Salvation

Fear

The bathroom was not as dingy as Jeremy had expected it to be. In fact, all the grout had been kept immaculate, and there were no signs of mold clinging to any of the oft-dripping spouts. Even the toilet bore no unsightly ring at the water line. The woman was obviously domestic and very proud of her home.

He ran scalding hot water, a bit disappointed when he noticed that there weren't any soaps. He may look clean after departing, but he certainly wouldn't feel it or smell it.

While Jeremy did his best to scrub himself off, the old woman entertained the rest of the crew with a board game. The only one she'd had was Scrabble, which left Isaac more or less out of the fun. He was given some crinkled, stained paper to scribble on, and his parents had faith this would keep him.

The group had only been at it for a few minutes before Isaac let out a groan.

"I'm bored, mama," he drawled, throwing the dull crayon down on the floor.

Daniel was floored. Lilly was exasperated. They were both in shock at how quickly children could revert back to normal, thinking of trivial things like being bored.

Before either of them could snap out a warning, the older woman reached across the table and slapped the boy hard across his small, withered face.

"You pick that crayon up, right now, boy," she fumed, looking very much like a demon wearing a human suit.

Isaac whimpered and held a hand over his reddening cheek. He did not want to obey her, and stared defiantly across the table at his parents.

"I SAID PICK IT UP!" The woman screamed, slamming her fist down on the wood and sending a jolt through her guests. 

Isaac flew out of his chair quickly and ran to retrieve the hard stick of wax. 

"Now sit back down at the table," she instructed, voice cooling off. "Color and be grateful for it like a good little boy."

The child glanced back and forth at his parents before sitting down to half-heartedly scribble more at the sheet. The game shortly continued, but no one other than the elderly woman seemed to be having much fun.

Issac jumped for joy when Jeremy came back down to join them, excited to escape the dining room and get his own scalding hot bath.

Jeremy joined the group at the table, and they struggled through yet another unsteady game. He could tell there was a tension in the air surrounding his parents, and they all found it difficult to breathe.

"I really don't like that one, Georgie," the woman chattered to her husband, almost as if the rest of the family weren't there. "I don't like him one bit, no."

Jeremy wanted to get the hell out of this woman's house, and he kept casting desperate looks at his parents, praying that they felt the same.

Every now and again Lilly and Daniel would return his expressions, making eyes that promised him "soon".

"Anyway," Daniel sighed when Isaac finally pranced back into the space. "I suppose it's high time we go now. Thank you so much for your hospitality."

Lilly smiled warmly at the woman, reaching out to take her boys' hands.

"No no!" The woman shouted, looking frantic. "You can't leave just yet, dears!"

She got up from her chair and walked up behind them, hands patting shoulders in hopes that they'd stay.

"I haven't seen anyone for months," she pressed on. "I can't in good conscience let you leave. My lord, I'm so lonely."

She started to sob at her thoughts.