Within a child's giggle

Ashley sits on her bed, petting her favorite and only buddy "Blue". Her stuffed toy.
Her father Michael and her Mother Angela are again yelling and screaming.
A tear traces from Ashley's eye to her cheek. Drowning it away by daydreaming.
Dreaming of a time when they didn't yell. A time when the parent's didn't annoy.
A time long ago, she holds tight the little blue dog, a representation of a time of joy.

But Joy seemed like a memory lost. A memory before daddy drink, tear turns into tears.
The yelling becomes louder and more violent. She just wants it all to stop.
Why can't daddy not drink, he knows he gets mean...and vicious. Yelling seems nonstop.
Louder and louder it gets, back and forth. Tears flow freely as she covers her ears.
She screams to drown them out. Her daydreams turn into nightmares and worst fears.

She can't take this. She curls into the fetal position, sucks her thumb, holds Blue.
Inaudible words escape from her lips, an eight year olds mind is lost.
Mother should have left long ago. But she feels Ashley needs a father. At what cost.
The young blue eyed, blonde haired girl suffers so much. Abused too.
But her mother blames the drink and has faith. Never hearing the girl’s point of view.

Angela and Michael have been married a decade. Beating her for three of the years.
After he lost his job. She tries to be the good wife, hoping to protect the old feelings
but Michael lost his soul in the bottle. Now he could care less about family dealings.
Angela tries. Tries to be the good mother the good wife...but the beatings interfere.
Leaving Ashley alone, with Blue and endless nights of sobbing and tears.

Then there was nothing. Silence. Everything stopped like she wanted. So still.
A creak from her bedroom door. Ashley peeks up from the bed to see.
Her mother stumbles into the dark room. She takes a step only to fall to a knee.
"Momma?" Daddy walks in behind, putting a knife to his wife's throat. Finishing the kill.
"You and your mother will no longer take advantage of my free will."

Ashley screams for her mother, holding Blue tight....her eyes close and are held shut.
"I am sorry baby, but daddy can't continue of like this. I can't support you.
I want too. I would love to go back to the way it was...but I must do what I must do."
He grabs his daughter by her hair, lifting her up, putting the knife to her throat to cut
Ashley whispers for her mother, holding Blue tight...with a flick her eyes forever shut.

***********

Not guilty by reason of mental defect. Does that mean he is insane?
I slaughtered....my wife...my daughter...oh God...she was only eight.
Blame his lawyer, the slick tongued prick. The justice system is so great.
And the pain he caused? All a part of that crazy train.
Please, doc. I am much better now. How? Pills, understanding I am sane.

In time, it will all fade. I deserve the chance at a new life.
I know I did wrong, and I know now I need help...from the state.
I was very sick in my head, and nobody saw it till it was too late.
I know it won't bring them back, but I am sorry. The sickness murdered my wife.
The sickness murdered my daughter. The sickness made me grab the steak knife.

But the sickness is gone, years have passed. No longer do I drink, no more strife.
I was too young, too dumb, but now I have a new house, a new name.
No shame. No more terrible games. No longer do I have to take blame
I found a house, in a small town. A lovely woman willing to be my new wife.
With a new daughter to love; a second chance from Heaven above. A new blessed life.

Now I am happy, sober, older...I have everything I could ask for.
Life is perfect. The leaves have started to turn. A chill bites at the air.
Pumpkins line the porches, witches on brooms with the wind in their hair.
Friday, Halloween weekend, I am home from work, making my way to the door.
Hoping to be greeted by my loving family, a smile on my face. Can't ask for more.

"Hello Michael." a man in a suit greets me from behind, His black hair in his face.
"That's not my name sir, you must have me mistaken for someone else friend."
"I am not mistaken Michael. I know who you are. And I am afraid this is your end."
"Look friend, my name is Alex. And I don't like your tone. This is my family's place.
So move on, I will call the Sheriff, and I do hope you make his use the mace."

"Michael, I am only offering you a chance. To save this family from your sin.
Just come with me, accept your fate. Spare them from the agony and pain."
"Get off my property. I don't know who you think you are. But you are not sane."
"Michael, it's about to begin, and they will suffer the same fate if you walk within."
"What's your name? So I can tell the sheriff, and they can prepare your Looney bin."

"I have many names Michael." I can't take this anymore. I turn and slide in my key.
With a glance back, he is already gone. A Halloween prank that had me scared.
How did he know my name? Have to accept some people will catch me unprepared.
In through the door, into a....empty house. What's going on? How gutsy.
But this prank has gone on too long. The door slams! Where's my family!

Giggling, I hear giggling. A child's laughter as if she is playing with my head.
Of course, Samantha, my wife, is in on the joke. I knew she had a look this morning.
So dark, so scary. "Sam, Beth. That’s enough. Take this as your only warning."
More giggling...."Hello daddy" Angela? No. No. Stop. Ashley is dead.
"Sam, please stop. I can't handle this kind of fright." I step into something red.

