The River

Others Stories | Jun 27, 2016 | 10 min read
12 Votes, average: 3 out of 5
Others Stories

The River

Kendall
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Fingertips drifted off fingertips, the thin crevices defined you, and only you, forever. The narrow river turned red with pain and only the crows were able to sing through their mourning. Their dark black feathers contrasted with the pale snow, and the cold drained life from the warm. The wind whistling it's weeping tune, as death springs again.
Her eyes flutter open, breathing deeply and harsh. Only to find herself in bed with the warm white covers upon her. Turning the covers over, she slumps out of her bed. Her toes make the old wood scream for death, as she walks down stairs. The sun is slightly shining through the thin draped windowsill. Sitting in an oak chair with carvings predicting troubles for many years to come sits her thin mother. She sat weeping lightly, making sure not to wake up her younger brother Ben. The floor creaks and her mother turns her head, wiping her eyes. Putting a sheet of paper under her arm, blocking the sheet from sight; her mother giving her a reassuring smile.
"Hey my Skye." her mother said softly, using a nickname for Skyler, a name she only uses when she has to tell them that they are moving, again.
"What's the matter Mother?" Skye asked.
"Nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Everything is fine, it looks like we are going to be moving. I bet this next home will be much better than this little house." Skye's eyes moved to the light blue paint against the wall, chipping around the corners to reveal the dirty gray plaster behind it.
"Yes, I'm sure it will be just fine." Skye said halfheartedly, remembering the day her father walked out the door, leaving them with scraps to build off. Mother worked her hands to the bone every day from morning to night, but still never made enough to stay in one place for long.
" Well, I must get going. You take care of Ben, I'll be back by ten. Love you." Mother swiftly was out the door, but turning one last time to whisper, "be safe".
Later that day she broke the news to Ben a couple hours after he'd fully woken up. She calmed and comforted him the way her mother once did, before she started working all the time. The rest of the afternoon Skye read and schooled Ben, while cleaning and fixing supper for when her mother got home. Around nine they started packing up their belongings in a couple suitcases, for there was not much they owned. When there mother came home they ate in silence, and then went to sleep in their small rooms.
"Don't leave them" A voice tickled her ear. "If you love them keep them close, it's the only way you will survive" She turned one way to find a wall. Stretching both of her hands out to the side she realises she is boxed in. She starts banging on the rough wood, needing to get out. A piece of wood scraps and dirt tumbles upon her, filling her lungs with the dust.
*Gasp* Skye sits up in her bed coughing up the dirt that was never there. She calms her breathing and looks around, suitcases packed ready to go. " Honey?" Her mother calls. " It's time to go, We have eight hours to drive, if we don't go soon we won't make it till late." Skye quickly hustles down the stairs carrying the bags. When she goes downstairs her mother looks at her disapprovingly. " Skyler, did you just wake up? I told you to be up by eleven."
"Sorry Mother."
"Well come on we don't have much time."
The car ride was long and slow. Each hour felt like a lifetime, draining away her life. She watched out the window and watched as the land became dry and deserted. The trees were mere corpses of what they used to be, dying in the heat. She so desperately wanted to sleep, but the clanking of the old car was shaking them awake.
By the time they got there it was dark. They could barely see the home but Skye could make out the wood frame. The land was dry and cracked, probably from long years of over cropping. They all hustled into the house. The door creaked open with one light push, not like you would need to lock it up, you couldn't see a house for miles.
They were all in the house, and mother pulled out a lighter, trying to find the light switch. The flame whimpers in the air, giving just enough light to see what is directly in front of you. Skye flicked with spiderweb covered switch. The lights eased on, crackling with the little energy available. " Well come on let's get going, we will clean up the place tomorrow morning." Mother said. Skye looks around uneasily, holding Ben close to her.
Skye walks in front on ben holding his hand as they go to their room. As they walk in the room they peer in to see a dusty room with two bed already there. Skye walks to her bed and puts down her suitcase. Ben runs to the bed jumping on the mattress. "Wait!" Skye gasps. "You don't know if the mattress is clean or broken, you just don't know…" Skye walks over to the bed, examining the mattress; feeling for any metal poking out, and smelling for any odd odor. She found nothing. " Ben collapses on the bed as Skye pulls out his blanket from his suitcase. She lays the soft blanket on Ben, watching his small body curl up into the warmth. Skye walks over to her bed and lays down, covering herself with her own scratchy blanket, and drifting to sleep.
