A House in Ruins

Words 1775
Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth. She gave a sharp intake of breath as she watched the television screen, hardly able to comprehend what she was seeing and hearing. The repetitive sounds of rotor blades thrummed in her ears as the channel nine news chopper hovered over the burnt-out shell of a suburban house and she wished with all her being she couldn’t hear the words, but the reporter’s voice pierced her brain.

“In a tragic turn of events the bodies of a mother and her two children were discovered this afternoon and have since been removed by the police from the home. The police have arrested the husband and father of the deceased and is currently being held in custody.”

‘Oh, God. No!” The words tore from her throat as she ran to the bathroom and wretched violently. Sarah had seen the image of a happy family flashed on the screen; her sister, Emily, holding her three-year-old twin boys close and Mark, standing behind them, his hand on her shoulder.

Only Sarah knew the terrible truth of what had led to this unbelievable tragedy.

###

The day had the makings of being a hot one when Sarah dropped in to see her sister and family, a few weeks before the fire.

“Hi, Sis, welcome to the mad house. Fancy a pancake?”

“Smells great. Sure, why not? That is if these little monkeys have left one for me.” She ruffled Sam’s hair as he ran past her out into the garden, followed by his identical twin brother. The remnants of breakfast covered the kitchen table, and Sarah began to clear away the plates before switching the kettle on. She watched as Emily poured more batter into the frying pan. “You, okay? You look a bit stressed.”

“Sure. I’m fine.’ Emily turned from the stove and smiled at her sister. Sarah noticed the smile never reached her eyes.

“Where’s Mark? Doesn’t he usually take the boys swimming lessons on Saturday mornings?

“Yeah, usually, but he’s too busy today.”

“Would you like me to take them? Or maybe we could all go together, have a coffee, catch up with what’s been happening since I saw you last,” Sarah suggested. She’d been worrying for the past few weeks that something wasn’t right with Emily. She seemed nervous, startled easily, and had dark shadows under her eyes.

Mark walked into the kitchen and glanced at his sister-in-law. “I thought I heard your voice. What are you doing here?”

“Nice greeting, Mark.” Sarah gave him a stare before saying, “I’ve come to see my family. Do you have a problem with that?”

Mark had never been a favourite of Sarah’s and the feeling mutual. Emily had revealed, on late night phone calls, he thought her sister interfered, that they were too close. She’d shared her fears about his growing paranoia, escalating threats, and his anger.

Sarah even wondered if he’d been eavesdropping when she’d tried to get Emily alone this morning.

“Oh, well looks like you’ve had a wasted journey. We’re all going to take the boys to their lessons, aren’t we?” Mark gave his wife a cold stare.

“Oh, yeah, okay, if you’re finished whatever it was you were doing.” Emily smiled, nervously.

“Great, that’s fine. I’ll talk soon, Sis.” Sarah shrugged and gave her sister a peck on the cheek. Before she left she called out into the garden, “Have fun boys. I’ll come and watch your swimming lessons soon.”

“Bye, Auntie Sarah,” the boys chorused.

###

“Stop messing with your food boys.” Mark growled, visibly irritated by his sons’ behaviour at the dinner table.

Emily’s heart skipped a beat knowing her husband’s anger could escalate rapidly “They’re probably not that hungry, they had quite a bit of fruit for afternoon tea.”

“Did you go out?”

“Just to the park after Kindy.”

“Who did you go with? Did you meet that man who takes his kid there?”

“Sarah met me there.” She glanced at her sister. “and I’ve told you before, he’s just someone who happens to be there with his daughter. He’s married. He stays at home and looks after the baby, cos’ his wife earned more than him.”

“Pussy! What sort of man would stay at home and send his wife out to work?’

“They didn’t want to put the child in day care, so it made sense, financially.”

“You had a good chat then? Mark’s eyes bored into hers and she knew what to expect later when the kids were in bed.

###

“Why do you put up with it, Em?” Sarah asked her when she’d shown her the bruises.

“He doesn’t mean it. He always so sorry. There’s something wrong, I think he might be ill. I’ve tried to get him to see someone to talk to, but he doesn’t believe in counselling.”

“I feel so helpless. I can’t just stand by and see you treated like that.”

“Mark’s not always like this. It might be something at work that’s bothering him. I think it’s just that he doesn’t want to worry me. I need to learn to stop stirring him up.”

‘That’s rubbish and you know it. Let’s go to the police station right now and show the bruises to someone.”

“No! it’s not that bad. I’ve always bruised easily, you know that.” Emily grabbed her sister’s hand. “Please don’t do anything, Sis. We’re fine.”

“Think of the kids. What if he starts hitting them?”

