The Ruins of Fortune

by Edward Crosson

  Cynthia absolutely saved on humming away.

  I went down.

  Cynthia stood in the kitchen, returned to me, stirring some thing in an notable-sized saucepan on the range. No doubt Cream of Wheat, I mentally chuckled. The reminiscence of it. With lots of sugar, I’d typically form of preferred it. Well, it become infinitely higher than Pop Tarts. Nutritionally at least. Sweet Pablum.

  I have become amazed. Gone have been the garments she’d worn closing night time—the dishevelled jeans, the heavy knit sweater and trekking boots. This morning she wore tan shorts, a mild white blouse, and no shoes. Like early September, permit’s-head-for-the-seaside-later stuff. I shivered that January morning looking at her. Her lengthy hair, that closing night time time seemed dirty blond within the glare of the cellar light, glistened this morning, almost as though she’d washed and dried it, after which brushed it out. She appeared thinner than she did hours within the past, dressed as she’d been in warm winter wear.

  Mari and Ash stood on each aspect of her, noses almost to the top of the stove. They were though occurring and on approximately how awful it smelled to them, did they should eat the Cream of Wheat all over again, and...Ya. Cynthia appeared not to listen, or at least care. She sang on, and stirred.

  “Good morning,” I said, reputation at the archway enthralled via the warm temperature inside the room, the lightness of the surroundings.

  The 3 of them have become almost in cohesion. The seems of slight astonishment at the kids’ faces had been swept away in a flash, changed with big smiles, however it come to be Cynthia’s face that struck me, and made me preference that at some point—if I lived to someday—I may want to see a person as glorious and exquisite searching decrease returned at me in a mirror. I recalled a photograph I’d seen in one among my mom’s espresso table books; one in each of a younger lady status on a seashell floating on a lake or the ocean near the shore. I blushed. Had Cynthia been naked, she could have been that female. Fifteen…or become she sixteen? All grown up, besides, and delightful within the way artists of prolonged ago painted ladies.

  “Amelia!” Mari shouted joyfully. She darted throughout the stone ground to my facet, throwing her fingers round my waist. “We’re having Cream of Wheat yet again. Tell Cynthia that you don’t like it! I’m bored with ingesting CREAM OF WHEAT!”

  I stroked her dark hair and stated, ”It’s my preferred meals for breakfast. It makes my tummy glad.

  “This is your morning habitual, Cynthia?” I requested.

  “Pretty an entire lot,” she said, laying the spoon apart, smiling. “There’s lots of it on the shelves downstairs. Mrs. Conklin want to have hoarded the stuff.” She turned her interest lower again to the gurgling, effervescent pan, pushing it off the burner.

  “Can you help Mari and Ash set a few bowls on the table? I’ll skip wake all people. We have lots to talk approximately this morning.”

  “I’m going out of doors,” Ash grumbled. “I’m NOT hungry!”

  He had no idea how lucky he have become. A hot breakfast. A at ease domestic. Someone like Cynthia to take care of him; like Peter—if not Munster—older and wiser and massive brother-like. I knew hoe lucky we were, despite the fact that. As a lot as I so omitted my dad and mom, I realized that fate, or God, or some different strength that I couldn’t conceive had landed me right right here, and that all of us may additionally live, and figure out in time what lifestyles must, may additionally want to, and should be like, and what our location in this regular new worldwide ought to become.

  I took maintain of Mari’s hand and asked her to reveal me wherein the cupboard retaining the plates and bowls become.

  .

  We Are Here...And We Are Watching

  Munster become missing.

  Cynthia and I, and once I had woken her, Jack, searched the rooms, the cellar, and the grounds immediately out of doors the house. There became no signal of him anywhere.

  Peter had violated his personal rule and left his watcher publish upstairs so that he ought to devour a quick chew together along with his new boarders, however whilst he asked Mari wherein Cyn and I were, she shook her head. He left the kitchen and grumbling kids to find out us. When we informed him out of doors close to an outbuilding that Munster had lengthy gone missing, he scowled.

  “He’s spherical somewhere. Relax, Amelia. He’ll show up. That man is so headstrong, and with that gun, I think he thinks he’s invincible. Let’s flow decrease lower back. We’ll appearance a few extra after breakfast.”

  By then the Cream of Wheat had cooled, and any quantity of sugar we ought to pour on it didn’t help make it extra palatable. To Mari and Ash anyway. Cold or in any other case, it beat the heck out of saltine crackers and Spam. I couldn’t eat, despite the fact that. Not more than a spoonful or . His disappearance set my stomach in a knot.

  Munster grow to be smart—clever enough to sense hazard outside at any rate. The 3 people had lengthy gone as a long way due to the fact the Flamecar seeking out him, thinking that probably his run-in with Peter had brought about him to depart the house absolutely and sleep within the car.

  “Jack, at the same time as you’re completed ingesting, go lower returned up and preserve watch. Look for any signs and symptoms of motion in the orchards. Maybe that fool is offered someplace sulking.”

  “I wish you hadn’t beaten him up a lot final night,” I stated to Peter.

