Eradicate

“A love gone wrong”

By: Samlien (ChiharuSei)

Rounding the familiar curb down 98 street, I skillfully maneuvered my newly upholstered stirring wheel. The tires gave a small screech and I inwardly winced when my brand new car made a small jump as it tumbled against a rock protruding down the road. Cursing, I continued driving, keeping a stern eye on the path ahead of me.

Few years had already passed and yet nothing had actually changed. The same cracked up concrete roads, humble establishments were still lined up on the sidewalks. I don’t know if I should feel disappointed or actually happy about the realization. It was the same old town I had left when I chose to run and hide from a sickening past which I wish not to remember at all.

Frowning, I reached for the small knob of the stereo and gave it a small turn. Music started filling in and I felt my insides relax. Occasionally drumming my fingers on the stirring wheel, I observed my surroundings, seeing some familiar faces walking down the streets.

As much as I hate to boast it, compared to someone like me, these people looked average. But aside from their simple way of living, they seemed content. Something which I did appreciate, before I had the taste of city life.

I wasn’t very fascinated with the high end life in the city, which my sister often bragged about. But after I fled and ended up in the city, I slowly got blinded by the glitz and glamour around me. I had forgotten about the simple life I had come to enjoy and cherish when I was still living in my home town.

When the sun started to set, I decided to pull over a nearby motel to settle for the night. From memory, I know how dangerous it could get to wander around outside when night has already fallen. After making sure that everything was set, I hoisted up my duffel bag over my shoulders and locked the door shut.

I warily walked down the pebbled steps and instantly saw a chubby man behind the reception areas counter. I bit back a grimace as I saw his slob looking demeanor as he wolfed down his pizza slice, while staring at the football game on the small television screen in front of him.

Forcing myself, I rang the bell on the counter several times. He didn’t budge. All he did was to hoot when his team scored, bits of the pizza residue in his mouth flying everywhere.

Now, I was seriously trying to rethink of my decision to stay in a place like this. Maybe it would be best if I would just get on my way.

With that in mind, I re-latched my bag on my shoulders. But before I could even move an inch from my spot, I felt a hand on my arm and I almost jumped in shock. I felt my heart hammering against my chest and I took several deep breaths to calm myself down.

Blinking, I turned around and saw a sullen looking petite woman with her bony hands outstretched towards me. She gave me a small smile and I smiled as well. As soon as she dropped down her hands back to her side, she motioned for the man on the counter who was still oblivious of our presence.

“Sorry about that guy. He’s just being his lazy assed self,” she apologized in a low shaky voice.

“It’s okay,” I even smiled to show that it wasn’t really such a big deal to me. “I’ll be going now ma’am. Good night.”

“Wait. . “

I halted down my steps and looked back at her. There was uncertainty in her eyes and it made me wonder. “Yes?”

“Aren’t you going to check in?”

I shook my head. “I think I should just get on my way.”

“Where are you headed to anyway?” she inquired.

“Southville.” It was my hometown just a few miles away from this place, located at the very end of Shadow Forest. The area is quite remote, considering its location and there were only a few number of people habiting the small village.

It was known for its cotton farms, which seems unusual to be found in a place such as itself. During harvest season the place could get quite busy and rowdy.

She frowned. “You know miss, I think you should reconsider that plan of yours. It could get quite dangerous to travel at this time. From what I’ve heard, the lamp posts there had their bulbs busted and it would obviously make your travel a lot harder.”

I suddenly felt hesitant of leaving. Glancing back at the greasy guy, I saw him looking back as well with a freaky grin on his face. I noticed the television turned off and his pizza all eaten up. Sighing, I gave a brief nod and let her guide me back on the counter. I tried not to flinch away from the sleezy stares of greasy man, eyeing me like I am some piece of meat.

