I'm woken to a repetitive banging that is getting louder and louder that drills into my half sleeping brain like a set of drums. Dad is snoring and completely oblivious so I slip past him to where Alto is sat guarding my bedroom door like a gargoyle guarding a sacred monastery. I creep out with Alto shadowing me to find Bell is still sprawled passed out on the couch.

I'm still confused where the banging is coming from, my sleepy brain not really registering anything properly. I stumble down the stairs into the pub, instantly to be hit with the realisation that it is actually the front door that has dragged me out of bed or more to the point some twat banging on it. I grumble and moan as I scramble behind the bar to find Dads' keys whilst shouting. "One minute" and "I'm coming".

Once I've opened the door I'm confronted with three angry barmaids. "We've been waiting for ages," and the bar has got to be open in fifteen minutes" I mumble sorry and step aside for them all to come in but none of them move they simply look straight past me.

I turn to see a dishevelled Bell directly behind me. "Bar is shut today" she snaps at the ladies who all start to squawk like angry seagulls fighting over scraps as they start complaining about needing the money and why isn't the pub opening. But Bell simply stands there stone-faced until they run out of steam like tantruming toddlers. "Bar is shut you will all be paid still for a full day's work".

One of the braver barmaids, maybe because she was standing furthest to the back piped up. "Has something happened ?"

Bell gently moves me to the side so she is standing directly in front of the ladies, they immediately step back unsure of what is coming next. "Yes, something has happened. No, it's not any of your business. You will all still be paid so you can all kindly fuck off" and with that she slams the door on the bemused open-mouthed barmaids.

I'm in shock, utterly blown away by Bells' response, at this rate we will have no barmaids left. Whatever has happened in the past to Bell she has always had an element of control over most situations never showing cracks in her finely tuned armour, it's as if she has run out of energy and no inkling to do that anymore. This is Bell stripped bare, raw with nothing lose. She stumbles back off up to bed to sleep off her hangover and to avoid life and the shit that it brings.

No curtains are opened, the door isn't answered again. We are on lockdown, nobody comes in, nobody goes out. I can hear life carrying on outside but for us, it's on standstill.

Dad tries to keep himself busy with maintenance work that's not a necessity or cleaning that's already been done whilst acting oblivious to what is going on around him, this is his defence mechanism to act as if everything is fine whilst keeping himself busy. I used to believe he did this for me, a way of comforting and protecting me by keeping us in a safe bubble when life was at its lowest ebb, but I think it's just as much for his own sanity.

Bell lays on the couch, she speaks to no-one simply staring at the wall, the fight that had burnt in her was now no more than flickering embers. The need for justice was the only thing that riddled her mind and I watched as it tortured her constantly. She ate nothing but drank plenty maybe hoping to numb the pain for just a moment.

I'm grateful that Alto is my cellmate, locked in this place of misery that's spreading through our once home, like rot. I'm beyond helpless as I watch my family crumble beyond recognition. He says very little but is constantly by my side and when I feel the overwhelming sense of helplessness creeping over me he holds my hand as if somehow transferring some of my pain on to himself so I don't carry the whole weight off it on just my shoulders.

The feral boys howl the most agonising cries in the courtyard for their beloved Bell but she never goes to them, I ask Alto why are they howling for her and his answer is simple. "They are lost, she is their master" Without a leader to follow they are stranded with no clear direction but she is afloat, drifting in her own grief unable to see the trees through the forest, she is lost and absorbed in her sadness whilst exhausted by her rage.

As evening slips upon us I crawl on to Alto lap and let the sweet release of sleep wash over me knowing that tomorrow will be the same as we are all caught in this cycle of hurt that shows no sign of relenting. There is no need to fear the darkness anymore when you realise that bad things aren't only at night.

**************************************************

Alto wakes me at 11:25, I struggle to open my eyes as he repeatedly says "Jane" over and over again. By the window I see Dad looking out of my bedroom window frozen to the spot with the look of horror spread across his face.

