7 May 2012
The Aunt with the Snake
“… And in other news, a woman has been found dead in her home today in the small village of Treston. The woman, who has been named as Sarah Higgins, was found by her close friend Mary Sheller who was scheduled to meet Miss Higgins for breakfast. Miss Higgins was found in her spare room with a singular stab wound to her chest. Strangely, a dead fox was also reported at the murder scene, with similar wounds to that of Miss Higgins. The police are suspecting that this was a failed attempt of a robbery; believing that when Miss Higgins approached the intruders, they attacked her then fled the scene. Miss Sheller commented to us saying that: “Sarah was a charming woman; I have known her for years. It came as a complete shock that such a thing could happen in this small village! Sarah was a good person that wouldn’t even hurt a fly! She will be severely missed by all the villagers.” When asked about the mysterious fox amongst the murder scene, Miss Sheller stated: “I have no idea why a fox was in that room. Maybe it got in the house after the robbers entered, and got stabbed in the process?” The police are treating the case as suspicious.
And lastly, a major wild fire broke out last night in the Silent Oak forest. The fire was reported at three in the morning, and has destroyed forty per cent of the area. The fire service is still battling to get the flames under control.
That is all from us here at the news centre for Live FM, now back to Tony Keller for your drive time music. Thank you for listening, goodbye…”
“Shame about the forest isn’t it?” commented a woman, attempting to be heard over the hum of the engine and music from the radio.
“I know!” responded a man. “I remember going there as a kid. What do you think Iris?”
The man was addressing a girl in the back seat of the car. She gazed longingly into the sky, tracking the passing clouds as they drifted across the blue expanse; seemingly avoidant at the attempt of a conversation. “Hmm…” she contemplated. “Yeah, a shame,” was her half endeavoured reply.
The girl’s attention was finally drawn away when she heard a beeping sound from her bag. She retrieved the carrier and withdrew a mobile from its interior. The girl scanned the device with her deep ivory eyes, lit with intrigue and excitement.
Hey hey girlfriend, it read. Cant believe ur gonna b away 4 the whole of the spring hols :( Y ur parents wouldnt let u stay round mine I dont no. Ah well, hope u have a gd time :) Txt me wen ur back so we can have a gossip of wot appened. Naomi xxxx
Iris finished reading the message, and then commenced in typing her response:
OMG! I no! Stupid parents! They let me stay round urs all the time, why is dis time any different? And they r making me stay round my aunts house! She is sooooooo weird! Yeah ill txt u wen my parents save me from her lol! Hope u have a gd time without me :( Luv u lots! Iris xxxxxxx
She pressed the send button, transporting the message into virtual space.
Iris huffed in frustration and placed her mobile phone back into her bag, then continued to stare into the sky, imagining she was anywhere but in a car on her way to her Aunt’s house.
“Why do I have to go to Aunt Bella’s house? Couldn’t I have just stayed at Naomi’s? I’ve stayed over loads of times,” protested Iris.
Her mother turned around with a look of annoyance spread across her face, it was clear that this was not the first time Iris had disputed against the matter. Iris’s mother was a fair woman. Her lengthy blond hair matched that of her daughters; with the exception that Iris left hers straightened and free flowing, while her mother’s hair was secured in a constricted plat. Small wrinkles appeared in the corner of her mother’s eyes, cracking her near blemish free skin; natures grasp beginning to show. Iris’s skin, on the other hand, was smooth and juvenile. Her rosy cheeks lightened her face, leaving it with the luminous glow of childhood. Apart from the age difference, Iris and her mother practically mirrored each other. Many a time had they been mistaken for sisters; complementary for her mother, but embarrassing for Iris.
“How many times do we have to go over this?” her mother’s tone verging on stern. “We have to go to this training holiday; otherwise we may lose our jobs!” Iris’s parents were both GPs in their local NHS practice. Their hospital had been receiving multiple complaints over the last six months, regarding poor service and communication. As a result, the managing directors saw fit that they had to travel one hundred and thirty three miles to a training camp for two weeks to improve on their performance. If not, then they would be replaced. Her mother continued, “Your father and I do not wish for you to stay with Naomi and her family for three reasons. One, we couldn’t possibly burden Naomi’s parents with looking after the both of you for two weeks; it just isn’t fair on them. Two, you need to study for your final GCSEs, and I don’t think that you will while Naomi is around. And three, when was the last time you saw your Great Aunt? She the only family member left on my side, and it would be a shame if we lost touch with her-”
“There is a good reason why I haven’t spent time with her!” retorted Iris.
