The Closest Stranger

By Shane Ballon

In the 1st part to this 3 part trilogy suspense thriller, Alison, a housewife, of a local mortician, Sean, lose their youngest son, Tyler, to a fatal accident at their home. Trying her best to care for her other 2 children; Amy, which is a 10 year old adopted girl who has been passed from home to home and Caleb, which is 14 and has a mental disability. She begins taking anti-depressant pills to deal with the pain, but once more unexplained tragedies start occurring inside their home; Sean starts to wonder if this is an unfortunate display of the families bad luck, or if it is a mix of Alison losing herself from the strength of the medication and her power to cope with their son being gone. Between the madness of eerie events that are happening to the family it makes Chief Murdells job that much harder in trying to bring truth to the grizzly case.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467848848

Shane Ballon

My name is Shane Ballon and I live in a small town in Colorado with my wife Julie and our four children. I run a local rental furniture store out here and attend the University of Phoenix full time as I am trying to recieve my degree in Buisness. I served a few years in the United States Army as a Cavalry Scout and got injured in Iraq back in 2005. I found writing to be a great outlet for the emotions that are inside of me. I am orginally from the New Orleans area in Louisiana. For being only twenty-seven I have alot on my plate that I am taking on. Running a full blown corprate buisness, going to college full time and just finishing three books has definatly kept me busy; not to include the family life when I am home. There will be plenty of books coming as I have many ideas and want to put them in print for people to enjoy and to understand me better. They are filled with both everyday life situations and dark fantasy worlds that I put myself in. This is the third book that will finish my suspence trilogy of, The Closest Stranger. These are my first few books that I have written and published and I feel the greatest thing I am proud of is its growth. I never expected it to turn into a trilogy when I wrote the first book. As I am publishing this one I am finishing up my fourth book which is my personal autobiography. It is called, Patient 1903/ Surviving PTSD. Thank you for the support in my new journey with writing.

Book preview

Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER 1

Sean woke up sick to his stomach just by knowing the horrible day that lay ahead of him. It was a day he wished he could take away forever. It was a day of any parent’s worst fear; the time when a parent would be forced to bury their own child. The fact was today was very real and he and his wife, Alison, had to say good-bye to their youngest son, Tyler, which was only a toddler of 2 years old. Far too young for any child to meet their death, but it is well known that the world is an unfair place filled with unknowing and unforgiving events; each person experiencing their own fate.

The thunder was beginning to shake the old, Victorian house that was well over a hunvdred years old. The brown shutters that were attached to all the outside windows were just about torn off due to all the harsh storms the house had encountered over the long years. An old willow tree blew in the front yard of the house making shadows dance through the home’s windows. It rained a lot in the small town of Wisconsin. The front yard was filled with rock patterns in the middle of the grass and the nearest neighbor to them was about a mile and a half down the bumpy and dusty road.

Sean slowly crept out of bed around 5:30 a.m. on a terrible, unforgettable Friday morning. Not that he had gotten much sleep during the night anyway. He looked over at their bedroom’s bathroom and seen his wife was already throwing up from the harsh reality of their recently deceased son. He knew this was going to be a struggle for his family to get over; but knew that with a little faith of God’s help they could make it. He stood in the old doorway with his arms crossed over each other staring down at his broke-hearted wife as she filled the porcelain toilet bowl with puke. He wanted to say something, but what was there to say? Who would have known what to say in such a horrible situation? She rose from her knees and briefly looked at her husband as she walked over to the sink to wash off the puke that was still lingering from her middle-aged lips. Too disgusted to look at her torn husband, her eyes stared blankly into the mirror at the ugliness that she had seen in herself.

Get out, please. She cried out with a hurt in her voice. I need to be alone right now.

