Family Secrets

I’ve been pacing about this empty shell of a kingdom awaiting my brothers return to no avail. I’ve not seen another soul not even that nasty excuse of a human, Ana. There is nobody other than a crow’s caw, periodically echoing throughout. I must go into the woods! There is nothing here, no food, no water, nothing.

Venturing into the woods I notice the eerie silence that blanketed the entire area. The animals have long since left, the less fortunate ones crushed. The air is thick with the smell of ammonia and smoke. The lack of even a slight breeze, it clings to me as I walk. I expect to choke or my throat to burn at the very least, but nothing happens. The further into the woods I travel the thicker the air, the

silence becomes deafening. I become aware that I am no longer alone. In the distance, there is a bright orange glow emanating from beyond the rise and an unmistakable laugh. ANA! Whatever she is doing it can’t be good, whatever she has done already cannot be good either. As quietly as possible edging towards the orange glow and I hear the sinister laugh and a crow’s caw, I should have known! a crow is her familiar. Wretched witch! As I get closer, I see everything is as dead as it was behind me, apart from one bush. A Bird of Paradise. If that dies the kingdom will never know joy again. Ana has poisoned the eternal flame! Suddenly, there is a loud bang and things go black.

I find myself on the forest floor amongst the bones and rotting foliage, my head is pounding, and I cannot tell how much time has passed. I notice some red on a nearby tree. I manage to stand to inspect it, it is blood, a bloody handprint in fact. I look down at my hands, there is only dirt on them, and I am not bleeding elsewhere. Upon looking down I see bloody footprints too, there is a trail of them, all leading back to the grounds. Could it be brother Nick? Maybe Ana hurt him. I move as fast as I can in my weakened and bruised state back to the grounds, following the trail of bloody prints.

They lead all the way up the stairs, passed the powder room and to brother’s room. I hear Ana, she is giggling, it rings in my head and down through my body like I have swallowed razor blades. Entering the room which is lit by a light that did not seem to have any source I see Ana and my brother. She is covered in blood and lying next to Nick on a mattress on the floor.

Tracing her fingers up and down his spine as he lay face down clutching a bottle in his left hand. BROTHER! I shout but he does not respond, Ana just grins at me. I move closer to them, he is thin, ribs and spine protruding. In a panic I shout his name again, he opens his eyes, drunkenly props himself up and stares at me. His lifeless eyes stare through me as if I do not exist.

Ana’s giggle turns into a maniacal laugh, then I hear a loud bang and once again everything fades to black.