Enmity

The days leading up to Hannah’s funeral weren’t exactly normal. Then again no one expected the former prom queen to die how she did. Face first into a woodchipper. Not the best way to die. Nor is it anticipated ever. Yet that’s exactly what happened to the prom queen of 2011.

Hannah Prince had been helping her father with lawn work. Lost her footing somehow and fell face first into the running chipper. They said she screamed for a good twenty minutes or so after. But no one is entirely certain. As no one wanted to ask Josiah, Hannah’s father, what happened that day. No one with any morals at the very least.

Most people were kind enough to leave him be. Plan his daughter’s funeral in peace. Just like had done his wife and oldest son’s funerals.

It seemed like death followed Josiah wherever he went. People he got close to die in gruesome horrible ways. His wife and oldest son died when a snowplow driver ran a red light. Plowing right into the driver’s seat. His oldest son was the driver. Died instantly upon impact. His wife died ten days later. The driver hadn’t gotten out of it cleanly. As the man had been paralyzed for life after that. He was currently in jail for recklessly killing two people. Being charged with vehicular manslaughter, if memory is serving me right. And I believe he was meant to serve at least nine years in prison.

Meant to.

Unfortunately, our reckless driver only lasted only forty-one hours. While in prison he was found dead in his cell. The bunk that his cellmate had been sleeping on collapsed on top of him. Killing him almost instantly. A fitting death for a man like himself. That’s if you’re as morbid as most people in town.

Then this phenomenon went on to all of Josiah’s friends. Each one dying in terrible ways that were horrific. Death by being crushed by a vending machine. Being burned to death by a grease fire. Choking on a piece of fruit. And the last one was the strangest of all. A metal lawn dart being tossed straight into her skull. From three yards away. No one remembers who threw the dart. But they all remembered the sound her skull made as the dart entered the top of her head.

After this had happened most folks left Josiah to his lonesome. Never go near his home or answer any of his calls. This was in the hopes that it would keep them safe. Luck seemed to have other ideas. As the last three friends that he had died when a large boulder crashed onto their tent. With that Josiah was completely alone. Cut off from family and friends that could have helped him. Could have saved him from whatever was going on with him. Alone in that dark house. One that was suitable for a family of four and was now never going to have that many occupants.

He was isolated.

It was terrible for him. But honestly, I loved every second of it. Watching someone break down the way he has been. How painful things have been for him since he lost his entire family. Friends as well. Any support system that could save him. Would have been there for him if he needed. Now he’s just spending his nights alone drinking himself in an early grave. One that he probably never saw himself ever entering. Then again one doesn’t ever expect to outlive one’s children. Maybe their spouse. But they would never have dreamed of outliving any of their children.

I was reveling in that fact.

It’s all his fault anyways. Everything could have been avoided if he had given me my EpiPen. And believed me when I said that I was allergic to dairy. But no, he didn’t. Of course he didn’t. The asshole broke it open in front of me. His wife drove me to the hospital as he refused to let anyone call an ambulance. Even broke my phone when someone was trying to use it. A sight that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. The device being thrown into their in-ground pool. Sinking to the bottom so that I could never use it again. Well, I never could have if I had made it, that is.

My throat swelled up bad enough that I died on the way to the hospital.

It was a shame to take his wife. She had been such a good friend when I was alive. Such a good mom too. But that’s what you get for marrying someone that doesn’t believe in food allergies. Someone that tried to murder your closest friend. And then never tell the authorities that he snuck dairy into my food without my knowledge. Because protecting your murderous husband mattered so much more.

Her son didn’t deserve to die. Neither did his daughter if I’m being frank. It was the only thing that could hurt him the most. Right in that cold shriveled walnut he called a heart. If you can believe people like Josiah even have those. I’m still not entirely sure if he possesses one at all. Though I suppose I can find out for myself tonight. When I make a little visit to his home. Crawl from under that bed he formerly shared with his lovely wife. Make my way over to his body and well…I don’t want to spoil what is going to happen next. Let’s just say that Josiah is going to be seeing his friends and family soon….