Chapter 5

This is literally the first time I have felt this way. Ever since my parents were killed, I swore to myself that I would never love again.

It was hard, because I don’t think anyone can just shut down their emotions. But it became easy eventually.

Each time the images of my parents dying before my very eyes flashed in my mind, I remembered that it was that day that my heart died.

That particular day, Jennifer died, and Jen was born.

Jen was what my father called me. It was his nickname for me, and I loved it so much.

“Close your eyes, baby. Close them tight.” Were his last words to me.

My parents were killed by my father’s best friend. He had no family of his own, and I think he was abused in his past.

He was a very nice man. A very nice man until that day.

That day would always remained in my mind. I remember everything as if it was yesterday.

His name was Harrison Von. He was always at our house. He came to every dinner and birthday party. He was like an uncle to me.

He lived right across the street, and was the most friendly person I had known.

He and my father became close real quick, earning him the best friend title to my dad.

My mom adored him also. Even our pet dog, Bunny, was always excited to see him.

But little did we know that he had moved from a state in the south, because he had killed an entire family by poison gas.

He was wanted man, and hiding in sight in our little town was the perfect disguise.

It was a cold afternoon when I came from school. The school bus had just dropped me, and it was raining so hard.

I ran to the front door of our house and banged on it hard. Usually, my mom would yell, “Come in!”

But I heard nothing; so I figured she didn’t hear me banging on the door. It was raining very hard.

I tried opening the door and I realized that it was unlocked. Not having the slightest clue of what was happening inside my home, I walked inside with my drenched purple backpack bouncing on my back.

I then locked the door, searching for my mom with my eyes. She worked from home on her computer and didn’t have to go out much, so I fully expected her to be home.

“Mom?” My small voice was washed away by the heavy rainfall. I could hardly hear myself speak.

Something was wrong, I could feel it.

I dropped my backpack on the ground and walked towards the living room. And that was when the nightmare began.

I saw Harrison. He was smiling so big as he held large knife in his right hand that had blood on it.

I didn’t think much about it, for I didn’t think it was actual blood. I had thought it was one of the many playful pranks he played on me.

But sadly, it wasn’t. Though I wish it was. I really do.

“Why do you have the big knife?” I had asked him, and he didn’t respond. He just kept smiling at me.

Then that’s when I saw my mother on the floor.

I didn’t see her right away, for my view was blocked by the giant couch.

But when I walked closer, it was when I saw her.

Red liquid was gushing out of her chest, as she laid lifeless on the carpet.

The scream I let out was so loud that my throat hurt.

I rushed to her body, with tears blurring my vision.

“Stay away, Jennifer. Mommy’s taking a nap, you don’t want to wake her.” Harrison said to me.

“But she has blood on her.” I said back, while sniffling.

“It’s okay, let her sleep.” He said to me.

I was not just confused, but terrified.

I stood up and I looked at my little hands. They were now cover in blood. My mother’s blood.

“Stop crying, why are you crying?” Harrison asked me as he walked towards me.

He had placed the knife on the coffee table.

“Mommy don’t look like she’s sleeping. She doesn’t look okay.” I said to him, and he frowned.

He tried to touch me, but I flinched.

“Are you afraid of me?” He asked, and as I was about to speak, I was interrupted by a loud voice.

“Stay the hell away from her, you lunatic!” It was my father.

I looked towards him, and I could see him laying on the floor too. He was near the staircase that led up to my room and the guest room.

“Oh, that’s not a very nice thing to say.” Harrison said loudly.

My dad looked hurt, he was bleeding too. But from a huge cut on his head.

He might have blackout from whatever that Harrison hit him in the head with.

Harrison began to walk towards my dad, and he kept saying loudly to me, “Run, Jen. Go get help. Please run.”

His voice was not strong like I knew it to be. It was fragile and light.

As Harrison walked towards my father, he picked up the huge flower vase from on the coffee table.

He walked closer and closer, and I watched in fear.

When he reached close to my father, he lifted the vase up, ready to smash it on my his head.

I don’t think my father could defend himself. He was too disoriented from the first hit he got when I wasn’t home yet.

“Close your eyes, baby. Close them tight.” He said to me, but I didn’t listen.

I watched Harrison smash the vase on my father’s head. Not once, but over and over.

Until, my dad couldn’t move again. All I heard was his small groans, and then finally, silence.