#Fiction - In Darkness, Mourning

IN DARKNESS, MOURNING
AN ELLA SHORT STORY

There’s no light in the sky. A cold steady mist pelts the window, obscuring my view into the garden. I woke early from nightmare, something about father. It took some moments before I realized it was morning, the ash sky of morning blocking the sun. Now I’ve been sitting here on my stool for an hour watching water stream down the windowpanes.
           
Saul enters with a tray and approaches me cautiously. After these many years, he knows if I’m in a mood…
           
“How long have you been awake? I would have come in sooner.”
           
“It’s okay, Saul.”
           
He nods and takes a seat on an ottoman across from me. “I’m shit at this job. It’s not what I do best. Why don’t you send me to deal with your stalker?”
           
Closing my eyes, I take several deep breaths to calm my nerves. He won’t upset me this early in the day. “Let it go. I need you here.”
           
He shrugs and lights a cigarette. “If you want to waste my talents playing butler it’s your business. But send someone else to put a scare into the psycho bothering you online. It will make me feel better.”
           
Sigh. Men. Why can’t he just do as I tell him?
           
“I’d like you to see to my breakfast.”
           
With a tilt of his head, he rises and leaves the room. I wait for him to shut the door before returning my gaze to the garden. The morning sky has darkened, clouds thick with thunder and violence. In the distance, the rapidly approaching storm rumbles and roars its warning song.
           
A ripping flash ignites the sky with only a brief pause before the cracking thunder shakes the house. My bedroom lights flicker and another bolt of lightning strikes, even closer this time, blinding my sight. I close my eyes, but the white spots remain, swirling around my brain. Images from memory mix with the bright searing spots, the day so long ago I rode horses in the rain with Ray. But that moment explodes into a million shards of light, burning a portrait of father on my mind like some evil shroud of Turin.
           
No, I won’t let those thoughts plague me today. There’s going to be a trial and I have to pull myself together. What would George think?
           
Saul wheels the breakfast cart into the room. He put on a black tux with bowtie. The man simply can’t help being a colossal shit.
           
“What are you doing and how the hell did you fit in George’s tuxedo?”
           
He bellows with laugher and begins serving breakfast of eggs, bacon, and hash browns. “I did not steal George’s clothes. What kind of monster do you think I am? I paid a tailor and everything like a regular guy with a job does.”
           
“Don’t get smart with me, you little shit.”
           
I pick at the bacon while glaring at him. I do not need this today. “Everything better be ready since you appear to have so much free time.”
           
“Holden Farms is ready for the trial. Why would you ever doubt me when it comes to getting ready to kill folk? That’s what you pay me to do.”
           
​I sip at my coffee and once again stare out the window into the garden. In a few hours I’ll open the gates of Holden Farms. You’re all invited to the trial of a local cop. You don’t want to miss this, I promise. 

 COMING SOON - THE NEXT INSTALLMENT

PREPARATIONS FOR A TRIAL 

Thank you to all that took time to visit. I hope you enjoy the story.