I tapped my foot in annoyance as I waited for the key to be handed over to me. This guy is really starting to get on my nerves

“Here yah go,” the lady slid the keys over the wooden counter and I quickly grabbed it, casting a wary yet warning glance over the guy who was still shamelessly staring at me.

“Thanks.” I grabbed my bag and headed over to the old staircase.

The hallway was dark with only two lamps, with barely visible light, illuminating the way. I heard whispers and other noises I won’t even bother to acknowledge as I passed by several doors. I then spotted the last room just before the turning corner, and read the fake golden plate that was already unscrewed with only one side barely hanging onto the wood.

I then inserted the key and opened the door. It gave a small creaking sound as I pushed it open, the hinges cracking like it was gonna’ fall apart.

Blindly I searched for the light switch. The small light bulb barely gave enough light to make the room actually visible before my eyes. There was a medium sized bed with decent beddings, and a mahogany nightstand stood beside it. The draperies looked rather old as it hang over the window. I placed my bag on the worn out couch and observed the room.

“Well I shouldn’t expect too much for just a few bucks,” I sighed. “I better freshen up. I’m sure tomorrow’s going to be a very long day.”

I smiled as I removed the basket on my back and settled it with the rest which where neatly piled up at the back of our old pick up truck. After wiping off the beads of sweat that rolled at the side of my face, I dusted off my hands on my pants and chugged my cap over my head.

“Hey Arianne! You goin’ home already?”

I smiled warmly when I came across Mrs. Smith while I was walking down the clearing leading towards our small house. “Yes. My sister Reinne would be coming home from abroad today so my mom asked me to come home early.”

She looked pleased at this. “I heard your sister is already quite successful in the company where she’s working at.”

I nodded vigorously. News of my sister working her way up on the corporate world spread like wild fire. After all, such a thing couldn’t be helped, for they live in a community with very a small population. So diminishing some news, no matter how small, is very easy.

And for someone like my sister, who is loved and adored by everybody, small news could become quite a very big deal to everyone.

“I need to be on my way now Mrs. Smith. Please tell Lawrence that I’d meet him up on the arch way by eight.” Lawrence is Mrs. Smith’s youngest son. He is just a year older than me and unfortunately the mischievous, yet totally lovable boy is my best friend ever since I came to existence. A day ago, we decided to go to town to buy some stuff for our small pastry shop, which we decided to establish out of pure whim.

She nodded and we both went on our separate ways.

Half an hour later I finally reached our house. It was a small house made of wood, looking so domestic on the outside with a homey feel when you get inside. This house, though it wasn’t grandiose like those mansions I’ve been seeing on the magazines my sister often reads when she’s here for a visit, I still feel happy about it.

To suffice our needs, we depend on our earnings from a small acre of land we own, which was actually inherited by my father from my grandpa after the latter had passed away. My father made sure he’d take good care of it and opted to have a cotton farm instead of making the good soil go to waste.

So far, the farm is doing good with small problems sprouting here and there but it wasn’t something that my dad can’t resolve easily.

I involuntarily smiled when my nose was suddenly assaulted by the enticing aroma of my mothers cooking. As I walked over to the door something had caught my eye. Taking a sudden turn, I saw my fathers ax, sticking out over a large chunk of wood with several piles of chopped wood neatly stacked by the wall.

I pulled the ax, went inside the tool shed and placed the ax on the cabinet.

After making sure that the shed was locked, I entered the house and found it unusually dark. My mother always opens the light when the skies start to darken. She finds it quite a nuisance to navigate in a semi-darkened place, she felt dysfunctional when she works half blind around the house.

I removed my hat and hang it over the rack mounted on the wall.

“Mom!. . . Dad!. . . I’m Home!!,” I hollered out as I checked every room but found no sign of them. I closed the door of my room after changing into my home clothes and raced down the stairs. I walked over to the living room assuming that my parents were both there and quietly taking their time to relax, while waiting for me, but much to my dismay I only found the room empty.

