Ruthless killer

The birthday party was lively. The children played and many were almost asleep at the time of congratulations. I found it funny how children were able to expend their energy easily. With Dad's help, I cleaned up the mess in the yard.

" So, daughter. " His calm voice catches my attention. " Tell me what happened to you.

" Nothing happened. " I speak confused. " What are you talking about?

" I know that something very serious must have happened to you. " His voice sounds worried and he looks me in the eyes. His attitude gives me goosebumps. " You stayed quiet in your corner, I thought it was tiredness. But after you left your room, it seemed to get worse. She became quieter, she stayed at the table the whole time. You didn't even pay attention to Dália when she came to talk to you. You're not like that, you're always the life of the party.

I give an awkward smile at his comment. His power of observation was one of the things I liked most. Dad always knew when I was bad or sad. He was one of those people who know your mood just by looking at you. Despite loving Dália, he was unable to maintain contact with her. Whenever I looked at her face, it reminded me of his cousin. It was as if she and Simon were identical twin brothers, due to their absurd resemblance.

" It was nothing, it was just a bad day. " I sigh when he raises an eyebrow. " You know that since Simon... " I can't complete the sentence, because a lump in my throat prevents me from doing so. " You know that since that... Since that thing happened, I'm not the same person anymore. I can't bear to look at Dália. She's identical to him and that's torturous in itself, knowing that a copy of my best friend is out there while he's...

I cut off my sentence and feel my hands shake. The vision of her lifeless body comes back to me, her terrified face full of blood, her brown eyes stained from burst blood vessels. I would never forgive myself.

" Daughter, you need to move on. " He says getting closer. His hand touches my face, making me look into his black eyes. " I know that he was your best friend and that you are not the same without him... " his eyes shine due to the tears that form. " Don’t blame yourself, please.

" Don't blame me? " My sarcastic laugh comes out bitterly. I roughly wipe the tears from my face. " Everyone knows what shit happened that day, but no one knows that I was the cause of it all."

" Violet! " He says my name in a loud reprimanding tone. " Don’t talk nonsense!

" You know that, if it weren't for those damn voices, those damn visions... " I stop talking due to the tears and the lump that forms in my throat. I cover my face with my hands and begin to sob, feeling the pain in my soul multiply. His big arms envelop me in a protective hug. " He would be here. If it weren't for all this shit, he would still be alive."

" I just want you to be happy, my girl. " He looks me in the eyes and smiles in a sad way. His big hands hold my face and his thumbs wipe my tears. " You deserve to be happy."

His black eyes seem to be trying to read my mind, something that makes me uncomfortable. I walk away a few meters and sigh, looking up at the sky. Even though I don't believe in life after death, it comforts me to imagine that Simon would be in a better place, perhaps in a beautiful field of wildflowers. He loved flowers and their smell. I still remember his affectionate nickname. He was my sunflower, and I was his lotus flower.

" I'm not going to force you to spill the beans. " I hear Dad’s voice behind me. " But know that I will always listen to you, daughter."

His voice was always so sweet and calm when he spoke to me. He treated me like a princess and made me feel like the best person in the world. He was always here for me, even after everything. His kindness was so beautiful it makes my eyes water. I hug your strong body, for some reason I feel like this is the last moment I will hear this. I feel the tears running down my face and the next thing I know I'm sobbing in his arms like a baby.

I don't know why, but I'm crying, feeling deep pain, agony, a sense of loss and despair. The more I try to understand, the more the tears roll down my face and the sobbing gets worse.

" Violet, darling. " He holds my face in his hands and looks into my eyes. " Try breathing, you are hyperventilating."

I look into his worried black eyes and feel my breathing gradually return to normal. I hug his body and feel him kiss my head.

" Honey, I'll get you a glass of water. " Your voice is sweet. He looks at me affectionately. " I love you, my girl, I will always be here for you.

I don't know why, but your words make my heart hurt, as if I'd been hit in the chest. I watch him walk away and my heart starts beating as fast as a wild animal. I don't know why, but I'm in a state of total alert. Dad enters the house and seconds later I hear his scream of horror.

" Father? " I called scared and got no response.

" Daddy? Are you okay?

Your lack of response leaves me distressed. I hear sounds of things breaking. Even with the music on, I can still hear the sounds of objects breaking and Dad's raised voice. I look for the speaker control, but I can't find it. The sounds inside the house are muffled by loud music. Minutes of silence pass and I go to the back door. I open it slowly and tiptoe down the hallway.

I cover my mouth with my hands as I see the worst scene of my life. Mom was lying on the floor, with her windpipe exposed. Her face had an expression of terror, and her eyes were open. In her hand, she held a blood-stained knife. Her body was full of wounds that were still bleeding, forming a pool of blood around her. Who or what could have caused this? If it weren't for those damn children's songs, we could have listened and done something!

I couldn't believe the brutality in front of me. Her beautiful blonde hair was messy and her face had several deep cuts.

I try to get closer to his body, but one detail makes me stop. I see shoe prints made by blood and I follow them with my gaze to the second floor. They were shoe prints much larger than the size of Dad's feet. Whoever did this must be in the house.

"Annabel, I need to see Annabel!"

I run up the stairs and feel my legs lose strength when I see Sarah lying on the floor. Her face had a deep cut and her neck was dripping with blood, as if it had been torn by a ferocious animal. Still on the stairs, I touch her face trying to calm her down. Her eyes were wide and she tried to say something, but the blood coming from her lips stopped her.

No, it couldn't end like this! This couldn't be real, it's just another one of my visions. Soon, I'll wake up to Dad hugging me, yelling for Mom to call Dr. Andrew and bring me my medicine. Thick tears stream down my face. I try to speak, but my voice doesn't leave my lips, just sobs and moans of despair.

" Run away. " Says Sarah before her breathing stops completely.

I hug my twin, feeling the pain invade my body, as if part of me had left with her last breath.

I look towards Annabel's room and observe the small child lying on the floor, with violent cuts on her angelic face. She was in shock, frozen. I couldn't move, I just imagined how it could all end like this, how this could happen. What creature would be capable of doing this to a family in such a short time?

I hear crashing sounds coming from Annabel's room and instinctively cower on the stairs, hoping not to be seen.

" There's someone else here. I thought he had exterminated the entire family " says an unknown voice, surprised.

His voice was so thick that it sounded like he hadn't spoken a word in decades, as if his throat had been dry for a long time. His demonic laugh makes my hair stand on end.

" That's right, the girl who let me in, the brat I saw earlier today in the forest."

My body freezes at his words. Did he see me in the forest? Wait... Am I the girl who let him in? As? I don't remember opening any doors or inviting anyone. This could just be some mistake.