As the world begins to blur together into a haze of tired insomnia I start to wonder where I am. When I first laid my head down my stereo was on and the moon glowed outside the window. Now two hours later as I lay hear staring something seems very wrong. Instead of my window with the stars shining outside and the bed which becomes my prison through each night, I find myself staring at a white brick wall and feel the cold of metal around my left wrist noticing that I’m chained to a metal ring on the wall.
A soft light illuminates the room enough to see there’s a dead body that lies in the middle and mirrors on the adjacent wall to where I’m chained. Next to the mirrors is a rusty metal door painted an ugly green that I assume is locked. Trying to stand up my head begins to swim as though I’d just had a long night of partying or taken a heavy dose of some drug that my body wasn’t prepared to handle. Almost falling I grab the metal ring on the wall for support and stand hunched over panting slightly trying to catch my breath.
After letting my mind clear a little I began to try and analyze the situation to find a way out of the strange predicament that has befallen me. Perhaps I was asleep which seemed the most logical because such morbid things were not uncommon in my nightly routine of one to two hours of sleep if such a half-awake daze could be called sleep.
Slowly beginning to regain my senses an overpowering stench filled my nostrils that I could only assume was that of death. Observing the poor sap which lay on the floor I saw he clutched a piece of paper in his hand with drops of blood that must have slid down his wrist where a small saw still lay: his fingers limply curled around the handle.
Still half believing I was in the middle of a dream I tried to imagine my chains were gone and create a story line to the room imprisoning me. Several minutes of mentally wishing my bondages gone I finally gave up realizing that each sense was too realistic and too overwhelming to be a falsity of dream. There was no willing this away it would take true strength and problem solving. First I had to figure out what was going on and why so as to figure out the best course of action, but it made no sense to me other then some freak decided to randomly kidnap me and lock me in here for no reason more then his own twisted pleasures in seeing me tortured. So many times I’ve thought of such a scenario but it just seemed pointless and wrong with out the hidden act of love behind the suffering. If there was a reason to fight to give me the will power it would all seem worth it, but now I start to dread the thought of whatever lay ahead hoping only for an instant death. Maybe that’s why I’m here because for so long I have thought of and pretended to long for death. I say pretend because it is not what I have wished but a mere escape from wanting what life has seemingly denied me to ever have again.
If who ever this is plans on me killing myself like the man who bleeds all over the floor then he is sadly mistaken. Many times the thought has crossed my mind even to the point of obsession but there’s no point anymore in pretending I have the strength or care to die. Emotions are too void in my decaying soul to feel strongly enough to do a deed as great as the ending of my own life. It seems that I can neither live nor die stuck somewhere in between. No, if I am expected to die it will be at the hands of another and just as well because it seems to me it could be a blessing to have one end what I will not do myself.
After looking around and pondering the situation debating what to do it doesn’t take long until I decide I just don’t care and give into just sitting there staring at the floor waiting for whatever end to come. Leaning against the wall I close my eyes letting sleep cast over me. It must not have pleased my captor too much because after only a few minutes of rest the door opened and a man in a Halloween mask that looked a lot like Freddy Cruiger unlocked the door and entered.
Tugging on what appeared to be a chain he dragged a girl forward and through her in the room. Upon her face was a brown sack of some sort of cloth material such as they would use in the olden days for potatoes. Her hands were chained behind her back and it sounded as though her mouth was gagged. The only advantage she seemed to have was that her feet were not bound and she was free to move around the room at will.
“Over here,” I whispered loud enough for her to hear me.
“Make your way to me and I’ll help you out of your sack. Just follow my voice. Go forward, a little to your right. Careful you’re going to run into the wall.” She began to run her hand along the wall. “That’s it follow the wall and it’ll bring you to me.”
When she got close enough to me I reached out putting a hand on her shoulder and guiding her close enough to take the bag off of her head. Proceeding to take her gag off I noticed a tear trickling down her cheek. Sobbing she looked at me with fear in her eyes. There seemed nothing I could say to comfort her because I knew that words were no use in this situation. Lies would never do anything.