Sean let a breath out and shut the wooden door to give his wife the privacy that she wanted. He went back over to the bed and sat at the very edge of it and waited for Alison to come out. He looked over at their nightstand and staring back was a picture of Tyler. It was a photo that was taken from only a few, short months ago with Tyler on a tree swing that they had hung in the back yard. His smile was so innocent and could bring sunshine to their family no matter how bad the weather could get outside. A tear rolled down his unshaved face and he began to cry heavily into his hands; knowing that this was no nightmare, but a tragic, eye opening moment of being a human. He picked up the small picture frame and stared down at it only to see a broken father in the reflection staring back. He slowly placed his son’s picture back on the nightstand and placed his face into his opened palms.

His wife was standing in the doorway with tears falling down from her own face. It killed her seeing her husband cry and knowing that there was nothing she could do to make it better for him. There was not many times in their fifteen year marriage that she could recall him crying. He held his emotions in pretty well, but this was defiantly one of those bad cases that would bring the toughest man to his breaking point. The only other time that she could recall him breaking down in front of her was about ten years ago when their marriage was still in its infancy and she found out that he had an affair with one of his co-workers. It just about broke up their marriage, but they managed to push through the hard times and make it work. She walked over to him and wrapped her loving arms around his body and a puddle a tears painted each other’s shirts.

It is going to be very hard, but we need to get through this…together…we need to do it for the sake of Caleb and Amy. Sean let out stumbling through his words.

The Hill’s had lost their youngest son, Tyler, to a drowning that was accidental in the backyard a few days ago. The family was enjoying a beautiful day with a bar-b-que and the children were splashing in one of those quick set up kiddie pools that are about 2 feet deep. Alison was inside preparing the buns for the burgers that Sean was grilling up and Sean had told Amy to watch her little brother while he brought the plate of burgers inside to Alison. He was inside for a short 5 or 8 minutes and when he got back outside Amy was running up to the glass door screaming that there was something wrong with Tyler. By the time Sean reached him it was too late. He drowned in a 2 foot pool and it would be a 5 minute period that would haunt Sean for the rest of his life. The guilt he felt on himself was unbearable.

Caleb was the oldest of the 3 children and he was born with a mental disability. His brain intelligence was that of a 5 year old; which is probably why he and his younger brother connected so well. He was fourteen years old and he was taller than most kids his age. He had dark, brown hair which ran in the family and light, brown, gentle eyes. He did not understand simple things, but he had a big, kind heart. He loved his young brother Tyler very much and took every opportunity to show him attention weather it was taking time to play with him or make a silly face at the dinner table. The bond between the 2 boys was something special.

Amy was ten years old and she was adopted by Sean and Alison when she was about 8 years old. This had been the 5th home she had been part of and the longest one yet. Understandably, she was very cautious about people she was living with because as soon as she would get comfortable it seemed that she would be thrown away to another orphanage which meant another family. She did not have a lot of friends in school and at home she felt a distance in attention with Alison and Sean. Given the circumstances with Caleb’s disability and Tyler being the young one she typically felt like she was never getting the fair amount of attention; common for any child to feel of a family of 3 kids. She always wondered when the day was coming that they were going to be tired of her as well and toss her to yet another family. She had bright, green eyes with strawberry colored hair. Small freckles were spread out through her face; which she hated. Sean and Alison figured her biological parents were probably part Iris, but never cared to look into her past.

To add to the madness of their unfortunate luck, Sean was the town’s mortician and the only one for about a hundred or so miles. Once the service for Tyler was over Sean knew that he would be the one to perform the cremation on his baby boy. The thought alone made him sick to his stomach. The image of his little boy lying lifeless in the chamber where flames would rise and burn through his innocent flesh put disturbing images in his head. It was a family tradition in Sean’s family that went back many years ago that their dead were cremated. Sean never understood the exact meaning of the tradition of why they chose this method, but he insisted to Alison that he would rather see him go through cremation. He never told Alison, but he had his own reason why he wanted anyone in his family that passed on to be cremated. He never would forget a conversation that he and his grandpa had when he was younger.

His grandpa told him. It is degrading to put a body in the ground that will rot away over time and have maggots feed off of what is left of someone’s corpse. When a body is burned the ashes rise to the heavens and that person spirit will always roam through the lands until the end of time.