  “Yeah? Well I had to allow him recognize who’s walking the display right here,” he responded thru tight lips. “And I didn’t lay a hand on him.”

  What a distinction a couple of minutes made.

  Lashawna and Jerrick finally entered the kitchen, she fundamental him via the hand. I intended that would be the ordinary till he memorized the layout of our new domestic. I preferred Jerrick—I suggest he changed into extraordinary enough, for a brand new friend besides—however deep down I resented his presence. It wasn’t his fault that he turned into blind, and it wasn’t his fault that our global had long gone to portions within the blink of an eye fixed constant, but having to have a keeper became a prison duty for everybody. If a person passed off upon us, he’d be the final to recognize, and for sure we’d be noticed.

  Game over.

  “He’s at the number one road,” Jerrick said as though he had simply left Munster's aspect.

  We all looked at him a chunk astonished.

  “And how could you recognize that?” Peter sooner or later stated.

  “I see him there. I imply it’s a one-of-a-kind kind of seeing than what you have got got, however he’s available. I hear the sounds of his feet at the pavement, and scent the rainwater on it. The street in is gravel. It smells and sounds exceptional. The ground beneath the orange trees. All of it one of a kind. He’s reachable at the precept street.”

  Cynthia shot a thinking look at Lashawna, however she virtually smiled.

  “Okay, specific sounds and scents,” Peter spoke back, “however how do you spot it proper now? Nobody’s nose and ears may be that sensitive. And possibly what you observed you observe is someone else walking on the motorway.”

  “No. It’s Munster, I’m tremendous of it.”

  “What else do you…do you scent or pay attention or revel in out of doors, Jerrick?” Cynthia requested. And that changed into a exquisite question. If blind Jerrick ought to by means of hook or by way of crook feel matters the rest people had no capacity to sense, that intended our chances of remaining undetected improved a hundredfold as a minimum. His criminal obligation component at once disappeared.

  Jerrick’s countenance fell as he seemed to be concentrating, his sightless eyes staring difficult, upward. A 2d or passed, and then he spoke. “Some component is following him, I anticipate. I see…acrid. Whaatever is inside the again of him makes no sound, despite the fact that. Far away. Not close to Munster. Maybe now not precisely following him. Maybe. I can’t ensure. But it’s out there.”

  See smells? My younger thoughts struggled with the form o
f concept.

  “Why is he out at the dual carriageway?” Peter shot.

  “I’ve no idea,” Jerrick spoke back.

  “Can we GO OUTSIDE now?” Ash interrupted the verbal exchange. Mari became already popularity at the rear door, organized to get away the dialogue that, in her head, had not anything vital to do at the side of her or her antsy brother.

  “No, Ash darling. It’s nevertheless volatile,” Cynthia stated. “You have to try to take into account that. And you're now not allowed behind the house. Just be affected character. Maybe a touch later, ok?”

  “I’ve gotta’ go discover him. How a protracted manner away is he, Jerrick?” Peter stated, ignoring Cynthia and Ash.

  “I don’t apprehend distances exactly inside the way I take delivery of as real with sighted humans do, however no longer some distance. About the equal wide variety of steps past the entrance as I walked from the auto to this house.”

  “About 100-fifty yards,” Cynthia said.

  Ash perked up at Cynthia’s commentary. “Like the the the front backyard right here?”

  “Almost,” she replied, patting his head.

  “Can you maintain up with me?” Peter asked Jerrick.

  “I’m going too,” I said.

  “No, you stay right here with Lashawna and Cynthia and the youngsters. God, I choice you may see higher than you…see, Jerrick.”

  “I need to circulate, too. Jerrick can pass faster with me at his facet,” Lashawna said.

  Jerrick grew to become on the sound of his sister’s voice. “I’ll be excellent. Stay right here, Shawna. Yes, I can maintain up with you if you don’t run, Peter,” he stated with a certain appearance of doubt on his face.

  “Okay, k. Let’s get transferring then. God help us if that nitwit wandering spherical on hand leads a person to this residence.”

  Peter’s overt antagonism closer to Munster changed into starting to rub me the wrong manner, however I stated nothing. For the time being, besides. Taking a completely last have a examine Jerrick, Peter left him and moved quick to the the front door. Jerrick observed Peter’s footsteps as quick as he may additionally want to.

  “Be careful, darling,” Lashawna dotingly said.

  “Don’t fear about me.”

  They left, Peter bounding for the duration of the porch and down the stairs. He stopped on the walkway at the lowest and appeared returned. Lashawna couldn’t assist herself—she’d had years of exercise looking after her brother. She walked beside Jerrick until he arrived at the first step.

  “Three steps, Jerrick. Here…proper here’s the handrail,” she said.

  "I understand, I understand."

  I have to see the advent of consternation on Peter’s face, and almost pay attention his grumbling terms. He watched as Jerrick navigated the stairs, his right hand sliding down the rail, his each step tentative.

  “Leave him be, Lashawna. If he stumbles I hope he doesn’t ruin his neck. Go decrease lower back inner. Get upstairs and hold watch with Jack.

