The thunder clapped as lightning illuminated the sky, holding it as a hostage. Raindrops cascaded from the sky, firing at the already drowning ground. My hand wrapped around a warm cup of coffee, my eyes entrapped by the beckoning cool glow of the clouds. I could hear the artillery fire of rain hitting against the sea in front of the cabin. If I wasn't wrapped in worry about my father, I'd be in heaven with all of the bittersweet sounds of nature. Midnight slowly drew closer and closer in. He should've been here hours ago, especially seeing as we were due to be leaving at sunrise.
Every year we came to the Outerbanks for our 'family' vacation. The night life was good and the waves were perfect for surfing. Actually, nearly everything was perfect. However, this year was a lot different. We had arrived a few days before a big storm hit, 'Storm Agatha' the island called it. It destroyed a lot of the poorer side of the island, however the side we were staying on looked pretty much untouched days later, luckily. Regardless, the weather didn't ruin the holiday - the islanders did.
My dad instructed me and my sister to not leave the cabin after it was released on the news there was a homicidal killer on the loose as well as numerous gun shootings. Paradise had flipped to mayhem in a matter of days, maybe even hours. The worst part of it all was that we weren't allowed to leave the island, in fear that the killer would escape too. No one was allowed in and no one was allowed out. Stranded. That's exactly what we were.
A boom from the grandfather clock in the lounge filled my ears. It was midnight; he still wasn't back. "Lizzie?" I shouted heading back indoors. My hand brushed my hair behind my ears with nerves as I entered her room. Safe, she was snuggled into her bedsheets soft snores dripping from her lips. "Liz, wake up." Her eyes lightly fluttered open, her green eyes staring straight into mine. "I need to go see where daddy is." I stroked her cheek gently, comforting her. Lightening lit up the entire room, enhancing her fearful eyes staring into mine. "I'll be back as soon as possible. With dad, I promise." I smiled sweetly watching her eyes roll to the back of her sleepy head. Leaning down I kissed her forehead before creeping out of the room.
I shakily exhaled looking in the mirror on the wall, wrapping myself in my raincoat. The umbrella in the corner of the room caught my eye, but the winds would render it useless in a matter of seconds. Carefully, I locked the rusted door behind me exiting the cabin. Beneath me, the wooden steps creaked as I forced myself against the wind and down the stairs. My boots splashed against the mud as I walked.
"Dad?" The screams of wind intimidated my voice, hollowing it down to compare to a whisper. As if I were protecting myself, I wrapped my arms around my chest forcefully holding in my warmth. "Dad!" I just kept shouting, praying that he was nearing the cabin on his way back. Of course, I knew exactly where he was. Which made everything worse. My stomach felt as though it couldn't hold anything down, it just felt tied up.
He was on the other side of the island. At Barry's RV. Receiving his fix.
As a big gush of wind picked up, a branch from a nearby tree snapped. There wasn't enough time for me to step out of the way. Before I could take another breath, the branch crashed into me. The impact knocking me to the floor. A groan slipped from my lips as I fell, my body covered in mud off of the ground. My shaky limps struggled to push myself up. Feeling a sting from my cheek, I brushed my hand over it. Looking down at my hand, I saw small blotches of blood as I winced. "Shit." I hissed under my breath.
The sky was a murderous black, the wind evolving as seconds went on. Nevertheless, I needed to help my dad. My cautious walk turned into a run. "Dad!" I screamed nearly every other footstep. Getting nearer and nearer to the RV, I snuck up shielding myself behind the tree.
"Come on, Barry! I've got two girls, it's just us, there's got to be another way I can pay you back!" The desperation was voluminous in the voice. It almost didn't sound familiar. Carefully, I squinted my eyes as I looked around the tree. My vision was blurred with the continued rainfall. Each of my laboured breaths were was loud as the thumping in my ears hearing my heart beat unsteady. Not having a view of the situation, I pushed off of my weak feet running to hide behind the RV. The voices and warmth of light were coming from the other side. Pushing my back to the construction, I shuffled round the side of it. Each plummet of rain drops cancelled out the noise of my footsteps.
Hazardously, I peaked around the RV. A gasp escaped my dried lips as I saw a figure bending over my dad. Blood fell from his mouth and nose, his eyes blackened and swollen.
"Your payment is due, man. I've given you enough time." My eyes widened as I felt my entire body tense up. The figure picked my father up by the collar of his t-shirt.
"It's the end of the line, old man."
My brows furrowed as I tried to edge closer. The rain drooled from my face. I heard a sob come from my dad, my heart fell ripping into small individual pieces.
"Please, I can find the money. When I'm home... My girls they need me." My father spoke, stuttering on every other word. Remorse seeping from his lips. My heart started to race erratically. Sharply, I whipped my head searching around me desperate to try and help. Thoughts fumbled around in my brain, this couldn't be happening. The figure stepped back slightly, away from my dad. I sighed of relief. Mercy. As the figure stepped back further, his hand lifted. The light off of the RV reflected a small blade in his palm. I gasped as the man strongly jerked his hand. I threw myself forward.
"No!"
