The Final Bang

By Rhiannon Irvin

1

One hot summer night, me and Josh were walking along the beach, and no sooner than the sun set my cell phone started to ring. Hesitant I answered it, the voice on the other side sounded frantic and tear bound. At the moment through their fear I was unsure of the caller. In terror I asked Whats going on? then suddenly the line went dead. I gave Josh an ambiguous look, and he instantly knew something was wrong. We agreed that we needed to go to my house and check things out, so we got into his car and headed home. When we reached the house moments later I sensed a problem. I jumped out of the car before it stopped, which scared Josh into a screeching halt. I ran to the front door which hung open, as I entered my house I was scared of what I may find, I heard an odd melody of bangs and knocks. Josh came up behind me and put his arm around me, at his touch I jumped. He lead me through the house in search for the unknown caller, or what ever might lie ahead. As we wound in and out of doors, we found nothing.

Until the basement let out a scream, Josh and I nearly tripped over each other as we ran to the door. I twisted the doorknob I knew I was bout to find the cause to all this. Though I was scared shitless I swung the door open and ran down the stairs. In the game room I found my sister laying in a pool of blood. I let out a shriek and ran to her, I sat down next to her and pulled her small body into my lap, she whispered He is in there. She pointed to back room. I looked up at Josh and he nodded, then he turned and walked to the back room. He has mom with him I nodded at my little sister, and pulled out my cell phone. As we both sat on the floor her small body in my lap we heard screams from the back room, but I refused to leave Madison by herself. Within ten minutes the cops were here. They took my sister into the emergency room right away. We walked toward the back room, I was scared to see who the evil sick minded bastard was who did this. I was also afraid of what he might have did to Josh, and even worse to my mom. I looked up at the cop, he glanced down at me and said Everything will be okay

I wanted so bad to believe him, but deep inside I knew something was wrong. We entered the back room, to find my mother lying unconscious in the floor and Josh with a gun to his head. I screamed, which scared the gunman and a sudden shot rang out, it was the bang that ended the madness. I turned in fear, luckily Josh ducked right before the bullet passed just inches above his head. The Police radioed for backup to come retrieve my mother. As I knelt down to help her she looked up at me and said I know you tried honey but its just too late her voice trailed off. No, mom dont leave me I shouted, but by then I knew it was to late she died right then, after that last bang. Tears began to rolled down my cheeks I grabbed my mother and hugged her cold frail body, and whispered I love you mom and I will never forget you I knew she some how heard me. I wasnt sure how but deep inside I sensed she knew what I said.

Josh pulled me back as they pulled the black tarp over her, and wheeled her off. He held me close and comforted me. The cop led us to his car and directed us to ride back with him to the station for some questioning. When we got there, he asked about the phone call, and about how we rushed home. He explained what the neighbors said, and how they had been hearing screams for at least thirty minutes before the police arrived. In shock, I did not know how to reply. Then Josh asked do you know who the man is that did this? With a confused look he nodded. We are unsure of why the man would have wanted to harm either of them, but we have him in our custody, and I assure you he will not be leaving these premises for a long while. Did either of you get a good look at the man? I shook my head I was too scared to face him. Then the officer looked me straight in the eye and said it was your father, Molly. I hadnt had contact with my father in years so I knew I wouldnt have recognized him even if I had looked. I sat there in the sticky leather chair filled with anger and sadness. Josh pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me, I wanted to pull away and be left alone, but something in his touch was comforting. His touch that earlier frightened me now brought me comfort, and sense of safety. Suddenly I wish he would never let go and as I looked into his tear filled eyes I knew he didnt ever want to let me go.

Hours later we went to the hospital to see my sister. I was to scared at first to even ask the nurse to take me to her room. But I knew I had to, I walked up to the nurses station and said in a trembling voice Where is Madison Smith? The lady looked at me and said room 182 she extended her index finger and pointed down a long narrow hall. Josh grabbed my hand and led me to her room. When I entered I couldnt even see Madison she was surrounded by doctors and nurses. The sight of all this frightened me and I tightened my grip on Joshs hand. We broke through them to my sister. She laid there with practically every inch of her body bandaged or bruised. Another river of tears streamed down my face. I reached out and stoked her face softly and said you dont deserve this she was in a comma but I knew she heard me, it was almost like she telepathically nodded back at me like she understood.