  “Meet me on the the the front gate, Jerrick. I’ll look ahead to you there,” he stated. And then Peter became and ran, leaving terrible Jerrick to sink or swim on his personal.

  For a second, Lashawna stood greedy the porch put up, reaching towards her brother in vain, jerking movements whenever he decreased a foot to the following step. Not enormously, he made it to the lowest, hesitated, and then spark off at a snail’s tempo to observe our un-elected chief, who by way of then was one hundred ft away.

  “Come on, Lashawna. Let’s do what Peter stated. You can watch your brother from the window upstairs. He'll be desirable enough,” Cynthia said.

  I went lower back internal, ushering the 2 children alongside in front of me. Cynthia waited till Lashawna gave up and left Jerrick to negotiate the path in advance of him, after which joined us within the dwelling room after final the door. Lashawna had this frightful look approximately her at the same time as she heard the door click close, just like the door very last end up Jerrick’s casket lid being close all of the time.

  “Upstairs, all people,” Cynthia stated, urging Ash and Mari in the direction of the staircase inside the the front of her. The children moaned and began to stomp up the stairs, but they obeyed her command. She grew to become to Lashawna, who through then became close to to tears. “Peter’s right. Let’s circulate. You can watch better from the front bed room except.”

  I left her and Cynthia; raced past the kids, and dashed down the lengthy corridor to the bed room in which Jack had stationed herself at the window. Looking out, I have to see Jerrick moving up the gravel entry road, waving both hands in advance and sideways in advance of himself, twenty or thirty paces along within the treacherous adventure without the guidance of his sister. Peter had reached the the the front gate, busying himself looking to swing its iron frame lower lower back to cowl the road in. A few seconds later Lashawna burst in. She raced across the floor and pushed Jack out of the manner in order that she need to see her brother while he stumbled and fell.

  But, he didn’t.

  At the gate, three-quarters shut and glued, Peter changed into beside himself, turning sideways and once more every distinct 2d. I apprehend he desired to abandon the sightless boy who ought to “pay attention” visions, whose senses had been so one among a type than ours. He might have been shouting at Jerrick, but from in which we stood on the closed window, it was impossible to discover any sounds apart from Lashawna’s groaning.

  Jerrick endured on. Peter waited impatiently.

  Suddenly out of nowhere, our worst nightmare. A shadow coursed all through the house from above in the morning sunlight, shifting slowly in the direction of the primary street, and while it reached the spot without delay above Jerrick, it came to a forestall.

  Lashawna screamed. My heart fell to my toes at the same time as we peered upward and observed the problem that had created the shadow.

  A Black Scourge Descends

  It hovered. There was no sound aside from anyone in the bed room screaming, but I couldn’t help however look at Jerrick’s head twist sideways to cock an ear straight away up.

  The next series of events regarded like scenes in a movie strolling in high-quality-speedy motion.

  Munster seemed at the gate, squeezing via in a flash motion. He have become looking up. So grow to be Peter, frozen in surprise. Jerrick turned into taking little steps sideways and backward. Forward once more. I comprehend he in a few manner knew what had come to a forestall proper above him. Munster shook off his dumbfounded confusion, leaving Peter, whose mouth had dropped in horror, to stand and stare. Just like that, even though, Peter became off and running. Both of them, inside the route of helpless Jerrick. Half a 2nd surpassed, after which maybe the worst of the two evils regarded in this horror show.

  They have been above us—above Jerrick and the two boys running in his path—and that’s whilst a person in khaki trousers made his entrance with superb hassle, but with similarly notable determination. When he controlled to scrunch himself via the gate, I may additionally want to peer him begin to wave his arms frantically, however I couldn’t make out what he end up yelling at the three boys.

  Munster glanced over his shoulder, after which come what may also quickened his pace. Peter did the same.

  It changed into Munster who reached Jerrick first, pleasant breaking stride sufficient to seize Jerrick’s arm and yank him along beside him. Peter rushed to Jerrick’s one of a kind aspect and clamped onto the opportunity arm. Lashawna screamed one final time, after which she have become out the door, heading down the hall to help rescue her brother.

  Jerrick, within the firm grip of Peter and Munster, ran. Strangely jerky steps, but he become compelled to move his legs probable quicker than he’d ever finished in his lifestyles.

  The man within the khaki pants caught as much as them, unhindered by using the usage of the burden of something—other than his fear of the horrible black craft, certainly one of them, right now overhea
d this time, in choice to a long manner away over the downtown part of the city. It became large—I gauged it to be as long as a town block, and half that length in peak—with what I can best describe as appendages poking out at weird angles and sizes from its body. Also, it became robust, now not like even a dense cloud, but every second or two I was positive that I might also want to peer flashes of mild erupting from deep internal.

  As Lashawna got here into view thirty ft in the the front of the steps below, I waited with my fingers protecting my mouth for a dying ray to burst in a flash of mild and incinerate all of them. Nothing happened. Just silence of a kind, until some seconds later I ought to pay attention what gave the impression of an army breaking in down on the main ground. Garbled voices. Commands that were contradictory.

  “Upstairs!”

  “No! To the cellar!”