Fran Bow

Prologue Pt 1

 Everything was fine. It felt like heaven. My parents and Aunt Grace were eating dinner and chatting happily, as always. I was daydreaming and picking at my food, when my father caught my attention.

"Fran, I have a present for you", he said in his deep, adult voice. My face lit up. I don't get presents often. What could it be? I pondered all the possibilities as he put a small basket on the table, a red cloth draped over it. I continued to smile as I put the soft fabric in between my fingers and pulled it away slightly. Two yellow eyes stared back at me, glistening like two tiny suns. A cat! So sweet and pretty!

I carefully pulled away the cloth and took the kitten in between my two hands, fitting perfectly in my palms. It was tiny and a deep shade of black, dark as the deepest night. His name was Mr. Midnight. He would be my best friend... My only friend...

I put Mr. Midnight on my lap, and he purred while I finished my food quietly. Aunt Grace seemed to be talking about something important. Her hands were moving in all directions and her face seemed to convey all emotions at once. She had a pretty face that was very similar to my mother's. They both had big, round eyes the color of chocolate and small noses to fit their narrow faces. Aunt Grace always looked a bit more, tight, though.

Her makeup was always perfect and her hair always in tight curls and her smile always on. Mother used to tell me stories about how, compared to Grace, she was always the messier one out of the two. That her hair was never perfect, and her clothes always had dirt on them. After she told those stories though, she'd straighten up her skirt, look at me with sad eyes, and get on with her day. I don't really enjoy listening as much as others might, but those stories of her childhood were always my favorite.

After my parents finished eating and chatting, my parents told me they were going out. I don't remember where exactly, but I do recall that it was a Friday that day. Aunt Grace took care of me and Mr. Midnight while they were gone. We ate dessert and played games and had lots of fun. I liked Aunt Grace a lot.

It was Monday night and my parents had just gotten home a few hours before. Aunt Grace was still at our house, though. I didn't want her to leave anyway. She was so nice. I believe she had just left, though when I heard a strange noise come from outside the window. I wasn't afraid when I crept up to where it seemed to come from. I had Mr. Midnight next to me, after all. But that quickly changed when I saw what was lurking. It had pointy teeth and narrow eyes and a strange black hat on his head. It was difficult to see what it was exactly, since the moonlight only gave off a black silhouette. It still frightened me though. Suddenly.... I heard something. A strange scream. No. More like a shriek. It sent shivers down my spine and rang in my ears. That was when I realized it was my mother's voice.

I wanted to know what was wrong. I didn't think it was anything. Maybe she was watching another one of her scary movies, or doing whatever caused the weird noises late at night after I had gone to sleep. Whenever I ask her about those,though, her face always turns red and she looks at my father with worry. I try not to think about it too much.

The light in my parents' room shined brightly, guiding me down the long hallway leading to the door. The floorboards creaked under my footsteps, even as I tried to walk as quietly as possible. I finally got to the end of the corridor and placed my shaking hand on the faded wood of the door.

It started to move slightly as I pushed it open further.... and further.... and further....... Until I saw a strange redish liquid on the ground. "Mom? Dad?" I barely manage to croak out. I tried to stop moving, I really did, but my feet went against my wishes and went closer and closer to the center of the room where I could see everything. My mother's severed hand. Her nimble fingers. Her worn face. Her lifeless eyes. Stepping back and almost slipping on a pool of blood next to my father's disembodied head. Seeing his eye brutally ripped out by just a small blade sitting in the center of the room. These are the things I will never forget.

I didn't think, I just ran. I just ran and ran and ran from this house. This house that I had built so many memories in. The house that so many "I love you"s and smiles and family dinners took place in is now dead to me. It all hit me like a flying rock to the stomach. I was barely a few feet into the forest next to my house, when I tripped and fell on a pebble. I didn't get up though. I didn't see any reason to. I just lay on my belly and cried and cried until no tears rested in my body and I felt as though I swallowed sand. It didn't take long.

With all moisture out of my body, I fell asleep weakly, not wanting to move an inch. Before I left consciousness though, I distinctly remember something. Or someone, really. Two large figures in black cloaks coming towards me. I felt one of them pick me up as if I weighed nothing, but was already gone before I could see their face.

I couldn't help but think of that creature lurking outside my window. Maybe he had something to do with it. Maybe he didn't. Either way, I didn't like him. He scares me. It doesn't matter anyway.. Nothing ever would matter. My family was dead and I had no one. In the blink of an eye, I lost everything. Everyone I felt that I loved was gone. Except for Mr.Midnight. My best friend, my only friend.