I Saw Death - chapter 3

Chapter 3 - When the Sun Goes Down

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The sun was high in the sky on a hot afternoon, its light making its residents squint their eyes to see. The heat would have been unbearable, had it not been that it was rather windy for the season. It was a perfect day.

A fairly well dressed man lounged on a park bench, his blazer laid to the side for relaxation. He sat partially in the shade of a nearby tree, his arm wrapped around a lovely woman by his side. She directed her attention off of her husband and towards the playground before the pair. An abundance of children ran and screamed through the tunnels and slides. High pitched giggles could be heard throughout the whole park.

A particularly small girl ran out from her slide and towards the entangled man and woman. “Mommy!” The little girl chanted. “My shoe’s untied!”

The lady on the bench leaned forward and beamed. “Mommy can fix that.” The blonde girl eagerly swung her foot on her mother’s lap. The woman gracefully re-tied the pink laces. “It’s all better now.”

The child giggled. “Mommy, can we get ice cream?”

The woman glanced at the man next to her. “Ed?” she asked.

He glanced at the two beautiful faces in front of him. “Well, I can’t say no to that.” He replied. “Get your things, Claira.” And with that, the blonde child ran off excited to get going.

Edmund put on his coat, and once again held his wife close. Before long, the child returned, and the three got together in their little car and drove off to the ice cream parlor.

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Young Claira pressed her face against the glass when the family had driven up. Massive pictures of ice cream cones and frosties adorned the little building, and its display was quite inviting.

“What would you like, sweetheart?” Her mother asked in a soft voice.

Claira squished her face even more attempting to think on it. “Choose?” She uttered. There were so many options, it was impossible for the little thing to pick. Attempting to read the sign, she finally bursted with her answer. “Cookie dough and peanut butter hot fudge!”

Her parents chuckled at her goofy demeanor.

“Sweetie,” Her father chimed in, giving his daughter a sorrowful look. “We can’t afford that many flavors. That is, if we want to get you more presents for your birthday.” Claira looked down. She hated feeling so limited. “Of course it’s up to you. You don’t have to wait that long. Your party is just next week.” Claira kept looking at her shoes. She knew she wanted presents, but she also knew that she wanted super amazing ice cream at that moment. She felt conflicted for a long time, but the decision was ultimately hers.

“Just a small cookie dough, then.” She muttered in defeat.

“Cookie dough it is, Cookie Dough.” The man said to her.

Pouting, Claira looked up at the passing signs of colorful desserts as the car drove around to the next window. Kicking her feet on the chair in front of her, she squinted at the bright sun in frustration. After a moment, however, her father turned around to pass Claira her treat. With no hesitation, she had the first bite in her mouth, and had forgotten about her brief grumpiness.

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The little girl was awoken by the feeling of the car pulling up to its driveway. She had a bit of a stomach ache, as she had eaten her ice cream too fast and had fallen asleep.

“Long drive, huh, Claira?” Her father in the front seat asked. “Unbuckle yourself, sweetie. We’re home.”

Claira did just this, because at that moment, she remembered her favorite cartoon was on soon. She escaped the car and rushed into the house without a second thought.

Not long later did her parents quietly enter their home to see that Claira had already changed the television to the right channel, the screen flashing bright colors. “Claira, don’t sit too close to the screen, now. You’ll hurt your eyes.” Claira nodded in recognition, but did not turn to look at them. Her parents just sighed and lounged in the kitchen, whispering to one another.

Right when there was a commercial break, Claira bolted to the kitchen to grab a snack. After having obtained a yogurt, the young girl looked at her parents perplexed. They didn’t pay any mind to her as she reached for a spoon and left. Claira had been feeling as though her parents were distant, recently. Particularly from her. She put her head down and made her way back to her show, strawberry yogurt in hand.

After many reruns of Claira’s show and nothing else on any other channel, she shut the TV off in frustration, and she noticed how late it was. It was quiet for a long time. Even her parents whispering had faded. Eventually, the loudest thing in the house was the tickings of the kitchen clock. Until there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it, sweetie.” Claira’s mother had mumbled from the kitchen. She slowly rose from her seat and made her way to the door. Without much of a second thought, she opened it to see who it was.

The loudest sound Claira had ever heard had erupted at that moment. Her ears ringing, she looked over to the source to see a man at their door, completely concealed in black, and her sweet mother motionless on the carpet.

Taking her attention to the dark figure, Claira could see the cause of the disturbance. The stranger held a small weapon capable of such damage. The young girl screamed for her mother, who could no longer hear.

The loud noise had banged again, and Claira found herself facing the ceiling. She was on the ground. Her vision fuzzy, she saw her father hovering over her, his hand stroking her face. He was smiling, but tears escaped his eyes. “Claira, I-” he mumbled softly, before making a sudden choking sound, his face expressionless and still, before he too collapsed on the floor beside his daughter.