Ember's Eve

Anamnesis

Holbrook, Daunthill
2 Days Ago
19th December 2020

Holbrook streets, filled with nothing but the whispers of the wind. The only thing that secerned night from day here was sunlight. People in Holbrook did nothing but mind their business. Anyone who attempted to change that got put back in line with caution from infuriated neighbours.

Heedless of its covert and lonely nature, everyone agreed that Holbrook was the safest area in Daunthill. Of all the petty crimes committed, never was any found to have occurred here. But nothing does last forever.

The entire Doyle's duplex represented the usual tranquillity of Holbrook. Henry lay half asleep in his bed. He always got up afore anyone. His subconscious awaited the voice of his alarm clock which would blare at 5am. But unlike every other day, something came before the alarm—the racket from downstairs.

Henry opened his eyes and tried to process the sound. He put out a leg and got out of the bed. Staring at the bed as he straightened, he observed an oddity. His wife's bed space was empty. He padded towards the bathroom to check on her, but just then, another sound raced across the whole house.

Something was amiss. Henry rushed for the room door, opened it and flew down the stairs. Arriving at the living room, he met his wife and his two kids shackled and brought to their knees. A man with a black balaclava over his face stood steely, pointing a gun at Emilia. Henry sighted a thick scarlet liquid descending from his wife's hair to the silver tape over her mouth. He froze.

"Hey," Henry voiced. "I'll do anything you want."

"Great," replied a female voice from behind him. She must have been lurking in the dining room. "Start by putting your hands where I can see them."

She marched towards him.
His obedience hesitated. An attempt to have a look at the speaker was impeded by the contact of a pistol with his skull. The pistol felt chilling. Henry sighed as his hands went above his head. They both strode towards his basement. The lock required a combination.

Henry glared at it like he'd never seen it in his life. A little jolt on his back from the lady's Beretta M9 got him to work. A few seconds later came a click which signified success. As they moved down the short stairs, Henry wondered what was going on.

There'd been times when he thought of a burglary. He'd imagined some interloper such as this for one work-related reason or the other. Wasn't that the reason why he traditionally changed the locks to the front door every two years? Just three months ago he'd fortified the alarm system with Artificial intelligence based on recommendation from Jeffery. And now what? Who were these ones, and what were they up to?

"What do you want?" Henry asked, flipping the light switch.

The room illuminated. It was Henry's study. A confined space, wielding several wooden shelves saturated with books. A mini bar stood at the left of the book shelves. In front of a desk which had a Personal computer was a swivel chair.

Henry turned slightly to try to steal a glance at his abductor. He swung his right arm backwards towards her head but she instantly crouched. Retaliating, on return, by jabbing his chin with her pistol.

"Uhhh" he moaned. He thought of his kids.

"I wouldn't do that again if I were you" she warned. "Now have a seat."