Not the Rain

Drops fell from the sky in an endless torrent, mimicking the sombre atmosphere. Salty tears trailed down the man's face as he clutched onto his daughter; his only life support. "I'm sorry for your loss," a past acquaintance mumbled offering his condolences to the widow. He could only nod, cries for his lost wife – Olivia – blocking his throat. Brown eyes swam in pools. Sad and lost, upset and hopeless yet still no word was strong enough, could justify his sorrow. He was sad. He was down. He was blue. Those were pale in comparison to his true feelings. No labels for the emotions running through his mind. All he could do was mourn. Weep for his loss.

             It was nearly empty now only trees whispering behind his back. He still stood there his deceased, no slumbering wife to wake up, escapes death's tight grip on her. She never would though. Trudging his way through the mud that caked the cemetery floor, he got into his car. Music played softly throughout the vehicle, a calming spell, a drug. He smiled sadly. This was her favourite song. With the low engine hum and sweet song he could pretend. Pretend she was still with him, still by his side. Flashlights bought him back to reality as he pushed down on the pedal. Soaring through the streets like a bird except he wasn't free. Stuck in this cage of depression.

             Creak. The door always squeaked, he always told Olivia he would fix it. Hanging up his coat, he rested upon an armchair. Sinking into the plush red cushions like a stone dragged down in water. Ghosts of his beloved everywhere. Light grey walls she used to drag her hand across, painting the images from her mind. Olivia had insisted upon this house after seeing the wide open window of the living room. Dreams of watching sunsets and sunrises – together. How could the sun abandon him without her? Their simple two storey home but she made it beautiful. From the decorations and paint to the memories etched into the walls, the very essence of this house. Sighing softly, he cleared those happy times from his mind that now only caused him pain. Eyes shutting as he listened to the pitter patter of rain. 

Pitter, patter.

                 His eyes flew open! Pitter. His stomach went sick. Patter. The noise grew stronger. Pitter! It wasn't soothing though. Patter! Now that he could see the clear sky and dried up street. What was that noise? Wet footprints, smaller than his own, littered the hallway. He ran to the kitchen. Fumbling in his frantic haze, grasping a butter knife making his fingers turn white. Minutes passed by. As his mind cleared logic took over explaining away his fears. The noise was probably a tap and the footprints just his daughter.

              Fresh air whipped around him. Clouds stalking him from above. He was a predator but with no prey or reason to chase. Running had always cleared his head. At this point he just wanted to shake this feeling; this feeling of anticipation. This formidable feeling. Pitter. A loose pipe probably. He ran faster as if trying to escape. Patter. 'Stop screwing with me brain' he screamed mentally, frustration driving him faster. Pitter. Patter. Pitter. It was catching up. Patter. Pitter. Patter. Behind him! A banshee shriek escaped him as he twisted around. Slime like water dripping from her empty, soulless eyes, shoulders, everywhere. Caterwaul erupting from her - its mouth. Hair, straight and stiff- stiff as a board. He could see past this though. This was impossible.... "Olivia?" the words escaping his mouth before he could stop them.

            She was gone. In a blink of an eye but his eyes didn't close once. Running wasn't good enough. He needed to get away fast. Did he? Part of him knew that other than dreams he wouldn't see her again. It would be a long time before he joined her. If only for their daughter. No! That grotesque figure was worse than this ache, he wouldn't let it tarnish his memory of her. He got back in the car. Speeding away from the rural place he lived. Her song came on but no smiles graced his face this time. The song was mutilated, warped, chilling to the bone. Playing slower in some unearthly language. Sweat broke across his face as he slammed against the radio but nothing stopped it. A distant noise began to echo. Pitter, patter. Pitter, patter. Pitter. Patter. He pulled his head up, watching the roads in front of him. As he turned his breathe stopped. A scream caught in a fear cage. She was there. His demon wife yet it couldn't be her. She would never do this, never be so treacherous, so tormenting. Pitter! Patter! He couldn't see. Pitter! Patter! PITTER! PATTER! It was too late when he could finally see again. Car rolling down the cliff. His car about to get a fresh coat of red paint. The widow was left in horror. His final moments a terror, petrified of what was to come. He joined his wife a lot sooner than he expected....

    
          Beams of light fell upon the coffin in joyous rays, mocking the sombre atmosphere. Salty tears trailed down the teen's face with nothing to clutch onto as her life support. Mumbles of condolences suffocated the now orphaned child. Her sorrow an endless river; drowning her in its depths. Life seemed desolate now with no love or joy to fill it. How could she feel with this hollow emptiness inside her? Alone, alone now her father had abandoned her. As she dragged her feet towards the coffin she heard it. Pitter, patter. Slow but endless sound. Though she didn't understand terror began to course through her veins. Pitter. A single shiver down her spine. Patter.

A/n
Thanks for reading tell me what you think of my first story there won't be any more chapters though