April 13th, 1973

8:00am

Nancy's Basement

Song recommendation: "Like A Villain" by Bad Omens

Eat it.

Danny

-.-

My wrists and arms were burning due to this damn rope. I've been hung from this ceiling for several hours now by my wrists. I shifted slightly, feeling a sharp pain in my elbow, causing me to wince. I needed to get out of here. But how? The tips of my toes could graze the floor but not enough for actual stability. I had to find Maria. This sick guy and that older woman had her. I recognized him too - and I'm not talking about our encounter from the gas station.

I noticed the scar on his face and arms. It didn't take long for me to piece together he's most likely the same guy who preyed on those innocent women a while ago. The one where he strangled one and got caught? Had to flee the scene? All the women recently disappearing were probably his own doing.

Maria had to be his latest victim.

The thought of him even looking at her made my blood boil. Is she alive? Did he hurt her? I don't know a damn fucking thing and it's driving me insane. I needed a way to kill him or escape. Preferably both. Normally, I never have these thoughts. I had a bad temper as a kid and young teenager - but my parents helped me with the counseling I needed. I've been able to control my temper and overall rage since then - getting only annoyed and excluding myself from situations when possible if it got too intense. But this guy? I was picturing snapping his neck. I know in hindsight I would be no better than he is - killing someone. But god, would I do it if it meant Maria returned safely into my arms.

I heard a few pairs of shoes echoing down the hall outside the room I was held captive in. I tugged the rope that bound me to the ceiling - no budge. I kicked my feet forward, trying to catch onto something. I accidentally hit a few tables that were behind me - stained in what I assumed was old blood. Flies danced around the table and my own body - them waiting anxiously to feast off what they hoped would become my corpse - while becoming an annoying peasant by their buzzing sounds. I raised my shoulder up to my ear as one buzzed right past it. That shit is getting really annoying. They've been buzzing in my ear non-stop for hours and I hardly slept.

At that moment, my door unlocked and three individuals walked in. The first one was a larger man - much taller and packed a shit ton of muscle. It's more than Leland and I combined. He had a thick mustache and a mullet that almost hid his stone-cold expression. The next person who walked in was another man, almost the same size... wearing something over his face? Why did it almost look human?! He wore a long apron that was covered in blood and dirt while carrying a chainsaw that was turned off. Did he plan to use it on me? The final man who walked in was the guy who dragged me into this nightmare. He carried a plate with what I assumed - from far away - was food.

"Mornin'!" He greeted me. I didn't respond back to him. "How'd you sleep?"

"Where's Maria?" I asked.

He chuckled lowly, "Let's talk business first, then we can catch up. Hungry, yeah?" He held the plate up to me. God, my mouth was watering. I haven't eaten in almost twenty four hours and drank anything since last night - which I spit into this man's face. I was starting to slowly regret that now. My mouth was wet from my extreme saliva as my throat was dry from not properly eating or drinking anything for hours.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice cold. I stared at the plate. Eggs, toast, and sausage. But the sausage looked... off. Something about the texture seemed not normal. And if my dark thoughts and theory was true about the man with the freakish mask, then the sausage before me wasn't from an animal. It might've been from a person. My stomach twists at both ideas and I look away - but the smell of the food in front of me was begging for my attention.

"Sunny side up eggs, toast with butter 'n peanut butter, 'n some... sausage!" He exclaimed, his voice quite chipper even during his hesitation at the end. That's all that I needed to confirm my suspicion. That little hesitation and how his voice went higher told me he was lying to me. I'm not a fucking fool. Maybe other naive people fell for his little lies but I won't anymore. I knew not to trust him at the gas station! But I was desperate for any type of lead on Maria - I didn't want to risk not finding her. But I'm most likely around where she is. If she's here then - despite whatever happens to me - it'll be worth it if at least she makes it out alive.

"What... is it?" I asked again, my voice slowly dragged out the words as a thick layer of venom coated them. He smirked slightly before grabbing the fork. He stabbed it before raising it in front of my face, the smell making me want to cave in as the knowledge of what it could be continued to make my stomach turn.

"Eat it."

"Why?"

"A man like you needs his strength!" He protested before his smirk turned a little sinister, "C'mon, why don't you take a bite?" I turned my head back towards him. The two other men stood behind, watching the entire scene unfold. The man with the face mask made a little grunting sound - one I couldn't tell the tone of at all. I looked between the two men in the back before back down at the man who brought me here. His darkened brown eyes gazed into my piercing blue orbs before a little smirk of my own spread across my face.