Sean knew it was a little farfetched, but it secretly disturbed Sean of how his grandpa described the images with the maggots.

Come on; we have to get the kids up and ready. The viewing starts in a few hours. Alison whispered lightly as she wiped her eyes dry.

Yeah, I know. He whispered back to her as he himself wiped his own share of tears away.

Sean went into the doorway of his 2 remaining children and he stared at them with loving eyes as they were fast asleep. He looked around their room that he and his wife had painted for them. One side was covered with boyish colors and he had comics hung up on the wall; comic’s that Sean had when he was a child. Then on Amy’s side there was paint of yellow and purple which has collectable dolls still in the packages hanging on the wall. It was a pretty big room for them to share without getting in each other’s way. The rooms were all wooden floors just like the rest of the house besides the kitchen and the bathrooms which were linoleum.

The sun was beginning to shine through the curtains and creep on each of their beds.

Caleb, Amy wake up guys we have to get ready to leave soon. Sean said trying to wake them up.

Caleb sat up in bed rubbing his tired eyes. Where are we going daddy?

He did not realize what death meant and that his brother he would never see again. Sean knew that it was going to break him inside because of the special bond they had.

We have to go say good-bye to Tyler, stupid. Amy said crudely to her brother.

Hey little girl; you do not have to be mean to your brother like that. You know he does not understand certain things. You need to try and help him sometimes instead of trying to put him down. Sean scolded her.

Amy rolled her eyes as she got out of her bed and shuffled right passed her already upset dad. She headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth and take her morning bath. She acted a lot like a grown up in some ways with her daily, on time routines.

Daddy, why do we have to say bye-bye to Tyler? Where does he go? asked Caleb curiously.

Sean tried to explain. Well buddy; Tyler is…he’s….brother went back to heaven to be God’s angel again.

Is he going to come back and live with us daddy?

No, buddy just the rest of us, but one day we will see him again in heaven. Sean explained trying to be strong for his son’s sake.

It hurt Sean sometimes when he had to explain certain things to Caleb because he knew that he never completely understood the explanations given. Seeing him grow but staying mentally the same drove the knife even deeper in his heart. He had a tear in his eye just looking at his son trying to understand what the family was about to face.

Daddy, I hope I never have to leave you and mommy. Caleb said emotionally to his dad.

Never buddy…never, Sean said holding back the pain. Come on buddy; let’s go get dressed so we can get our day started.

Daddy can I ask you a question?

Sure pal, what is on your mind? Sean asked curious of what his son was thinking.

Why does Amy call me names and makes fun of me? Caleb looked at his dad upset by the way Amy treated him.

Sean looked puzzled for a second not sure of how to answer his question. She says means things sometimes because she does not know how to handle her own emotions. When she makes fun of you it makes her feel good about herself, but she does not realize how much she is hurting your feelings. She does not mean to hurt you and she does love you very much. Do you understand pal?

I understand. Caleb told his dad still not completely understanding what he was talking about.

Sean went back into the bedroom to get dressed while Alison went downstairs to the kitchen to make the family breakfast. He stepped into the shower and held his head under the falling water to try and clam his nerves the best way he knew how.

God give me the strength to get through this day…please Sean prayed in the shower as he ran his hands on his head.

He had tears mixed in with the water and was trying to hold all his emotions in and be strong. It was hard when he was alone because it was only thoughts racing in his head. At least with the family around there was something to sort of take his mind from his guilt.

He got out the shower and went downstairs to join his family for breakfast before they had to leave. It was a long, quiet breakfast with only the sound of forks and knives scrapping against their plates. Sean and Alison’s throats where so sore filled with pain that they could not even swallow the food. Sean held his wife’s hand in support as she was having trouble eating.

I cannot believe this is happening to us. Alison said in sorrow. He was just so young and…

I know. Sean interrupted as he was not trying to think about his son’s short life. It is very hard on everyone.

