You’re Fired

You’re Fired

Ariel grasped her father’s hand, feeling the familiar calluses he had from working, “It’s alright, Daddy.” She refused to let the tears fall, “It’s okay to rest if you wanna. We’ll take care of the farm.”

He looked to Bobby standing at the doorway,

“Bobby,” he urged, his breath growing shallower. “You take good care of her-“ he looked back up at Ariel, "My sweet girl," he murmured, his last few words barely audible. He died.

——

Darrick's fingers danced lightly across Ariel's bare pale skin, tracing delicate patterns on her stomach, his fingers tracing invisible lines between her breasts sending shivers down her spine.

Their bodies were entwined on a bed of hay.

Darrick was slightly older with wavy black hair and a hint of stubble on his chin. He looked down, his deep brown gaze filled with an intensity that made her heart race.

Her fiery curly red hair made her look like a wildflower, untamed and beautiful.

The barn, once a place of laughter and joy, now held some sadness to it. Ariel always hated when Darrick would have to leave. It seemed like their visits were getting shorter.

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the barn floor, a sense of urgency filled the air.

“Come back,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, as she leaned closer.

“I love you,” he bent in closer, kissing her ever so softly.

She said it back, “I love you.”

—————

Ariel often found herself lost in daydreams.

Her thoughts danced to Darrick. His presence could turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.

Ariel remembered how the softness of his dark hair was like silk between her fingers when she would playfully tousle it during their long talks.

He promised that they would run away together. They continued to meet in the barn as many times as they could.

Then Ariel found out she was going to have a baby. It was hers and Darrick’s. Perfect. She would have to figure out how to tell him soon.

Ariel was still young and was in school while Darrick wasn’t. She didn’t know what to do yet now that she was expecting. They were going to have to run away and get married.

——-

The air of the classroom smelled thick with chalk. The sun streamed in through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the desks, neatly arranged in rows. Ms. Jesse was a very kind woman- the vision of warmth, she leaned playfully out of the classroom door, her laughter bubbling. Her cheeks were flushed with joy, and her wedding ring sparkled in light.

Ariel had been reading during free time but her curiosity was piqued. She looked up from the worn pages of her book, her green eyes wide with surprise as she realized why Ms. Jesse was so giggly.

Ms Jesse leaned back away from the doorway. Darrick, with his rugged frame and ruddy skin, stood tall, a stark contrast to the delicate figure of the teacher. His large hand toyed with the tie of Ms Jesse’s white dress collar. Ariel's heart skipped a beat.

“Ms. Jesse?” Ariel whispered, a mix of confusion and concern swirling in her mind.

Ms. Jesse’s soft voice floated back to her husband. “No,” her tone teasing yet firm, as Darrick leaned in closer, attempting to kiss her neck.

Ariel’s heart plummeted as she watched the scene unfold, her breath caught in her throat. In a moment of panic, she let out an audible gasp, the sound breaking the spell of flirtation. Both Ms. Jesse and Darrick turned to her. Surprise was etched on Darrick's face.

“I must go, I’m sick,” Ariel stammered, her words tumbling out in a rush. She squeezed between them in the doorway. In her haste, Ariel dropped her book.

She had to go home then.

—————

Darrick came over later, his presence felt like a storm cloud. “She’s my wife. You can’t say nothing. You can’t be around me now,” he declared, his voice low and gravelly, leaving no room for argument. “She’s having my child- we’re gonna be a family.”

Ariel’s heart ached at his words. Tears streamed down her hot cheeks now as she looked down at her feet. She felt like she was going to shake.

“You lied to me,” she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief, her red curls bouncing with her agitation.

Darrick’s hand gripped her shoulder, his touch a mix of affection and authority. “I didn’t lie to you. I do love you. We just aren’t right for one another. Jesse is for me.” His words seemed cruel.

