Standing in front of the biggest house in the suburbs on the Eastside of Town, I stared at the "For Sale" sign on the lawn. This means the inhabitants of the house were gone.
‘It looks like I am stuck.’
“Hello, Emma. You are not going to work today?”
I look to my right and see Mr. Yamada walking toward me wearing his business suit.
“Good morning sir.”
“Good morning.” He stands beside me. “Looking to buy a house?”
I sigh at his weak joke, “No.”
“Well, I recommend not buying this one because it is haunted.”
“Haunted?”
He nods. “The owners of the house were found dead in one of the hidden rooms. Whoever did it tied them up and left them to starve to death.”
That's when I recalled Jake saying something about his parents never loving him and shudder. “Did…did the owners have a child?”
“Yes, but he was declared missing and then declared dead after a few years. No one knows where the child is to this day.” then he looked at his watch. “Oops. I am going to be late for work. Have a good day!”
I watched him run down the street and look back at the house. Curious, I walk to the back of the house and take a peek inside through the windows.
‘There is nothing out of the ordinary.’ I think. ‘It’s just an empty house.’
“Useless!”
I jump back in horror and land on my butt. Standing by the window and screaming at the top of her lungs was a skinny woman with grey skin, white eyes, and yellow teeth wearing what looked like a pink blouse. As she banged on the window, huge chunks of her hair fell off and I see the ropes around her bony wrists.
“You useless child! You useless stupid child! Release me! You useless stupid child!”
I spring to my feet and run away. Stopping to catch my breath by the telephone pole, I take out my phone and call Gwen but it went straight to voicemail.
“Hello, Gwen? I haven’t heard from you since last night. I discovered something about Jake. Please call me back.”
I turn it off and look over at the horizon and leave the neighborhood. The time belonged when I paid to use one of the computers in the Cyber Cafe.
‘It says in his file that he is an assassin.’ I thought typing away. ‘Let's see why.’
I press the enter key and a newspaper article appeared.
MAD MAN’S ARMY CAMP EXPOSED
The police uncovered an illegal army camp situated on the outskirts of Green Tea City led by an Ex-Military Colonel who calls himself General Ming. Police raided the area on November 2016 and found many young boys ranging from seven to twenty-one. Some of the boys admitted they were sent there by their parents who were tricked into thinking this was a military school for boys while most of them were orphans. They were taught how to assassinate and fight using firearms, knives, swords, and martial arts skills following the code of the Samurais. Some of the training includes learning how to cover up crime scenes, make their crimes look like ‘accidents’, and what to say when they are interrogated.
The Police investigated the camp and recovered tons of firearms and swords all bought on the black market. A shallow grave was also discovered in the area containing bodies of young boys all victims of the brutal treatment they faced in the camp. An autopsy on them reveals some of them died from starvation and hypothermia but most of them perished in the hands of the Commander or their mates in brutal combat.
General Ming, faced a trial for his crimes in the Federal but claims he is not guilty because he believes he is doing this for the benefit of Japan. When his lawyer pleads insanity claiming his client has post-traumatic stress disorder, the court did not buy it and he was sentenced to death. On the day he was to be executed, he asked the court to organize a seppuku, an ancient way of execution…
The remaining part of the article told of the mixed reactions the public gave to his execution and how the country sponsored the boys’ recovery through therapy but most of the elites committed suicide two days after their ‘Commander’ was killed all doing the seppuku execution. They were able to ‘save’ a few of the Elites and Jake was among them.
This made my blood run cold and I whip out my phone to call Gwen but it went to voicemail.
‘I have been unable to get her all day.’ I turn it off. 'I hope she is alright.'
Someone tapped me on the shoulder. “Excuse me, ma’am. There is someone outside who wants to see you.”
I look outside the window and then back at the person who was in charge of the Café before turning off the computer. Walking outside drinking the wine of fear, I look around but find no one.
“Good evening Emma.” A familiar voice said.
I look behind me. "Good evening can I help you?"
"It looks like you have forgotten me."
'Wait a minute that voice…’ I look at him. “Magic Alexander?”
"It’s a small world but I am happy to see you," he said. "How are you?"
