Filling The Gap...

Katie

"Ah more casualty's"

The old man says now noticing Mike who is still huddled up in the corner in the kitchen muttering words to himself, holding his hands over his ears trying to block out the events that had just happened. Hoping Mike could keep it together better than me, reaching for my mothers' hand. Her skin cold, no longer feeling the warmth I was so use to.

"your Williams father. Michael Baker...but you were reported dead in the fire?"

He stands hunched overlooking like he was struggling to keep himself up let alone capable of killing someone. He nods his head whilst closing and locking the door behind him. I feel Mike's hands come around my waist as he tries to pull me away from mum. I cant leave her.

"When I heard about this mysterious boy called William that no one knew about being in town I knew I had to come and check it out. At first, I thought it was just some normal boy. Just another kid. But then I saw him in the forest. I couldn't believe it...my own son...he had returned to me."

"He didn't return to you! You killed him! You're a murderer."

Snapping at him as he leans down over William. His old wrinkled bloody fingers grazing along William's cheek.

"Leave him alone! Get off him."

I try to muster all the strength I had to keep calm. Please William do something. His body unmoving, blood coats nearly his entire shirt and his hair where his father had hit him with the back of the gun that he still carries and now points at me again. He leans back up and begins to limp towards us.

"They were going to leave me."

His voice low and unapologetic.

"I didn't have any other choice. I was already a failure throughout my whole life... I tried to go with them... but it must not have been my time. God saved me for a reason. A second chance. And now he has returned William back to me."

Was this guy smoking? Or was he actually crazy. His eyes were unfocused and drawn back as he mutters words under is breath.

"But now I can fix everything."

He scrambles around the kitchen knocking things to the floor around us, his breathing heavy.

"We can be a happy family once again my son. I will fix this. I failed the first time but I wont this time. You'll see."

Failed the first time? My eyes widen when he turns the hobs of the cooker on and lets the gas fill the air, grabbing the bottle of cooking oil on the side he pours it all over the cooker and on to the floor as well as reaching into his pocket and pulling out a bottle of whiskey.

"I was saving this to celebrate."