Ariel pulled away, the fabric of her dress tearing slightly as she broke free from his grasp. She glanced down, gritting her teeth at the small rip. In a moment of anger and desperation, she threatened, “My brother is going to fire you. He’ll kill you if he finds out!”

“Don’t say anything,” he demanded.

With that, she turned and raced out of the barn, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. Darrick was quick on her heels as she dashed towards the house, the path becoming a blur.

In the distance she could hear him yell, “You ain’t saying’ nothin!” Then she realized she should be afraid.

Ariel’s breath came in sharp gasps, her mind racing faster than her feet. His words had cut deep. She could hear Darrick's footsteps behind her. It was all an echo.

As she neared the house, the safety of its walls beckoned to her. She had loved Darrick. Tears streamed. She couldn’t tell him the truth.

Ariel burst into the house, throwing the door open. “Bobby, Bobby!” She called, her voice echoing through the empty rooms.

“Bobby!” she screamed again, but silence answered her. Darrick wasn’t far behind.

She sprinted towards the gun cabinet. Before she could reach it; her fingers just grazed the cool metal of the door, Darrick's strong arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. She screamed into the palm that pressed against her mouth. Darrick’s grip was unyielding as he carried her toward the stairs.

Panic surged through her, and she thrashed, kicking at his legs, but it only fueled his anger.

He stomped up to the second-floor hall, throwing open doors recklessly. The air was thick with fear.

With a sudden, forceful motion, Darrick threw her onto her parent’s bed. The familiar surroundings felt foreign and menacing. Ariel scrambled, trying to claw at his face as he grasped her knees, tearing at her clothes. Fear coursed through her veins as she fought to protect herself.

“You won’t say anything or you’ll go away,” he growled, his breath hot against her skin.

In that moment, she steeled herself, refusing to let Darrick see anymore of her fear. She focused on the sound of the door, praying for the footsteps. Someone had to come.

A little time passed seeming like forever as Darrick repeated in her ear that she needed to be taught a lesson. His breath was so hot.

Suddenly Beth was standing there. Ariel’s sister inlaw stood in the open doorway. Beth was a very quiet woman but came forward and pushed Darrick off Ariel with a great deal of force, “YOU GO!”

Darrick had been forced off Ariel as if by a man. He raced to get up and propelled himself out of the room; raced out of the house.

Ariel didn’t even look at Beth, she grabbed what was left of her clothes and raced out too.

—————

Ariel’s brother Bobby had everyone sit for supper at the table every night. The atmosphere was thick with tension. The faint dining room light gleamed off Bobby’s balding head. His bright blue eyes scanned the table with a mixture of confusion and frustration, his thick chin set in a stubborn line.

Across from him at the end of the table his wife sat with her head slightly bowed, her black eye stark against her pale skin. Ariel hadn’t noticed it earlier; her delicate light blonde hair must’ve been hiding it.

Ariel's body was rigid as she stood staring blankly at the table. Her heart pounded in her ears as a persistent reminder of the earlier confrontation with Darrick, fear still fresh in her mind.

Bobby was beginning to feel frustrated beneath the surface, he knew Ariel neglected dinner preparations.

Bobby angrily cut the meat on his plate and the children, Juney and John noticed the change in the room.

He said, “So why are we all quiet?”

Ariel took a deep breath, the weight of her feelings making it hard to figure out what to say,

“I’m sorry.”

Bobby inhaled, “So this is my sister’s fault. This uncomfortably is my sister’s fault.”

John started in a fearful whisper, “Daddy-“

“Juney, John- go upstairs. You look done,” Bobby sighed. The children quickly left. His eyes widened, he stared intensely at Beth, “Why’s my sister apologizing to me?”

As the candle flickered softly between them, Ariel raised up a little in her chair, “Leave Beth alone.”

Bobby stood, “Why are you standing? She’s my wife. She’s mine.”

