Chapter 4: A Visitor

Crystal ran towards the farm house, I got up and ran after her, the grass cutting against my legs. I ran through the field, not looking where I was going and tripped over the rotting wooden post stuck in the ground. I fell onto the rocky ground, skinning my hands on the rocks and cutting my knee. I grabbed my now stinging knee which was now red with blood. I laid there clutching my knee, tears running down my cheeks. “Crystal, crystal”, I sobbed, “crystal help me”.

“Mommy, Daddy, mommy help me…” I cried

“R-roof” Crystal ran over to me, she licked my tear stained face.

I weakly smiled, “Hey girl, I knew you wouldn’t leave me”, Wiping the tears from my face I got to my feet and made my way back towards home.

I came up over the last hill and stopped. I stared at the house in disbelief; the porch door was flung wide open, the downstairs windows broken inward. Slowly I walked up to the house taking caution, “Crystal come here”, I grabbed her collar, “Crystal who’s here?”, I whispered.

I walked through the door into the house, the kitchen table had two legs broken, jars of flour and other things were thrown onto the floor, and the curtains tattered. Cautiously I walked around the corner, into the living room; the furniture had been knocked over, the lights smashed. The window behind the end table, which now was laying in the middle of the room, was open, the tattered curtain blowing gently in the breeze.

I turned to the sound of crystal bolting for the stairs, followed by a loud crash. Quietly I tiptoed over to the hearth and grabbed the old iron shod fire poker. Silently I made my way over to the staircase, trying to avoid tripping over the furniture strewn across the floor. I reached the staircase, fire poker just above my shoulder ready to swing at whatever was causing the entire ruckus upstairs. Slowly I took the started my way up the stairs, carefully placing my foot on the first step; I held my breath waiting to hear the creek of the floorboards. I counted, 1, 2, 3… nothing, I opened my eyes and saw that my foot was still on the board.

My heart was pounding; the sounds coming from upstairs had me on edge. Willing myself to move on, I made my way upstairs, holding my breath with each step I took, waiting to hear the creek of the boards. Thoughts racing through my head I started to panic, fear was taking over; I forced myself to keep moving, one step, then another, another one, almost there I tell myself. The next thing I knew I was throwing my hand over my mouth, trying to mask the gasp leaking out of my throat. I had stepped on the cracked floorboard, suddenly everything was still, my senses were sharper, my heart beating faster then before; now I realized that the struggle had stopped, there was no noise, no sound, nothing.

Unconsciously I had reached the top of the stairs, I peered around the corner looking to see where the mysterious trespasser lurked; nothing, no one was in the hall. I stepped out into the hall, ready to swing. I walked over to my bedroom and nudged the door open with the fire poker; I burst into the room, fire poker high over head waiting to swing at the unseen assailant, nothing.

Cautiously I walked towards the closet, reaching over and grabbing the handle I yanked it open; I ferociously stabbed into the closet over and over again, hitting as hard as I could. I opened my eyes and to my relief there was nothing but a couple of boxes and a now shredded winter sweater. Suddenly I heard a door slam and the creek of the floorboards out in the hall, I rushed over to the door and peeked out into the hall through the gap made by the door and the wall.

I scanned the hall and just in time I heard my parents bedroom door click shut. Fear raced through my head, I was debating whether I should go back and find mom in town or if I should stay and figure out what was lurking out in the halls. So caught up in this debate with myself I’m surprised I heard the sharp yelp coming from down the hall, but it was enough; the next thing I knew I was racing down the hall and kicking the door open, heard myself yelling “Crystal” as I barged into the room. There was a crash on the other side of the room and I saw it jumping through the window, I dropped my weapon and ran over to the window, hoping I could catch it before it made it but I was to late. I stared out the window and saw it fade into the dark.

Then I remembered, where’s Crystal? Franticly I spun around and to my horror saw the pool of blood on the floor, “Crystal? I said, my voice trembling, tears coming to my eyes. The horrified terrible shock hit me; I fell to my knees and started crying.

“C-c-crystal? Crystal, n-no crysta-al don’t-t go” I sobbed her name over and over again.

I buried my face in my hands, the hot salty tears pouring down my face, my eyes were red and I couldn’t move. I was too sad, Crystal, my crystal was dead, my puppy, the one who’d never leave me was dead.

I looked up to a scratching sound coming from the closet, “C-crystal-l? I-is t-that y-y-you?” I trembled. The scratching grew louder, accompanied by a loud whining.

“Crystal!” I ran to the door and flung it open, “Crystal! Oh my god you’re alive!” I wrapped my arms around her neck and buried my head in her golden fur. I at there hugging her, tears coming from my eyes, “I love you, I really love you” I laid my head against her and drifted off to sleep.