*Warning this book contains scene of violence, foul language, sexual content, adult situations that may be triggers to some, and is not suitable for all ages.*
Shattered:
Something was wrong. She knew it the instant she pushed the front door open to her home. The door, the way it moved was wrong. She stared at the yellow door as it swung back to her. Her mother had been going on about painting the door for weeks now and just had finally done it. The door swung back open, creaking as it did. Her breath caught in her throat as she pushed herself. She stepped inside the dark house. Her house was always warm and comforting. It was cold and the chill gave her instant goosebumps. She could hear the tv static coming from the living room as she stepped inside.
“Mom?” She called into the darkness, her voice shaking.
She began making her way to the living room, dread in her stomach. Her mom spent most nights passed out on the couch. She would fall asleep watching tv after working her shifts at the hospital. Why did this not feel like most nights? Her feet hit the soft beige carpet of the living room and as she did, she was hit with the strangest smell. She put her hand up to her nose. Iron? But sweet? Maybe metallic. There was so much of it. She gagged as it overwhelmed her. She put her hand over her nose to stop the smell from invading her nostrils.
“Mom? Dad?” She called into the living room,something telling her that she didn't want to go any further.
Her voice bounced off the walls of the silent home, echoing back to her. She took a deep breath and rounded the brown sofa that sat directly in front of the tv. Her feet stepped on to something wet and sticky. Her eyes shot down, staring at the red substance in confusion. Her body began to shake as it recognized what the red substance was before her mind could. A wave of nausea hit her as she looked from the floor to the couch. Sitting side by side with their heads tilted back was both her parents. A gaping hole was in their necks. Blood had flowed down the front of their chest like a waterfall and onto the floor causing a river of blood that ended where her feet began. Her mother’s eyes staring vacantly ahead at the tv as if she never even knew what happened. Her father turned slightly looking at her mother, his eyes wide open with horror as if he had seen what happened to his wife before it happened to him. She fell to her knees doubling over as her body began to shake. She put her hands over her head as a blood curdling scream erupted from her chest. She couldn't breath. Bring her hands down and leaning forward; She hugged her knees as she tried to process what to do. She looked back up at her parents. Shaking she fell backwards onto her bottom and scooted herself away from them. She got to her feet her stomach twisting as she almost stumbled forward into the pond of blood. She fumbled in her back pocket, choking down another wave of nausea. She tried to get her hands to work as she dialed 911.
The operator came over the phone;
“911 what's your emergency?”
“Help, my parents…there’s so much blood.” Her voice broke as she spoke, forcing the words out of herself.
“Ma’am can you tell me your name?”
“Nora. Please, I don't think…they can't still be alive.” She choked out through the falling tears.
“ Nora, is there anyone else in the home with you? I’ve pulled up your address and help is on the way.”
Anyone else in the home? Nora's stomach flipped inward on itself. James. Her phone fell from her hand smashing into the blood pond as she rushed up the stairs.
“James!” She screamed as she raced up the stairs.
"Nora..Nora.." The 911 operated's voice echoed in the soundless living room from the floor.
She rounded the stairs banister as her feet hit the upperlanding. She ran to his room. Tripping and falling in front of his batman poster door. As she fell her fingertips brushed the door and it slowly creaked open. Another wave of sweet metallic hit her and she cringed. Her mind screaming this can't be real. She pulled herself up to her feet by the door jam and went into the room. Please god. She yelled in her mind as she begged for James to be ok.
The room was dark except for his batman light, projecting the bat symbol onto the ceiling of his room. She saw his twin size bed and it looked like he was curled up in his batman bedspread sleeping. She paused, praying that he was sleeping. She walked in what felt like slow motion as she approached the bed, she could see his little dark curls peeking out from under the blankets.
“James.” Nora whispered her hand shaking as she reached for her ten year old brother.
He didn't respond, she slowly pulled on the blanket, and as they came back, blood poured out of the bed. It was a bright red waterfall pouring on to the ground . She raced to him and rolled him over. His throat looked the same as their parents. She scooped her brother into her arms as she crashed to the floor cradling him.
“James.” She cried tapping him.