Then the doctor pulled me aside and Josh followed. He introduced himself as Dr. Bechan, I explained I was Madisons sister and Josh was my boyfriend, Dr. Bechan nodded and smiled. Now I know this must be very hard on you, but please know we are doing everything in our power to help your sister. I knew the doctor was telling me the truth, I tried to smile back at him but with all this going on I couldnt let out even the slightest grin. I knew Dr. Bechan understood what I was going through. He went on to explain my sisters condition, and tell what their plans were for her. I knew she was in good hands but still I was scared, yet she looked so brave through it all. I was amazed at how a ten year old could be so strong, when face with so much pain. Later that week Madison had to undergo two major surgeries and a few minor tests. She held strong through it all, Josh and I stayed in the hospital room with her for the next two weeks. Ms. Lambert; Joshs mother, visited periodically to bring us snacks and clean clothes. After Madison had been in Northern Grapevine Hospital for over a month, she was released. This was a moment we had all been waiting for, when we could finally return home.

When Madison and I got to our house Ms. Lambert, Josh and about 20 of Madisons friend were there waiting to welcome her back. For the first time in weeks I could tell Madison was truly happy, and I was so glad to see her smile. I was so grateful of all that Josh and his family had done for us. Later that night Mr. And Ms. Lambert, sat down to have a talk with me. They told me what the polices final report stated, and explained that I was left in charge of Madison. It was all so much to take in, here I was only 16 now with the role and responsibilities of a mother. There was only one person to blame for all this, and that was my own father. I could not believe the man I once loved killed my mother.

The next few months were hard, I was starting my junior year in high school. Josh was now a senior, Madison only her first year in middle school. It was amazing how one night changed my whole life plan, I expected to go to an out of state college and, get an apartment with Josh. I had so many plans for my life, and now I sat clueless of what my future held. I now couldnt move I didnt want to have Madison in a new school, she didnt need all that stress too. I was stuck here in Grapevine, making house payments on the house my mother was murdered in, and working a part time job with school to get by with the bills. Joshs parents help as much as they could, but they can only do so much for us. The police as well as Madisons doctor suggested we both see a psychiatrist, since we faced such a serious trauma at such a important part of our life. I couldnt afford for us both to go, so I took Madison to her appointments every two weeks, and sat in on some of her sessions. Josh spend most of his time with us, and practically moved in so he could help. He used part of his paycheck for the bills, and car payments. But even with his help, things were still very difficult.

2

By the end of my Junior year I just about had my life straightened out, or so I thought. At that time Josh was living with Madison and me, and he played like a father figure to her. Neither of us were used to having a dad, so it took some adjusting. Later that May Josh graduated, Madison and I went to see his graduation and later we went out to celebrate as a family. I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Josh. Though the rest of my future was seemed unclear that was one thing I knew for sure was I truly loved Josh and wanted to spend every moment with him. I began to apply to local colleges, and throw away all my dreams of leaving. Josh tried to get my to apply to some of the ones that boarder Texas but I still refused wanted Madison to stay here with her friends where she was comfortable. I could never even think of selling the one place I have called home for all my life, not to mention the place my mother died, and my sister nearly did. In a way I knew it would be good to move and start over our life but I still didnt want to leave. Josh decided to take the next year off school and work a full time job in town. We decided to start college together next spring. We agreed on a local college, even though we were both accepted to some out of state ones.

Madison didnt want to leave her friends but she wanted to get out of the house, it brought back too many memories. Josh and I sat down one night, to discus our future. We came to the conclusion, that moving might be the best idea. After going through all possibilities we decided to move to Georgia. When we sat Madison down to explain it all she seemed ecstatic and was impatient to move. We agreed that when school let out we would hirer movers, to move us. In late May weeks before school let out Josh and I went to Georgia for the week end in search of our new home. That Sunday afternoon before we flew back, we settled on a small 3 bedroom house along the Chattahoochee river in Vinings, Georgia. After graduation that year the three of us moved into our new house.

