I awoke, on a cold tile floor. I know not of what is going on or how I got here. As I stand I feel who I am burst into my now conscious mind. Joseph French. I am Joseph French. I'm a husband and a father of two children, a son and a daughter. I live somewhere, the name escapes me but I know it's remote. I know my house is a cabin just a ways away. It's small, but enough. It's quiet, silence, just silence, ever growing silence. What happened? How'd I get here? This feeling grows inside. It feels dark, I feel what happened, but I don't know what it was. It's odd. Indescribable, as most feelings are.
Jenifer, my wife's name. It comes to me as I walk into our bedroom. I stare at the bed for a while, it'd be nice to take a nap. I don't know. I have a headache. With an empty head most would think it wouldn't happen, but here I am. Jenifer. A beautiful name. I see her face, blurry. Yet I see it. Adam, and Samantha, my kids. That was the name of my kids, right? Right, my beautiful children. Where are they? That thought comes to me as I enter the living room. I lived well. I had this place built custom and furnished it well. There's blood on my sofa. Strange. What, or who, left this here. Dried, so that means it's old. Not too old. An hour and some change. I look around some more. "Hey dad, what was the couch made of again?" I'd heard him ask, "Its leather Adam, high quality leather as well." I responded. The small conversation plays again and again as I run my hand on the now worn couch. I guess it wasn't as high quality as I thought. I feel the blood. I was right. Dry. I scratch some off and look at in my hand. A pretty color. Maroon. That's the name for it. Was it mine? A quick check disproves this, I have no injuries. Whose blood is it then? I feel like this is some sort of game. I smile to myself. It fades quick as I continue to think. It could belong to someone in my family. Oh no, that wouldn't be good.
The door. Oak maybe. Pine. No. Spruce. Maybe mahogany, I do love mahogany. I feel its immense weight as I push it open. "Joseph I don't care how gorgeous you think this door is but it is too damn heavy," she'd say that almost every time she opened it. A smile paints my face as I remember her, the look of frustration as she pushed against the door. I'm sure it's spruce now. My slight happiness fades as the scent of iron crosses my nose. A pool of bright red blood is just outside my door. The sun light shines on it, making it glow slightly. A pretty sight; however lost on me as I ponder whose it is. It could be my families. With that much lost someone must be dead. You'd have to assume this, a human dies after losing four pints of blood. There is clearly more than that in this glowing pool. Strange. So that was the feeling I had when I awoke. My family is dead. Strange. Strange indeed. The darkness within me fades. At least I know what happened. I just have to find their bodies. I have to at least bury them. Maybe find the killer as well and exact some form of revenge. Too much to think about now. I continue down the path from my house. It's a lovely day.
I frown as I realize that all I had love has been taken away. But, we all know how life is. Win some lose some. At least I have life. I shall have to live on for them it seems. Noble. Truly noble I am. I walk down to the small lake that sits just a few yards from my cabin. What a breathtaking sight, another reason why I moved here. So remote, so, so peaceful. So tranquil and quiet. It's a shame that blood is all over the docks. What an eyesore to this beauty. I must come and clean up when this is all done. I take off my shoes and place my feet into the water. "Joseph, I love this place, I love you for taking me here. It's amazing." She said that the first day we lived here. "It was our dream, I have a knack for making those come true." I loved the reply I made. It was short, yet sweet. Smooth. We had always wanted to live away from the city in the forest. Her body is floating in the lake. I'm surprised. Shocked into stillness. My God. I should have noticed that sooner. I chuckle at my ignorance. I guess she has her burial out on the lake. She did love to swim here. I'll leave her there, why take her from what she loved? I think, how sentimental I am. I walk away from there. I'm off to find my son and daughter, hopefully alive. I doubt it. But I still must keep an illusion of hope for my dear wife at least.
Look, a trail. The sign says 'Willow Creek one mile'. That was this place's name. Finally. Now that is off my mind. Now I just need to find the fate of my wonderful children and my head will be clear. Now where did those kids run off too? I feel like I'm playing detective, ah, my son loved to play that. We'd find bank robbers, thieves and what not. I wonder if there mutilated. That was a lot of blood. It wasn't splattered though. Just a large puddle. Probably just stabbed many times. Or a few in vital areas. The dirt road changes to asphalt as I enter the town. I don't see anyone. Don't tell me. Are they all dead as well? This day is not going well. Ah, we all have bad days, the ones where we wake up and just know nothing is going right. Wonder if my wife had the same thought when she woke up this morning. A slight chuckle escapes my lips. I found it funny, I wonder, if someone's alive if they'll find it funny. I think they will.
I'll check the hotel. It might have someone. Alive. Not dead. Plenty on the street. Can't tell a corpse the funny thought about my wife. They where in front of the door. I had to move them. I had to touch those lifeless bags of meat. So cold. So stiff. I've been curious about the body after death. Handling them was like a science experiment. It was fun in a way. I didn't see my son or daughter with the dead. That's hopeful I guess. Oh? What's this? Ah, this is neat. The hotel is beautiful. I haven't been here since they remodeled. They really did a number on this place. It's gorgeous. I'm loving the craftsmanship of the building. These are some beautiful paintings on the wall, very classy. Wow, a chandelier, I didn't know the owner had the money. It's got blood on it. That's a mood killer. I'll roam the halls hoping to at least hear a whimper and catch someone at least semi-alive. Silence. It's still silent. Whoever killed this people was thorough I'll give them that. Will I ever find my children? That'll bug me. Not knowing what happens. It's like a book or a show just cutting off. It's just plane annoying. On the roof of the hotel I found what I set out to find, or at least half of what I wanted to find. That's my daughter. Still cute as ever even though she's dead. I should put her with her mother in the lake, she was a momma's girl. "Hey Samantha come play detective with me and your brother." I asked her once, "Sorry dad, I'm reading with mom, love you!" She always did that, said no then reminded me she still loved me. She was a good girl. For her mother at least. I chuckle. It's a shame this happened. At least she died quick. One stab to the chest. Just one. Killer was neat. Professional. Maybe. Experienced at least. I pose her decently in a hotel room bed. I'll bury her later with her brother. I'm sentimental like that. Where to look now? My son can't be too far from her. He wouldn't run from her until after she died, and he wouldn't get far then.
As I walk out the back door I see him. My son. Dead of course. Looks like he jumped from the roof to the dumpster. Too bad it wasn't full. He looks broken. He has to be dead, wait, oh, he seems to be breathing. I stand corrected. "Hi Adam," he's quick to turn, "Dad... why... why did, this happen." I knew what to say, "Things happen son, people are born then they die, it's a vicious cycle." He doesn't cry, I taught him well, he knows to accept his fate. "I love you Dad," he whispered, he's dying now. "I love you too son, I'll bury you with your sister." He heaves his last breath. He's dead. Finally. Now my mind is free and clear; I remembered the towns name, I've seen the new hotel, and I know that my entire family is dead. This is great. Just need to bury three bodies, make a cross and maybe two little ones, I should call some sheriff or federal law enforcement to investigate, today or tomorrow, clean-up my house and the dock, then take a nap. This is turning into a pretty decent day.