Scanning the whole area warily, my eye spotted a small flicker of light from the kitchen just on the opposite site of the living room. I don’t know why but I just suddenly felt a sense of dread overcome me as I neared the arch serving as the entry of the kitchen.

A loud whistle startled me and I saw a kettle of steaming water already puffing out smoke while continuously boiling over the fire. Hastily, I turned off the stove.

There were vegetables lying over the work table, some were left un-chopped while the ones which are already done had been neatly stored in color coded bowls all lined up for cooking.

My mother is very organized especially when it comes to cooking. Something I really admire about her.

A dark figure hunched over the dining table, which was behind the counter, caught me off guard.

I could literally feel my insides starting to churn and there was a sickening feeling gnawing on my stomach. I grabbed the nearest knife and kept it near myself as I stepped towards the figure. The grip I had on the object tightening minute by minute. My senses were on high alert, my ears straining over for any noise, with my hand ready to strike at any given time.

“No!!”

There was a scream. Louder and louder it got. I felt numb and I never knew that the person who is screaming, was me.

“No!!”

RRRRIIIINNGGGG!! RRRIIIINNNGGGG!!

I was still sweating and trying to catch my breath as I bolted up from my bed, screaming. For a while I just sat there, staring at the wall in front of me blankly. It took me a whole minute to process everything in my still sleep hazed mind and recall where I was.

I looked over towards the window and saw streaks of light creeping down from the holes in the draperies. Running a hand over my messy locks in frustration, I cast the thrashing alarm clock a spiteful glare and gave it a mighty shove sending it flying way from the table top.

Satisfied to hear the sound it made as it crashed against the wooden flooring, I kicked away the blanket draped over myself and stepped out of the bed. Stretching my limbs, once, twice, thrice, I yawned widely and strode over to the window and moved the curtains aside.

I noticed the guy on the counter from the previous night walking on the pebbled pathway leading towards the main door of the motel. He still wore that stained white sleeveless shirt that looked like it shrunk several sizes too small, as it helplessly clung onto his chubby frame. I felt sad for the poor piece of clothing he was wearing. The seams were already bursting and I was quite amazed at how long that clothing was able to prevent itself from completely tearing apart.

He must have sensed someone looking at him, ‘coz he suddenly stopped and started looking around. I quickly hid myself and peered over the tattered drapes and caught sight of him looking at my room from below. I shivered as I noticed how malicious he looked. As soon as he disappeared, I made a jump for the bathroom and tidied myself up. I really need to get out of here. And fast.

Not less than half an hour later, I was already safely instilled in my car and driving my way over the highway shrouded by Shadow Forest, with a good dose of my favorite Japanese rock music blasting off from the speakers.

Skillfully I navigated my way on the confusing winding roads. I grew up here, so the fear of getting lost in the middle of nowhere didn’t pop in my mind. The ride eventually got a little bumpy as I crossed a dirt road. I was barely able to see from all the smoke of dirt clouding my wind shield.

After successfully passing through, the sight of the arch way, which is actually the entryway of the town, slowly came in view. It was still the same old rotten wood, nailed together, lodged onto the ground and alas the arch was born. The piece of tin bearing the name of our town was already starting to fade, but it seems that no one actually bothered to repaint it.

A field of cotton bordered the side of the road I was passing by. Fond memories started flooding in. I felt the sudden onset of tears and I hastily wiped them away, careful not to remove my sight on the road. It was our farm, which I had entrusted in Lawrence’s care when I left. Selling it hadn’t been an option to me, even though I wouldn’t deny the fact that many people showed interest in buying that said land.

I got tempted to grab offers many times but thank goodness I was able to hold on to my resolve and I didn’t give in. I knew that my father would be very displeased and disappointed if I would just sell the land he had dedicated his life and soul to.

Bitterness rolled over my tongue and I grimaced.

