by C. A. Rene
“Road trip?” Ember looks at me.
“Yeah.”
“Be back in time for this afternoon.” Travis calls out as Ember and I get up to leave, anxious to learn more about our family.
“Okay!” We call out in unison.
Travis is going to have his house demolished today. He says maybe one day we will build our house for the three of us and our family there. For now, we’re good being with Ember and the thought of that house standing just pisses him off.
I don’t know why Ember said it was a road trip because we arrived at the storage unit in less than twenty minutes. Although, Ember driving Shelby means we get anywhere in half the time.
The storage units are just rows and rows of garages with padlocks sealing them shut.
“What number is it?” I ask her.
“Four forty-five.”
We walk the aisles until we find the one we’re looking for. We stop just outside it and stare at the door. I’m feeling trepidation and I think Ember is as well if I can judge by her hesitation.
“Let’s do this.” She stalks forward and unlocks the padlock with a key. She throws open the door and we both gasp at the amount of stuff in here. There’s some old looking furniture, totes of what look to be dishes and piles of books. They have my interest, I fucking love books.
“We’ll look through those after.” She says, nodding at the books. “Let’s find Mom’s stuff first.”
We pick through everything and climb over plastic covered couches and antique looking tables. Finally, in the far right back corner, we see boxes labeled ‘Rebecca’.
“Grab a few and let’s bring them out into the light.”
We both pull out the six boxes and three totes to the front of the unit and then sit down to begin siphoning through.
“This is a bunch of girl crap.” I mutter as I go through her stuffed unicorns and barbie dolls.
“Here!” Ember exclaims as she opens a tote. I hurry over to her and look inside, “these are notebooks and diaries.”
We each grab a few and begin skimming through it. I somehow ended up with her elementary ones and it’s a bunch of nonsense about hating her sister and the girls at school. When I get to the last one though I begin to read a few things that sound disturbing.
‘Today Daddy watched me while I had a bath.’
‘Today Daddy made me brush my hair over and over again without a top on.’
“Ember…” I mutter. “I found some weird shit.”
“Me too.” She sounds pissed, “I have a full account of what Robert and Halbert did to our mother.” She growls, “apparently there is a VHS somewhere they used to blackmail her father.”
“Let me guess,” I say quietly, “he didn’t care.”
“He didn’t believe her,” she exclaims, “called her a-“
“-slut.” I finish.
‘Today Daddy slapped me really hard on my bum and called me a slut.’
Ember gets up and pulls out two totes that say Dad’s office on them. I just can’t put down the diary as shit gets more and more depraved.
‘Daddy says one day he and I will run away together.’
I’m beginning to feel nauseous and throw the book back into the box. I can’t believe the amount of evil that has been inside Whitsborough throughout the generations.
“Emmett,” Ember’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “I found something.”
I get up and move to her side, “what is it?”
“Our father didn’t come here to check on his investment.” She sounds like she’s far off. “He was hired by our grandfather to come here and help him fake his death so he could go somewhere else.”
“You think…?” I begin.
“He didn’t do it then,” she shakes her head, “something must have happened. But he admitted to killing them after… but what if he didn’t?”
“Where did it say he was going to go?” I ask, but deep down I think I already know the answer.
“New York.”
About the Author
C.A. Rene
The computer screen is my canvas and the keyboard is my brush. Thank you for viewing my masterpieces.
My addictions include coffee, books, and WINE, in that order.
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C.A’s Renegades
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Whitsborough Chronicles
Whitsborough is a town full of scandal and then Ember shows up and brings more of her own. Continue reading to learn more about the interesting people who call this town home.
Through the Pain
I’m different.
There’s a darkness that stirs restless in my soul. It craves blood and violence then feeds off my anger and despair.
I can control it… most of the time.
I can starve it, but I cannot starve myself.
Because it’s not just the darkness that craves these things… I do too.
My mother grounded me and helped calm the storm, now she’s dead and everything’s changed. I lived my life through red hued glasses and anger always simmers just under the surface.
Until him…
Now my dark soul craves his and I won’t let anything come between us, even if I have to kill… with my bare hands.
Into Darkness
It’s coiled so tight.
Wrapped around my very soul, the tendrils of hate burning incessantly as they burrow deeper.
The darkness has claimed me for its own… and I refuse to disappoint it.
The blood of my father has coated my hands along with a few others, but I won’t stop now. This is only the beginning and I have a list of wrongs that I need to make right.
I will so anything to protect the ones I love… even if it means more blood on my hands.
Finding the Light
Unloved from birth.
Born into chaos and raised by hatred... my heart beats only to survive.
The thin line between life and death swings precariously back and forth,
And I close my eyes as I take the next step.
Long lost feelings of belonging and love threaten to resurface... until I'm reminded of the monster that lurks just under the surface.
The suffering beast lies in wait... for the perfect moment to claim what was always his.
To Redemption
Coming Soon