Samuel stepped into the studio. What had begun as a great day was slowly starting to go downhill. His vision began to blur as his head began spinning. The room in front of him grew hazier as he sunk to the floor, the paper travel mug fell, the brown liquid spilling all over the tiled floor. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was the face of the old woman staring down at him. A strange smile gracing her face.
It was early morning. The sun had not risen yet but the early rays of the sun broke through the clouds casting a dull glow on the empty streets. That was when he saw her for the first time, sitting in a small lawn chair at the end of the street at a table with a stack of paper cups ad a metal container. There was something so compelling and pitiful about the old woman that sat with a sign that said hot tea, that Samuel found himself involuntarily walking up to her. 469Please respect copyright.PENANApHjo6kWmbS
‘Good morning ma’am’ he greeted her as he adjusted the case on his shoulder. He towered over her seated form.469Please respect copyright.PENANAeT7QReTZwP
The old woman’s face lit up,469Please respect copyright.PENANA6bcgr5QpNp
‘Good morning dear’ she croaked and Samuel melted. She looked so harmless.469Please respect copyright.PENANAbdPjRnDYUI
‘Fancy a cup. This blend was my husband’s favourite. He asked for a cup every morning. Right up to the day he died’ She said as she extended her shaking hand to grab a cup. A far way smile on her face469Please respect copyright.PENANAegpwVViHWc
‘I don’t doubt that, it smells delicious.’ Samuel smiled and nodded, reaching for his wallet.469Please respect copyright.PENANAToVEzuA4sc
‘No need for that dear. You seem like a nice young man. You can repay me in kind later’ she said, the smile on her face widening469Please respect copyright.PENANAPk5tqVz6Mm
Samuel’s smile imitated hers as he accepted the cup and took a sip. A metallic sweet taste flooded his mouth along with the unmistakeable taste of spiced tea. He smiled. Samuel like nothing more than free food and he was not going to argue with an old woman on the rice of a cup of tea. A debt like this wouldn’t be that hard to pay off. 469Please respect copyright.PENANATo9qp7a2A0
Right?
Samuel could have never been more wrong. It was all black when he came to. He could not move. It seemed like he was strapped down. Restraint held his head down and a piece of cloth that tasted oddly salty gagged him. Dread had slowly begun to sink in as he tried to break free with no avail. 469Please respect copyright.PENANAwNRdOPM9cY
The room was filled with a strange metallic smell that made it hard to breathe. When his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness around him, the panic that he felt previously increased manifold. 469Please respect copyright.PENANAk9avILlAR3
On the table next to him was the body of an old man, or at least what remained of it. The bones of his arms and legs were picked clean and the blood that dropped fell into a small basin on the floor. The faint dripping sound echoing in the room. 469Please respect copyright.PENANAY2GJWRZMes
He stared at the familiar face of the old man that he had seen at his studio a couple of times. The man stared at the ceiling blankly, his eyes glassy and very dead. His face lacked the usual plump glow that he was familiar with. 469Please respect copyright.PENANAApi6Z1kZFg
His panic grew when he remembered the things the man said about his wife. He did not understand it then, however, being strapped in the lady’s basement brought things into perspective. 469Please respect copyright.PENANA1f7K7X3W2T
‘Be careful what you marry into boy; I wasn’t and I regret it everyday.’469Please respect copyright.PENANAVGdc1lUcAT
The man had said and Samuel had brushed it off as unnecessary advice.469Please respect copyright.PENANAeqGUhbvxDr
Samuel could feel his heart thudding in his chest. Samuel need to get out but the harder he tried to escape the tighter his bonds felt. He fell silent when he heard the faint voice of the old woman from the other side of the door. 469Please respect copyright.PENANAgHRP6vhmI6
‘Thank you officers for finding my grandson. He has these episodes sometimes. I worry for him’ 469Please respect copyright.PENANANVtwwYPwmw
‘No problem Ma’am. It’s our duty’ A man said and not a while later a door shut behind them.
The door to the room opened and the old woman shuffled in. She shut the door behind her and switched on a light that barely filled the room.469Please respect copyright.PENANAIbKim5PLUC
The glow of the bulb making her face a lot creepier than it actually was. Or it was probably Samuel’s fear that had morphed her face. 469Please respect copyright.PENANAGo9LjdqhJl
His breathing quickened as she approached him. 469Please respect copyright.PENANA9MGmFXdLOq
‘I don’t know what my late husband has been telling you about me’ she said glancing to the man on the table.469Please respect copyright.PENANATUAZYJdqB8
—‘he always had a loose mouth’ she said chuckling.469Please respect copyright.PENANAHfWhxVLt9D
‘I can’t have you saying the same things now. It’s time for you to pay me in kind dear.’ 469Please respect copyright.PENANAIcxFw2gWqu
She said walking over to a smaller table and pulling out a long sharp knife. 469Please respect copyright.PENANALg4wDKP5Fm
‘It’s been a while since I’ve had something fresher. My husband is a little... Stale’ She said walking closer as Samuel muffled screams barely escaped the soundproof room.
Beware of what you drink!!
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Love, 469Please respect copyright.PENANAyO4RUxwBJ4
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