Down Past Dawn

Murder at Dawn

"I promise."

That's the last thing I said to them. I promised them I'll survive no matter what.

It was a early Saturday morning. The sun hadn't risen yet, and the street lamps lit the dark paved road. Mom was making pancakes. Strawberry pancakes. I love strawberries. She set some on a plate on the table, where my Dad was reading the newspaper, biting on the tip of an unlit cigar. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Mom takes immediate notice," What's wrong?" He sighs and looks at her. He signals with his cigar to come over to him. She walks over, wiping her hands on a rag,"Yes?" He point at the newspaper. She looks at it and starts to frown. They exchange worried glances. She walks back to the pancakes. I slowly pour chocolate syrup over my pancakes as I watch them. Dad folds the newspaper and sets it on the table.
He pulls out a black and gold lighter. Dad picks up the newspaper and walks over to the metal trash bin. He lights the paper and tosses it in.

"What's going on," I finally ask. Mom glances at me and then at Dad. She turns back to the pancakes. Dad turn the lighter off and puts it on the table. I look at him, searching his eyes for an answer. "What's going on," I ask again. He just shakes his head, and puts a hand on the lighter. He slides it across the table so that it bumps at my plate. I pick it up, "I don't smoke yet." He nods,"I know. It's a present for you." I nod slowly. I inspect the lighter. It was a black lighter with gold inscriptions. It had the name Desmond enscribed in gold lettering on the back. On the front it had the picture of a skull with a knife through its left eye, and a rose through its right eye. I frown a bit,"Strange gift for a 14 year old girl, huh dad?" He shrugs, and smiles when Mom brings him a plate of pancakes and eggs. I roll my eyes. Mom takes her apron off.

"Now that you mention it, I have something to give you too," she exclaims happily. She runs up the wooden creaky steps of the stairs. I sigh, resting my head on my hand. My cheek covers my right eye. Dad calmly eats his breakfast. She comes back down the stairs holding something tightly in her fist. She walks over to me and opens her hand. On her palm,there lied a beautiful ring. It was of antiqued silver and had a polished pink Rhodonite stone. I held my hand out, and she dropped it into my palm. I put the ring on my ring finger on my right hand, and put the lighter in my bra. Dad laughs, and Mom chuckles a bit. I shrugged, but I laughed along.

I finished my pancakes, and I thanked Mom. I put my dish and fork into the sink. I walk into the living room, and sat down on the soft leather couch. I turn the TV on, and Dad walks in. He sits down on the leather chair. I switch through the channels. There were only cartoons and news reports. I settled for a news report, tossing the remote onto the table. After the Kinlo Turn, there wasn't much on the TV. I leaned back into the couch, sinking in.

News Report:
" The Knights of Arthur continue their rebellion, even after their leader was arrested and sentenced to death. "

I laughed a bit, and look at my dad,"Those people are fighting for nothing aren't they?" He shrugs," Why do you think that Iris?" I look back at the TV,"Fighting won't undo what's been done." "Étiennette Iris Desmond, don't talk so negatively," I hear Mom yell from the kitchen. I stare back at the TV and tune in again.

News Report (Continued):
"A series of murders have been committed over the past few months. Scientists back in the forensics lab say that all the murders are related in some way."

Dad chuckles nervously.

"All victims of the murder have been killed with a shot to the head, through both eyes, and the heart. The police advise everyone to lock their doors and windows, and don't open the door without checking who it is. That's all for tonight. I'm Carly Rae Johnson, and this is World Cast News."

Mom comes into the living room, wiping her hands on a rag again. "Iris, go up to your room." I sit up straight," Why?" She looks at dad and then again at me. "Promise me you'll be safe," she asks. "Mom, that's a weird question, I answer back." "Promise me and your dad," she asks again, a little more worriedly. "Yeah fine." She looks at me with uncertainty. "I promise," I huff. Mom shoos me away with her hands,"Go."
I mumble and lazily crawl up the creaky stairs. Each creak pissing me off more. I open my door with a force, slamming it into the wall. The door handle left a crater in the wall. I close the door and let my body drop on the bed. I roll around. Reaching over to my nightstand, I grab my birthday doll. She was beautiful. 
It was a handcrafted doll with pink lips and rosy cheeks. The doll had a beautiful brown dress with a white coat. It had shiny brown shoes and white ribbon-laced stockings. It had beautiful shiny brown hair hanging from underneath her red ribbon-laced sun hat.
"Too bad the sun shines here no more," I mumbled, bringing the doll to my embrace. Out of all of my dolls, she was my favorite. I kept all my dolls inside a metal suitcase, under my bed.
When will this all end?

That's when I hear the door downstairs bust open with a bang. I sit up, wondering what could be going on. I heard a scream, crying out in pain. I sit on my bed frozen in fear. I heard 4 careful shots. I run to my door, my hand shaking as I try to open it.

"IRIS!"

Dad! I hear four more shots, and a silence followed. I lock the door and scoot back. I grab my doll and squeeze myself under the bed, barely fitting. I hear shuffling and stomping up the stairs, all the creaks echoing through out the house.

My door handle jangled with force. I hear some voices, and suddenly the door explodes open, falling down in pieces. I hold my breath as black worn combat boots wander around my room, staining the carpet with blood and mud.

I hear murmuring, and a hum of agreement. A yellow looking liquid is dropped all over my carpet. My heart beats faster, as u recognize the horrible smell.

Gasoline.

Someone drops a match. And the whole room bursts into flames. The people run out of the room, unaware of my presence. I hear them get into a car and drive away in a rush. I tried to get out from under my bed.

I couldn't. I was stuck under my bed, the flames getting closer. The room starts to fill with smoke. I cough on the smoke, inhaling a lot of it. The room starts to split in two, and I hold my doll close. I close my eyes.

I hope for the best.