The next few days the snow settled. The once red, yellow, and green landscape was now white. The sun reflected off the snow as it glistened on the landscape. The city had already cleaned up most of what needed to be cleaned for the economy and community to continue to flow. News and rumors spread like wildfire in Birchwood. Everyone had heard about what happened. Asia's death was the biggest story is every local new outlet in the county. Her death stayed local news but everyone made it out to be national news. Crime happened often in Birchwood. Robberies, assaults, or drug crimes. Murder was one crime that the town never saw often. When it did happen it was minor. Like a hit and run or even a shooting. Nothing this gruesome has ever happened in the town. There was still no official report of who committed the crime or even if people should be worried of a maniac killer on the lose.
Marcus answered whatever questions the police had and he was cleared. No one looked to him as a suspect. It just wouldn't make sense. Everyone knew about the accident that Marcus and Asia's parents died in the year prior. The police investigated the death of Asia as if their lives depended on it.
Marcus lay in the bed staring blankly outside the window. 4 days had passed since the death of his sister. 4 days of no leads or answers to what happened. The room Marcus lay in was surrounded by boxes full of random decorations and clothes. They all sat piled in a specific corner behind a tall mirror. A TV sat on a short bookself directly next to it. The room wasn't built to be a guest room but Marcus's grandma made it out to be a guest room and a storage room. The room was long and narrow. Marcus lay in the queen sized bed that sat next to the lonesome lamp by the window. The sunlight shined through the curtains. Marcus finally sat up in the bed. Marcus was an average built and average height. Despite that he was anything but average. He adjusts the twists in his hair as he crawls out of bed. He grabs a grey t-shirt off the hardwood floor and pulls it over his head. As he walks toward the door he catches his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were puffy and swollen. He rubs his eyes and decides to walk out the door. As he steps out the smell of bacon and pancakes swarms into his nose. He walks down the hallway full of windows and doors. His grandma's house was big. He often wondered why he was sleeping in the storage-guest room but he liked how secluded it was. Her house sat alone in the mountains almost 15 minutes away from town. His Grandma owned a church that was one of the most popular baptist church in town. It was used for many events and concerts as well. She spend many years and a lot of money growing it to what it was today.
Marcus looks over the banister over the stairs as he looks past the living room and sees his grandma in the kitchen over the stove. He walks down the curved staircase and makes his way to her.
"Good morning!" His grandma says with out turning her head. She flipped a single pancake as Marcus climbed into the bar stool placed behind the island. She finally turns and smile at him. The TV in the living room across from them played the morning news. It was 11:12 AM.
Marcus forcefully smiles back at his grandma, "Good morning, Nana. How you doin?" He asks her. She breaks eye contact and faces back toward the stove. She's silent. It was obvious she was trying to think of the words to say. She struggles.
"Better." She says still facing the stove. She takes the pancake off the pan with the spatula and places it onto a place with another pancake and 3 strips of bacon. She carries the plate over to the island Marcus sat at and slides the plate in front of him. "Orange juice?" She asks as she walks toward the fridge.
Nana was in her early 50's. She wore a full dark brown curly puffy wig. She was well in shape especially for her age. She could pass for early 42 without question. She wore a dark read sweater and tight blue jeans. It's almost like she wakes up fully dressed.
Marcus shook his head to the offer as he pours syrup onto his pancakes. As Nana opens her mouth to speak they become silent as the man on the TV starts to speak.
"On the night of October 16th, 25 year old Asia Prince was found savagely murdered in her own home." A photo of Asia appears on the screen alongside the man as he speaks in the studio. "Police have found no leads as of yet on who or even why. Officials ask if you have any-" The TV channel is changed. Nana places the remote back onto the kitchen counter. They both sit in silence as a sitcom now plays in the background.
"I um..." Nana starts. Her voice slightly shaky, "I started planning the funeral. You know they still...they still have her body so it'll be a while before-" Her voice gets more shaky as she leans against the counter. The pain in her voice becomes more prevalent. She lets out a deep sigh and continues, "...it'll be a while before we can actually see her. I found some one who will be able to make her look nice again." She looks down as a single tear falls from her eye. Marcus and her were no strangers to sudden tragic deaths in the family. They'd gone through this same process a year ago with Marcus' parents.
Marcus silently sat, staring at his pancakes as he pocked his fork in the dough. Nana wiped her face and stood straight up. "Matter fact I have to meet with some people. Imma be late if I don't get myself on." She chuckles as she turns off the stove and walks out of the kitchen. "Will you be alright or do you wanna come?" She asks turning towards Marcus. He looks to her and gives a slight smile.
"No. I'll be alright." he says.
"Alright just lock the door-" She starts as Marcus interrupts her.
"-and set the alarm behind you. Got it." Marcus finishes with a smile.
She nods and makes her way down the hallway under the banister to the front door after grabbing her purse. Marcus turns back towards his plate. The sound of the front door opening and then shutting leaves him in the silence of the home with the laughter of the sitcom playing in the back.
Marcus sat alone with his thoughts
YOU ARE READING
Birchwood
Horror"As he steps on to the carpet is squishes as it's drenches in the liquid. He looks down at his shoes and sees the red liquid rising from the carpet as he pushes pressure into the floor. Marcus feel's disgusted and confused as he walks down the red s...
