[ WP ] Faking Your Demise ( replies must be 1,000 words or more )

It wasn ’ t the first time I ’ d had blood on my hands, but it was the first time I felt panic at the sight. Oh god, what had I done? How long had I been crouched on his kitchen floor with that knife at my feet? My hands were a sticky crimson. The air reeked of iron and burnt garlic. I slowly stood, looked around bewildered, and turned the burner off. My eyes were watering partly from my state of mind and partly from the charred mess on the stove. I was washing my hands, staring at the blood slip down the drain. My wallet sat open on the counter next to me. “ Fuck. ” I whispered under my breath. 
 
 I started pacing, breathing heavily. Big wet tears spilled down my cheeks unchecked. I walked into the living room, away from the smell of blood and into the sickly sweet aroma of one of his god-awful scented candles. I turned around, went back into the kitchen and slid down onto the floor leaning against some cabinets. There were his legs, flat across the floor, his torso hidden by the kitchen island. I ’ d killed my brother. 
 
 The last thing I felt was remorse. Mostly, I felt relief. The fucker was finally dead. I had known that one day I might kill him. I just hadn ’ t counted on myself being so rash. I had thought it would be some elaborate plan, carried out over a long period of time. A secret murder, a murder disguised as a natural death. I hadn ’ t counted on losing my cool. I hadn ’ t counted on stabbing him to death in his own kitchen. 
 
 Prick had it coming. Had it coming from the beginning. I thought back on the nightmare that was my childhood. Living in fear of Franklyn. I remembered spending whole afternoons tied up in Franklyn ’ s closet, missing dinner. He ’ d whisper things like, “ If you say a single thing I ’ m going to kill that cat you love so much and then tell mom and dad that you did it. Think they won ’ t believe me? They will, because you ’ re the bad kid here. I ’ m the smart and talented one. You ’ re a pathetic piece of shit. ” Later, he ’ d excuse himself from dinner to “ use the bathroom ”, untie me and practically push me out of his window. I ’ d walk in through the front door, my parents would say things like, “ Are you too good to eat dinner with your family? ” “ We don ’ t appreciate this kind of disrespect Kevin. You can go right up to your room without dinner tonight. ” And all the while Franklyn would sit there grinning, maybe chime in with a “ Yeah Kev, sure missed out on some of mom ’ s great cooking! ” 
 
 Evil. He was pure evil, but oh so good at looking like an angel. He had warm brown eyes, sandy blonde hair, and teeth that looked like they came out of a toothpaste advertisement. That smile he ’ d flash at everyone. “ You have such a nice smile Franklyn! ” I loathed it. It made me want to kick his face in. I ’ d tried telling my parents about what a demon he was, tried telling them about the sick and twisted things he ’ d do. They thought I was jealous. Thought I was lashing out because I couldn ’ t handle living in his shadow. Anytime they confronted Franklyn about something I said he acted hurt, “ Kev, why would you say something like that? You know it really hurts my feelings that you ’ d make up lies like that. We ’ re brothers Kev. ” 
 
 I was a mess of a child because of Franklyn. It was no wonder I dropped out of high school and started hanging with the bad kids. No surprise when I overdosed on heroine, ended up in the hospital, ended up in jail. He ruined me. He crushed any dream I might have ever had. Of course no one talked about it. Nobody tried to help. Not with our father in politics and Franklyn following his footsteps. Couldn ’ t tarnish those pretty public faces. 
 
 But I cleaned up after a few years of living in and out of “ friends ” houses. Got on my own two feet. Separated myself from the junkies and met Lisa; married Lisa. She brought me more happiness than I thought I could ever feel. Of course Franklyn flirted with her on the rare occasion I attended or was invited to a family event. He tried charming her. Would grab her hand softly, smile his wide white-toothed smile and whisper something clever to her. He wanted her for himself. But Lisa, beautiful, loving Lisa, didn ’ t want some bubbly, cheerful, smooth-talking politician. She wanted to fix me, had been trying since the day we met. She gave me everything, even a baby girl, sweet baby Jade. That ’ s why. That ’ s why… 
 
 I was pulled out of my daze at the thought of our child. Jade. Franklyn had called. I had answered the phone. 
 
 “ Hey Kev! ” his voice was like poison to my ears. 
 
 “ What do you want Franklyn? ” Lisa gave me a concerned glance, Jade crawling along the living room carpet. 
 
 “ Geez, is that any way to answer your brother? You ’ d think you were raised by different parents than me judging by your manners. ” 
 
 “ What do you want? ” I repeated. 
 
 “ What do you think I want? I ’ m an uncle now and I haven ’ t even seen my only niece yet! I want you all to come over; I ’ ll cook you dinner. ” I could practically hear his sinister grin through the phone. 
 