After less than a week in our new surroundings, Madison seem to have already made friends with our whole neighborhood. I could tell she was happy and having no problem adjusting. Though once again my life took a turn, and my plans for the future changed, I was happy. I was in a nice new neighborhood, with the man I loved and my sister who, was almost like a daughter to me. The past few years have been a recovery period for our family but, everything seem to be getting better and seemed once again like a normal life. Things were hard for us, but we stuck together through thick and thin. As we approached the two year anniversary of the tragic day that changed our life, things seems awkward. But we continued our daily life. As the day past and we tried not to think of it, or act any different. I knew my mother would be proud of how I have taken responsibility for our family.

Like always I went to check the mail after lunch, and as I walked toward the mail box my body seemed to tension up. I had a terrified feeling inside me and I was unsure why. I pulled the mail out, and I flipped through and read each return address. Madison got a letter from one of her friends in Texas and Josh got a few bills, nothing out of the ordinary. Then I came across a letter for me from the Grapevine Police Department, I thought it was weird how two years later they sent me something. But I didnt give it much thought, when I got inside I opened it and began to read:

JOSH I shrieked. He came running in, I handed him the letter. As he read the letter his eyes lit up in fear. He looked at me as I sat there crying, he sat down next to me and looked me in the eyes and said We have to move, we cannot stay and leave Madison as well as our selves in danger I nodded. We can contact the police and maybe they can help us. I replied through my tears. Josh went into the office and picked up the phone, and called the local sheriff to set up a meeting. We were unsure how to take action in a situation like this but we agreed that moving was a good plan.

Then suddenly a scream came from out side and Madison ran through the front door. I jumped out of my seat and Madison ran up to me and wrapped her little arms around me. She could hardly speak she was breathing so hard he hes here!! He just drove by and I I saw him, he looked at me and hit the breaks and turn turned around and I ran as fast as I could he.. He tried to follow me, but but I cut through Mikes back yard so he couldnt get me Josh ran out of the office when he heard Madison yelling. He ran to the door and locked it. The police are on their way he grabbed Madisons shaking body and picked her up. She was crying so hard she could hardly breathe calm down sweetie, everything will be okay Then suddenly the door bell rang Josh stepped back, away from the door. Madison sweetie, its daddy. Open up The little girl jumped from Joshs arms and Josh and I gasped. She walked up fearlessly to the door and loudly said If you were my daddy you would have a key, but your not my daddy so go away! Astonished by her words Josh and I stood in awe.

The man at the door began to beat a melody on the door, pounded harder each time, the beats became faster and louder then he paused. I realized this was the same beat I heard while walking through the house just before I found Madison. He continued the beat, before one last bang. But that bang did not sound like it was against the door. Josh turned toward me with a terrified look. I did not know how to respond, I was too afraid to open the door. This could have been a scheme to get me to open it the he could just pounce in here and attack us. So I paused hoping the police would pull up soon. Sure enough, I heard the sirens in the distance, as the blaring approached us my whole body tightened up. I was fear bound I couldnt move, even the slightest breath made my body tingle with pain. Each movement sent a shocking pain through my body. Those few moments seemed to take forever, then finally the cops pulled up. An officer ran to the door, I expected him to run inside but he stopped just steps away from our door. He bent down and then yelled to the other officer some code I didnt understand. Some how I knew with the officer near it was safe to open the door. Josh and I stepped out first, to the terrible site of my father lying there in a pool of maroon red blood with bits of his flesh freshly blown away into piece which now decorated my door step. I began to feel sick, and turned and ran into the bathroom to vomit. Madison stepped out side then ran into her bed room where she spent the rest of the night crying.

