Young Writers Society

I was bored, so I quickly wrote this .

Morning

I woke slowly. The beeping of my alarm confused me at first – I couldn’t tell what it was, or what it indicated. I blinked a couple of times, waiting for consciousness to return to me fully. I staggered out of my bed, leaving my crumpled duvet behind.

I hit hard on the top of the alarm, fumbling for the button to switch of the infernal racket. Ah – got it.

‘Much better,’ I breathed quietly. I reached and switched on my lampshade beside the clock, illuminating the room and stinging my eyes.

I was amazed that the noise the alarm and I had collectively made hadn’t woken up Tess.

Tess was my baby daughter. Only a year old – she could say a couple of simple words and stagger around uncertainly on her two little legs if someone held her hands.

I walked out into the hallway, muttering angrily under my breath about work. It was busy there at the moment – so I had to get up extra early to get all my work done.

Fred – my son – would look after Tess whilst I was out.

‘Huaahuaaahuahuaaa…’

I paused. What was that? It sounded like someone breathing. No… like someone struggling to breathe…

Could it be Tess? I quietly approached her door and listened in. No – I could hear her normal, regular breathing just fine.

‘Huaaahuaaahuhuaahuahuaa…’

I spun around to look behind me. It was slightly louder now, I was sure of it. And I had defiantly heard it. I wasn’t my imagination.

‘Fred?’ I asked quietly, hoping he’d reply.

‘Huaaahuaahuaahuhuaaahuhuaaahuaaa…’

What was that? I shook myself.

I made up my mind to go check in on Fred. No doubt this was his idea of a practical joke.

‘Huaaahuaaahuaahuahuahuaaaaahuaaahuhuaaaaaaaa…’

I silently opened Fred’s door and peered inside, ignoring the noise as best I could.

I could see Fred, sleeping comfortably in his bed.

‘Huaaahuaaaahuahuhuaaaaahuaaahuaaaahuaaaahuhuaaahuaaa…’

BANG!

I jumped, at the sudden crash. I spun round. There – over there! Oh god! Tess’ door!

It was wide open!

In my horror, I didn’t run away in fear, but instead ran to my daughter’s room. I could hear her crying now, at the top of her voice.

‘Huaaahuaaahuaahuaaaahuaaaahuhuaaahuaaahuaaaaaaahuaaahuaaaahuaaahuaaaa…’

And then… silence. Tess had stopped crying as I reached her room. I ran in, my arms raised and my fist’s balled. If there was someone in there, and if they had hurt my baby, I was going to make them pay.

But no – the room was empty. Empty of all life… even Tess.

All there was, was a small puddle of blood on her cot, licking around the cuddly toys. I fell to my knees. Who… what… could have done this?

Why had they done this?

I felt myself begin to be swallowed up by sadness. The pain of loss… I had trouble thinking… I felt tears well up in my eyes.

HuaaahuaaaahuaaaahuaaahuaaaahuaahuhuaaahuaaahuaaahuaaaaaahuaaaaaaaaAAAAA!

I felt a presence behind me – I could feel it breathing on the back of my neck…

I closed my eyes…