Broken

Chapter 6

                         

Morgan

No way....she wouldn't...

As I stared down at my mother's corpse my mind went blank and I was frozen in place.

" m-mom..." I say. As my breathing quickened, I held on to the door jamb to stable myself.

Suddenly something catches my eye. Inside the room, Just near the door, there a bloody kitchen knife. I bend down and pick it up with shaking hands.

This is what she used to kill her...I should call the police...

The sudden notification bell of my phone surprises me so much that I drop the knife. I take it out of my pocket and my eyes widen upon seeing the name on the screen.

It's Lydia

I click the message. It seems to be a picture. It loads for a second and then becomes clear. My hands start to shiver and I go pale.

It's a picture of me standing near my mother's corpse, holding a knife. It's a picture taken a few seconds ago right now. I look at the room window. It seems someone took the picture from there.

Is she here right now? I think.

" Mrs. Stanley, sorry the door was open. You've parked your car at our spot again. So if you could- " the lady behind me screams. I turn around. It's our neighbour.

She looks down at my hand and screams again " Help! Murderer!!! " and runs out of the house, phone in hand.

Shit...

I run out of the house and go towards the window of mom's room. Looking at the grass, someone was definitely here.

The lady who saw me with the dead body is banging on others doors now. Telling them there's a murderer in Mrs. Stanley's house. And also that it's her daughter.

I need to get out of here fast! Before the cops show up. I quickly go inside my house, grab my bag and run out on the street. The police will be here soon since the police station is not so far away. I can already hear the police sirens.

The cold evening air hits me as I run on the streets. My mind races with so many thoughts. I know where I should go. There's an old abandoned factory down by the lake. It's a bit far from here but still...I need to hide and that's the only place I could think of. I stop once I'm out of breath. Am I far enough? Good thing I didn't take out the water bottle from my bag. I rest near a tree and drink the water. I glance at my right hand. The blood from that knife is on it.

This is my mom's blood...

As soon as I'm done, I began running. There are no tears coming from my eyes. Is it because there's none left? I can't exactly describe how I feel right now. It's like...I'm drowning. Like someone just pushed me in the water and I can't breathe.

After what felt like an hour, I finally reach my destination. The building is big and separated far away from the community houses. It's dark so I use my phone flashlight. The grass around here is really long. No one comes here. It creeps them out and there's nothing interesting. The water from the lake a few feet away from it is murky.

I walk over to the gates. There closed with a big chain and lock. Should I break it? The lock looks like it'll be hard to break. I go back and try to find a window. Once I find it, I try to slide it open. This is locked too. Picking up a rock from the ground, I smash it hard on the window.

It breaks. I smash it once more making the hole bigger. I slid my hand inside and open the clasp. After that, I slide it up and carefully enter inside.

About 4 years ago, This used to be a toy factory. Things were going well for them until a huge accident took place which killed 2 people. It was then forced to shut down immediately. Since then, it's been abandoned and just became a place for teenagers to test their courage.

The first thing I notice is the thick cloud of dust in the air which makes me cough...The inside is a big hall. There are a few machines too. Old and rusty. I flash the light here and there to find a suitable place to sleep for the night. I could hear the police sirens now. They're looking for me.

Walking forward, I decide to go upstairs. The stairs creak with every step. I could see rooms as I flash the light on the upper floor. Once I reach the top, I go into the first room I see. This will do I guess. The room is small. Must be some kind of manager's office. There's even a dusty blanket in the corner. I walk over there, put my bag on the ground and sit down.

I won't go to the police. I won't let them get her. Not until I've killed her myself. Now...I have nothing to lose.

The image of my mother's dead body appears before my eyes. I gulp hard. Why does my heart hurt so much? She used to abuse me so much.

But...at this moment....what I'm remembering isn't all those times when she beat me. It's when...she was smiling. When dad was with us. When we all ate together laughed together and went to new places together. Before we started to be fakes. Before we kept secrets. Before I remained silent. Before dad cheated...

The time I'm remembering is when mom used to cheer me up when I was feeling sad. Lift me up when I was feeling happy. Calm me down when I was angry. Hug me close when I was scared...

Tears pour down my face and my face becomes red. Why...? Why am I thinking of all these things when she put me through so much hell. It's not fair...you went and got yourself killed without even saying you're sorry! I sob as I grab the hair on my head. If...only once...only once you said your sorry I would have forgiven you. I wonder what you were thinking while you were being murdered...

Mom...

Then for the first time since everything went South...I scream.

I scream my lungs out. All the frustration, sadness, anger, distress, fear, madness, pain and the feeling of loss. I let it all out. Not even caring if someone hears it. The houses are far away from the factory anyway and it's night.

When I stop, I take deep breaths and wipe my tear-stained face. I lay down on the blanket with my head on the bag.

I need to find Lydia's parents. But she never told me where they lived. Always dodging the topic. That day, in the classroom, Jessica had said that her father and Lydia's father were business partners. So Jessica must definitely know something. I need to get Jessica.

As my eyelids feel heavy and sleep begins to wash over me, I look out the window into the starry night sky. It's a full moon tonight. Mom...was a stargazer. She looked looking at stars when I was a kid.

I roll to the other side, facing the wall. As I sleep, a tear falls down from my eye.

Mom...I miss you...