The tension in the room was thick, and Ariel felt every bit of it pressing down on her. Bobby’s angry gaze felt like a spotlight, illuminating her. The candle flame danced in front of her, a small flicker of warmth amidst the coldness of the room.

With each flicker, she thought about how she had tried to stay strong after Darrick’s attack. The physical pain was one thing, but emotionally she didn’t know how to take it yet.

Bobby’s frustration boiled over again. “What’s wrong with you?You’re just sitting there like ghosts!”

Ariel clenched her fists, fighting back tears. “Darrick hurt me!”

Bobby’s expression faltered for a moment, surprise flashing across his face. “What do you mean?”

Ariel whispered, looking back at the candle, “He said he loved me and he lied. He is married to Ms. Jesse. He lies- he, he” she began to stutter.

Beth spoke, “Darrick shouldn’t come around here anymore.”

The room fell silent. Bobby seemed to process her words, the anger melting away as he began to understand the depth of her pain. “Ariel, I’m sorry.”

Bobby planted himself firmly in his seat, “Let’s eat. Just eat!” His jaw remained stiff the rest of supper.

———-

The air was thick with the scent of soap and the faint aroma of the evening's supper. Ariel stood as a silent observer, her heart heavy as she watched her sister-in-law Beth scrub the dishes almost desperately. The clattering of plates echoed in the quiet room, punctuated occasionally by a sniffle that escaped Beth's lips.

Ariel took a cautious step forward, her voice barely a whisper. “Beth, are you alright?”

Beth paused, the water running over her hands as she turned to face Ariel. Her eyes glistened.

Ariel felt a pang of frustration; “Is it Bobby?” she asked gently, “Is he… is he alright?”

Beth’s facade crumbled slightly at the mention of her husband. “He’s just stressed, Ariel. The farm… it’s hard without your father. He’s trying his best, but it’s overwhelming.” Her voice broke, and another tear slipped down her cheek.

“Stressed” Ariel hesitated, searching for the right words. “But it’s not fair for you to bear the brunt of it. You shouldn’t have to…”

Beth shook her head, the weight of her thoughts evident. “I know, I know. But he doesn’t mean it. He just…I said something.” Ariel stepped closer.

“I don’t think you did,” Ariel sighed softly.

Ariel’s chest tightened as she pieced together the reality of her sister-in-law’s situation.

Ariel reached out, placing a comforting hand on Beth’s shoulder. “You’re not alone,” she said firmly. “It’ll be alright.”

——-

Bobby chuckled, the sound echoing in the dim light of the barn. “You guess? Come on, Darrick, a little bird told me you had a soft spot for her.”

Darrick’s cheeks flushed slightly as he scratched the back of his neck. “Well, maybe I do. She just has a way of making the heat bearable, you know?”

Bobby grinned, swinging the sling blade playfully. “You’re a smooth talker, I’ll give you that, you always have been.”

Darrick rolled his eyes, a smile creeping onto his face.

The tension in the air thickened as Bobby's grip tightened around the sling blade. Darrick took a step back.

“Listen, Bobby,” Darrick began, his voice shaky, “we can work this out. It doesn’t have to end like this.”

Bobby's eyes narrowed, “I heard you hurt Ariel.”

Darrick glanced at the blade, then back at Bobby. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It was an accident.”

“Accident,” Bobby replied, his voice low and dangerous. “She’s family.”

With a swift motion, Bobby swung the sling blade, its edge glinting ominously in the fading light. Darrick felt his heart race.

“Please,” Darrick pleaded, “let’s just talk this through. For the sake of our families.”

Bobby hesitated, the blade pausing mid-air, the weight of his decision hanging between them.

Bobby’s eyes bore into Darrick, filled with pain and fury.

“I made a mistake,” Darrick admitted, his voice trembling. “I never wanted to hurt Ariel. It just… happened. I was weak.”