Once her gag was loose I took her in my arms and whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry Hannah. I still love you and I’m here.”
It seems I was beaten at my game of having no emotion or caring what happened. It had been years since this girl had spoken to me let alone been near but someone knew my weakness. How could he know after all these years that she would leave me powerless by filling my heart with too much need to function properly? Though he had found my one weakness he also gave me the greatest power possible and the greatest reason I could ever have for anything. Love is a double edged sword and now I would do anything to get at least one out of this room alive. With in an instant of seeing her face I could take the saw from the dead man’s hand and cut straight through both my arms if it would keep her safe. How quickly our feelings and state of mind may change.
“Hannah can you walk over and kick that saw to me?” I asked her caressing the long black hair out of her eyes.
Looking at the body she began to burst into tears. “Why is this happening? I can’t do it, I can’t take this.” Her tears flowed harder and her voice began to shake as did her body.
“Its ok sweetie we’ll get through this together. I love you and I’ll die before I let anything happen to you.” I thought to myself that I probably would die for her and not too far in the future from now.
“I just want to wake up. I don’t want to be here anymore. The things he made me watch were horrible. He forced me to I can’t even speak it,” So much pain was pouring out and all I could do was hold her close and tell her it would be ok though I knew not if it would be.
“If you kick me the saw I might be able to get us out of here. Please sweetie I know it’s hard but we have to be strong and find a way to get through this. I’ve spent the list five years of my life missing you I’m not about to let you go again with out a fight.”
“He told me you wouldn’t care. That you were too lost to save me this time and would just fail like you failed to keep me happy. He said that you would fill my head with promises you couldn’t keep.”
“Hannah I love you. I told you I’d always love you and yet you never believed me. For five years you’ve refused to talk to me and for five years I’ve been haunted by you every night I go to sleep. No matter how hard I’ve tried to erase you and become nothing whenever anything has lived inside of me it’s been you. I couldn’t stop loving you even if I tried. I told you I’d be there in the end and here I am. Do you not understand now? If I must slit my wrist open for you or stab a knife into my heart I will. There’s no doubt in my mind I will do whatever is required for you, but I would like to get us both out of here alive or at least be able to guarantee your safety before my life is taken.”
Holding me closely she cried into my shoulder and whispered that she was sorry. “I’m sorry, I love you I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
Once getting her to bring the saw to me I continued to attempt to break my chains though it seemed useless with out a proper metal saw. It was some sick twisted game out of a cheap horror movie I’d seen once. How many losers out there do this kind of thing just because it’s almost Halloween? Actually now that I think about it tonight is Halloween, how convenient that I must die on the holiday that once was my favorite and with the one I’ve always longed to spend it with. But, there’s no time for being negative now I must get us out of here somehow.
“Hannah I want you to close your eyes and ignore any sounds of pain that I make, I promise things are going to be alright. Just don’t worry about me ok?” I told her seriously but with a soft tone caressing her face and looking into her deep blue eyes.
“What are you going to do?” she asked worried with a shot of fear flashing through her eyes.
“Just trust me. Close your eyes. It’s going to be ok,” I held her tight whispering in her ear, “I promise.”
Making sure her eyes are fully closed I pick up the saw in my right hand setting it against my wrist. Thinking back to some movies I’d seen before I tear of a piece of my shirt wrapping it just above the cuff. Looking one more time at my beloved and thinking how much I loved her I run the saw along my flesh feeling it burn. Tempted to scream out in pain I bite into my arm.
Obviously going slow won’t be strong enough to cut through so I take a few deep breaths and start sawing at a rapid past. Imagining the man holding a gun to Hannah’s head and letting the emotions of years apart flood through me, it begins to block out the pain giving me that romantic high she used to always fill me with. Losing my self in thoughts and looking at her I suddenly notice I’ve made it half way through the bone. Almost there and everything will be ok you love her don’t give up now. Be stronger then before.
Suddenly Hannah starts screaming “Oh my god! What are you doing? Don’t hurt yourself oh my god please stop!” she was hysterical but I knew I couldn’t stop. Not now.
“It’s ok it’s almost over and we’ll get out of her.”
