Chapter Text
A peaceful night not a sound around save for the creatures of the night going about their nightly business, the gentle rustling of leaves from a light breeze and the sound of multiple footsteps on the gravel outside coming in and out at intervals. At the very top of an old farmhouse there was a small room where two brothers sat huddled on the floor in the dim glow of a lantern. Neither spoke save for their eyes, that painted a picture worth a thousand words.
And without warning, without even a build up, a piercing scream broke the silence, powerful and deafening it chilled their bones to their core, blood curdling and haunting. Simultaneously they turn their heads towards their bedroom door. One of the brothers, the older of the two, stood up sheepishly and crept towards the door.
“Ewan”. Clearly the younger of the two whispered.
“Hush Logan”. Ewan whispered back before holding his forefinger to his lips. Carefully he opens the bedroom door, quickly peering around the corner he then turns around to look at his brother still seated on the floor hands splayed out on the threadworm rug.
“I’ll be back soon, stay put”. He instructs Logan and Logan nods as if to say he understood. Ewan was the eldest, therefore smarter, more experienced and much more knowledgeable Logan always took Ewan’s instructions as law.
Shutting the door behind him Ewan crept across the corridor towards a staircase that led downwards, creeping down one at a time. It was a short while until he reached near the bottom from there he could see a group of adults huddled outside a bedroom, Rose's bedroom.
He stood there for a good while as they spoke in hushed voices before their heads turn towards Ewan standing there at the bottom of the stairs. Watching with trepidation as his Aunt and Uncle quickly converse with one another before Noah approaches him.
“I thought I told you to stay in your room”. His voice was strained.
“I know but I heard someone scream, I was worried if something happened is Rosie okay”?
Noah looks down contemplating for a moment before looking up to meet his nephew’s gaze.
“No Ewan, she isn’t”. He tells him.
“I thought she was getting better, will she need to go to hospital”. Ewan asks, voice trembling slightly.
His Uncle sighs burying his face in his hand for a short moment before looking up at Ewan again.
“I’m afraid there’s nothing anyone can do for her now, she’s in God’s hands”. He told him and it suddenly dawned on Ewan what had just happened.
“Oh” was all that he could get out all the while looking at his feet not able to meet his uncle’s stare.
Placing a hand on Ewan’s left shoulder. “I need you to go back to your room and don’t come out until either myself or your aunt come for you. That goes for your brother as well”. He let go of Ewan.
Nodding he began his ascent up the wooden staircase to the third floor.
“And Ewan don’t tell your brother yet, we’ll talk to him in the morning”.
Ewan looked back and gave a look to say he understood, even so he didn’t plan on telling Logan until tomorrow morning anyway.
“What’s happened”. Logan asked as soon as Ewan had stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.
“Nothing, get into bed it’s late”. Ewan told him
“But” Logan protested.
“I told you it’s nothing now, get into bed and go to sleep”. Ewan said sharply.
Logan looked as if he was about to argue so Ewan gave him one of those looks that said that he was in no mood to discuss what was going on so it’s better for him if he just dropped it right now.
“Okay”. Logan replied morosely, getting to his feet and walking towards his bed.
Getting underneath the covers the bed creaked a little as Ewan climbed onto the top bunk. Neither brother said a word to each other. Soon after all that could be heard was the soft shallow breathing sounds coming from the bottom bunk that indicated that Logan had finally fallen asleep.
As for Ewan he lay awake for what seemed an eternity, silent tears falling down his face as the last embers of the lantern went out purging the room into absolute darkness save for the few strands of moonlight seeping through a gap in the closed curtains.
It was a few hours after day break that their Uncle finally came up to their bedroom and summoned them downstairs. An aroma of sausage and bacon permeated throughout as Ewan and Logan followed their Uncle downstairs and into the kitchen.
Aunt Vee stood over the hot stove the sound of eggs sizzling in the pan. “Wash your hands”.
The boys walked over to the sinks turning on the faucet they washed. They scrubbed their hands clean before drying their hands on the tea towel hanging over the sink. By the time they turned around to head towards their seats, Vee was already dishing up the breakfast.
They ate in complete silence, which was often a normalcy here, the sound of cutlery being placed onto empty plates.
Logan glanced around the room, his seven year old little self sensing a melancholy atmosphere, the absence of Rose wasn’t a surprise as he already knew she was unwell and most likely resting.
“Logan”. It was Aunt Vee who directed his attention.
“We have some news about your sister”. She told him before deferring to her husband.
“There’s no easy way to say this but she’s gone”. Noah told him.
Logan’s brow furrows in confusion as he looks towards Ewan and shakes his head.
“No, not like mummy, like Daddy”. Ewan tells him and comprehension dawned across Logan’s face before his reddish hue turned a ghostly white.
“But she was getting better, she was, she was talking to us just yesterday” Logan croaked, lip trembling, eyes glistening with forming tears he looked to his Aunt and Uncle for clarification.
Neither of them said anything, instead aunt Vee just stood up and cleared the plates away walking over to the sink. She began to wash the dishes and Noah sat there with his face buried in his hands.
“Come on Logan”. Ewan said quietly, pulling Logan up from his chair and gently dragging him towards the door.
Logan allowed Ewan to push him through the threshold but just before he looked back at his Aunt and Uncle.
“Was it my fault?”. They both looked at him when he uttered those words giving him a tremolus but at the same time reproachful look but neither said anything.
Logan felt as if an iron manacle hand wrapped around his midriff he didn’t bother to push them for a verbal answer.
Following Ewan up to their bedroom he sat down on his bed, knees clasped together fingers digging into his kneecaps he looked down at the floor.
“We’re probably going to go to mass tonight so you better make sure you wash behind your ears”. Ewan said after a long period of silence.
He nodded understandingly even though Ewan must hate him now, it was his fault.
A sudden realisation that he was now a murderer dawned on him and he brought back the sickness that killed his little sister.