Golden Rays

    I squinted at the sun escaping through my curtains. I slowly sat up on my bed, and put my feet down on the creaky, wooden floor of my room. I stretched my hands to the ceiling and got up and stalked to the old dresser in the corner of my room. I took an over-sized t-shirt from it and put it over my head and let it drape over my body. I stuck my arms through and smiled as I could smell the aroma of nature come off the t-shirt. Another thing I had smelt, now more mildly, is the breakfast being cooked below me. I ignored my hair, promising to do it later, and nearly jogged my way to the kitchen.
    I saw my father, Micheal, in his usual placement at the breakfast table. He was reading the morning paper with a coffee mug next to him. It must've been fresh because the steam coming out of the top was promising. He loved his dark coffee. Especially with little to no sugar, and some pumpkin pie flavoring. My mother, Patricia, was at the stove with a plate of pancakes at the side. She was now putting bacon strips onto the pan, and a cloud of steams flew up in the air. The loud sizzling was almost a lullaby to my ears.
    I scooted myself and the chair so I was positioned correctly at the table.
    "It looks beautiful out," My mom said handing me a plate of pancakes. "Promise me you'll go outside with Bell?" Bell is our Pug. My mom has always loved Pugs, and I started to like them just as much. She was only 2 years old, and she was a light tan with black ears and face.
    "I will, mama." I said, almost stuffing my face with food. She only made this good of food when she was happy. We have been stuck in darkness for 30 days, so I guess this was expected.
    I finished my food and washed up my plate and my face at the sink. I walked back up to my room, grabbing shorts and a proper t-shirt. I went across the hall and into my bathroom, looking at the sink. My hair was in a bun, but it was taken apart in my sleep. I combed through my hair after getting the hair tie out, then putting it back up into a messy bun. I got dressed, threw my close into the hamper, and walked down the stairs back into the kitchen.
    This time, Bell was at my feet jumping excitedly. I picked her up and grabbed her leash, then walking out the back door. I also grabbed a walkie-talkie, but that's only because we live on a huge farm land with no phone service. I attached the leash to Bell's collar and went on a stroll to check on our horses. The sun was bright and warm on my skin, and I smiled as I walked.
    It felt good to have the sun again.
    As we walked to the barn, Bell stopped a few feet from the entrance. Which was weird, because I was sure she loved going in there and exploring the piles of hay. I gently tugged on her leash, and she would budge. My last resort was to pick her up, so I did. She was wiggling in my arms, wanting to be put down.
    "Bell, it's okay." I tried reassuring her. She started crying as I walked closer to the barn, so I put her down. She then ran back to where she wouldn't go, like there was a hidden line blocking the barn. "Stay, Bell." I muttered, and she obeyed by sitting.
    I slowly opened the barn door. Then this terrible stench hit my nose. I turned away, gagging. Bell ran back up to the house, barking like crazy.
    "Brit, is everything okay?" My dad was on the talkie. It took me awhile to grab mine, because I was hunched over on the ground, feeling sick.
    "No, smells like something in the barn died." I said after my trembling fingers touched the button. I got up and started to walk back up to the house, but then I heard a golf-cart coming down towards me. My mom and dad were on it with our Neighbor, Stan the Vet, and I stood to the side and let them zoom past me. They then hurried inside and I followed after.
    Holding my nose, I helped search for the light switch and found it. I switched it on and I nearly gagged again because of the sight. Everyone gasped and I cold tell my mom wanted to cry.
    The horses were in a pile of distorted, unresembling body parts in the middle of the barn. Their muscles torn apart, the stench of rotting flesh, was almost all too much for me. I lifted my shirt over my nose, and walked to my mom and dad.
    "We only gave them food and water the other night. They were as healthy as ever." My mom said, walking backwards towards the door.
    "Well, I have no idea who did this, but this is sick." My dad said. I nodded my head not wanting to open my mouth because of the fear of tasting the smell.
    "I will call in a crew in here to clean it up and we'll do further research after that is done. I'm sorry for your losses, Mrs. Wilburt." Stan said, rubbing her arm. My mom loved her horses dearly. She rode them every weekend, and you couldn't beat the smile she would have on her face. Those horses were her life, and she treated them like they were.
    We all walked back up to the house, and found Bell laying on the couch. I picked her up and she looked as happy as ever. I kissed her wrinkly nose and set her back down. Stan was on his way to the Vet building, letting others know of this occurrence, as my family and I tried to forget about it. My mom went to shower, and my dad was calling into work on his work phone that he was sick and he urgently had to stay home.
    I was home-schooled, so my father also let my teacher know she didn't need to come in today. I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to act as normal as possible. I couldn't calm down when I wanted to, but after awhile, my breathing slowed and I relaxed on the couch, falling asleep.

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Author's Note

I encourage you to leave feedback. I will do my best posting a chapter every day. If that doesn't happen, check out my blog and I might explain why there. Thank you so much for reading, and have a good day!