I gave a dry laugh before shaking my head, "You're gonna have to force me."

With that the man gave a look back at the other two with a slight nod. The man with the mullet nodded back before he reached into his pocket. He flipped open a knife before slowly cutting into the rope above me. I dropped to my knees before taking at least a tiny opportunity to fight back. I punched the man in the crotch before he doubled over in pain. A low animalistic and angry growl came from him as he glared down at me - his teeth baring as he snarled at me. The man with the mask let out a loud yell before I heard him pull something a few times and something turned on. What that his fucking chainsaw?! SHIT! What the fuck did I just do?! My eyes widened as I saw him raise the saw into the air and slowly inching his way over to me.

"WOAH!" The man who captured me yelled as he stood between the two taller men, "Cut the shit! Hands, hold him back and Bubba - will you please turn that shit off?! You ain't gonna do shit anyways." He snapped before glaring between the pair. Bubba, the man who had the makeshift mask, let out a disapproving grunt before turning his chainsaw off and resting it against his stomach area. Hands let out a low growl that made a shiver run down my spine. I can't lie, these two men kinda scared me. How one has a quick temper and how quickly the other was ready to cut me into slivers. It's not a reassuring feeling at all. Hands quickly grabbed me and slammed me against the wall. The back of my head hit the peeling wallpaper - the scaffolding exposing the inner bones of the room. I let out a pained grunt before Bubba came over to me - pinning my other arm against the wall. Both men also placed one of their own feet on my knees - pinning them down too. The man with the cocky smirk crouched down, resting his weight on the balls of his feet that were covered in a pair of worn out boots.

"Where is she?" I asked him.

He tusked while shaking his head, "Are we seriously gonna have this talk again?"

"I'll answer or do whatever you want. But we had an agreement too." I reminded him. He stared into my eyes for a second before he shrugged and rolled his eyes, coming to an agreement. "Do you even have a name?"

"Johnny." He answered as he extended out his hand. I stared at his hand before meeting his gaze - a huge smile spread across his face. Johnny's smile widened as my hands clenched into fists that were still pinned against the wall.

"So where is she... Johnny?" I asked.

Johnny shrugged again, "She's safe."

"Where?"

"Safe." He repeated once again before picking up a fork. He used the side of the fork to cut into the... meat... before holding it up to my face. I looked down at what he claimed was sausage and swallowed hard. The interior didn't look any better. I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a shaky breath. It's just regular meat. A regular meal. Something that my mama would make, right? I'm back home in our kitchen helping her make breakfast. She's standing next to me and offers me to taste it to make sure it's done and up to par with taste. That's all this is. I just need to convince myself. With that, I opened my mouth as Johnny placed the fork into my mouth. As soon as it hit my tongue, I wanted to spit it out. The texture was nothing like it at all. I forced myself to chew before swallowing it - the feeling in my stomach becoming more intense as I felt the urge to vomit appear in my throat.

I mustered out another question to try and focus on something else, "What's your plans with her?"

Johnny looked down at the plate before cutting into the sausage again. I then realized that's all he's going to feed me. Not the toast or eggs. It's just a show off - a way to taunt me even more. I looked to my right at Hands who was glaring daggers into me the entire time. To my left was Bubba - his mask freakishly close to my face. It literally looked so similar to a person. I quickly pulled my eyes away before looking back at Johnny who held up another piece to me.

"Marry her." He smiled softly - something I haven't seen him do yet.

Wait, what?!

I felt the blood start to boil through my veins as I snapped my jaw closed, my teeth grinding against each other. His gaze was soft and almost looked like they were full of genuine love. I was half expecting the two men to say something - maybe call him out on his bullshit and say he was lying. But they didn't. They said nothing at all. Their facial expressions unfazed as if what he said was the plan. Only then did I realize it was. My eyes widened as I began to fantasize about the situation. Johnny forces Maria to marry him, her pleading to get away as she's held at knife point. Him forcing himself onto her - forcefully taking her virginity away. The last part was enough for me to start struggling against the two men. Ain't no way I was going to let him touch her! Is that why he wanted to know yesterday if she's experienced?! SHIT! I shouldn't have said anything. Did I just make this situation for herself?!

"What's wrong, Dan?" Johnny chuckled as he waved the fork in front of me, "Worried she's gonna love me more?"