"Ahhhhh!" Skye turned around looking for the place the scream came from. Miles and miles of dry ground, with dry grass poking out from the cracks. "Ben?" She shouted. "Ben, Mom? Where are you?" The soil underneath her shook, and as if it was a thin layer of glass; the ground shattered underneath her. Skye screamed as she fell, landing in a cold pool of water. She looked up to find a narrow light coming from what she fell through. "Help!" Skye shrieked. As she swam the water became thicker, warmer. Skye brung up her hand to find it covered in the thick red that pumps through our veins. A thin hand wrapped around her ankle, pulling her down under the red liquid. "Skye help me!" called Ben's voice. She opened her eyes to a dark face, sripped of flesh. It's eye sockets seemed as if it were to never end. "Yes, Skye, help." The creature growled; The figure grabbed Skye's head pulling it towards it. Bringing up its boney claws it ripped off Skye's face and wore it as his own, the extra skin flapped around the edges of its dark face. "Help him," it laughed.
"Skye!" Ben screams. "Are you okay?" Skye shook herself awake. " Yeah. Yeah." Skye mumbles.
"You wouldn't stop screaming"
"I'm sorry Ben, it must have been a bad dream."
" It's okay Skyler. I love you." Ben curled into bed with her, holding her by her waist. " I'm sorry you had a bad dream, Skye" Ben said closing his eyes. Skye strokes his hair, feeling the soft follicles run through her hands "I'll take care of you Skye" Ben mumbles, going to sleep. "No, I'm Going to take care of you Ben." Kissing Ben's forehead she whispers, " I love you"
Skye woke up again to the clanging of pots and pan. Walking into what seemed to be the kitchen she finds Ben sitting on the floor putting away the pots that feel. " Are you okay ?" Skye says looking at him curiously. " yeah i'm fine, I was just hungry… " Ben trails on.
"You could have just asked me to make you something."
" You don't always have to take care of me Skyler. I'm ten now." Ben huffes. Skye looks at him and nodding her head. Picking up the pans that feel she declares " Fine, we will make something , together." Ben made the batter while Skye cooks the warm, buttery pancakes. They ate with a joyful smile upon their faces. Satisfied with their work.
Skye goes to clean up the now empty plates. She hears the door slam. "Ben?" Skye calls. "Ben?!" She sets down the plates and steps outside. "Ben where are you?" She briskly walks out on the dry ground. " Ahhhh!" She hears ben distant but not too far away. Skye runs as fast as she can "Ben? Ben!"
"Skye Help!"
"I"m coming"
Just as Skye feels she is getting close, an air pocket underground collapses under her weight, she trips and stumbles forward falling into what looks light a small river. The cold water splashes over her. "Skye!" She turns around to find Ben trying to swim. "Ben!" Skye swims over pulling Ben to shore. "Are you okay?" Skye asks breathless. Ben shivers and nodes his head. "Okay let's go home." She pulls Ben onto her back and grudges home. Skye quickly realizes the long deep cut on her foot, leaving a red trail for scavengers to follow back.
When they got home Skye tied up her cut foot and wrapped up Ben with one of the towels she found in the cupboard. The towel smelled of mothballs and dust. Ben shivered as Skye made a small fire in the brick firepit in the small living room. They sat, waiting for mother to get home. They read and talked. Around the time mother usually gets home they cooked up some vegetables and noodles, set the uneven wooden table, and sat down. After a half and hour, they ate the then cold meal, leaving a plate for mother when she got home. After they sat next to the fire waiting. Skye watched Ben slowly drift off asleep, as she did the same.
Skye eyes opens to Ben calling. "Mom? Mommy where are you?!" Ben calls. Yawning Skye wakes, stretches and walks up to the counter. Skye looks to see the plate they left for their mother untouched. A shiver goes down her spine, walking over to the window Skye looks at the thermometer, 37 °F . "Ben! Can you get some wood for the fire? Its freezing in here!" Calls Skye. How could the weather go down so quickly, just yesterday it was 59°F. Ben comes carrying a few light logs of wood. "Skye, I didn't see mommy this morning." Putting the logs in the firepit. "I don't think she came home last night." Ben's voice cracked. "Im sure she just had to work late and ended up staying the night at work." Skye lights a match, sparking a small flame, but it quickly went out before she could start the fire. "Skye something's not right here. I wanna go back home." Ben whines. Skye lights another match and but it went out as if someone blew it out. "Skye… I wanna go back home..." Ben cries. Skye snapps the next match in half trying to light it. "Ben i'm a little busy right-" taking the top half of the match she light it. The flame grew big and hot, burning her fingertips. "Skye i don't like it here!" Ben whines again. Throwing the match the fire Skye turns furiously, "Ben! We are fine here, and don't you understand we can't go back! We can barely afford the food we have and i'd be working if i weren't here taking care of you! So stop complaining and grow up!" Skye yells.
"I just-"
"Stop I don't want to hear it! Okay? Just go up to your room and do your work, read or something." Skye points to the bedroom. "Go!" She says. Ben ran off to the room, crying.