Alison looked up at him as she could hear the hurt in his voice. She knew from the clammy tone on his face that he was holding a lot in and she was afraid that he was going to break down when he would have to cremate his son later. Amy stared at her parents as they were grieving; almost intrigued about why they were taking the death so badly. She understood death was part of life and that everyone dies at some point to another. She thought it strange that she did not feel the same sympathy as they were feeling. She looked over at Caleb and saw his reaction was just the opposite as he was stuffing his face with food. That was no surprise to her because she understood his special condition and that he could not comprehend that tragedy. She shook it off and went back eating her food. She figured since Tyler was not her biological brother that maybe she did not feel the same compassion as they were obviously feeling.

Are you about ready to leave? Sean asked her.

Not really. Alison responded painfully.

Sean looked at her with sympathy.

None of us are ready to, but… Sean started to talk.

I know. Let me go get my purse. I will meet you in the car. She explained.

Sean nodded in agreement as Alison excused herself and walked into the living room.

Sean finished his last bite and stood up. Okay guys; let’s get up loaded up in the car so we can get going. Don’t forget your brother’s good-bye cards.

Why, there stupid? Amy said harshly. It’s not like he can read them anyway.

Amy Sean shouted furiously of his daughter’s comment.

Alison was walking back into the kitchen when she heard the comment. She grabbed Sean quickly by the hand and whispered in his ear. She is taking the fact of her brother being gone in her own way. She does not realize that what she is saying is hurtful.

Even this morning her attitude has been really negative and it is not helping the circumstances. She called her brother stupid again and now this. What are we going to do about her? Sean said trying to calm down.

Amy stood there in silence as she was well aware the comment hurt her dad’s feelings.

Please Sean not today, for me. Don’t I deserve that much; to get through this day without the family fighting? Alison pleaded with her husband. Our family is broken enough.

I’m sorry, your right. I’m on edge right now and… Sean was interrupted by her.

Don’t worry about it; look, give her a few weeks and let her vent how she feels comfortable and she will calm down. Alison whispered trying to neutralize the situation.

I’m sorry daddy. Amy apologized with innocent eyes. I did not mean to make you mad at me.

Sean felt bad for his sudden rage. He went over and kneeled down to her level. It’s okay baby. I know you did not mean it in a mean way. It is just sometimes we say things at the wrong time and in the wrong way that is not appropriate.

Amy wrapped her arms around her dad and defused the anger he was feeling.

Let’s go. Sean said as he kissed her on the forehead.

It was hard for Sean to reach Amy sometimes because she was such a mystery to him. He did not know much about her past and he did his best to try and build a relationship with her, but with her trust issues with people it made it complicated.

CHAPTER 2

O kay does everyone have what they need? Sean asked them.

We are good daddy. Amy shouted from the back seat.

Hunny? Sean asked. Are you ready?

She nodded trying to be strong for her family’s sake.

Sean put the car in reverse started to back out of their drive way in their old, beat up, rusted station wagon when Alison told Sean to stop the car.

What is it? What did you forget? Sean asked her.

I want to get Tyler’s favorite teddy bear that he loved to sleep with so much. He carried it everywhere and I….I just want him to have it at the viewing. Alison started to cry and could not finish what she was saying.

She opened the door and started to throw up on the side of the car as she thought about her son.

Daddy, why is mommy doing that? Caleb asked curiously.

Sean did not answer his son almost as if he did not even hear the lost words that were coming out of his mouth. He knew that this was not going to be an easy hurdle for her to overcome.

I’m sorry. Alison said with her strain in her voice.

No, don’t be…it is not easy on any of us and it will only get harder before the healing can get better. Sean said trying to comfort his wife.

Alison closed the car door and started to make her way back to the house to brush her teeth again and grab her son’s teddy bear. Sean stared at his wife through the car windshield as she walked up the drive. His face was so swollen with hurt that his cheeks were shaking and he was biting down so hard on his teeth that they could crack. He stayed strong as he took a deep breath and waited for his wife to come back.

Alison crept up the front porch steps of her house and opened the door. The house was so dark and quiet with no lights and no sounds of a television playing. They have lived at that house for many years