Filling The Gap...

William

Turning the handle as I twist the key to open the back door leading through to the kitchen, my clothes dripping water on to the tiled floor. A flash of lightening sparks over the house as I close the door behind me, the lights flickering off and on. Rain pelting down on the windows hard as I listen out for the voice of my mother who usually is sat in the living room with a glass of wine in her hand. But nothing. Walking further into the kitchen, I expect dopey also known as Dougy our little brown and white terrier to jump up at me. Silence. I hear nothing no music playing or my mum humming to one of stupid songs that she constantly listens to either in the car or at work. She loved music. Me, I could not stand it. I never really understood how a bunch of random people could sing a song that could get a group of girls who they never met cry or orgasm on the spot.

"Mum?"

I call out placing my keys on the kitchen table. The inside of the house weirdly cold, kicking my shoes off I head towards the living room. The sofa empty half expecting her to have fallen asleep on it as I look at the clock, five minutes past midnight. She was probably upstairs asleep in bed, seeing the car parked on the drive from earlier. Walking back to the kitchen, I open the fridge the hinges squeaking as I look inside and find something to eat.

"Bingo."

Grabbing a slice of lemon tart that my mum had bought from our local favorite bakery on her way back home. The pastry crumbling in my mouth enjoying the sweetness from the lemon, the fridge door closing automatically as I let go and walk through the living room and to the bottom of the stairs. Swallowing the last piece of the tart I begin to climb up the steps reaching the upstairs landing, I pass my parents bedroom and turn the handle to open my bedroom door. Our house having three bedrooms which my father uses the smallest one for his office, not that he used it very often. I had tried to go in there a couple of times, but the door was always locked and knowing him he would never leave a spare key anywhere in the house whilst he was away.

Working my way through my bedroom in complete darkness, familiar to where everything was from doing this countless of times in the hours of the morning. Flicking a tiny switch upward the lamp on my desk lights up, my eyes adjusting. Grabbing the bottom of my shirt I pull it upwards, dragging it over my body then finally over my head. Throwing it in a pile of already dirty washing that I probably should sort out at some point. Unbuckling my belt, I kick off the jeans that are stuck to my legs. Dressed only in boxers as I look around my room, something feeling slightly different. Applications and papers covering my desk where I had left them, my bed still not made from this morning. A yawn escaping from my mouth as I shrug it off, tiredness now creeping in mixed in the with alcohol that I had drunk only hours ago. Walking over to my bed, I fall on to it not caring that my boxers were partly wet and that I hadn't washed since Susan. My eyes heavier as the sound of rain pulls me deeper into a deep sleep.

"How could she."

I stir slowly awake when I hear muttering and feel my bed heavily dip at the end of it. Blinking my eyes open as the sunlight slowly creeps through my blinds, looking down a tall figure sits not far from me. Wearing his normal dark fisherman coat, his old worn baseball cap that I remember him always wearing from my childhood still rests on top of his head. His brown wavy hair longer than before as it dangles down at the sides and back, drops of rain drip on to my duvet as he holds his head between his hands. His breathes heavy as I smell the alcohol reeking off of him, he'd lost weight. A lot, almost sick looking as his leans back. His eyes look to mine, both of us watching one another. I move slightly as notice his hands covered in blood.

"Dad?"

I try to move but something stops me. The air a lot tighter than before as sweat coats my back. What is that smell? My throat dries up suddenly as the air tickles my lungs, making me uncontrollably cough. My eyes burning as smoke starts to cloud inwards to my room,

"We'll all be happy family once again. You'll see."

His voice shaky as he leans forward.

"What did you do?"

Using all the strength I had left I pull myself to the edge of the bed. Ignoring my father who just sits quietly as burning flames start to spread on the inside of my door frame, falling to the ground the carpet softening my landing. I look towards the window.

"She was going to leave me. You both were."

He murmurs.

Crawling to the window ceil, I heave myself up and try to push the window open. Struggling as the window latch will not open as I notice the newly fresh nails pinning it down closed. How in the hell- I look to my father who now stands behind me, his tall figure shadowing the flames that now get nearer to us as I feel the heat burning across my skin.

"There is no escape,"

Quickly turning my body around I swing my arm back, knocking my elbow as hard as I can against the thick glass, my skin bruising as I keep swinging at it. My breaths getting shorter as it begins to crack. Finally. A forceful pair of hands grab my shoulders pulling me backwards as thick smoke surrounds me, the heat simmering around us as my vision starts to blur seeing a shadow leaning over me, a strong arm squeezing my throat.

"Sleep, my son."

The words slurring as I fall to darkness.