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Here we go again! I hope this came out well enough for you guys! Enjoy!
I'm frozen with nothing but my flashlight to shine on the threat's face as he makes his way towards me. My mind begins to notice things, like the man's slight limp or the way he keeps mumbling 'live and learn,' and how every step he takes his shoulders start to become less and less tense.
I don't know how I managed but I had somehow walked until my back hits against the wall. He just kept walking closer and closer, but what was surprising to me was that he wasn't trying to hit me too or knock me out somehow. It's only moments later that he's directly in front of me. If I wasn't so scared I would have wondered why he didn't just get it over with already. Instead, something that shocked me to the very core happened.
A gloved hand that had just been the fist that knocked out Ashley flattened into a relaxed open palm and gently found it's way to my cheek. It was then that the fear relinquished so the confusion could get a turn.
He was caressing my cheek, as if to tell me he wasn't going to hurt me.
"What?" I managed to squeak out.
His masked face began to inch closer and closer. I tried to move away but he had me trapped against the wall. The cold plastic made it's target against my lips, as if he was trying to kiss me through the mask. I was frozen for a moment before the situation finally processed. I pushed as hard as I could against the man and tried to turn my head away to get him off. Instead he completely pulled away but his hand remained on my cheek. It was almost as if he also realized what he'd done as he finally pulled back and put distance between us. I was still too afraid to run. Instead I watched, paralyzed, as he turned to pick Ashley up and hoisted her over his shoulder and then made his way next to Chris and pulled on his collar.
At that I made a meek attempt at a noise of protest to get his attention. The masked man takes a small glance my way, watching me closely to see what I would do about this, and continued to drag my brother as he made his way to the only exit of the room. He watched me the whole time, probably to make sure I didn't try to bum rush him.
I should have, I conclude once the doors slam behind him, but it was only then that my body allowed me to move again. What had just happened? And how do I get us out of this before he comes back?
Once the clouded thoughts had cleared I looked over to Sam. The small rise and fall of her chest calmed me. He let Sam live, maybe he'd be generous enough to extend that to Chris.
The shuffling of my feet bounces off the walls as my eyes focus on the door as I make my way closer to Sam. My mind was on overdrive. I had to wake Sam, I had to have someone here with me. The anxiety was too much. It was going to take over soon. I could feel it. Then I'd be useless to anyone. I didn't want to sit back and watch my brother get slaughtered like my boyfriend because I couldn't handle this.
My hand makes contact with the back of the wooden chair. Eyes following where i'd placed my hands and I double check that Sam was indeed still alive. With a relieved sigh I grip onto her bare shoulders and am startled by how cold they were. It was like touching a cube of ice. My hands rub against the cold skin, trying to warm her before I begin to shake her, lightly at first. Every shake as her body stayed limp grew harsher. She wasn't waking up! Why? The shakes had become desperate as I called out for my friend. The longer she was out the more likely he would come back and I would once again be alone with him. Next time who knows what he would do.
No sooner did the countless possibilities of every torture scene from every horror movie i've ever seen passed through my mind did the steel door creak. The scrapping of a boot dragging against the ground was approaching my frozen body. I had been too startled and afraid to turn around and see the psycho as he approached. As if not seeing him meant he wasn't really there.
The small trail of liquid made it's way down that familiar path of my cheek and a heavy hand places itself comfortably on my shoulder. A small sob that I attempted and failed to stifle makes it's way out and the new hand on my shoulder squeezes down almost comfortingly. My lip is nestled between my teeth to keep the heavy breathing to a minimum but I'm sure my fear is obvious.
The hand sits there for a while before I feel the pull of the hand turning me. I cry out and shut my eyes as I'm twisted around to face the heat of the body in front of me. I could feel my body shaking and my hands grabbing the fabric of my shirt at my sides to try to calm myself. Nothing was working. But as time went on and nothing happened the more bold I became. Why wasn't he doing anything? Slowly my eyes start to peel open. I wasn't sure what I would find, not even sure if I really wanted to find out, but my body wanted to know more than my brain did.
