Perfidy, The Debacle Series

Peals of thunder exploded, shaking the bedrock of our home perched on steel poles. I tried to relax on the patio lounge chair overlooking the reservoir in Marsh Harbor. The sound of the waves splashing against the shore was soothing. The once cloudless sky transformed into a foreboding hue. Beneath the thunderclouds, the heavens trapped a mysterious golden light, its origin a puzzle that added to the growing sense of unease. The light created an eerie glow, a sight both fascinating and unsettling. A deep, rough voice emerged from the galaxy’s far reaches, echoing around me. Its origins are a puzzle. A wave of panic washed over me as the ground quivered beneath my feet. The sinister speech in the shadows accused someone of being a deceitful conspirator. The words oozed with malice, each syllable a bone-chilling threat that hung in the air, refusing to dissipate.

“What on earth was that?” I screeched, my breath coming in panicked gasps. A persistent creaking noise accompanied the clatter of dishes on the table as the house adapted to the unstable landscape. As I scanned the deck, my hands clutched the armrests, feeling the smooth texture beneath my fingers as the noises grew louder. I searched Noah’s face for any sign of danger. My heart pounding in my chest, my mind racing with fear.

Noah paused his browsing on the tablet and fixed his stare on me, his concern palpable. His brows furrowed in confusion. “Carmen, what’s wrong? There’s nothing but laughter, children playing, and the house creaking. You’re scaring me. What did you hear?”

My husband of twenty years, Noah, sat at the outdoor table across from me. He displays a generous set of pearly whites and a crown of curly brown hair. While engrossed in his work, a law brief, he never took his eyes off me, attempting to comfort me as my unease grew. Noah’s hand caressed mine, a testament to our years together and the life we built with our three triplet boys. Despite this, Noah’s job required him to be away for weeks, causing him to miss precious family moments with me and the teens. It always saddened me to see how his obsession with wealth and power overshadowed the love and connection he could have had with his family.

With a nod, skepticism clung to me, refusing to let go of his hand. My heart raced, gasps of breath quickened, and a shiver of tension ran through my body. Calming myself, I tilted my head to glimpse the setting sun. But the enigmatic whispers and screeching noises persisted. My worry remained as the unusual outcry continued to disrupt the silence. Noah didn’t notice the disturbance in the air, and his affidavit consumed his attention. Yet, I could tell he cared from his body language - his lips formed a pout, and his eyebrows lowered.