Behind the Locked Door (2 page)
Read Behind the Locked Door Online
Authors: Lisa Procter
As I became too comfortable, I could feel myself
falling in to darkness, feel my body surrender to tiredness as my mind shut
down and I slept. Completely unaware of things happening around me, I slept
soundly, my mind alight with images inspired by the
Bere’s
.
I didn’t hear the click of the lock as the
Bere’s
let themselves in to their house. I didn’t hear the
creak of the first step of the stairs as the son rushed upstairs to void his
bladder. I didn’t hear the flush of the toilet chain, nor the running water of
the tap as he washed his hands. I didn’t hear his heavy footsteps as he walked
in to his room. I didn’t hear his shout to his parents, telling them to hurry.
I did hear his breathing in my ear. I did feel his
hand poke the skin under my clothes. I did hear his chuckle as he pinched the
soft flesh of my stomach. I did hear him as he spoke to me.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
*
The
Bere
family woke up
the next morning and began the day as normal. Mr
Bere
kissed his wife good morning and left her in bed while he showered. Mrs
Bere
, stretched and dressed, heading to the kitchen to make
breakfast. Young
Bere
lounged in bed, pushing his
luck for an extra five minutes.
They all ignored the newly unlocked door next to the
bathroom although the smell emitting from it was quite foul. As they met at the
breakfast table, as they had done every morning since their family had begun,
the smell of cooking filled the kitchen. Mrs
Bere
placed the plates in front of her men and smiled as they made appreciative
noises.
Porridge was not on the menu this morning. No, today
was a rare treat, something they didn’t get to sample all too often. As Mr
Bere
took the first bite and groaned with pleasure, both
his wife and son followed his example, the three of them making small talk as
they enjoyed their first, and most important meal of the day.
As the clock ticked, and the pipes groaned, and the
tap dripped in to the bowl of a sink, Goldilocks lay perfectly still, her naked
body warmed by the sun light streaming through the window. The cold and sterile
room behind the locked door didn’t faze her as she stared glossy eyed at the
ceiling. On a small table beside her, a slice of missed flesh clung to the
metal. Later Mrs
Bere
would come back to the room to
continue the butchering of Goldilocks’ body and she would tut to herself as she
noticed the remains that her son had carelessly left behind.
They couldn’t afford a mistake this time.
Down the street and round the corner, a mother would
wake to her child’s bed not being slept in. She would curse as she complained
about the rebellious nature of her teenage daughter while she made herself
immaculate for her day.
As she gave her husband his daily peck, looking over
his shoulder to see if they were being observed, she got in her car and drove
to work. As she drove past the
Bere’s
her lip curled in
contempt, looking up at the newly opened window. Had she had the car windows open
and been listening carefully enough, she would have heard the gentle humming of
Mrs
Bere
and the thud of a butchers knife as her
daughter’s body vanished from the world.
Coming Soon!
Secrets of a Little Crush
Rules are made to be broken, that’s how the old saying goes
right? At least that’s what I told myself as I sat in his car, repeating it
over and over in my head.
I studied him from the corner of my eye and wondered if he
was as affected by me as I was him. I wondered if it would matter. He wasn’t
for me, and I certainly wasn’t for him. But the temptation was there.
“Could I turn on the radio?” I asked in a small voice
desperate to break the silence. He glanced over at me and nodded once. I leaned
forward, my hair cascading between us in a wave of red. I fiddled with the
stereo, all the while completely aware of his hands on the wheel, inches away
from my head.
As music filled the car, I sighed in relief, leaning back in
my seat watching the world go by. The silence between us had been pressing down
on me, making my breathing difficult. I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly
concentrating on my breathing, letting the music fill my ears and course
through my body until finally I started to relax.
I lay like that for what could have been hours, but judging
by the radio station, no more than ten minutes could have passed. Much too soon
for the car to be rolling to a stop. As the engine cut off, he finally spoke.
“I do hope you haven‘t taken a funny turn in my care Lyssa.
The paperwork would be horrendous.” My eyes flew open and I sat up. Three
things struck me.
One – I had no idea where I was. The moonlight was reflected
across the bay, the skies dark with night.
Two- He was too close. Having shifted in his seat, his body
had turned towards me, leaning forward slightly so he was inches away from me.
Three - The silence was back, the radio having cut out along
with the engine. Only this time it was different. This time it seemed to hug
against my body instead of crushing it.
It crackled with excitement and anticipation. I looked up
slowly meeting his eyes and it was my undoing. I was caught.
But rules are made to be broken right?
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