DEATH JUNCTION

3

  I managed a breath as I lifted up the bucket. The water sloshed within it, stray droplets dappling the interlocking tiles. My palms burnt from gripping the metal handle too hard, my wrist aching from all the house chores I had just finished. I paused for a moment, stopping myself from taking another step. With the lights outside of the white washed house chasing away the darkness of the early morning hours, I noticed the iron gate was opened, unbolted and tilting outwards, letting in the sight of the large tar road, street lights intermittently dotting the cement pavement with similar equally massive houses with their respective gates zipping down the other side of the street.

  My eyebrows knitted.

Did mummy forget to lock the gate?

Apprehension gripped me, the chirping of birds and distant honks of cars careering through the air. The familiar fear of the dark reared it's head once again as I took a step forward, my wet flip flops squeaky against the concrete, making me internally cringe. Trying to stiffen my palpitating heart, I chanted in my head,

What you don't know, will not know you and what you don't fear, will not visit you. Don't think.

Then different images began to pass through my mind, demons lurking around corners, animals waiting to prey on me, men waiting for their unsuspecting victims. My throat constricted. Self induced nightmares continued to morph in my mind uncontrollably, my fears taking flight as my eyes began to skitter to corners, trying to make sure that there were no suspicious details in the vicinity.

This isn't the first time you're going out to wash the car, do it and get it over with!

I huffed and made a beeline for the garage, a brown box shaped structure that stood off to the side, standing out like a sore thumb amidst the three white buildings, the multitude of flower beds, the fountain and the rest of the compound that exuded the riches that my stepfather had acquired. For some reason though it reminded me of myself and how I was sidelined in the family, a cockroach that hid away at the large cupboard, feasting on its unearned scraps until it was finally kicked out. I blinked as I walked by another bed of flowers, blooming in the lights that circled the compound.

What are people's obsession with flowers though? Isn't a bit cliche?

Then tell me, isn't it a bit cliche that you're still afraid of the dark?

That doesn't even make sense.

Shut up!

I shook my head before wondering whether I was the only one that had conversations with myself . Soon I reached the structure and  the door was also left ajar, the ceiling lights spreading white light to the exterior tiles. I suppressed the tingles that crept up my hand. Something dropped down the pit of my stomach as the surrounding sounds were silenced. As soon as my eyes adjusted to the familiar white light, the coppery smell slapped me in the face, pulling me into a memory.

  Blood. My mummy had told me to stay back but I hadn't. Bruised arms, bloodied faces, twisted arms, a disembodied car.

"Get out of there!" My mother had shouted, faking to be strong but I could see her bloodshot eyes and her shaky palms. The whirring of sirens and the heat wave broke through the atmosphere as my mother pulled me into her arms, cradling me and whispering that everything would be alright. But I knew I was alright but she wasn't.

I knew in some twisted way that my grandparents were dead. That the car crash has killed them. And there was not an ounce of longing in my system, the smell of diesel and the smoke overpowered my senses but the one smell that had congealed my nose before I closed my eyes was the coppery smell of blood.

In that moment, I let go of the bucket, water splayed across the floor, muddying the floor even as a tip tap sound bled through the silence of the aftermath. And like that day I was running towards the smell instead of away, I passed my father's car, a new J wagon, glossing over its shiny coat but my eyes settled on my mother's rusty toyota and the smell thickened.

No!

My spine tingled, my ears ringing. A fresh coat of blood covered the windshield, drops splattering against the floor, red polka dots forming along the cars bonnet before sliding to the floor. My heart thudded, my nerves rattling as red flags began to be drawn in my mind. I could barely breathe as I rushed to the side where it seemed like I would find the source.

God please, it can't be.

Then I saw it. A  lump rose to my throat. The drivers seat was open, swathes of blood drawing across the brown leather worn seat. Then they slunk to my mother lying on the floor, her pink blouse soaked with blood that was spread across a large gaping wound in her stomach. Metallic substances traced the blood, a dark odour being emitted that kept with the air. My breathing hitched as I fell beside her, my heart aching as I struggled to her side with a queasy gut and wobbly knees. I grasped my hand, my insides churning at how cold her palms already were.

No!

Tears burned my eyes. What scared me most were her eyes, now white, gleaned of life. My lips quivered as I could feel the blood swaying underneath, drops already drying on my skin.

She was dead.

Dots encroached my vision. Panic flared within my system as I screamed, my fists clenching while hunching over, feeling every ounce of my strength fleeing. I cried because I knew the reality without her was too hard to follow through with. I cried because I knew I hadn't repaid her for loving me despite all I stood for. I cried because I knew that unlike my grandparents' death, every fibre of my being throbbed with that longing and I could almost feel my heart ripping out of my chest. Everything faded as I was swept up by the abyss of darkness.

CHAPTER WORD COUNT: 1037.
WORD COUNT: 4423
I want to thank God for giving me the Grace to write this. The moment has finally come 😭, I wonder how this must have happened. Anyway, vote and comment if you liked.