"FUCK YOU!" I screamed out and lunged forward. This caused both the taller and muscular men to slam me back against the wall and Hands placing his large and rough hand through my hair. He pulled it back and forced my head in place. I struggled more but it was no use. I couldn't move anything at all. My arms still pinned, my knees being crushed by the weight of the men, and now my head forced against the wall.

Johnny let out a chuckle, "Don't worry, you're invited!"

"Let her go!" I screamed as tears of anger began to roll down my face, "Why not take me instead?!"

Johnny shook his head, "I don't think you're quite understandin' me. I don't want you. Hell, I don't even want you alive!"

I butted in, "Then why not kill me?"

"Because," Johnny shrugged, "If I kill ya now and she finds out there will be hell - and you provide some good information about her. Not gonna lie, we picked a fighter!" We? Who the hell is we?! There is no we. Maria is my girlfriend and mine alone. Johnny literally stole her away and claimed her like a piece of property. My nails dug deeper into my skin as my knuckles grew white. Honestly, it's such a good thing I'm being restrained. I would've killed him right then and there. I watched him twirl the fork in his hand with a sly smile, "Danny... she captured my heart. I don't know how else to describe it. I've never felt this way about anyone else in my life. When I see her I just... I love her. I love her so much and-"

"YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT LOVE!" I spat out at him. Johnny's little smile dimmed as he stared at me. There's a look in his eyes that I couldn't quite place. But, despite hating him, I knew it wasn't a good sign. A chill ran down my spine as Johnny slowly stood up with the plate.

"Don't I now?" He asked as his glare tightened on me, "Well... I know for a fact I'm going to love this."

A huge pain was created in my bottom jaw. It pierced through my jaw, chin, and mid section of my entire face. It was then that I realized that Johnny's thick leather boots was the one causing it. My head hit the back of the wall again as my arms and entire body dropped limply against the floor. I was very shocked that somehow he didn't break anything - but I wouldn't be surprised if that was his end goal. I rolled onto my knees as I held my throat and chin, tears rolling down from the sharp pain he just caused. But before I could stand up and fight back - or even make a beeline to the door - Johnny kicked me in the ribs. This time it was harder than the impact he made to my jaw. I fell onto my stomach as a loud yell ripped through me. I couldn't even describe the feeling. It felt like something snapped and was piercing every single part of me within the region. Shit, it was his goal. Just to break something - to break me. I buried my forehead against the floorboards before I was being kicked again in the same area - a huge shock wave of pain ripped through my entire chest and torso as I rolled onto my back. Johnny was hovering above me - a sinister smile on his face. He was enjoying the show he was creating.

Johnny then pulled my arms down by my side before sitting on top of my stomach. I struggled against him but the pain in my jaw and ribs were becoming so intense that I just didn't want to fight anymore. It didn't help that the muscular man was causing pain by his own body weight now. With one hand, Johnny grabbed my jaw and forced it open as the piece of "sausage" inched its way closer.

"Y'know the great thing about people?" Johnny growled out as he shoved the food into my mouth. I squirmed - trying to kick my way free but to no avail. He continued; "You can't tell the difference between them, pork, and beef."

My blood ran cold as he confirmed my suspicions. I opened my mouth and spit some of it onto his face. He didn't flinch like the other times. Instead, the smile grew as his eyes darkened more. Both hands covered my nose and mouth - forcing me to stop breathing. I had no choice but to swallow it if I wanted to live. I struggled harder - my own boots scraping against the floor - as my pinned arms (thanks to his legs) clawed into the wooden floorboards. I felt a burning sensation rising in my face and lungs and knew it was only a matter of time before I had a choice. To die here or to swallow whoever it was that I just ate. I muffled a yell before swallowing hard. I gagged and choked at first - due to it getting caught in my throat - before it made its way down and into my stomach. I just ate a person. An innocent person. Someone who had a life, a career, a family, and friends. Someone who deserved better. Someone that was once like me. Someone who was once like Maria.

Johnny smirked at the sight, "You okay? You seem a little... choked up."

He let out a low chuckle as I closed my eyes - trying to somehow escape this hell. I felt defeated. My body went completely limp as I realized what I just did. Johnny smiled wide as he got off of me. He used his hand to wipe off the spat out food on his face before wiping his hand on his shirt. I laid on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, as tears rolled down my face and the physical pain made me let out a breathy but shaky sob. I don't even want to imagine what Maria has gone through. I hope it's nothing like this at all. But - knowing how Johnny was now - it pained me to even imagine what he could have done to her already. I needed to see her. I needed to touch her - just know she's safe as long as I'm going to continue fighting for her.

That I would fucking eat a human for her.