"You don't need to be scared, little bird." The psycho says as my eyes open into slits.
His image is blurred and I can hardly tell how close he is to me. For a moment I forget he's close enough I could lean in and become a second skin. Why wasn't I trying to get away? I tried to make my body move but it stood comfortable against the heat of this psycho. I chalked it up to being cold however just to shoo away the guilt. What was perplexing more than anything was why this felt familiar, and dare I say even, safe. Like it was obvious why and yet I couldn't figure it out. Maybe I was more messed up than I thought I was. Or maybe I was so scared that all rational thought had completely left the building and landed me in the nut house.
I focused on the boots of the psycho's shoes to keep my mind off what was going on. The same thought kept creeping up as the psycho's hands gripped my shoulders. 'Why aren't you trying to hurt me? Why are you comforting me when you're the one I'm scared of. And most of all why am I allowing it.'
"Where's my brother?" The voice didn't even sound like me.
I wouldn't have recognized it if I hadn't felt the vibrations in my throat.
Instead of an answer his hand leaves my shoulder both of them join at the side of my skull to capture my head. Gently he lifts my head as his finger brushes against my cheek, picking up the residue of my tears I had forgotten about.
"Please, don't hurt him." How I was managing to speak, let alone ask for favors was beyond me.
I would call it brave if I didn't believe I was being so stupid to even engage with this killer. And then it hit me, like a ton of bricks. That was exactly what he was. A killer. This was the person, the actual flesh and blood person, that was responsible for Josh not being alive right now. And it was with that realization that I began to fight back. I began to beat against his broad chest, scream, cry, even throwing in a kick at one point. I did all of this and the monster did nothing back. He just stood there, taking it. He didn't hurt me back and it made me grow more frustrated and angry. As my hard fist made contact with his wound, completely by accident, he finally moved. Even still he didn't hit me like he had Ashley. Instead he wrapped his large arms around me and pulled me to his chest and began walking backwards out of the door.
I screamed the whole time, blaming him where he was responsible, threatening him if my brother met the same fate as my boyfriend. I did every crazy thing I could think of before he plopped me down into that wooden chair. The same chair I tried to rise from to get away only to be pushed back into it, with little more than the necessary force to overpower me. I heard the groan come from behind the mask as I kicked him in his thigh. Still no force was brought down upon me.
"Stop moving!" He screams as he holds me in place.
Still there was no pain. I was only partially startled that he's even raised his voice to me, finally, after all my struggling and fighting. But, I stopped. It was as if the command had brought the awareness of my fatigue from the fighting, from the fear, the search for Sam and the helplessness of it all, to my mind and my body was ready to shut down. And that's exactly what it did as a thick blanket of black obscured my vision and I was forced into the darkness.
The sound of my name brought me back into reality.
It was distorted and panicked. I wouldn't have recognized it until my eyes landed on my brother and it was as if it all clicked. That was when the realization of where I had passed out came to light. I had been fighting, so very hard, for the first time since everything went down and then nothing. I couldn't remember anything else. I didn't think about how long I was out for. The only thought was that I had allowed myself to get captured. I should have fought harder, for Chris.
I look on at my brother who looked like he had just gotten over a heart attack. He was breathing heavy, his eyes were wide behind his glasses and his face was blotchy and red. I could have even sworn I saw the light catch on the hollow of his cheek when he turned a certain way. Had he thought I was dead? That was the only explanation for why he looked as if his heart had completely stopped seconds before I'd opened my eyes.
"Oh thank God! I thought you were dead." The quiver in his words answered my question.
"I'm fine. I promise." I croak.
My throat was so dry and scratchy from the screams that I was surprised I could even speak anymore.
"How's Ashley?" I mumble as I scan the girl who sat at the table across from my brother; limp.
It was then I realized I wasn't apart of this get-together. I was feet away, an observer, but not a participant. What did the psycho have planned for those two? Why wasn't I apart of it?
"She's out cold. I don't know what's going on. What did he do to you? Are you hurt? Did he touch you?" Chris said, every word growing more and more hysterical. "If he fucking touched you I'll kill him!"