“Thank goodness,” I gave out a heavy breath in relief as I saw Lawrence just walking out from the doorway of their house which was actually only a few empty lots away from ours. “Lawrence!!” I yelled as I accompanied him in his walk, pushing a button to allow the glass of the window of the car go down.

He looked aghast as he stopped and turned to look at my direction. He was left blinking several times, mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish. His expression really made me smirk. Waving my hands, I had wounded out of the window, in front of his face to break him out of his stupor I saw a small crack on his lips.

His smile widened to his signature boyish grin that could melt any girls heart, and unfortunately I was one of those girls. To bad he fell in love with my sister back then.

“Hey,” I smiled uneasily and I revved up the car driving it at a steady speed. He walked along, casting me with a gleeful look every now and then. He wasn’t fond of hitching rides in cars coz he tend to feel panicky when he’s inside one. It was actually quite weird if you ask me. But oh well, people just have things they’re afraid of and sadly this was his.

“You’re going to the shop?” I inquired. The said shop is actually the very same business they had been running together several years ago. He decided to continue making a profit out of it and according to his letters it was still faring quite well despite the competitions it had earned over the past few years.

He nodded and scratched the back of his head. “I’m really surprised to see you here you know. I never thought you’d still be coming back. After everything that has happened I mean.”

I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was trying his best not to wander on dangerous waters and I felt grateful for his efforts.

“I guess I just got tired. I’m tired of getting scared and waking up from those nightmares every night.” I sighed.

He smiled but it barely reached his eyes. He gave me a small pat, when he reached inside the car, and then bid goodbye as he went towards the road opposite from the one I was heading off to.

I stared at his disappearing visage and I sighed. Too much for hi, hello and how have you been. . . .

Few moments later I was already pulling over a familiar front yard. I unbuckled my seatbelt grabbed my cap from the dashboard and rammed it over my head. Taking in several deep breaths, with my hand still fisting over the stirring wheel a looked at our house from the windshield.

I was literally shaking to my bones as I held onto the bloodied handkerchief of my sister. My eyes were bloodshot from all the crying and I couldn’t speak. My mouth was already sore after I relentlessly cried my heart out, screaming around like a mad woman. The image of my family lying in pools of their own blood would forever haunt me for the rest of my life.

I never once in my life would have thought that I’d become a victim of a tragedy such as this. I mean, there wasn’t really any reason for someone to commit a crime like this towards my family. Well maybe except for the one who practically tried to eradicate our whole lineage. I might have actually ended up dead as well, if I didn’t work overtime on the field.

I could hear people talking around me. There were movements here and there but I was too tired to acknowledge any of them. I just curled myself into a tight ball as I sat on the plastic chair outside the morgue.

Everything felt surreal.

I was too shocked to even move at all. I did try to, but I just felt so numb all over, that my hands and feet won’t move no matter how much I tried to.

Beside me sat Lawrence who looked equally disturbed. He was the one who found me in the middle of my hysteria and rushed me over to the hospital after asking for some help from all the willing neighbors.

People threw me pitiful looks, shaking their heads as they gossiped amongst one another of how unfortunate I am and all that other bunch of crap.

The chattering escalated up a several notches when the police arrived with a someone trailing behind them.

I felt my insides freeze as locked my gaze with his dull seemingly lifeless orbs. Lawrence stood up immediately and helped me up while preventing me from crashing back down. I saw the guy’s eye harden as it fell on Lawrence’s hand holding my arms. I felt burned by his intense look.

“Chief, what brings you here? Did you find anything about the bastard who did this?” Lawrence said in a low dangerous voice.

The uniformed guy nodded and stepped aside to show the ‘guy’ who actually had his hands hand cuffed. My blood started to run cold as I noticed the splotches of red stain on his patched up shirt and baggy jeans. There was a large cut on his shoulder blade which he didn’t even seem to mind at all.

“You!” Lawrence gasped.