A glare from the falling sun cast a shade of red, I bend down to see....
Blood trailing from my bedroom door...what's going on? Jesus, please. No more!
Tears fill my eyes. If something happened I will just die, I get to the door.
Giggling in my head. The floor is red. And I open the door...to only fall and flee.
I slide myself along the blood trail away from the seen. Needing to be free!

"NO! SAMANTHA!" Hanging from the ceiling fan at the end of a rope.
Intestines on the floor. Blood and gore. Michael pukes and slides into a chair.
"I warned you Michael. Her pain was unnecessary, but you made it her sin to bare."
I see, the man standing next to me. "You need to listen, I am her last hope.
Her daughter's fate does not have to be the same, but no mother. Hard to cope."

"Where's Beth?" The giggling...the fucking giggling in my head, now covered in red.
"Tell me where she is at." The man only smiles. "No longer your concern.
But you have one more chance, to just come with me or your daughter will burn.
You don't want her to burn for your sin. Come with me instead."
But I can't think, giggling screaming in my head.

He grabs my arm and lifts me up off the floor, sits me in a chair. "Where? Just make the giggling go away."
He stands in front of me, in his black suit. It's slowly getting darker and I can't see.
A light comes on above over him and me.
My wife hanging in our bedroom, gutted. Where is my daughter? Should I pray?
He hands me a glass. "Tequila Michael, your last. Then we must be on our way."

I take the drink, finish it. It won't end like this. The room is completely black.
The drink burns my throat. The giggling grows louder. "Fuck YOU!"
"You chose her fate Michael. I tried." Then he was gone. Think! what can I do?
"Beth? Elizabeth? Where are you?" that fucking giggling. Can't keep on track.
The lights flicker and strobe in the empty living room. My heart under attack

I see in the corner, the giggling from a source....a young girl holding a toy...
"Beth?" The lights flash and flutter. She giggles. She stands up, "Beth come here".
I just sit as she starts to come near. Holding Blue. I can't move. I shiver in fear.
Covered in blood. Holding Ashley's toy, a steak knife in her other hand. "Destroy."
She giggles madly. More tears from my eyes, flashing lights. "Beth, Where did you get that toy?"

She climbs into my lap. Her dark hair hanging in her face. She places Blue on my head.
The blade trails over my face and around my eyes. She keeps giggling.
"Beth..." She stops the blade under my neck and starts wiggling.
Need to get free...giggling,. Wiggling....then she stops. "Daddy dead...."
"No Baby. Please, let daddy up. And we will leave here." She shakes her head and giggles out "Not what the man said."

"Beth, we don't have to listen to that man. We can leave, go get help. Let's go!"
"I can't daddy; the man said you must die for telling me and mommy a big lie."
"Baby, Daddy never lied. Daddy loves you." She starts to giggle...."Eye for an eye."
She stands above me on my legs. "You just don't know"
"Baby, give me the knife. Beth, God Damnit, give daddy the knife." "NO!"

"Beth!" "Stop your whining daddy, God has nothing to do with this.
Daddy.." giggle and a wiggle :"...your pain will grow, and be so very slow."
Blood drops off the knife onto my face as she holds it up to show.
"I had to hurt mommy. You made me Daddy. You sealed our fate with a kiss.
A promise of Romance, a chance at change offering her and the me eternal bliss."

"But you lied daddy. You lied to them. Hid who you are. A killer!
You are a killer daddy. I know the truth. I have suffered for years.
Cowering in the burning pits of hell suffering all of my fears.
You did that to me daddy, you sealed my fate...just like you did her.
He gave you the choice. But I am glad you didn't take it. Because this I prefer."

******

I awake in a pool of my own vomit, piss, and shit. The sun's bright rays a blissful sight.
A nightmare? Could it all been a nightmare? Everything is back in place. No blood.
I smell terrible, a bottle lying next to me on the floor. I am covered in thick mud.
Get to my feet. "Hello?" No answer. Tequila bottle. "Sam? Beth?" Please be alright.
"Hello?" Where did the mud come from, I feel so confused. What happened last night?

I make my way to the window, to open the shades. And all I see are two graves.
People have gathered and look toward the window and me. Should I flee?
What did I do? Is it true? Did I do it again? What is going on with me?
Giggling in my head. Laughter. Stop. Stop. It keeps coming at me in waves.
Voices in my head. Screaming for me to be dead. Beth and Sam in the graves.

Did....did I do it again? Did I kill them? Did the sickness take over my soul?
What the fuck do? My head hurts....No No No, I didn't! I didn't drink.
But I have to go. I must go. Out the back door I go. Need a place to think.
Guns in my face. The Sheriff waiting for me. For their deaths, I will pay the toll
"I didn't do this. I didn't kill them. I didn't place my wife and daughter in their hole."

"Your daughter isn't in the graves. Where is she Alex? What did you do?"
"I don't know. I don't know...I promise you." I can only fall to my knees.
I cry and sob uncontrollably. "Alex, I know all about you, and your disease.
Did you get drunk and do this? Alex you need to talk to me, it's best for you."
He helps me to my feet. "What was in the other hole?" He hands me "Blue".