He pulled against his restraints that I hadn't noticed he had, which made me aware of my own (though mine was only a snug bit of duct tape compared to his zip ties), as he focused on trying to get free to check on me.
"He didn't do anything Chris. I pass out on my own." I assure him.
I didn't want him to over exert himself worrying about me when compared to everyone else I was fine. I was more worried about him and Ashley at the moment.
"Ashley!" I call out to the girl.
A small bit of movement and a groan leave the girl. I watch my brother sigh as he watches her closely.
"Ash!" He calls out to wake her further.
It was then she lifted her head and we saw the damage. Her left eye was basically a big mass of dark purple. I sucked in a breath as I imagined how painful that must be. And as much as she and I weren't on good terms I didn't like seeing her hurt either. I grit my teeth as I think about who did that to her. The only good thing was that he didn't kill her right then and there.
"Aw, Jesus Ash-what did he do to you?" Chris comments as he gets a good look at her under their direct light.
I could only see it slightly but I could tell it was bad.
"I think...he hit me." She said.
She might have been foggy on the details, but I remembered everything, right down to the sound of knuckle connecting with bone. I was actually surprised it wasn't worse.
"Shit! I'm gonna murder his fucking face off." Chris says.
"What is this?" Ashley cries as she too is beginning to grasp the reality of the situation.
We weren't free anymore. We were captured. We were now his dolls to play with anyway he'd like.
"Ashley calm down." I call out as I begin to try and scoot my chair closer to them.
I was surprised when it actually moved. He hadn't bolted it down. It was only moving millimeters but at least I could get closer to them.
"This is him." Chris says.
"No, Chris."
"It's the guy who killed Josh." He continues as he watches me inch closer.
"Oh God no! Oh God, Chris!" Ashley was now in complete hysterics.
"Ashley, it's gonna be okay!" I cry out as I try harder to move closer to them.
"You murdering piece of shit!" Chris cries out into the air while Ashley continues to freak out and I continue to scrap the legs of the chair against the ground.
"You monster!" He continues.
"Look around! We're gonna die Chris!-I don't think I'm ready to die!" Ashley cries.
"No one is going to die. You hear me Ashley! Not anymore!" I wail as I close my eyes from the strain trying to move this chair closer to them was putting on me.
"I wish I could tell you, Chris. It's just not fair!" She continues.
I focus on trying to get closer instead of interpreting what she was trying to say. Even in my state, It was obvious but Chris didn't seem to grasp it all the way.
"What? Tell me what?" He answers calmly.
"It's too late Chris, what's the point?"
"Stop it, just, say."
"We're always talking around it. And now, I mean we've wasted everything!"
"Ashley, none of it was wasted."
"What do you mean?"
"Every second that I spent with you was the only thing I ever wanted to do with my time."
"What are you saying Chris?"
"I'm sorry, I should have told you how I felt. Ashley I swear when we get out of this-"
And just as he was about to confess the sounds of spinning saws rings out into the room. We all direct our eyes to where the sound comes from and all our hearts are firmly in our stomachs as we see them spinning metal feet above Chris and Ashley's heads.
I move quicker to get to my brother, pulling on the restraints as I do. I feel so helpless as my brother and Ashley scream out in fear. I can't do anything. Why can't I be stronger!
"Ashley, I'll get you out of this, I won't let you die!" He cries out before turning his head my way. "Stay back Charlie! Don't come any closer! Stay the hell back!"
And then as if to add to the foreboding, the voice of the disembodied psycho echos above us.
"Hello there my special little subjects."
"I'm so scared Chris." Ashley murmurs across from my brother.
"Don't be scared Ash." He looks at me. "Don't be scared Charlie. You stay back!"
I shake my head at my brother. He must be crazy if he thinks I'm just going to watch, again, as this psycho takes the last person that means anything to me. I knew if Chris died I would die right along with him. I wouldn't be able to live in a world without him. It was hard enough without Josh, but without Chris it wouldn't be possible.