After I got a better look at his face I finally realized what made Lawrence so shocked. I actually know this guy. In fact my whole family, even Lawrence knew him. It was Noel. The cotton picker, son of a graveyard digger in our town, who volunteers to help us every harvest season.

‘No! No! It can’t be! Not him!’ I screamed inside my head.

His serene looking face gradually changed though and so did my perception of him. He looked delirious. A lunatic who’s hungry to kill and have the smell of blood all over him.

“Damn! I can’t believe we trusted you” I lunged over at him without thinking twice and starting scratching and nailing his face. He did nothing to defend himself. In fact he seemed to enjoy what I was doing, making me feel sick to my stomach. His non chalant attitude really made me want to hurl.

I replaced the picture frame I was staring at for a while now and I straightened my back, letting my eyes wander around the place. Everything was covered in thick blankets of dust after I had mindlessly abandoned it and no one was left to maintain it. The walls looked more worn out and there were shards of broken glasses lying on the floor. Some wood had already fallen off and marks of rain water stained the now grayish white ceiling.

I was suddenly brought out from my musings when I heard a small creaking sound. My heart instantly started beating faster. Someone was there. And that someone was watching me. Intently.

I felt the hairs at the back of my neck started to rise. I grabbed the metal bar leaning by the wall and I slowly spun around.

“Hi there Arianne. Long time no see.” There by the door stood the person I had been cursing and loathing with all of me. Casually leaning by the door frame, as if it was a normal thingfor him to do. He wore an orange colored paired shirt and pants, which looked very much like the clothes from a prison. He smirked and started to walk over me.

I backed away taking one nimble step at a time as he continued moving towards my direction.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, gathering up all the courage I have left and tried not to make my voice shake from all the tension that’s bubbling inside me as of this moment..

“I just wanted to visit you. I somehow sensed that you’d be coming here today.”

I don’t know why but the image of the boorish guy from the motel popped in my head.

He smiled again, inching further towards me. “Yes, that man is actually my uncle. He told me you’ve been acquainted with each other and he tipped me some message that you are heading towards here.” He said as if he was actually able to read my mind.

I was starting to feel raging mad, but tried to mellow down a bit to make sure I wont start bashing this guy with the large metal bar in my hand. I wouldn’t actually like to end up like him. A cold blooded killer.

“You know, I feel kind of sad on how things turned out to be. It wasn’t really my intention to kill them, but your dad was actually being really nosy so I just had to silence him.” He dropped himself onto the couch, making dust fly all over the place. I coughed. “I just asked for his permission so I could court you, but the old man just had to say no. Damn guy. He even told it in my face that I don’t have any business in your life especially a son of a whore and a measly grave digger like me.” He laughed dryly.

“You—You. . .” I was at loss for words.

“It was a pity to see their lives go to waste like that but I did what I had to do. I would have actually spared your sister and moms lives, but they just had to stick their noses into someone else’s mishaps so I made them share that mishap as well. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Such a tragedy.”

I looked at him defiantly. “You fuckin’ bastard what do you want with me then?! What in seven hells are you doing here?! ”

“I want you. . . “

“Damn you!! Go to hell you cold blooded bastard.”

“Do you really wish for me to vanish that way?” he said with a raised brow but I noticed how his eyes turned a lifeless shade of steely gray.

I gritted my teeth in repose.

He shrugged and took out a swiss knife from the band of his pants and skillfully extracted a knife. I gulped as he licked the blade of the glistening metal.

His eyes stopped in my direction.

And before I knew it, he was already running towards me. Then. . . . Everything went black.

A/N Yeah I know the ending was somewhat unexpected hahaha. . . Actually I wrote this one for a challenge, ain't my original plotline but I ran out of ideas on the previous story, so I just came up with this. Hope this version is much better though. Anyways hope you people like it. . . Comments please and no flames okay. . .

Started in: April 21,2008

Finished: April 22, 2008 (4:00 a.m)

Unrevised version