Her father responded this time sensing his wife’s accumulating rage, “Look honey, we know that she may be a little… unorthodox, but your mother is right. It will be good to spend some time with her. Anyway, it gives you plenty of opportunity to do your revision.” Her father peered into the wing mirror to confirm that Iris was heeding his words. Iris made eye contact for a split second, before turning away to the window in a stroppy fashion. Her father, unlike her mother, could not have been more different to his daughter than if she had been adopted! His dazzling blue eyes contrasted with Iris’s deep ivory pupils. His hair was abyss black and cut short, while his skin was wearing and tired. He discontinued his glare of authority at Iris and sustained in driving to their destination, despite Iris’s objection.
The journey wound on with Iris staging a silent protest for the rest of its duration. Gradually, the vibrant blue sky begun to succumb to night’s eventually arrival, transforming orange with resistance. Clouds began to congregate slowly across the atmosphere; servants to the dark’s empire. The once serene sky now raged with red disobedience; reluctant to surrender to the sinister night. Silhouetted birds flew across the horizon, looking to escape the inevitable seizure of the sun.
The trio had been driving on the motorway for three hours now without any break, all were agitated and uncomfortable. At last, some relief was found when a sign for New Bud Village appeared at the side of the road. “Not long now,” reassured Iris’s father, as he turned into an off road.
A few moments later and tarmac turned to gravel as the expedition neared its destination. The concrete, lifeless surroundings seemed to merge with trees and grass until the car was submerged in dense forest. The roar of traffic faded into the distance as they proceeded into the great hall of trees. Steadily, the vehicle decreased in speed, then grounded to a halt adjacent to a winding path, leading into the clutches of nature. Iris looked around puzzled, “Why have we stopped? I can’t see Bella’s house.”
Iris’s mother turned around to face her daughter, “Oh! I forgot that you haven’t been to Bella’s house before! She lives in the outskirts of the New Bud village, just on the fringes of the forest. Unfortunately, we can’t take the car through the forest, the trees are too close together-“
“You mean I have to walk?!” exploded Iris, outraged at the scheme. She sat back in her seat and folded her arms. “There is no way that I am walking through that!”
“Well you have no choice!” Iris’s mother had tolerated her veto for the entirety of the journey; she had just about reached breaking point. “You are getting out of this car this instant and going to your Great Aunt’s house, whether you like it or not. I haven’t got the slightest clue why you have been acting so defiant lately, young lady; but it will not continue! Your father and I work had to put food on our table, clothe you and make sure you are well, and what do you give us in return? Grief! Well I am not taking it any longer, whether your father agrees with me or not. Get out of this car now, and walk down that path until you come to Bella’s house, it should only take fifteen minutes or so. And while you are there you can get a new attitude. Or don’t bother coming back!”
Iris looked as if someone had punched her in the face. Tears began to collect in her eyes and her face burned red. Before she broke down in front of her parents she forced open the door, grabbed her bag and ran outside. She slammed shut the door and stood facing her father through the window. He mouthed the words “I’m sorry” with a look of remorse and drove off, leaving a puff of exhaust in their wake.
Iris had always been a ‘daddy’s girl’. She and her mother had never really seen eye to eye for as long as she could remember. Everything that Iris did never seemed good enough in her mother’s opinion. If Iris came home from school with an A in a test, her mother would just look unsatisfied and say, “I want full marks next time.” Even when Iris played the lead role in the school’s Christmas production, her mother would criticise her acting, saying how she could improve. Never a well done or congratulations. Just, “You could do better.” Her father, on the other hand, had a kind and forgiving soul. He would always defend Iris and let her do what she wanted. But what Iris really craved for was her mother’s approval. Just for her to say, “Well done Iris.”
Iris stood amongst the trees, deserted and angered. The sound of her parents driving away soon melted into the distance, swallowed by the forest. Night was gaining rapidly upon the earth; soon Ir
White Witch- Chapter 2 • Opuss № I