Locked Away - Book 1

Chapter 42

"You know my name? You think that means something?" Its voice still hits me in a weird way.

"I know more than just your name."

"You're bluffing." I am.

"You wish."

"Hehehe." It laughs as it slithers across the room.

"I came here to give you an offer." Its head tilts. "Tell me about how you got in me and I won't kill you."

It starts laughing a roaring laugh that shakes the room. Then it rushes at the bars, nearly making me flinch. Its claws wrap around the bars, clinking against the metal. It smiles, just slightly, but enough to see its sharp teeth.

"Deal."

"Really?" I can't help but be confused.

"Would you rather me change my mind?"

"No. Go ahead."

"I want something in exchange."

"Sure." I'm scared about what it may want.

"I want something to eat."

"Like what? A burger? Some nuggets?"

"One of your darkest memories." I freeze, my heart beginning to race. "Specifically that one down the hall. I've been smelling it for 18 years." Its tongue slightly slips out of its mouth.

"That one?" The one with the scratched-off name.

"Yes..." Its tongue slides around one of the bars.

"Fine."

"Now?"

"Fine. How?" It waves a finger onwards itself.

I should say no. I should turn around and leave. I should not be here at all. But I step forward anyway. I need answers more than I care about anything else.

"Closer..." It looks excited as I step closer, now an inch away.

I can smell its breath. It smells like death. Just like that dead raccoon I saw when I was seven. Its tongue slips back into its mouth, now smiling, teeth fully showing. Both of its hands unwrap from the bars, fingers on both sides of my head. It giggles just a little before its fingers touch my head. Immediately flashes of that night rush through my head. One image after another. One feeling after another. Each hitting me with a panic I've worked so hard for so long to keep pushed down. Her face flashes in front of me and I step back, its fingers leaving my head.

"Oh..." It steps back from the bars, mouth salivating, tongue fully out like a dog.

"Are we good?" My voice is shaky and no matter how much I try to control it, I can't.

"We're more than good." It giggles and steps back, sitting on the ground.

"Tell me... everything." I take a seat on the cold hard ground, ready for whatever may come my way.

"Let's start with when I first met your parents."