Grandmother

    I reached out into the inky darkness. My feet sucked in the dry cold from the cement floor. Abruptly, a light pierced the dark from behind me and crept it’s way down the staircase.
    “Macy, dinner’s ready!” my grandmother called from atop. It must have been a long time since I last visited here if I can’t find my way in the ground floor. I headed towards the stairs and jogged up to the second floor.  
    “The roast will be done in a minute or two, dear. Come, take a seat.” I smiled at her, nodded, and perched myself on the sea blue dining chair. Not visiting here in 6 years almost caused me to forget how much I loved this house. It was cozy, warm, and inviting. The scent of my grandmother’s perfume mixed with whatever meal she was preparing intoxicated my mind and relaxed me. My grandmother placed the dish of food in front of me and I was calmly taken out of my trip down memory lane. I cut the meat and began to eat.
    “Is it hot enough?” my grandmother asked with her pleasant smile.
    “Yes, it’s very good.” I replied.
    “How have your parents been lately? In good spirits, I assume?”
    “For the most part. My dad is working hard, day and night, to make us money. Mom has her hands full with Sophie, but I think at the end of the day we all end up happy.”
    “That’s great. What made them decide to vacation?”
    “Since they are separated most of the time, they wanted some time together.”
    “Ah, I think we could all use some quality time with someone we love.”
    “Oh, I haven’t been here in such a long time, I forgot where the bathroom was. I was searching the ground floor earlier but I couldn’t find it. Is there a light switch down there?”
    “Yes, the bathroom is in the far right corner. The light switch is on the wall right at the bottom of the staircase. You can’t miss it.”
    “Oh, thanks.” I smiled and headed towards the staircase. As I walked down the beige steps I got hit with memories of me when I was young and used to play hide and seek with my grandfather. My lips immediately turned down a bit at the thought of him. He passed away only two years ago, and my grandmother has been coping especially well. She always manages to be cheery, and that’s just one of the things about her I absolutely love.
    My fingers crawled along the wall until I felt the light switch, and flicked it on. It was an empty ground floor; all cement with a few cloudy windows. I walked to the far right corner and discovered two doors. I pondered which was which, and went to turn the doorknob on one. It wouldn’t budge. I turned to the other one, and it opened. Here it was, the bathroom. I felt relieved for I had to pee almost the entire day, but I was busy catching up with grandmother. After finishing, I headed back to the staircase, but was surprised to find the door leading out of the basement was shut.
    Strange, I thought to myself. The doorknob wouldn’t turn at all. “Grandmother!” I called. No response. I weighted myself against the door and pushed. This door was quite sturdy for being made of wood. I pounded on the door once and called for grandmother, but all I heard was silence. Oh, the front door! I almost forgot. I rushed over to the door and grabbed the doorknob, expecting it to open with ease. It didn’t. This door was locked as well? I peered out the window in the door. It was cloudy outside, and there was nobody in sight. My heart started to beat a little faster.
    Half an hour later, I got nowhere. I tried opening both doors repeatedly, and I even called the house using my cell phone. My grandmother mustn’t have heard me because I hollered for her many times. All the windows were locked shut. She’s bound to hear me eventually. I persistently called her name. Without warning, I heard Sophie, my 6 month old sister, cry upstairs. I pounded on the door as hard as I possibly could. “Grandmother!!” I screamed.  I thought about breaking the door open, or maybe one of the windows, but that would be rude and I might have to pay for it.
    Sophie was bawling now and I still hadn’t heard a sound from grandmother. I couldn’t stand being trapped any longer. I hastily searched the perimeter for something that could split the wooden door. An axe! A red-tipped axe was conveniently placed by a pile of wood shavings. I approached the door, still only half-believing I was doing this, and swung the axe at the mahogany. It only left a small crack that pierced halfway through the door. I swung again and again, not even taking the time to look at the progress I was making. The hole was small, but wide enough for me to reach around and unlock the door from the other side.
    My fingers slipped on the knob numerous times before I gripped and unlocked it. I pushed the door open and automatically sprinted up the staircase. I was faced with dark smoke filling the entire second floor. I coughed and covered my mouth and nose with my shirt, and rushed to the room Sophie was in. Swinging the door open, I found my grandmother holding a match and lighting a literal ring of fire around Sophie’s bed.
    “Grandmother!” I shouted. I swatted the match out of her hand and grabbed her by her arm and attempted to pull her out of the room. It was so smoky I could barely make out my surroundings. I ran back into Sophie’s room. Wooden dressers surrounded the bed, all on fire. Could grandmother have done this? I had no time to think. I couldn’t reach Sophie above the roaring flames. I screamed, “What happened?!” but the fire drowned out the sound. I blindly reached for Sophie and my right shirt sleeve turned bright orange. I flailed my arms around and put out the flame.
    Time was limited. I had to run out of the room to get water. I dashed into the smoke-filled kitchen and turned the sink on. I whipped the cupboard door open, knocking over and smashing many glasses and vases, and found the biggest bowl I could get my hands on. After filling it with water I quickly returned to Sophie’s room and mindlessly splashed it wherever I saw flame. It barely dimmed, and the feel of defeat crept its way into my heart. I had to try again, I had to repeat the process. After filling the bowl a second time and splashing the room, one side of the bed was seemingly flameless. I hurried to that side and reached for Sophie. The moment I grabbed her I felt relief flood into me.
    Grandmother was standing motionless by the entrance to Sophie’s room and I tugged her by the arm towards the staircase. “Come on, grandmother! We have to go!” She began cooperating and moving with me. At the top of the staircase, grandmother interlocked with my arm on one side, holding Sophie in the other, I carefully made my way down the first few steps. Suddenly, I felt a force on the back of my foot and I flew down the staircase. My hands and cheek slid across the cement floor and I blacked out momentarily.
    I could only hear the ringing of the fire alarm and my own coughing. I couldn’t get up. I felt a weight on my back. I reached around and felt small hands, little feet. I wept. I put all my strength I could muster into my arms and pushed my upper body up for a few seconds. Sophie slid off my back and rolled onto the floor. I could only see her from my peripheral view, and what I saw was charred and black. I couldn’t bare to look any closer.
    The house was still smoky. I could not tell if the fire was still blazing. I managed to sit up, and feel my cheek. It was scraped severely and felt like rust when I grazed my bloody fingers over it. Tears flowed down my face as I slowly clawed my way up the staircase. After what felt like an eternity, I reached the top. “Grandmother..” I faintly called. I coughed heavily and put my face down. Pain abruptly filled my fingers and I realized something was stepping on them, or at least it felt that way. “Macy, be a good girl.“ I fell down the stairs once more, into smoky oblivion.

Author's Note

I didn't revise this so if you find any grammar problems, it's normal. This story isn't supposed to be my best work, I just did it for fun. And don't take it seriously.

Reviews

[Fat]

And you say I'm troubled.

[Comrade Andrew]

Carter it's a pretty dark story, a bit confusing as well, but it was writtent thay way on purpose. You have great descriptive details, the only problem I can find is just a lack of motive from the grandmother other than that It was a pretty good thriller :P