Are my thoughts deceiving?
He was a young boy, so loving, so forgiving.
But he wasn't the happiest of them all.
Instead, he was in trouble that could make anyone fall.
His parents were gone right before his eyes.
He told himself it was his fault and put himself in this world of lies.
We don't know why he told us his story; could it be to make us cry?
But we did not need to pry.
Yet what he did to my sister is unforgivable.
His act is simply cynical.
My sister got deflowered.
Plucked like a leaf, felt overpowered.
We had to fake sleep:
We couldn't make a sound, not even a peep
Or else he'd descend—
The Bandana's wrath, unrelenting, would never end.
With one eye open, we first saw a creak.
We were helpless, feeling so meek.
My mind was left in a crack.
His tales, more haunting than The Ripper, Jack.
I moaned in sorrow as I was helpless and could not save her.
For what he has done, I pray to God, in hell may he suffer.
– Julian
The door creaked, slow yet mocking. Footsteps echoed sharply and deliberately, stabbing through the children's ears like needles. The children knew they had to act unconscious so as not to alert their kidnapper, every breath controlled, every movement stilled. Their survival depended on keeping their captor unaware.
They prayed in silence and dared to crack an eye open, one by one, desperate to see their captor. As the door opened, the children's hearts thumped ferociously; it rang through their ears, thundered as though it would explode within them. They feared the sound would betray him, but had to see. The door creaked open, spilling faint light into the dark room. It illuminated fractured bones, dried blood splatters, and an ominous shadow that seemed to dance on the walls. The air reeked of damp rot, each breath heavy with decay. The faint hum of flickering lights buzzed above, adding to the silence.
Jasmine stifled a gasp, her hand pressed tightly over her mouth, but soon let go. Judah wanted to step up and break free, but fear pushed through; sweat and tears poured, but he had to raise himself high; Jasmine was watching. Julian's mind raced, desperate to think of a way out, but the weight of fear pinned him to the spot.
The door stopped moving, hanging ajar. For a moment, silence reigned, the air so thick it felt impossible to breathe. Then, the voice came—a low, rasping chuckle that echoed through the room, sending a shiver down their spines. They closed their eyes in fear as footsteps continued coming closer to them, except one, Jasmine.
"Still sleeping, are they?" The voice was like the scrape of metal against stone, filled with malice and amusement. "Or maybe... playing games with me? Hmm? Oh! I do love a game" His tone shifted, sharp and questioning. "The gas should've worn off by now... " He said questioningly. "People react so differently... it keeps things interesting," he said sinisterly.
Jasmine froze in fear as she heard a man's voice. She knew it was the Bandana Bandit's voice, but she had to see how he looked. Curiosity clawed at her like a beast, relentless and sharp. Who was he? Could he know what happened to her parents? The questions swirled in her mind, louder than her fear. She couldn't close her eyes—not now. She had to see him, even if it meant risking everything. She wanted to close her eyes, but the questions lingered, gripping her mind like a leech. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't shake them off.
The Bandana Bandit stepped into the room. His silhouette was barely human—a hulking figure cloaked in shadows, the bandana covering his face a stark contrast against the dim light. His presence seemed to suck all warmth from the room, leaving only an icy void. The siblings shrank back, their instincts screaming to run, but there was nowhere to go.
"Why so quiet?" the Bandit mocked, tilting his head as if amused by their terror.'Still asleep?' the Bandit growled, his breath hot and foul against the icy air. He crouched low, his shadow stretching like claws over Jasmine. 'Maybe I'll have to make sure,' he growled, his voice dripping with malice as he leaned closer. The children could not take it anymore; they had to wake up. The children's terror reached its breaking point—they had to act before he did.
"Stop!" Judah exclaimed. "Don't come near her.... If you touch her, I'll...." Judah kept still, but the silence carried his message.
"Well, well..... Well. Guess the prey came to its predator." "You know, I consider myself a good person... But lying? That, I can't forgive." "If you had stayed in place, I would have let you rest." He said with a grimace in his smile.
"Lies!" Judah exclaimed, "I know you would never do that." Judah shouted, but his voice seemed to waver.
"I don't care what you say, but what could you do in this situation? In your expectation, you think you can fight me, but let me tell you something, boy; here, you are an animal and I am your butcher," The Bandana Bandit said with terror.
Judah froze. His body wanted to move, but fear had cemented him in place. The Bandit tilted his head, studying him like prey.
Jasmine's breath quickened as the Bandit's shadow grew darker. Her fingers dug into the floor, her mind screaming to act, but she couldn't. Not yet. Not until she understood why.
She looked." I might die, but what could be my risk? I have no..." she thought, but she was interrupted by a sharp grin piercing the darkness. The bandit looked at her with a malevolent grimace. What could she do when the smile of the devil was looking right at her?
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT6JgPSJn3
