Don't Scream

chapter 22

116 miles away,

The House was nearly hidden weeds molesting flower beds and shrubs swallowing the porch.The steps offered up a buffet of rotten wood to termites, and the windows were clouded, as if shamed of what happened inside.

In its day when mother was tending it the house was a island of beauty. She kept it perfect as a stage Setting, Calico curtains Freshly painted walls.Trimmed bushes edging the walkways.and flowers.Mother liked flowers.Sang them all day long. Such a quaint peaceful setting. The unthinkable couldn't happen here.

But it did happen. Everyday.

Be careful mommy you are hurting her.

I'm not hurting her  she can't feel. Its her blood. She has  bad blood. la dee da. I said the fish_______

"Come on Brandon" Christie said suddenly. "You said you would take me to the river and this house gives me the creeps."

Yeah The creeps.

He shifted his gym bag and carried Christie past the house and into the woods.Funny that the river didn't seem so far away when your a kid. probably cause he always wished they could go further.Brandon hated this property, Mother's codicil willed Brandon the only thing that mattered, So he sold the property. House and all. to the first person who asked. Cheap.

Christie's favorite spot came into view through the tiny spring buds on the trees. a shallow dammed portion of the river where beavers had constructed a fine little swimming hole. Brandon had come here almost everyday as a kid, watching the river from a 12 foot high deer stand. Now Brandon climbed rungs up to the deer stand and pulled Christie up with him.pushing away years of rotten leaves and pine straw.

"Here we go. Brandon said getting Christie settled."You remember how we used to come here as kids?"

"I remember. It was so peaceful..I missed it when I was gone."

Brandon's heart turned over.Gone Christie had been gone for so long. He remembered the day she disappeared.Running around the house looking for the baby...His mother dabbing Clorox near her eyes until they were red and watery and her nose running too. Sheriff Lee taking her statement and questioning Brandon not quite believing ...Everyone in town  from the sheriff to the minister to the school counselor  searching the house the shed the gardens. Grand dad oddly silent, and mother weeping so convincingly.

He opened his eyes and looked at Christie rolling his shoulder to try and keep the tension at bay. He had her back  now. That is all that mattered.

"Hey." Brandon said "Did I ever tell you that I came here after you disappeared, waiting for you? I sat in this deer stand and watched them search. They used helicopters and search teams in bright orange vest and hound dogs. I remember the lights and flares and sirens. Even after they gave up and told me you were dead I came here everyday."

"I knew you wouldn't forget me. I knew you would find me, someday."

Brandon blinked back a tear.

"Hey come on it wasn't your fault."

Yes it was his fault No one believed him. Mother was too good. The tears the singing the flowers shed had everybody fooled.

Six month's after Christie disappeared Brandon finally accepted that his baby sister was never coming back. Ten Minutes later he shot his mother with her own 38.