 “ No. ” 
 
 “ What do you mean no? I haven ’ t seen you in ages! I haven ’ t seen Lisa in ages. ” He drew her name out ever so slightly. “ And I ’ m just dying to meet my new niece. Well, not so new anymore. She ’ s almost two and I haven ’ t even seen a picture yet. ” 
 
 “ I said no. ” My heart was racing. No way was he coming near my family. 
 
 “ Fine, than I ’ m coming over there. ” He made a noise as if to hang up. 
 
 “ Wait! We ’ ll come over. I ’ LL come over. ME. Jade ’ s kind of sick…Lisa needs to stay here and take care of her. ” I lied shakily. Lisa glanced at me again. “ I ’ m coming over. Just stay there. ” 
 
 There was a long sigh from him, and finally he said, “ Well…at least I ’ ll get to see my favorite little brother. ” His tone filled me dread. 
 
 “ Be there soon. ” I said and hung up. 
 
 Lisa was concerned; she knew Franklyn and I had a rough past. She didn ’ t know details, just that we didn ’ t get along so well. I told her I ’ d only be there for an hour tops. She said okay, hers eyes were warm with a hint of pity. 
 
 The drive was about 30 minutes. My heart raced the entire way there. I listened to the radio, I changed the station, and I turned it off. I rubbed my chin, tugged my hair and thought of turning around, but thought of him coming over. Stepping into my house. No. There was no fucking way he was coming near Jade. 
 
 I ’ d reached his big, secluded, gaudy house. He ’ d probably picked the spot so no neighbors could hear or see the god-awful way he ’ d treated his ex-wife. I had parked in the driveway, walked to the door and determined to keep this short. 
 
 “ Doors open! ” he ’ d yelled after I knocked. 
 
 I let myself in and walked through the scented candle cloud in the living room and into the kitchen where I heard him rustling about. He was cooking something in a pan on the stove. Smelled like garlic. I stood in the doorway away from him. 
 
 “ I ’ m going to cook us up some brussel sprouts in garlic. Heard it ’ s good for the brain. Figured it couldn ’ t hurt. ” He turned and flashed his smile. “ Whatever. ” I said. “ I can ’ t stay long. I have to get back soon. ” 
 
 “ So, you don ’ t want me to see your family. ” It was hard to tell if it was a statement or a question. There was a long pause and I said, “ No, not really. ” 
 
 “ Ouch! ” He feigned hurt. “ Why not Kev? ” 
 
 “ God, Franklyn. You know why. Stop trying to fuck with me. ” My blood was boiling now. Stay cool; get out of here, I thought. 
 
 “ Jesus Kev, still stuck on the past are we? Are you still butt-heart about some brotherly squabbles? We ’ re adult now Kev. That ’ s all ‘ water under the bridge ’ as they say. ” 
 
 He was so full of shit! I almost turned around and walked out right then, but he had sighed such a heavy sounding sigh. “ Well, I won ’ t go over there if you don ’ t want me to, but can I least see a picture of little Jade? ” He ’ d sounded so tired, almost sad. I ’ d bought it. I ’ d walked over to him; pulled out my wallet and showed him a picture of her all dressed up in a cute little yellow dress and a daisy headband. He stopped pushing the garlic around with the spatula in his hand and looked over. Looked at the picture fondly for a moment and then broke into the devilish grin. He looked from the picture up into my eyes just inches away from him and said in a low serious voice, “ She ’ s cute. A little young for me now, but when she reaches six or seven she ’ ll be just…irresistible. ” At that last word his smile had slowly melted away. His eyes stared right into mine completely void of emotion. That was last thing I remembered before crouching on the floor with the aroma of burnt garlic and blood. 
 
 Shit, shit, shit! I had to do something. I stood up. They can ’ t know. They won ’ t understand. I ’ ll go to prison branded a murderer. Lisa and Jade will carry that burden for the rest of their lives. I, murdering father and husband. FUCK! What to do? There was no getting out of this, unless. Unless…they think we both died, together, an innocent, tragic accident. A house fire…caused by gas from the stove and a sad scented candle. 
 
 I placed the bloody knife back on the cutting board. I sobbed. I took all the cash I could find, changed into some old clothes of Franklyn ’ s. Left all of my things in the kitchen. Left my car in the driveway, sobbed some more, and burnt the place down. I walked into the woods behind his house. It was dark. There was nobody nearby. The place would be nothing but ash by the time anyone noticed the smoke, by the time anyone came to rescue us. We ’ d be dead, nothing left. We weren ’ t meant to be rescued. 
 

