Bad News Blogfest

Thank you to Francine at Romancing the Blog for hosting the

Bad New Blogfest.

Instructions: Write about a character receiving bad news.

(My character doesn't exactly receive bad news -

she kinda figures it out herself. I hope that counts!)

The crash still resounded in my ears, but I knew the room was in silence now. Well, almost in silence. An eerie scratching sound remained as a metal soup ladel swung back and forth against the wall, then fell with a clang to join the rest of the utensils I'd pulled down in my useless attempt to slow my fall.

I had fallen so hard - right through the flimsy ceiling and onto the tiled kitchen floor - that I was sure it should hurt more. It didn't though, not at all, and that relieved me. Everything was a relief now.

Roy was gone. Dead. Never to hurt me again. Laura had shot him as he'd chased me across the attic, my terrified screams doing nothing to slow his pursuit.

Too bad he'd had to fall on top of me as he died.

I remembered managing to just twist out of the way, but my balance was off and I'd fallen too. Crashed down into the kitchen just like him. He'd landed on the table though. I could see his swollen arm dangling over the edge.

Hurried footsteps sounded in the hallway. That would be Laura.

"Are you all right?" she gasped, running into the kitchen.

"Yes," I said quietly, still not moving off the floor. Everything was all right now. Even though I was staring up into a great big hole in the ceiling, everything was all right.

"Come, let's get out of the kitchen," said Laura, holding her hand out to help me up. "I don't want to be anywhere near him."

I tried to reach for her hand - nothing happened. I tried to move my arms to my sides so I could push myself up - nothing happened.

"What?" she asked, seeing the alarm in my face. "What is it? Do you feel pain?"

"No," I whispered, panic tightening my chest. "I don't feel anything."