"I am fine thank you very much," I said keeping my tone sharp. “And how are you?”
He sighed. "I am doing well. Thank you for asking."
We stared at each other in silence which was disrupted by the owner playing music from the inside.
“You transferred to a new school.” His voice was cold.
I nod. “Is that a problem for you?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Why?”
“Haven’t watched the news? Most of the students who enter the school don’t come out alive and I heard you nearly got killed twice. Doesn’t that bother you?”
I fold my arms in annoyance for he hasn't changed a bit for he was still tall with black hair, bushy eyebrows, and brown eyes and wearing the Student Council Uniform which was white with a red badge on the sleeve. All of this suited his cold and serious personality well.
‘He never cared about me while I was in school. So why is he caring now?' I narrowed my eyes at him. “I understand the consequences of my decision but I don't need to tell you why I left do I?”
He raised his eyebrows and sighed. “No. You don’t have to remind me.”
"Good. Then I would be leaving." then I walk out on him.
"You have changed. What happened to that girl who cried a lot and was scared of her own shadow?"
I stop and he continues, “That school was once called Academi High. Back in 1980, a series of murders took place with only one person as a suspect but the court found her innocent because of flimsy evidence. Then in 2012, another series of murders began and the police could not find a suspect. Then in 2018 students started disappearing only to reappear to kill each other. This is still going on ‘til this day and you still want to stay there?”
It was not easy to show his words did not bother me but I pulled it off when I looked back at him. “Goodnight Magic.”
I thought about what he said on my way back to the Motel. ‘His story is similar to Brutes’ tale except one has more details and Brutes never mentioned the school was once called Academi High.’
I unlock the door to my Motel room and open it. ‘Despite everything, it is way better than staying in my former school.’
‘We all know the real reason why you left that school.’
I ignore it and call Gwen one last time.
“H…Hello?”
Her voice sounded weird. “Gwen? It is me, Emma. I sent you a voicemail. Did you listen to it?”
“Yeah. Let’s meet in Park 21”
‘Wait a minute, that’s near the Motel we are staying at.’ my eyes instinctively looked around the room. “Is everything all right?”
There was silence at her end of the line.
“HELP ME!”
My heart skipped a beat as the line went dead and I try to call for help but colors appeared on the screen before it went dead.
‘You have got to be kidding me.’ so, I put the phone in my bag, I grab the axe I snuck in, and unlock the door.
“Surprise!”
That was the last thing I heard before everything went black.
There was something metallic in my mouth as my head throbbed and my ears were ringing but despite everything, I struggle to open my eyes.
“It’s noon and she is starting to wake up.”
‘Wait a minute, that voice…’
“It’s 12:01 and her eyes are starting to open…”
“Ugh,” The voice was close…very close.
“12:04 and she said something.”
‘Wait that voice sounds familiar.’ I finally open my eyes and immediately wished I closed them.
“Good afternoon Beloved. Did you sleep well? Hmm?”
Seeing his crazed face under the dim light made me jolt back but I find myself restrained.
“Be careful Beloved. You don’t want to get yourself hurt. I did make the knots a little too tight for comfort.”
‘Knots?’ I tried moving my hands but it burned.
“You see what I mean? You are going to get yourself hurt.” He chuckled. “Sorry but I don’t want you to escape considering all the times you try to betray me.”
‘Betray you?’ I could barely feel the circulation going through my arms and feet.
“Emma?”
I look behind him and see Gwen tied to a chair in her underwear blindfolded with tears on her cheeks and scars on her body but what terrified me was the long insects crawling all over her body leaving red spots on her pale skin.
“Emma.” She cried.
“Gwen!” I tried to move but the ropes held me in position.
“It looks like you care about her a lot huh.”
I look back at Jake and see the sad look on his face.
“You care so much you are willing to hurt yourself.”
Then he walked over to her with a knife in hand and took off the blindfold while she whimpered.
“Please let me go.” She begged. “Please! Let me…No…don’t do that…don’t…no…it’s going to attract them…NO!”
She screamed as he cut her on the chest giving her a huge scar. As she bleed, all the insects crawled to where the injury was and I watched as she jolted back and forth trying to shake them off. Then he cut her on the sole of the legs, her thighs, arms, and back of her neck leaving huge scars.