“He’d never hurt the boys. He loves them.”

Sarah shook her head. “You best stop telling me when he’s mean and abusive then! It makes me feel helpless and it’s going to get worse. He’s going to kill you one day if he can’t control that temper of his.”

“You’re exaggerating. Please stop worrying, Sarah.”

###

The clock struck midnight; Mark paced the living room. Emily desperately wanted to go to bed but didn’t dare leave him in the state of mind he was in. She attempted to calm him down. “Come on, Mark it can’t be that bad.”

“What would you know. You stay at home, do nothing but watch the telly all day, while I’m dealing with those idiots at work. They’re out to get me, I told you that, but you think I’m making it all up!”

“No, that’s not true. I know you hate your job, but you’re frightening me. The boys are scared of you. Is that what you want?”

Mark turned on his wife and slapped her face, hard. Emily held her hand to her cheek and turned to leave the room but he grabbed her long dark hair and pulled her back. His face filled with rage and the blows began.

###

The next morning, Mark fed the children their breakfast and let them watch cartoons while he took his wife a cup of tea. He sat on the bed next to Emily and leaned over to kiss her bruised face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I promise I’ll never hit you again. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I’m leaving, taking the kids.” Emily’s muffled voice came from under the doona.

“Please, Em. I’ll do anything, I’ll make an appointment to see a counsellor, do marriage counselling. Anything.” he pleaded. Emily threw back the doona, but Mark pushed her gently back onto the bed. “Stay there, I’ll watch the kids today. I’ve called in sick. Just rest.”

“I told you. I’m leaving. You’re dangerous. Sarah was right.”

At the mention of her sister’s name a red rash crept up his neck, his breathing increased. Holding his wife’s arms down on the bed, he whispered in her ear, “You’re going nowhere.”

###

Emily kept making excuses not to see her sister. They’d been busy. The children weren’t well. Yes, Mark was getting counselling and everything had improved. She was happy.

Sarah didn’t believe any of it, but as weeks went by and Emily continued to stress how well Mark was continuing to do, then Sarah had no choice other than believe her.

###

The night of the fire.

Mark came home. He was drunk.

The front door slammed against the wall as he staggered through. ‘Emily! Where are you?” he shouted up the stairs.

Emily jumped out of bed and stood at the top of the stairs in her pyjamas. “Shh, you’ll wake the kids.” She rushed down, her heart sinking. “Please, Mark, not tonight,” she begged.

‘You’re always telling me what to do.” He slurred, pushing her against the wall. “ I know you’ve always thought you were better than me.”

The sounds of the children waking came from the twin’s room. “Mummy?” Mummy?”

“You’re scaring them, Mark.” Emily pleaded. “Come on let’s just go to bed.”

“You and your meddling sister are hatching a plan to take my kids away from me.” He walked into the brightly lit kitchen. He stood still for a moment as if considering his next move. Suddenly he grabbed a bottle of sauce from the counter and smashed it against the wall, advancing towards her. “You must think I’m blind.”

Emily backed away from him, knocking over a lamp in the attempt to get away. He advanced towards her, still holding the neck of the jagged bottle. Tomato sauce ran down his arm in rivulets, splashed over the white kitchen cupboards and on to the floor. He lashed out. The glass caught her arm and her blood intermingled with the red sauce.
She knew she couldn’t reach him with her words. In an attempt to stave off his murderous attack, she slid a large knife from the knife block on the counter. Holding it out in front of her, she stood her ground. “Get out!” she screamed. “Leave us alone!” She backed away, her bare feet stepped onto pieces of broken glass. Crying out in pain, she slipped, losing her balance on the spilled tomato sauce. Mark grabbed the knife from her hand and turned it on her, slashing blindly.

There was silence. Mark stood immobilised staring at the tableau. In the harsh lights of the kitchen, he saw Emily, bleeding profusely from a deep, open gash on her neck. She was lying amongst the mess of sauce, glass, and blood on the floor. Suddenly sober, too late he realised the enormity of what he’d done.
Staggering into the garage through the access door in the kitchen, he grabbed the can of petrol he used for the lawnmower.
He wrestled to open the rusty lid, before it opened, spilling it down his pants. He splashed it liberally over the kitchen floor, the hallway and the bottom of the stairs. Without pausing to take a second thought, he lit a match and tossed it onto the kitchen rug. He gave a cursory glance up the stairs before walking out into the early morning light, closing the front door quietly behind him.


Written for the Horror Writing Contest.
The Contest has re-opened for August!
August Contest!

PROMPT: FIRE
Oh, and NO DEMONS!
WORD COUNT: 1000-2500 words
















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