The Maniac Across The Lake

The once beautiful Victorian home, full of laughter and memories, now sits derelict and decaying. Long ago there were beautifully manicured grounds and sparkling fountains. Now the joy has faded, like the memories. The house is weathered, it's base nothing more than crumbling stone. A sinister atmosphere surrounds the weeds and neglect.

Present Time

Sometimes the watcher, standing on the pier, sees a flicker of light in a window or a blurred image creeping across the lawn. He has returned; patiently observing; waiting to strike.

What happened there was unforgiveable. He will finally take revenge. Turning, he runs a hand through his grey hair and enters the clearing where his little cabin stands. Sitting for hours at the rustic kitchen table, in the dark, he jabs a pocketknife into the wood, over and over again. Once full of love and warmth, years of hatred have turned him into a heartless, revengeful, lonely maniac. Finally, he collapses into bed and sleeps a fitful night, dreaming about acts of violence.

Thirty-Five Years Ago

What a night! Edward stood in the circular driveway looking at the house, all three stories lit up. The lights glittered on the lake behind him. He was so ready to wed the love of his life, Genevive.

Behind him, little lights had been placed in the garden areas, highlighting walkways. He couldn't wait to see his bride walk down the spiral staircase. Now, he'd best check on the butlers, guests should be arriving shortly. It would have been nice if his older brother would lend a hand, but he was angry that Edward would be moving his bride into the home.

The riff started when Edward announced he was engaged. Ever since their mother had passed away, a year prior, his brother Malcolm, had assumed he was sole heir of the estate, even though the will stated differently. Now, he was fuming. Malcolm didn't have a wife or girlfriend because of his surly disposition and bossiness.

The arguments continued but Edward would not give in and refused to discuss the matter further. Now they barely spoke at all.

Edward peeked in the kitchen door where a flurry of kitchen staff were preparing trays of hors d oeuvres for the guests.

"Don't think all this expense is coming out of the household budget," snarled Malcolm.

"It's not, I wouldn't do that," replied Edward.

With a curl of his lip and a 'harrumph' Edward barged out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Now getting ready in his room, Edward peeked out the window, Guests were arriving, Doormen were busy escorting them into the home. He smiled, thinking how soon he would be wed. Cracking his door open heard the laughter and clinking of glasses below. A knock on the door startled him and he opened the door.

"Martin, come in, come in."

Martin was his best man; they had been friends all through school and he couldn't think of anyone else he would have wanted by his side on a day like today. Genevive and he had both agreed they would only have one person standing up beside them and she had also picked her best friend.

"How are you holding up Edward," Martin smiled. "You're not going to change your mind, are you?"

"Not a chance in the world," laughed Edward.

"I didn't think so, not even for a minute."

"Listen Bud, we have to get you married. Jen isn't going to wait forever you know."

"I know, I just want to make sure I can get her the home she deserves. Not a mansion like this but something nice."

"You know I'm here to help if you need it, I've told you that before. I'm sure she doesn't expect a palace."

"No, you're right there, she's down to earth and all, but I love her. You know how it goes."

"I do, but again, come to me if you need anything, anything at all. Not to change the subject but do I look OK."

"Smashing, you look smashing, Genevive will melt."

"Oh, don't say that, we can't have a melting bride," laughed Edward. "Ready Bud?"

"Ready as I can be."

When Edward and Martin entered the ballroom, a shout went up from the guests. Edward put his hand up to silence them. "Let me welcome you all to this special day for us, thank you for coming! Please, save your applause for the bride. We will all meet again in the dining room after the ceremony and then enjoy an evening of dancing."

Edward saw Malcolm sulking in the corner and shrugged it off, it wasn't going to ruin his day if that was his motive.

Soon all the guests were ushered into the great room that had been set up with seating and a platform where the ceremony would be performed. Music began and when everyone else was seated, Edward and Martin made their way down to the front and stood waiting for the bride and maid of honor to appear. The Wedding March was heard and everyone anticipated the bride, but no one appeared.

Suddenly, loud voices were heard, and they were getting louder and louder. Martin told Edward to stand firm,
and he ran out of the room to see what was going on. Above the staircase, in the balcony, he saw Malcolm causing some kind of a ruckus so he quickly raced up the steps to see what was going on.

He touched Malcolm's arm. "What are you doing, the ceremony is about to start."

Malcolm pushed Martin, "Don't touch me! Who are you but a little servant to that brother of mine."

Martin put up his hand, "Please, not today. You can air out your differences another time."

"Ha, that's what you think it is? Differences? The little weasel is trying to take over my house and he's moving her in."

