick to answer it.

"Hello? Richie sweetheart when are you going to be here?"

He wasn't coming.

Apparently Bill had tried to show the car rental place a fake ID saying he was old enough to rent a car. It was obviously a fake, and the police were called.

Richie and Stan had to bail Bill out so he wasn't stuck in jail over night.

He had said he would try and come next weekend. That maybe he could borrow a car from a friend.

Somehow it was much easier for Richie to come to Derry when Stanley's parents invited them out. But it was impossible for Richie to show up when his mother needed him.

Maybe it was because the Uris family had more money, they could get them here with money. That was something Maggie had none of.

"Boy is smart enough to realize that if he showed up I'd kick his little pansy ass."

Maggie hung up the phone.

"Go to hell."

"Excuse me bitch? What did you just say to me?"

"I said go to fucking hell. Richie is a better man than you'll ever be."

"That isn't saying much coming from a woman who hasn't left the house in years. From a woman who sees little boys in the sewer drain. Your fucking crazy. Now shut the hell up before I shut you up."

Maggie smiled.

"I'm going to bed now, dear."

Maggie climbed the stairs to the room her and Wentworth shared.

She had always loved candles. The way the flame flickered, the way the match smelled when you struck it. She loved the feeling of hot wax on her finger when she dared to touch it.

It was only natural that this is how she would take care of things.

The strike of a match.

And moments later the entire bed was engulfed in flames.

The sweet smell of smoke. The way it burned her eyes.

It wasn't long before the fire spread.
The batteries in the smoke detector hadn't been changed since Richie had lived here. He was the only one tall enough to reach.

Wentworth remained passed out down stairs, the scotch causing him to be out like a light.

This is the way it had to be.

He deserved this. She didn't, but he did.

Maggie removed her robe and her nightgown, making her way over to the window.

She pushed it open, afraid of what lurked outside, but knowing this was the only way.

She swung her legs over a d climbed out of the window.

She braced herself for it, and jumped.

~~~

"And my parents? Were they inside when it happened?"

"Yes. It looks like the smoke detector didn't go off. The neighbors didn't hear anything or see anything until it was too late."

That had been Richie's responsibility. To change the batteries out in the smoke detector.

"Did you find there. . . Bodies?"

"All that was left of them was ash."

"What caused the fire?"

"We aren't sure yet, but we'll let you know when we conclude our investigation."

If Richie had been there this wouldn't have happened.