A Coffin’s Lid
‘Here lies August Johnson’, the petite old man spoke, his wrinkles folding like paper as he made that grand announcement, his bald head reflecting in the morning sun.
‘Beloved sibling and son, loved by many’, he continued his voice like a whistle in the spring breeze. I watched the quaint funeral from a great distance in the dark looming wood, with the wind biting bitterly at my face and the trees gave a still serene sense of tranquillity.
A shiver brushed down my spine as I watched what once my happy family, in deep sadness was, I watched my little sister, May, once she was all sunshine now she was bleakness, and my mother her dark eyes filled with sadness and sorrow
‘As we gather her today we mourn August’s death with great sadness’, he takes an almost bored deep breath ‘but he would wish us to rejoice in the life he did lead’, the old man said, with forged sadness though
It was all a lie, the thoughts whirled around and around in my head, I did not wish for them to be rejoicing and I did not wish for them to be in sadness. I did not wish to be dead.
They slowly lowered the coffin and all the silent noises of the woods suddenly grew into shouts, shouting in my head, the old man’s cough was magnified and my sister’s sobs grew louder and louder. I could feel my eyes watering and my face growing unbearably warm, a bead of sweat rolling down my face despite the cold spring breeze
They closed the lid on the young man’s coffin. The young man that looked so much like me.
I felt nothing, no regret or sadness. I had to kill him.
So I could forge my own death
To escape the monster who plagued my sleep.
***************
Laughing, laughing echoing off the walls, rich happy laughter.
I sat in a neatly decorated room with abstract art pieces that I thought no one understood. I was sitting on a rich blue couch that kind of felt like the most comfortable couch there ever was, I suppose that was always ____ style, richest person I’d known, every time I told him that he just breathed out of his nose and snorted, saying that he wasn’t rich. He was sitting across from me over the sleek glass coffee table on a wooden chair, he always sat there, I let out a strained smile, and it would be the last time he ever sat there.
“What’s wrong with you, you feeling particularly moody today, huh?” he said, in a joking tone, almost as if accusing me. I snapped back into reality and tried my best to stop thinking about the fact that this was the last time we would sit in this room, it was sad and sorrowful but, it had to be done.
I turned to him, he looked just like me, and he always did. That's how we became friends, teachers mixing up our names and similar things like that. We were not best friends by any means but we hung out a lot. Enough to make it difficult to do the horrible deed.
“Nah I’m fine” I murmured “hey, do you still have that roof on the top of your building with the glass balcony, I’m kind of warm in here”
“Uh yeah but I can just turn down the heating”
“No, I want some fresh air anyway”
“....okay? “He answered
He led me up onto the balcony of his apartment, at least 50ft. high I would say.
Dread.
I felt an unending sense of dread and guilt.
We reached the roof balcony. The cold air ripping at my face as if to ward me of ‘go back’ it said ‘go back and never return’
I felt a roaring in my head. I turned to my friend, I suppose he was my best friend. My eyes lined with water as he spoke, about something stupid probably, complaining about his dog or about his parents, I wish I could have given him a chance to speak to them again, how upset they would feel about what was about to happen.
His death.
I walked closer towards the balcony, he followed, it was for the best I said, he needed to die, but not really, he deserved to live.
“Do you have your driving licence with you?’ I asked, shaking
“No” he answered now looking concerned “w...w..Why would you ask that august?”
“I … want you to know” I said growing in self-assurance in what I was about to do
It was for the best
“I want you to know I don't want to do this” I said a tear falling out of my eye “I went through all the possibilities, everything” my voice came out with a hideous crack. I hated the sound of it now, I was a betrayer, liar everything wrong in the world. “I have to do this” I didn't
Concern now growing into pure fear in my best friends ash brown eyes “ a.. Are you okay”
Why? Why when my best friend knew he was about to die, he asked if I was okay?
“No” I whispered, I put my arms forward and pushed him off the large building. The glass shattered as he fell. Fear in his eyes as he started falling, arms reaching out, breath gasping from his mouth, it was almost as if he was mouthing ‘I forgive you’ I would’ve screamed and cried and mourned his death if it wasn't for the fact I had to make it seem like he jumped off the building. Like I jumped off a building. The rest of his fall was quick, I almost heard the crack as he hit the ground.
I shed a tear and ran, into hiding, because my best friend no longer existed, he was now me, august Johnson, I knew that as soon as I slipped my driver's license into his jacket pocket.
******************
I was brought back into reality, gasping air. Sweat beading on my forehead from that horrific memory. They were now burying my body, or rather my best friends. But I had to do it, an anonymous person was following me, plotting my death and my families, because I… I angered him.
I had to die so he would leave my family alone, leave my friends alone, I had to save their lives, it was a kindness.
No matter how many deaths were caused
And then, standing in the terrifying dark woods. I saw a hooded figure. I let out a silent scream. Him . How did he know I was here…? I … my family.
I glanced at May and my mother, they were mourning silently
I ran.
I sprinted like the wind deep inside the woods.
I was gasping for air by the time I reached the next opening in the woods, I looked around, I was in a circle of trees, dark black trees, shadowed and terrifying, looking as if there was people waiting in them to come and get me. My clothes were torn and I had scratches all over my face, they were bleeding. I gasped again, I.. I… I needed to get away.. Away from him , the hooded figure was now nowhere to be seen as I looked to my right and left
And then I saw it
A pair of eyes.. No wait, two pairs of eyes. One seemed menacing and deadly, but the other, the other hand deep brown eyes and looked scared, terrified, but no.. It can't be, I am away he couldn't have.
it had my sister.
“Let her go” I murmured a whisper “LET HER GO” I shouted, it was all for nothing, my friend’s death, running away, it all lead back to this, me, killing off yet another family member.
The menacing pair of eyes seemed to twinkle with wicked delight.
“Please” I whispered my voice cracking.
The eyes disappeared
Pain ripped through my back.
I choked.
I felt blood running down my back. I looked behind me quickly and saw it behind me. Holding a knife. It was covered in blood. My blood.
I had been stabbed. In the back. A sob broke out
It wanted to teach me a lesson,
That there was a fine line between life and death.