Skye sighs and looks at the fire, Roaring with heat and bright flames, even though it was just lit a minute or two ago. Skye waits shaking her head. She gets up and walks over to the bedroom, lightly knocking. "Ben?" Skye asks softly. No answer, she creeks open the door to a shivering cold room, completely empty. Running in she looks around, a strong gust of wind comes from the open window by Ben's bed. Skye races outside, quickly putting on her shoes and small coat. Looking down at the frost near Ben's window she sees his foot prints. Skye quickly catches up with the footprints.
She spots a small shadow under a grouping of dead trees. Skye runs towards the shadow, watching it grow into a longer block like shape. Coming up to the shape she makes out the bulky old car of her mother's. The driver's door was wide open and the keys were still in the car. The front of the car was tightly crushed into one of the trees. Skye whispers under her breath, as if speaking to a ghost "Mom?" Skye climbs into the car, frantically looking for signs that she knew wont be there. She slowly steps out of the car. Kneeling by the tree. "Ben!" She calles. Weeping she curls up into a small figure, pressing the bony knees tight against her chest. She feels a cold touch across her shoulder. Turning round briskly Skye finds the shivering figure of her brother. "Ben!" Skye gasps, pulling him close. "I'm s-s-so sorry Ben." She weeps, pulling herself up from the icy ground. "Let's get out of here" Ben nods and turns towards the house. "We are leaving in the morning. Pack your bags."
Skye opens the door to the home. The home feels as if it was even colder than outside. The floor is covered in muddy footprints, leading down the hall. "Ben, stay behind me." She whispers. Turning around to find Ben was no longer still behind her, she hears a creak in the bedroom. The footprints were gone. Skye walks to the bedroom, the floorboards scream as she walks toward the bedroom. "B-Ben" Skye squeaks. "Skye i'm over here." a voice calls from around the hallway. Skye walks out looking around.*Slam* The door slams shut, rattling the house. "He,He,He!" A child's laugh in the distant taunts. "Ben.. i-is that y-you?" Trembles Skye. A loud creak sounds behind her. Skye stands frozen in fear. A heavy breath tickles her left ear. Skye's muscles tense trying to turn around, but unable to. Her mouth opens but is unable to make any sound. A sharp cold hand touches her right arm, the nails leaving a small red line across her fair skin. The sting of the scratch finally hit her and she wiped her body around, finally unfrozen. Nothing. No one, not even a small rodent. Her breathing waves as skye reads the block print screwn across the the wall, the black paint dripping.
Come to the river
Skye trembles in the cold as she places her jacket upon her shoulders. Why would they take Ben, she thought. Her small feet crunching across the fossed snow. The wind whistles in her ear, and the snow blows over her body. "Ben?" She calles. Skye slows down as she reaches the river. It river slashes over the rocks. The rapids look like blades cutting out from each other, flickering in the light of the moon. A sharp scream summons her fright, but she recognizes it to be hers. "hello sweetie…" a deep voice calls from behind her. Quickly turning around Skye meets a dark figure holding ben, covering his mouth. "who are you!" Skye confronts the man. The man seems to laugh but it turns into a growl. Ben's crying, his tears shaking down his small face. "What the hell do you want?!" Skye yells with rage, covering up the fear deep down; like a chocolate covered raisin, one thing on the outside, and something completely different in the middle. The man shoved Ben forward into Skye, pushing the two of the towards the river. Skye holds ben tight, her chest contracts in rage. "Don't you touch him!" Skye yelled, integrity in her voice. "I can do whatever I want. Besides, you are my kids." The man laughed.
The wind whistles, thrashing Skye's hair in knots. The man's face finally hit the light, she recognizes it. "No.." She breathed. Skye remembers now. Her father didn't walk out, he was kicked out. All the screaming. That night she slept with her sore mom. He hit her, he hit her so many times. He'd come home drunk after spending all of our money at the bar, and he'd beat mom. Skye snapped out of the trans when she felt Ben shaking. "Why are you here? Why did you come back."
"You'll find out soon enough"
"Leave us alone!"
The man took Ben by his coat and threw him into the river. "NO!" Skye screamed. She ran down to the river and jumped in. The water was like blades of ice swarming around her body. She grabs Ben by his collar and pulls him to shore. The man jumped down next to them and took out a gun. "Why are you doing this?" Skye whimpered. "Because…" he said. "I can't deal with the stress, the charges..." He extended his arm, pointing the muzzle at Skye, and pulled the trigger.
Ben's fingertips drifted off her fingertips, the thin crevices defined them, forever. The narrow river turned red with pain and only the crows were able to sing through their mourning. Their dark black feathers contrasted with the pale snow, and the cold drained life from the warm. The wind whistling it's weeping tune, as death springs again.
Then the man quickly placed the pistol on his temple and pulled the trigger.

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