Her Silence

Prologue

The night of the attack was like any other regular night. A night that went from happy and safe to unforgiving and utterly terrifying. While it was summer, the night was a bit chilly thanks to the storm that was raging on outside. To this day, I can still hear the rain hit the windowpanes almost violently. I can still hear the harsh wind causing branches to hit against the walls and the gate rattle. I can remember every single detail, no matter how much I wish to just forget. I would do just about anything to forget the screams of my siblings and parents, to my own. Hearing my mother beg them to spare her children, the words falling on deaf ears from the men in our house as they chuckled. Their laughter haunts me every night. What would be someone else's nightmare was my reality. Losing everyone you hold dear to you and saying goodbye to the life you knew; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, not that I have one. After all, I am only 17.

Let me start from the beginning...

August 2nd, 2019. We had spent the day stuck inside due to the storm; mom had expressed how uneasy she felt if we left for our trip. My dad had eased her stress, saying that we would leave when the storm cleared out. Silas had taken it upon himself to put on a show, a magic show. Iris had joined him, playing the role of his assistant. My twin, Cassius, sat next to me as we cuddled up under the blanket, laughing along with the antics our younger siblings displayed. "And now for our final act of the night, I will make my assistant disappear!" Silas exclaimed, and we all gasped in amazement as a blanket was held, and he said 'alakazam' as my sister 'disappears'. "Look at my little magicians," my dad says proudly as Cash, and I snicker quietly when they both jump on him. "What's so funny over there?" Mom asks, and we shake our heads as we look at our family. "Want to jump in Aem?" my brother asks, and I smirk as we jump from our seats, joining in the chaos on our living room floor. The storm may be raging on, but we were having our own fun.

That night was filled with laughter and joy. I remember the two younger ones didn't want to sleep. "Come on, Iris, if we go to bed, the storm will go away, and then we can go on our trip!" I say as I lift the youngest of our family into my arms. She giggles as she wraps her arms around my neck. "You think so, Artemis?" She asks as Silas joins and clings to my arm. "Of course. Besides the sooner we go to sleep, the sooner tomorrow comes, and we can prank dad," Cash says as he lifts Silas up. "No pranking me!" I hear my dad call out as we laugh. "Sure, whatever you say, dad," I reply as we continue laughing. "Okay, bedtime, all of you!" Mom says as they walk back into the living room. Cash and I walk to our rooms after we say goodnight. "I better not hear you two plotting," mom warns playfully, and we snicker. "Come on Cash," I murmur as we go into my room. We had spent the next hour laughing and joking around until mom came into my room.

            "I should have known," she says before laughing. She joins us, spending a bit of time indulging us in our own personal musings. "We love you, mom," I murmur as Cash nods. "Yeah, you are the best!" He adds, causing me to giggle. "You two are the sweetest. I love you both, now time for bed," she says before coaxing me into bed. "Goodnight, princess," she whispers before hugging me. "Night, momma," I whisper. "Night Aem, love you, little sister," Cash says, and I roll my eyes. "Only by 2 minutes! I love you too, Cash, night," I reply as mom laughs quietly. I turn to my side and glance at the family photo on my night table after they walk out. I wait a few minutes, knowing Cash will come back. We don't like sleeping alone during storms, well sometimes. I hear my mom walk past my door and soon hear a door close. Not long after, Cash comes and jumps into my bed. "Awake Aem?" He asks, and I nod, "yeah." Turning off my lamp, we curl up and fall asleep, only to wake up to screaming.

 "Artemis! Hurry up we need to go!" I hear my aunt as I close my book, shoving it into my bag. I close my door, racing downstairs to see her turn around. "There you are honey. I was afraid we would be late for your appointment," she says as she grabs my hand. "Kids, I'll be back to pick you up! You better be packed!" She calls out as we go out the door. As usual, the drive was quiet. I showed no interest in talking, not that I ever do. My therapist calls it a trauma response. After that night, I had stopped speaking completely. Well, I only spoke to Cash, but he died a month later; ever since that day, I swore to never speak again. "You know Artemis, you'll have to talk one day. You cannot stay mute for the rest of your life," she says when we stop at a red light. I glare at her briefly before looking out the window as she sighs, annoyed. I don't need to talk right now, I am not ready, I think to myself.

"Remember that we will not be home when you arrive. We are going away for the holidays," she says as we stop in front of the building where my therapist works. I simply nod before getting out of the car and waving at her before she drives away. Turning around, I stare at the reddish bricked building. I glance at the newer bricks, shaking my head slightly. It had to be redone as an idiot caused a small fire due to smoking. He wasn't paying attention and things caught on fire. There was a no smoking sign, but he figured that it was okay because he was by the window. He was fired afterwards, accidents such as that, due to negligence and ignorance, can be detrimental. He was lucky nobody died, not to mention that he and another worker got out with barely a scratch. According to the secretary, he took the whole 'getting fired' situation better than they expected.

"Artemis, it's good to see you," the secretary, Julia, greets as I walk in. "How are you doing honey?" She asks as she signs me in. I wait for her to look up before shrugging, doing a so-so movement with my hand. I signal to her, and she grins. "I am doing good, thank you for asking. Have a seat, she will be with you in a few minutes," Julia says softly as I somewhat nod. Sitting by the window, I look outside and watch the people walk by quickly. There weren't many as it was winter, though snow hasn't fallen for over a week, the old snow melting thanks to the sun. It was currently February, school was out for the week which is why many, like my aunt and cousins, have left on vacation. Seeing two figures on the other side of the block, my breath slightly hitches as flashes of that night pass through my mind.

"Artemis, hey look at me," I hear and flinch, turning sharply to see my therapist. "You are okay Aem, you are safe here," she says, and I glance outside to see the men were gone. "Come, it's time for your session," she says gently, and I follow her silently. I sit down and glance at her briefly. "What triggered you back there?" She asks as she takes a seat near me, giving me a paper. 'I saw two people, reminded me of that night,' I write down before handing it to her. "Ah, do you want to talk about why they triggered you?" She asks and I shrug before shaking my head. It was warned, a few days after the incident, that the people would come after me. It has been a few months of living in fear. 'The detective says that they'll come after me. That they are looking for me,' I later write, and she nods. "Yeah, that is what they believe. Do you remember more of that night?" She asks and I glance at her again.

'I remember everything from that night. It never goes away,' I admit, and her eyes widen slightly. "Have you thought about telling the cops anything? It could help them find these people," she says, before handing over the paper. 'I don't know. Maybe?' I let out a shaky breath, I don't want to speak, but I know it would make things easier for Maeve and me. Anxiously twisting my fingers, I bite my lip as I try to decide on what to do. "Why should I?" I whisper as tears fill my eyes. I glance at Mae as she stares at me in concern. "You don't want those people caught?" She asks and I nod silently as I let my tears fall. "Honey, this is unimaginable hard. You lost everything, and now must live being careful, watching your every move," she begins but pauses as I start crying.

"Why did I survive?" I ask quietly. "I don't know the answer to that, you do," she says. "C-Cash and I... we pre-pretended to be de-dead," I murmur softly. "O-Our mom was screaming for us all to wake up... I-Iris and S-Silas... they were dead. Our parents died afterwards," I continue to speak as I think back to that night. "They laughed as they took wha-whatever they desired. Th-They didn't find our safe," I murmur before looking at her blurry form. "It is said that they probably ran off when they heard the sirens. You and your twin brother were the only ones alive," she says and I nod silently, confirming what she said. "The two people you saw earlier, want to talk about it?" She asks. "It was them," I whisper with wide, terrified eyes.

"Silence is loud. Silence is violent. Silence is anything but quiet."