“Well now, it looks like I am running out of insects.” He grabbed a bucket sitting in the corner of the room and poured the contents on her. Gwen screamed in agony as the insects rushed towards the injuries and he made more cuts all over her body.
I had seen enough. “Jake please stop this.”
He continued to cut her.
“Stop it!”
He ignored me so I shout louder. “STOP! CAN’T YOU SEE YOU ARE KILLING HER? STOP!”
He looked back at me with psycho eyes. “Why should I? You ignored my calls, blocked my number, and had me worried sick.”
Then he took out his phone and walked toward me. “To top it off, you ran away with her while I was waiting for you at home. Do you know how hurt I am?”
I stared in horror. It was the picture of me helping Gwen out of the school premises. “H…how did you get that?”
“So you were planning to run away with her.”
“No, I was…” but something cold was aimed at my throat.
“Really? You close from work by 9 PM and it takes 45 minutes from there to your place on foot and 15 minutes if you take a taxi. I came home by 8:57 PM and had dinner ready by 9:30 but by 10:15 you weren’t home. I got worried so I called you by 5:15 AM but you didn’t answer. I called again by 6:05 AM but you didn’t answer. I called by 6:45 AM but your phone was dead. I went looking for you all day and found you talking to Gwen by 11:08 AM by the Diner. After watching her wait for you all day and buying you trash to eat, I followed you to a motel located on the East side of town close to the border. Yesterday morning by 7:55 AM, she took you to a Café to eat breakfast, and by 8:25 AM you told her about me and she said the only way to get rid of me was to kill me right? People like me should either be locked up or executed eh?.”
My blood turned cold as the knife was taken away from my neck.
“I am so hurt!” he turned his phone to his face, letting the light shine on his face. “Look at me, Emma. Look into my eyes! Don’t you see how hurt I am? Don’t you care?”
All I saw was insanity.
“I wanted to kill her,” he said breathing heavily. “I wanted to kill her because she was threatening our love! She was going to replace me in your heart! Then I thought, ‘Where is the fun in that? I could show you how serious I am and have fun at the same time so, I TORTURED HER INSTEAD!”
As he said that last part, he spread his arms wide open and smiled sadistically sending chills up my spine.
“It was fun. The way she screamed, the way she cried, the confidence disappearing when I made her pay for trying to steal you away from me…” he chuckled. “It made up for the time I let those b@stards get off easy after they tried to rape you. And here she was boasting that she could take me on. I bet she wasn’t expecting this. She even tried to run away while we were fighting. Imagine that? How could you date such a coward, my love?”
He grabbed my face and forced me to look at her.
“Look at her Beloved. Just look at her. She is the kind of person who would abandon you the minute something bad happens.” he let go. “But I’m not. I am loyal and brave unlike her my Love. I will gladly lay down my life for you but her…”
At this point, he started giggling so hard that he covered his mouth.
“W…what do you want?” at this point, I have seen and heard enough.
The excitement in his eyes disappeared. “What do you think I want Beloved?”
I say nothing as he approached me.
“What I want is right here.”
I gulp and look at Gwen who was still shivering and squirming.
“Love me,” he whispered into my ear, his hot breath on my cheek. “All you have to do is love me. Is that so hard?”
I give him a sideways glance.
“Fill my cold empty heart with the warmth of your love like you did once.” He whispered again touching my face. “And I will fill yours with a lot more love than she or anyone else could give.”
My body trembled because of how simple he made it sound. Love him. Simple isn’t it? All I had to do is to love him. Unfortunately, I was no longer the kind of person who would love someone so blindly because of what happened back in my former school and I couldn’t pretend either.
With tears in my eyes, I bow my head. “I…I can’t.”
He moved away from me. “Why?”
“Emma…” Gwen croaked. “Don’t do it.”
He turned to face her while I tried to search for the right words to say. “Be…because you… you need help!”
He looked back at me with a frown on his face. “Why do I need help?”
‘Here it goes.’ I gulp and manage to face him. “I know who you are!”
“WHAT?”
I jolt back and feel the rope burn my skin. ‘Crap! He got mad!’
