The Cracked House

By Pier Maria Colombo

Steven Wakefield and his family recently moved to the suburbs, and they have been enjoying their life there. All was fine until one night an earthquake shook them. But the night outside the house was quiet, and their neighbors felt nothing. How could the earthquake be localized to a single house?

Days passed and things seemed to return to normal when another earthquake cracked the house. It took Steven's most precious people away as they disappeared in a flash of light, gone somewhere he couldn't reach them. The police suspect murder or kidnapping, as no one vanishes into thin air.

How will Steven deal with the detectives after him, and how will he get his family back?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seagull Editions
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223361077

Book preview

Chapter One: Earthquake

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Steven, wake up! Steven shot up, certain in his half-awake state that his wife had been shaking him violently for a while. He turned to stare at her only to see her eyes wide open and panicked. He opened his mouth to speak just as he realized he was still shaking. The source hadn’t been his wife but rather the house. An earthquake.

And it showed no signs of slowing down. He threw his covers away just as Alison pushed her own aside, and the couple rushed to the hallway of the top floor. The house was shaking violently and Steven had to hold on to the walls for support. The motions threatened to push him on the ground.

The only thing in Steven’s mind, though, was his children. He pushed Justine’s door open, calling Justine! as could hear whimpers from inside. Alison passed by him, holding onto the walls and railings while pieces of plaster rained around them. She was heading for Mark’s room.

Steven hurried inside. His daughter had wrapped herself in her blanket and had retreated under her computer desk. Feeling surging pride for his daughter and her quick thinking, he grabbed her and carefully lifted her to his arms. The house was still shaking when he returned to the hallway, to find his wife holding their son’s hand and pulling him along.

They paused in front of the stairs, hesitating. Steven felt more panic as he saw the railing shake and wobble, but he didn’t want to risk staying inside as the house collapsed. He hurriedly went down the stairs, his wife and son following, close behind. As they crossed the downstairs hallway towards the exit, more plaster fell around them and on their clothes. Steven pulled the door latch, opened the door, and got out and into the street.

He expected to see great destruction, considering the length and intensity of the quake. Around him, however, the night is quiet. The streetlights were completely still, the power cables not even swinging, and most houses were dark. There were no dogs barking, no car alarms blaring, and no people in the streets, screaming and crying.

And there was no earthquake, either. The ground was still. Steven exchanged a look with his wife, Alison. He placed his daughter on the ground, then looked at her in the eyes.

Why did you go under the desk? he asked calmly.

There was an earthquake, she replied slowly. In school, they taught us to hide under desks or door frames. I was too scared to go to the door frame.

Did you feel it, as well? Steven asked Mark, his son, who was still holding onto his mother’s hand.

Yeah, the boy said. He was a little older than Justine, and was more composed. I didn’t think to hide. I thought that it was shaking so hard that we’d be dead for sure.

Don’t say things like that, Alison quickly said. Always try to protect yourself. See? Things aren’t so bad, she added, gesturing towards the house. It isn’t destroyed now, is it?

It’s not, Mark said. But where is everyone? He looked around. In the movies, when there’s an earthquake, car alarms are going off. And dogs bark.

It’s strange, Steven agreed. He looked at his neighbors, then turned to Alison. Should we go speak to them?

Alison seemed similarly hesitant. It was the middle of the night, and most people seemed to be asleep. Just then, a car rolled on by. All four Wakefields turned to look at the car, and it slowed to a halt, the driver’s window rolling down. Steven saw that it was Cristi Vancoller, a nurse who lived a few houses down.

Everything alright, Alison, Steve? the woman asked. She looked at her dashboard then back at them. It’s three forty. What are you doing out? And in your pajamas?

Did you feel an earthquake? Alison asked, feeling a little silly.

N-no, nothing, Cristi muttered, surprised. I was driving, though. Might not have felt it if it was weak.

It was pretty strong, Mark said in a low voice.

I’m sure it was, Cristi quickly said, seeing the distressed look at the kid’s face. Then, she looked back towards the parents. Probably a nightmare of some sort? she asked.

Steven, not wanting to get into it in the middle of the night, simply shrugged. Feels like it. He tugged at his daughter’s hand. Let’s go back inside, shall we? Thank you Cristi, he added as they turned to leave. Have a good night.

You too, Cristi said, then drove off, shaking her head. She didn’t think it good to encourage such trust in children’s nightmares. It would only make them more afraid.

The four Wakefields returned inside the house. It had stopped shaking, they realized, as Steven closed and latched the door again. Mark pointed at the living room.

The books have fallen down, he said. Steven looked at where his son was pointing. The bookcase still stood upright but some of the heavier books had slid off the shelves and were lying on the floor. Some decorative knickknacks had also fallen, little glass things that had thankfully landed on the carpet.

Despite the hard shaking, most things looked intact. Nothing looked broken or shattered, from what Steven could see. Let’s go back to bed, he said. We’ll ask around tomorrow, alright?

Sure, Mark said. Though I don’t see how I’ll be able to sleep now.

Stay off your phone and you will, Alison told him seriously. They climbed the stairs, Justine and Mark grumbling about not being allowed to play around on their phones. At the upper floor hallway, the kids went to their rooms saying goodnight in subdued voices, and Steven and Alison returned to their bedroom.

Steven laid down, staring at the ceiling. What do you think it was that?

I’m not quite sure. It was definitely not a nightmare, though, Alison said, snuggling next to him. She yawned. I’m getting sleepy. I think I’m crashing after all that adrenaline.

Sleep. Besides, we have work tomorrow. Steven kissed his wife’s forehead as the woman yawned again and settled in to sleep, pulling the covers up. Steven, though, continued staring at the ceiling. He felt like Mark did, too nervous to sleep. It was fear, in part, and the last remaining traces of adrenaline in his blood.

He hadn’t been awake for that long, barely a few minutes since his wife had shook him awake—rather, since the earthquake had shook him awake, but it felt like much longer. During their escape his mind had flown to possible explanations, what to do and where to go, and he had been cursing himself for not getting an emergency survival kit like some of his friends had. He would get one soon, he decided. Maybe this earthquake really was nothing more than a nightmare, but that didn’t mean getting ready for something more serious would be a bad idea.

Thinking about what he would include in an emergency pack, Steven slowly drifted off to sleep.

Look,