“What do you mean it’ll be ok? You’re sawing your arm off,” tears were streaming down her face “Don’t do this, god I just want to wake up.”
Finally getting through the bone I tear more of my shirt off wrapping the wound as best I can. Next I wrap the torn hand in hopes it can somehow be put back on if only I could get to a hospital. Now it’s time to figure out a way out of this mess.
Holding Hannah with my one good arm I begin to fall only being supported by her body. Blood loss begins to take its toll on me making my face go white and my brain hazy. Too much longer and I may not have the strength to get her through this. I have to be strong I tell myself forcing my feet to straighten.
With all the strength I can manage I make my way to the door to check if it’s locked. It seems this monster was not as smart as he’d like to believe. Obviously he didn’t expect me to get out of my chains alive and has left the door unlocked or perhaps it was when he threw in Hannah that he simply forgot to re lock the door.
Calling Hannah to me she follows and I look around outside the door trying to figure out which way to go. Luckily there’s only a path leading left so putting my arm around her for support and to feel her near we begin making our way down a gloomy hall. Not far from the door is a stair case leading up with rusted railings and stairs that are all but falling apart. Since stairs lead up and away from the ground it seems most logical to remain on this floor so we keep going making a guess and going through just to the right of the bottom of the stairs.
“Oh my god,” Hannah put her hands over her mouth
Hanging from the wall is a man just barely recognizable. From his chest are metal rings stuck through the skin and attached to the ceiling with chains, reminding me of an old Indian ritual. Through his face are hundreds of sewing pins arranged into pentagrams on each of his cheek. Along his naked body are cut marks that look as though they were made from a whip. On his stomach writing was carved into the flesh “I will never rape children again,” read the words. Bellow his waist where manhood should be was a shredded member and on a table lays an odd looking device that must have caused such a horrible sight.
Rushing out of the room we start to go in our original direction finding another doorway which leads to another hall. Suddenly it seems almost as though we’re in a school with doors on each side. Windows show into each room but blinds keep eyes from looking in. What more terrifying sights live with in this building of hell? Is that where we are? Did I do something so wrong in life that would bring me and the one I love to such and end? Could I not have been the only to suffer?
Being hit in the back by something hard I fall to the ground. Trying to push myself up with my one good hand I get kicked knocking me flat to the ground. Seeing my assailant’s feet I reach out grabbing his ankle and trip him. Trying to regain my senses I prepare for a fight. Hearing Hannah’s cries gives me a burst of adrenaline lifting my self up.
The man with the mask rushes at me with a bat, so I begin to sprint at him catching him off guard and knocking him to the ground. All those years of football at least made me good at something useful.
Grabbing the bat with my good hand I start to swing it towards his body. Using his hands he tries to grab the bat and pull it away from me but with a hard strike I hit him square between the legs. Next I start smashing his face in as hard as I can watching blood begin to squirt all the while Hannah’s screams filling the air. Setting the bat down and leaning over trying to catch my breath, all that’s left of his face is a disfigured mass of broken bones. Even if he were still alive he’s not going anywhere.
With Hannah’s help we make our way through the building finding our way outside to find ourselves in an abandoned alleyway in god knows where. Clinging to her barely able to walk, Hannah and I find a gas station and ask to use the phone.
“We need to use your phone, it’s an emergency,” Hannah pleads with the employee at the counter.
“There’s a pay phone in back but this one is only for store use. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no time for that!” Hannah begins screaming, “Can’t you see his arm is cut off? We need an ambulance or he is going to die.”
Suddenly my strength begins to fail me and dizziness over comes me as everything turns black. How long went by I have no idea, but waking up I see white lights and look up to see doctor’s over me. By my other side stands Hannah watching over me with salt dripping down her face. Seeing my eyes open she moves closer but is asked to step back by the doctors. On the other side of the room I can see cops and let myself drift back into sleep realizing that everything is ok now.
When awaking again, I notice an arm wrapped around me and open my eyes to see my love lying next to me watching. Smiling I close my eyes again and snuggle closer to her letting comfort and warmth wash over all that had happened through the night.
