The darkness ain't getting to me

"The lights will come back up, don't worry!"

I sat still in front of my computer, my right hand still on my mouse. I felt like a solar panel, waiting patiently for the sun to rise. My siblings shrieked. Chill the f**k out.

We waited, 10 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes. It was usually never this long.

"Mum! Have you reset the circuit breaker yet?"

"Yes I did, dear! But nothing is happening."

Hmm... I looked out of my window: I saw pitch-black across the street; the silhouettes of randoms walking slowly without the guidance of the lampposts. Torchlights were being switched on within the windows, and then those same spots of brightness started scrambling around. It was comical.

I grabbed my phone -- fortunately just at my side, and my vision used to the darkness. A deluge of messages in the group chats awaited me. I opened my usual.

Ellie: My lights r out.

John: Yea mine too.

Judy: I was in the middle of a game...

I sent a "me too", and then switched it off, not wanting to be part of the charade. I heard the clanking of metal from outside my window -- likely from Mr Dove's clumsiness. This is going to be a long night.

And the darkness ain't getting to me.

And then I heard a gunshot.

F**k what just happened.

It was very loud, and it came from within the house. It shook me to the bones, and it felt as though I nearly disintegrated. A strings of convoluted thoughts rushed through my head, and I could feel it being hot and thumping.

I staggered out of my room, my phone's light shone forward. "Hello?" my voice channeled across the hallway. My siblings appeared right in front of me, and I noticed their breathes deep and thick. Their expressions magnified the fear in me; it felt like death whispering into my ears; I shivered.

We slowly crept towards the living room. What met us was the most unimaginable thing in my life.

"MUMMM!" My brother cried as he dropped down. My mind went blank.

What just happened?

Why did this happen?

The darkness got to me. I crumbled -- my knees fell to the floor with a loud thump, my palms slapped the floor after. My sister was frozen solid.

I collected myself -- I needed to be stronger for my siblings -- and I shined my light onto her body. The redness was glaring, the smell of blood cathartic. The bullet was through her head, and the shock in her face was quaint, like that from nightmares. I could not compute; I could not accept the present. I tried to wake myself up, but it was futile: it felt too real, too picturesque.

At her side, I saw a pistol on the floor -- likely the murder weapon. I took the pistol, and then placed it on the table, treating it like a cursed object. It was difficult, but I had to ensure my siblings' safety. I stared at my mom while I tried to figure out what had happened. Could it be a robber? Or did she kill herself?

It felt the latter. But why would she do it?

I shook my head and then figured I needed to call someone close about this; I had no idea what to do. My siblings were bawling their eyes as I frantically located the landline -- my uncle's number saved as first contact. I grabbed it, and then I realized there was no signal -- the electricity was still out. F**k.

"Mum, mum!", my siblings cried. I felt a pang in my heart. I walked to my room instead, to shield myself away from the dreadfulness. I needed composure, utmost composure. I used my phone and started looking for and calling my cousin's number.

The ringing was an eternity.

"Hey Vernon, what's up?"

I stayed silent, not knowing how to put it into words.

"Vernon?"

"Hey John, can you get uncle on the phone?" My voice crackling.

"What's wrong?" He was met with silence. "Ok wait, hold on..."

I could hear him dashing and shouting for his dad. But then I heard swear words flying within their room, and Vernon said, "Shit, the lights are out. Wait give us a moment. Dad!"

10 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes. It was excruciating.

And then I heard a gunshot through the phone.

Wait wait wait a moment. What is really going on? Again? AGAIN?

"Hey Vernon, hey hey HEY!" I was desperate. I wanted to fully understand the situation, and I could not wait anymore. My head was bursting, and the bawling from outside was killing me on the inside.

"My dad...he...he..." And then he dropped the phone onto the ground. "Dad!"

"What happened!" I shouted into the phone.

I heard scrambling, faltering, wailing, screaming: a mashed up mess of devastation. I knew the same thing happened to him. I dropped his call. My mind went blank, this time more numb, like someone pressing iron bars on each side of my head. I collapsed, my soul completely destroyed.

The sobs outside suddenly became clearer due to the numbness of my mind -- and it jolt me wide awake. My siblings need me. I need them as well. I steadily picked myself up. It was so difficult I nearly crumbled again. I then trudged back to our own tragedy.

"What should we do now Vernon?" My brother was looking up to me for a solution. I had none. I stared into his eyes, and the redness in them burnt mine. I looked away, and my emotions started to take over. What should I do? The solution out of our nightmare seemed beyond reach, as thought someone was playing carrot with us.

"Okay Ludwig, Chelsea, I need you two to calm down." Calm the f**k down. I took out my phone and called for the police. I was as clueless as them.

"911, what's the situation?"

As I was opening my mouth, another gunshot was fired, this time softer, from across the street.

"What happened? Where are you now? We will dispatch a team over immediately!"

"I... we are at Pig's Road Street 5, 01-296. My... my mother was shot dead... And... and the other gunshot was from another house..."

"Stay calm, we will come--"

I switched off the phone, not wanting to be part of this anymore. Get me out of this play, this theatrical bullshit. This is not real life, definitely not. F**k this shit!

I then looked at the pistol on the table, and I suddenly felt an urge: I wanted to see death, I wanted to kiss death on the lips.

And everyone should indulge in that sensual experience.

I took the pistol, and then, without a second thought, I shot my brother in the eye. Then, just as numbed, I turned around and shot my sister in the nose. They both dropped dead with a thud.

It felt as though my body was getting stronger from their death energies, like i was the personification of death.

I looked at their bodies: three lifeless entities, now married to the prince. I grinned, and it was the best smile I had in my entire life.

I then pointed the gun into my mouth, and with my eyes staring down at the metallic object, and my tongue tasting the steel, I pulled the trigger.

The lights came back on.