Chapter 11 : Hero

"I'm such a pussy!" Malachy told himself as he sat in his Uncle Sid's room regaining his composure. Sid's room is dark and windowless and is where Malachy always escapes to when terrified. The room is like a bomb-shelter, no one can find him here. He kept seeing those innocent green eyes looking back at him through the box. It had to be a young girl in the box. Normally Malachy, and the rest of his family, are never concerned about the welfare of others but when there is an innocent involved they have to help. There is fucked up things that are forgivable and fucked up things that are not forgivable.

Malachy has to save her. He quickly formulates a plan, well sort of a plan. He has the goal in mind and that's all. He searches Sid's room and finds pliers. Malachy sticks both in his pockets. He then goes down stairs, to the kitchen and grabs the flashlight and inserts fresh batteries in it. He dresses in a black sweatshirt and sweatpants so he can move easily and isn't easily spotted. On his way outside Malachy makes sure to turn on all the outside lights so that he can find his way back home.

Following the same path he did to get into the house next door, Malachy snuck in through the kitchen window as quietly as possible. The smell still made him gag, though he tried to mentally prepare himself for it. Before moving around, towards, the master bedroom, Malachy listened for a moment to get a feel for the sounds of the house and to see if he could hear if anyone else was home. When he was satisfied he was alone he crept to the master bedroom.

Using only the light from the flashlight he looked under the bed for the box he had discovered earlier. He wished it wasn't there, that it was all some made up thing his young imagination had concocted but sure enough under the bed was the same coffin-like box he had seen earlier that day.

He took a deep breath and knocked softly on the particle board. "Are you in there?"

There was immediately a knock back. It was weak and soft but Malachy was sure he heard it. He reached under the bed for the box and pulled it out from under the bed. Surprisingly it had wheels on the bottom making it a task a kid Malachy's age could carry out.

With the box in full view in front of him, Malachy observed that it was seal via 3 locks. The pliers he borrowed from Sid will do the trick. The pliers make quick work of the locks and with a tight snap the box is opened. Malachy stares at the box confused for a second, if it were him he would have jumped out like a Jack-in-the-Box but here is this mystery girl still entombed.

Malachy opens the box to a pale, thin, girl. Her green eyes look bigger than they would be if she wasn't in this captive situation, she's obviously malnourished. She looks up at Malachy and smiles sweetly. "I'm Malachy and I've come to rescue you?"

She stares at him dazed. "Are you an angel?"

"Umm sure."

"Well then we better get going before he comes back!" She said sitting up slowly.

"What's your name?"

"Reggie." She stuttered. "What took you so long?"

"Huh?"

"I've been asking God to send me an angel me for a long long time."

"My grandpa says 'God is dead and the Devil is busy but can I help you?"

"Is your grandpa God?"

"He thinks so sometimes. Let's get going I don't want to meet whoever put you in that box."

Malachy guided Reggie toward the stairs. They made it into the kitchen before a sound by tithe front door forced them to take cover behind an island. "Ok now be quiet Reggie we are almost out of here."

The front door opened. Malachy glanced above the island to see Devon walk in and flick the lights on, illuminating the living room and kitchen. Reggie must have been kept in the dark for a long time because the sudden burst of light caused her to jump and give away her position. Devon looked at her with a predatory smirk, "Reggie what you doing out? You know the company is due to make a surprise visit. Get over here"

Devon walked over to Reggie who was frozen in fear. He didn't notice Malachy had snuck up behind him. Malachy yelled, "Reggie see that window go through it!"

Devon turned to see Malachy and growl "you little shit! You're fucking dead!"

Malachy lifted the flashlight in his arms, swung it and hit Devon in the front of the head with a loud crack. Devon fell back on the floor K. . Malachy looked at Reggie who hadn't moved due to the shock of all the chaos. "It's okay, remember? I'm an angel."

She nodded. She headed towards the window. As she clumsily climbed out of the house Reggie slipped and hit her head, knocking herself unconscious.

Malachy looked out the window at her unconscious body on the ground as he made his way out of the house, "you got to be fucken kidding me."