I hear the sound of whimpering but can't see where it's coming from as I walk over to Dad he tries to stop me but I shove past him needing to know what I'm hearing. As I look out the window I'm hit with what Dad was looking at, I see him, the vicar, in the courtyard on his knees with his hands bound behind his back.

The garden lights are just bright enough for me to see the blood dripping from his cut face, his eyes swelling shut as he whimpers, so badly beaten unable to cry out. The feral boys are surrounding him like predators would do to their prey once they've chased and hunted it down, enjoying each moment of fear rising up, savouring the seconds before they devour him.

I turn to Alto. "Did Bell do this ?" Before he has the opportunity to answer I run into the sitting room to find her still sprawled passed out on the couch. "Bell, Bell wake up!" She rolls over, turning her back on me like a petulant child refusing to get up for school. I start to shake her, no longer having the patience. "What were you intending on doing? Killing him in the fucking court yard and burying him under the decking ?"

She shoots up startled eyes wide open like a deer in the headlights. "Killing who ?" The anger boils up in me, how reckless can she be? We would all be accessories to murder, is she so blinded by hate she is willing to send us all to prison.

"Don't pretend you don't know that we have the vicar tied up and beaten to a pulp in the courtyard, you may be prepared to have his blood on your hands but I will not let my Dad go to prison because of you". I hiss at her too scared to scream for fear of bringing further attention from our neighbours.

She leaps from the couch sending empty wine bottles flying. "This is not my doing but if you think I'm missing my chance when he has been brought to me on a silver platter, you can think again". She bounds out the room and flies down the stairs like a person half her age as I'm hot on her heels behind her.

"Don't pretend you didn't send the feral boys to bring him to you". She ignores my questions as she races to get to the courtyard determined not to miss her moment.

As she reaches the courtyard door I pull her back and hold on to her arm, tighter than I intended, but nevertheless prepared to hold on until she sees sense. She doesn't fight me just stares at me blankly, as if not even registering me in her line of sight. I change tact hoping pleading will bring her to her senses and wake her up from the haze she's casted under. "Think what you're doing, consider the consequences for us all. You want your pound of flesh, fine, but please do not shit on your own doorstep, do not bring trouble to our home".

Alto steps between us. "Jane she didn't do this, they did". I scoff revolted, out of blind loyalty to their precious master Bells dogs have fetched him to her and now they are going to roll over for her to tickle their belly's and tell them what good boys they are whilst we could go to prison for murder and now he's defending her.

Bell slips through my grasp and slides past as she scrambles to open the door before I can grab her. The courtyard door swings open and I feel the cool air hit my cheeks, sending a shiver down my spine that spreads goosebumps down my arms. I chase after her but I don't have to go far.

Bell is frozen to the spot, standing two feet in front of him, I half expected that by the time I reached her I'd be seeing her ripping him apart with her bare hands, limb from limb, while her dogs look on. But she isn't looking at him, she's staring into the shadows where a man is standing, the air has dropped to an unbearable chill with a silence that has swept over the courtyard.

Behind me Alto steps forward and kneels down to acknowledge the stranger, the other feral boys follow suit. Dad now by my side pulls me back close to him ready to run if needed.

The stranger steps forward he is a gentleman, who can be no older than in his late 40s, he is in a crisp white shirt , navy blue tie with a fitted grey suit that hangs off his body with the illusion his body was made for it , a single red rose, the colour of fresh blood is pinned to his jacket, he is startlingly handsome with a defined jaw and athletic build. He looks like he could have been carved out of wood by an artist as he seems utterly visually flawless but he has the blackest eyes I have ever seen, more so than Alto and the feral boys, they are almost like black holes imbedded in his face.

"Hello, Lilith" He purrs with a thick Nordic accent that carries in the air. "Do you like my body, I feel I've chosen well today".