Martin pulled at Malcolm's arm. "Stop! Stop it right now. You've gotten the bride in tears. As I understand it you both have inherited this place equally."

"What do you know about anything," Malcolm shouted. Below guests had gathered and Edward was now making his way up the stairs.

At the sight of Edward, Malcolm became more enraged and gave Martin a hard push which sent him crashing into a table by the banister. Martin stood up and said, "Listen here Malcolm, you need to leave."

"Leave? I think not. How about you and this entourage all leave. How about that?" He then grabbed Martin by the collar and once more gave him a hard shove.

Martin, not able to keep his balance this time, tripped and fell into Genevive, who by now was aghast by the scene before her. She put out her arms to stop him and they both crashed into the railing which broke and sent them catapulting to the hard floor below.

"No, oh my God, oh my God, Malcolm, what have you done? You'll pay for this," screamed Edward as he turned and went racing back down the stairs.

If you could describe quiet, the stillness in the room was just that; all were in shock. Martin's lifeless form lay broken and still, eyes wide open, a trickle of blood running out the corner of his mouth. Beautiful Genevive lay in a pool of her own blood. The white wedding dress was stained with red. Edward, in shock, leaned over her trying to detect a breath. She whispered one last word, "I love you." Then with a gasp, she closed her eyes for the last time.

Sirens were heard in the distance and Edward never spoke nor moved from her side until they gently pulled him away and took her from him. He then looked up and saw his brother, mouth gaping open, in the balcony above.
"You dirty coward, you did this, you killed them," he shouted.

"It was an accident, I swear it was. I didn't mean for them to fall, I didn't, I didn't."

"Yeah, we'll see what the judge has to say about that. Please, can someone constrain him?"

Malcolm was arrested and taken away. An inquest was held, it was determined a tragic accident; that he never meant for the pair to fall through the balcony. He was given six months in the county jail and then released under house arrest and required to wear an ankle bracelet for the next five years.

Grief stricken Edward was livid as were most of the townspeople. How could this be? Two people were dead, the love of his life was dead, and the murderer was not adequately punished for the crime. Before the six-month sentence was over, he cashed out all the money he could, packed a suitcase, and disappeared. The tragedy was talked about for several years. As time goes by, things are forgotten, and life continues on. One thing that did remain was the contempt Malcolm received from everyone: he now led a solitary life. Whether he regretted what he had done or not no one knew. As the years flew by it was obvious that the mansion and grounds were becoming more and more unkept.

Return to Present Time

No one knew what had become of Edward. A year went by, two years, and then thirty-five, and very few people remembered.

Edward remembered. Every day the scene played out in his mind, waking or sleeping. He could not rid himself of the grief and despair. He became the angry man he so loathed in his brother. Hate seethed in every pore of his body. He knew, without a doubt, that his brother did not spend a single moment of his life regretting what he had done. In fact, he likely was overjoyed by the sentence he received.

All his life he wondered how anyone could be so full of hate. Now he knew. Oh yes, he did! He understood it, he felt it and his only goal in life was planning how to use it. It was time!

If that little cabin across the water could feel, it would shiver in fear for what was about to happen. If the water under the pier could react, it would be foaming. If the ground could shake at will, an earthquake would rock the county. Such was the rage inside of Edward.

Under cover of a full moon but cloudy sky, Edward boarded his little boat and rowed across the water to the home he had left so many years ago. Climbing up the bank, he watched until the light went out in one of the rooms of the house. Still, he waited and waited.

When he was sure that his brother had fallen asleep, he quietly entered the house. Seeing the staircase once more, he shook so much, it was as if he were having a seizure. "Control yourself," he thought. "Just a little bit longer."

Carefully setting down the heavy load he had in both hands he picked up one container and began sprinkling it throughout the house. Then, picking up the other container, he made his way slowly up the spiral staircase, letting the drops fall from the can along the way. He could see the broken banister, no one had attempted to fix it. He then made his way to his brother's bedroom door and jammed it with wood pieces so that it couldn't be opened.

"Hello", is someone there?" he heard.

"Yes, it's me, your brother Edward."

"It is almost finished," he thought, grabbing matches out of his pocket.

He dropped the match and another, then watched the flames below burst and slowly start creeping up the stairs. He took another match and threw it on the balcony.

"What the hell, let me out. Edward, let me out, help."

Edward smiled as the flames licked around his ankles.

With one giant leap Edward flew off the balcony to the floor below. His last thought was that he would finally reunite with his beloved Genevive.


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1,997 Words
Short Shots Nov. Contest