When I made it back into the living room the officers had already left, Josh sat on the couch. I could not even imagine how my father could have done this not only to my mother but to himself. As I sat next to Josh that night my fathers melody played over and over in my head, with each knock getting louder and then the final bang, that left him on my door step. I still was unsure of how all of this seemed to happen to me, and why not some one else. I felt secluded from the world, everyone else sat with their perfect life and perfect future. They I sat with nothing, no clue where I was headed no clue where I had been, no clue of who I was. I used to be the perfect little girl with a picture perfect life, then it all fell apart one day after another. All things seemed to fall around the same day, July 13^th. That was the day of my mothers murder as well as my fathers suicide. This day taunted me, I was never sure why he picked that day until a few years later when I was rummaging through our attic and came across a sealed envelope dated July 13^th 1995 I opened the envelope, and things began to make sense. In it was the divorce papers, from my mother and father. It seemed things happened in increments of two years in 95 they got divorce, 97 he murdered her, 99 he committed suicide. This could only mean one thing, this July 13^th was next on the list of tragedies. It was only April but I had to plan ahead. I wasnt sure of what might happen but I was sure something would.

3

That July 13^th I entrapped our family in our house, and refuse to let any of us out of that door. Josh thought I was insane but agreed we needed to take some kind of precaution. By ten oclock we thought we were safe, nothing had happened yet, then suddenly rain began to fall and hail stomped on our roof. The beat of the storm seemed familiar then it came to me it was the beat my father knocked before he took his life. The storm grew heavier, and I glazed out the window into a nearly shaken town the rest of the block seemed unaffected by the storm, like it was only above us and not any where near the other houses. As the beat picked up I held Madison tight. That melody played over and over again, until finally at midnight it stopped with its final bang in the distance. We made it through July 13^th, but yet we were all terrified. His tune seemed to follow us and taunt us. I knew he was the cause of that storm and why it only struck us. Later that morning when I left for work I stepped out on our door step which left a shocking horror, there we drops of blood that dripped in the shape of an X across the step. The same step where my fathers blood once laid splattered on the ground. I hollered for Josh, and he ran to my yell. When he got to me he saw the blood beside my feet his face went pale, and I turned to catch him as he nearly passed out.

Within 10 minutes the cops were there with a team of cops to test the dried blood for any DNA remains. When the tests were completed it showed the blood had been there since about midnight when we heard the final bang, and the DNA matched my fathers. The thought of this scared me. To think he is dead and can do this, or is he really dead? I wasnt sure. I stayed home from work that day, in fear of what may unfold. The cops were in and out of my house all day, running test and searches. They could not determine if he was for sure dead or if he had faked his own death. My father had always been good at conning people into believing him and his stories. So this was a stunt he could have easily pulled. The thought of him running loose some where near me scared me, I feared for the safety of Madison. I was no longer concerned for my self or my well being. All that seemed to matter was my sister; my daughter. Officers continued for weeks to search for my father; my worst enemy. Yet through all their searches we were left with no results. For the next few weeks I was very cautious at each thing I did, fearing my father may be near. I forced Madison to stay in the house until we could determine where Michael was. As each day went by I became more hesitant to refer to him as my father but as my stalker. He was no longer a member of my family as far as I was concerned, he hadnt been for years.

One day went I was at the corner store, I would have sworn I saw Michael though many say it was merely a figure of my imagination, just a simple illusion. I begged to differ, I knew it was him. I was almost positive. As weeks went by my encounters with this illusion became more frequent. My body trebled each time I saw him, my face went pale as if I had just witness an encounter with a ghost. Which I might as well have. My father, who now had passed over two years ago appeared to still be alive some where.

At last I couldnt take this nonsense any more, Josh and I agreed to relocate. Within a month we were settled into our new house, in a small town in Fort worth, Texas. Josh and I by then had both finished with college and were successful in the work world. It hardly seemed like it had been that long but Madison, had already graduated high school. She attended Tarrant County College, which was only a few miles from our house. We tried to forget our past and focus on our future. But each July 13^th every other year, seemed to have a weird awakening to our troubled past. Always with the terrible knock; the melody that taunted us with its final bang.