#ac083

SOMETIME IN A NONEXISTENT FUTURE THE WINSTON FAMILY HOME BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA Perfectly manicured fingertips wrapped around the egg as she moved to tap it gently against the edge of the white marble countertop, cracking it just enough for her to raise it above the bowl, using her painted red nails to puncture it further as she released the egg into the cake mix. Repeating her previous motions, she released a second egg into the mix before sliding her bare feet across the hardwood floors, disposing of the eggshells in the garbage bin before returning to her cake baking task at hand. Soft music flooded her childhood home as she hummed along, a gentle smile resting upon her lips as she allowed herself to get lost in the moment – the sounds of the sweet melody filling her ears, the scent of the fire burning in the living room fire place, the glow of the sunset pouring in through the window above the kitchen sink. Plucking the mixing bowl from the countertop, she held it in one arm, using a wooden mixing spoon in the other to carefully mix the batter as she swayed lightly through the kitchen in rhythm to the music. For a moment, she felt at peace. All at once, the sounds of the front door slamming shut pulled her from her faux serenity, bringing her back to reality as her smile widened. “Effie, is that you?” Momentarily, she allowed her movements to halt as she took a step closer towards the direction of the front door. “Effie? I thought you were spending the weekend with Ant…” Her breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening as the bowl fell from her hand, the sounds of glass shattering against the hardwood floor causing her internally cringe as her blue hues fell upon the familiar figure now standing in the doorway of the kitchen, staring straight into an older, red-headed version of herself. “Mama?!” Her voice broke, catching in her throat as her body froze completely, her mind unable to register anything that was happening. “Mama, what are you doing here? How is this even possible? I saw you, I saw you and you were…” “You killed your father, Genevieve.” Her mother’s harsh voice filled the space, causing chill-bumps to raise against the tanned flesh of her arms. “You killed your father and your brothers.” Tears brimmed her eyes, slipping down her cheeks as she stared at her mother. “No. I didn’t, mama.” “You did. You took everything from me, including myself, and you walked away without so much as a scratch. Now you have the audacity to return to the home you grew up in, in the home that you killed them in.” Her mother shook her head, curls falling against her face as her darkened orbs stared straight into Ginny. “You’re nothing but a murderer, and do you know what happens to murders, Genevieve? Do you?” The tears fell harder down her cheeks as she continued to shake her head, her mind remaining unable to fully process exactly what was happening, how her mother could even be standing in the same room as her. Suddenly, she dropped to her knees, wincing in pain as she landed against the broken glass, blood instantly dripping from her flesh. “Mama, no. Please, mommy. Just leave me alone.” “I wish I could say I was sorry, Genevieve.” Without further hesitation, her mother lunged forward, wrapping her hands within Ginny’s blonde locks as she tugged her daughter up from the floor, causing pain filled cries to escape her lips. “I wish I could say you didn’t deserve this…” She tried to fight back against her mother, but her mother was too powerful, and she could feel herself falling victim to her own weaknesses, her own fears. The struggle continued across the kitchen floor, the splattered cake batter making it impossible for Ginny to get any traction as she attempted to free herself of the hold of her mother, the memories of this same struggle during her childhood filling her mind, blurring her vision as the tears streamed harder down her cheeks. “I wish I could say that, but it would all be a lie, wouldn’t it?” The door to the basement creaked open, the doorknob hitting the wall behind it as her mother swung it open. “Mama, don’t do this. I’ve changed, I’m better now. I’ll prove it too you, I promise I will.” She begged, pleading for her life in the same way she remembered her family to have done all those years ago when the cult leaders invaded their home. “Please.” She choked back sobs, managing to open her eyes as her mother spun her around to face her, blue hues meeting grey ones as she stared into the face she never thought she would see again. “Mama please, please don’t do this. I love you, mama.” The words barely left her lips as she felt the push her mother gave of her frame, causing all footing to be lost as she fell backwards down the dark stairwell. As her back hit the wooden step, she felt the pain fill her frame, causing her vision to blur once again, the final sounds of the door slamming and locking behind her being the last thing she heard before she hit the concrete floor of the basement with a thud. The harsh taste of crimson filled her mouth as she parted her lips, whispering her final plea before her entire world went black. “I’m sorry.”