Bobby didn’t know who had seen him pull the blade of the sling blade across Darrick’s throat, basically severing the youngman’s head from his shoulders. Blood pooled around Darrick, bright and crimson against the worn wooden planks, and time seemed to freeze.

There was a heavy silence.

Bobby noticed his children looking into the barn. He approached. The children looked at the sight.

Juney clutched her brother's hand, her eyes wide with fear. Bobby's heart raced.

The two children turned quickly and began running towards the old family farmhouse. Bobby headed after them. Juney’s orange red hair whipped behind her.

———

Juney and John stumbled through the door, their little hearts pounding, and they dove into their mother Beth’s arms, seeking some kind of solace.

“Momma! Momma!” John cried, his voice trembling with fear.

“What happened? What’s wrong?” Beth demanded, her eyes darting between her children.

Juney, her voice barely a whisper, squeaked out, “Daddy killed that man.” The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, and Beth’s face drained of color.

Before she could process what her child had said, the door swung open with a loud bang, and Bobby stormed into the kitchen, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His shirt was soaked with sweat, and his eyes were wild with a mix of anger and confusion. “What’d they say? What’d they say?” he shouted, still clutching the long, bloody sling blade, drops of blood splattering onto the worn wooden floor.

Beth’s heart raced as she took a step back, instinctively pulling her children closer to her. “You ain’t doing anything else with that!” she hissed, her voice a fierce whisper as she pointed at the blade. The site of it filling her with even more fear.

Bobby’s expression twisted, caught between rage and desperation. “You don’t understand!” he barked, but the weight of his words fell flat as he looked into the terrified eyes of his children. They were still clutching each other, wide-eyed and trembling.

“Daddy…” Juney whimpered, her small hands gripping her mother’s dress as if it were a lifeline.

“Bobby, put it down,” Beth urged, “Please, just put it down.”

Bobby’s grip on the blade faltered, the blood-stained metal slipping slightly in his grasp, and in that fleeting moment, everything changed.

Bobby raised the blade to them.

“Ariel!” Beth gasped, recognizing the determination in her sister-in-law's emerald eyes.

In a heartbeat, Ariel took aim with her and Bobby’s shotgun, the weight of it familiar.

“Get down!” Ariel demanded.

In one swift motion, she pulled the trigger, the deafening blast echoing through the small space as the shot struk Bobby in the back.

He staggered, the impact forcing him forward, but as he turned to face his sister. Ariel fired again, the gun kicking back into her shoulder with a fierce recoil.

The children screamed. Beth instinctively lifted her arms to shield their eyes from the horror unfolding before them.

Bobby dropped to his knees, the sling blade clattering to the floor beside him, blood pooling beneath his body as he gasped for breath.

Ariel stepped forward, her breath steady. “You ain’t hurting anybody anymore either,” she said, her voice cold and unwavering as she aimed the shotgun at him one more time.

He fell back onto the floor, no longer able to struggle to lift himself up.

That moment, time seemed to stand still. The children clung to their mother, their small bodies trembling. Beth’s heart raced too.

——-

The farmhouse stood like a ghost against the rising sun.

Bobby's lifeless body lay sprawled on the floor.

Ariel stood tall. "I know what he did," she murmured, “Get his money. We’re gonna leave and be happy. You’re my sister; no one’s gonna hurt us anymore.” Her determination ignited a flicker of hope in Beth, who had been trembling with fear and uncertainty for a long time now, maybe even years.

With hurried movements, they rummaged through the floorboards, uncovering the stash of cash Bobby had hidden away. It was a small fortune.

They doused the house and a barn in tractor fuel, the liquid soaking into the rotting wood.

They loaded the children up in the old car.

When the fire was set flames eagerly licked with a hunger at the structure. The fire roared to life, consuming the darkness that had taken root in those walls.

As they drove away, the flames danced in the rearview mirror. The farmhouse crumbled into a blaze behind them, leaving only ashes in its wake. They were free now ready to embrace whatever was to come their way.