‘Then stop panicking and start talking.’ Ordered my inner voice.
“I mean, I know your history! The illegal camp, how they treated you like an animal used for war and the fact that you might be mentally unstable…”
“Mentally unstable?!” He stood in front of me. “Beloved…are…are you tell…telling me that…that I am…INSANE?”
My blood felt my blood go cold when he said that last part. “I said you might be mentally unstable because most of the rescued boys committed suicide and…”
“B….but th…that does…doesn’t me…mean I am in…insane right?” he said as his eyes widened and his breath hitched. “I…I mean…they ki…KILLED the…themselves but…I…did…didn’t so…so that…doesn’t…ma…make me…in…INSANE! R…RIGHT DARLING?”
‘Please don’t pick up the knife. Please don’t pick up the knife!’ I beg.
‘At least you told him half of the reason why you can’t love him.’
A murderous look appeared on his face and he clutched it and started chuckling. Then he threw his head back and laughed like a maniac. It was scary! Tears were coming out of his psychotic eyes, his mouth was wide open making him look like a madman, and his laugh…
I watched him until it slowly faded away ending with him breathing slowly but something in me knew I will remember this night for the rest of my life.
"Ahh, I feel better now." his voice went back to normal and crouched down to look at me.
I look away.
"Beloved," he tried cupping my face with his hands but I struggle out of their grip ignoring the rope burns. Tsking, he walked behind me and tilted my chair backward.
He chuckled when he saw the resistance in my eyes. “I get it. You think I’m insane huh?” he tilted his head to the right. “I did not want you to dig up on my past but…but…but I am glad you did. Now you know what I am capable of doing and I have nothing to hide from you.”
I was speechless at how he was trying to make things normal.
“I am not insane Beloved. What better way to prove that than by being your boyfriend?”
Fear returned to my eyes and he grabbed my shoulders. “Give me a chance to prove that I am not insane! Let me into your heart and I will prove that I am mentally stable to be your boyfriend.”
“But…”
He put his finger on my lips. “Let me prove it to you. Let me into your heart and I will show you that I am not insane.”
I felt ants crawl up my body when he said that.
‘Remember, you have to give him a reply.’
“Emma don’t. Don't do it.”
I looked behind him and see Gwen struggling to get out of her bonds.
“Don’t do it. He isn’t worth it. Don’t do it!”
He frowned and stood up.
“Don’t do it! He isn’t worth it! Don’t accept…”
He gagged her mouth with a cloth and picked up a large box with a cloth covering it. ‘Crap! What is in that box? A bomb?’
“Jake don’t do it!” I beg as he wore a pair of gloves. “Jake please don’t do it!”
He ignored me and took off the cloth revealing a glass box with a nine-inch centipede crawling in it.
“Hey little buddy.” he picked it up from the tail. “I haven’t fed you for some days. Are you hungry?”
The creature squirmed trying to break free from his grip and he giggled at its fruitless attempt to escape. Walking over to Gwen with the centipede in his hand and put forced her head to the side.
I got the message. “Jake?”
“I wonder how SHE will taste like don’t you little buddy?” he said putting it closer to her ear.
“Jake?”
Gwen began to squirm as its antennas brushed her ear. “In you go…”
“Okay! Okay! I will give you a chance!” I scream.
He stopped and stared at me. “Really?”
Despite Gwen shaking her head vigorously and every part of my body screaming ‘No’ I nod. He quickly dropped his ‘friend’ back in the glass box, took off the gloves, and rushed towards me. Grabbing my face he kissed me.
Tears pricked my eyes as I returned the kiss. ‘What on earth I’m I doing?’
‘Saving her.’
We broke off the kiss and he licked the tears pouring from my eyes. “Don’t cry, my love. You are wasting all your lovely essence.”
I sniffed and he kissed me on the cheek.
“But don’t worry. I will make sure you will never cry again because we are going to be together, forever.”
My eyes widened. “For…forever?”
“Yep! Forever” he kissed me again and hugged me. “So don’t cry Beloved. Don’t waste your lovely essence. Don’t cry.”
I do the opposite and cry buckets.
ns 18.68.41.179da2