"No!" I scream as I try to tear off the duct tape from around my wrists.
"Oh you should be Ash, because here's the twist: Chris has made on fatal choice already today and now, he must make another. Chris, you can take that gun in front of you and shoot Ashley, or you can shoot yourself. Who ever is left, can live! The choice is yours."
"No!" I scream as I watch my brother hold the gun in his hand. "No, you can't Chris!"
What could I do? How could I stop this? If someone had to die I couldn't watch either of those people be them. I couldn't witness the loss of life again. I wouldn't be able to handle it. There was only one solution.
"Shoot me!" I cry.
My head falls and the fight leaves me. This is the only way, I might as well accept it.
"I can't...I can't watch anyone else die. Not when I can finally do something about it! Please! Chris, shoot me. If someone has to die it has to be m-"
"Shut up!" He screams at me.
My eyes are wide and I can't breath for what feels like forever.
"I could never do that! I'd rather die than ever see you hurt! Don't you understand that? Hate me, for what happened to Josh. Never speak to me again, cut all ties with me, but I could never be in a world without you! So don't ever say something like that again! Never again do you hear me Charlotte?!" It was in this moment that I saw my brother cry like when we were children for the first time since we hit puberty.
I watch my sobbing brother as he tries to reign in his tears and gain back control. I don't know why I hadn't expected those words to hurt him. Why I ever expected he would actually listen to them. I never would have if he'd been the one to say it to me. I couldn't.
My head falls again as the energy drains from my body once again and shame replaces it. How could I ever ask my brother to do that?
But if he couldn't do that, then what were the other alternatives. Watch someone die again. I couldn't do that.
"Please, switch with me! I'll make the choice. Don't do this to him again!" I sob right along with my brother.
I had to get him out of this. If anything else, I had to make sure Chris was safe. I wouldn't hurt Ashley. I just needed to be the one to make the choice. Chris wouldn't do it, it had to be me. It couldn't be anyone else.
"Be quiet Charlie!" He screams at me again. "It's me! It has to be me!" He cries as he puts the barrel of the gun to his jaw.
I scream until my throat is raw and the copper taste of blood is coating the lining of it.
"Chris stop! Don't! I can't watch this! You can't leave me! Please. I'll do it. I'll be the one just let me do it please!" I cry out as I look up into the rundown ceiling.
The psycho had to let me switch with Chris. He had to!
The voice of the psycho invades the room once again, with even worse news than before.
"I'm sorry, but that can't happen. You see, you're much too important. You, are innocent. You'll remain where you are. Those are the rules."
"Fuck you!" I find myself screaming into nothingness.
"Charlie…" Chris cries with the barrel pressed firm against his jaw once again. "I love you."
"No! Chris!" The sound of my blood curtling scream rings out at the same time as the gunshot and my world is over.
My eyes were closed shut. I had shut out the whole world, convinced what had just happened had all just been a dream. I couldn't actually see it with my own eyes. I couldn't. I felt my body rocking back and forth in the chair, humming a tune from when Chris and I were younger and he would sing it to me to calm me down during thunderstorms. It calmed me enough to forget why I even needed to be calm in the first place.
And then it was all disrupted by a loud bang and Ashley screaming.
"No! no no no, get away!"
I followed where the bang came from first and saw two people I hadn't been expecting to see; Mike and Sam. I didn't have time to process seeing them before I looked over at Ashley and catch the small glimpse of blonde hair before all of my attention is on my 'very alive and not dead' brother who begins shooting at the psycho coming our way.
Everything was happening too fast for my brain to catch on.
"Oh Chris." The psycho says as he walks out from behind me and onto the other side of the table in front of us. "Oh Chris, Chris, Chris. Oh, you've heard of blanks before. I mean, really?"
And as he plants his feet onto the ground his hands reach to the base of his mask. Everything is so quiet as we anticipate who was to be revealed behind that mask. I could feel the blood pumping in my veins. Every nerve was on fire as the horrible halloween mask slipped from his face to reveal the most beautiful face in the world that I thought I would never get to see again.
"Josh…"