Devil's Little Plaything

Part Nine

"Help me...help me please."

I sat up, the basement was pitch black aside from a dim light on the wall above me. "Hello?" I whispered, standing up. "Hello? Where are you?" I suddenly remembered the floor plan. "Hang on." I called, feeling around the walls for a door handle or latch. "There has to be a way into that ro-what the?" My hand depressed into the wall and I fell forward onto my knees.

"Who's there?"

I stood up, there was a demon chained to the wall by his neck, a mass of black hair covered his face and tattered, stained blankets covered his legs. "Oh my goodness." I gasped, stepping over cautiously. "Who are you?" He asked nervously, shaking his head wildly. I got on my knees and gently parted his hair from his face, one of his eyes was covered by an eye patch, the other was cloudy and sunken. "I'm Antisepticeye, what happened to you?" I asked. "M-Master Mark...he's... punishing me." He stammered out. "You're a slave too?" I gasped, "I was, young one. Until I tried to escape... Mark blinded me with chemicals, and paralyzed me from the waist down...I'm waiting here to die." He replied solemnly. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. "What's your name?" I managed to say. "I...I don't remember...Mark always referred to me as, Rat. You can call me that." He croaked. "Help me Antisepticeye, help me die." He lifted his head. "I, I can't do that. Let's get out of here together." I replied, reaching for the chains. "I have nothing to live for Antisepticeye. Please, find the gun Mark keeps in the basement and give it to me." He begged. "I...I..." I stammered, looking back at the basement. "You don't want to get caught. I understand." He replied. "There's a bottle of bleach somewhere, bring that to me instead. He won't know what killed me." He pointed towards the basement. "A-are you sure? Maybe there's another way." I protested. I can't just kill him...I'm not a murderer. "Grant a diying man's wish...I can't see, I can't walk, I can't remember the last time I ate." He coughed. "Please." I heard thumping footsteps from above. Shit, has Mark heard us? I dashed into the basement and began rummaging around the workbench. I found the bottle of bleach and reluctantly handed it to Rat. "Thank you. Please, take it back once I am done. That way I am not leaving evidence." He flicked the cap on the bottle and chugged the chemical like it was a pint of beer. He then replaced the cap and placed it beside him. "It wasn't the most pleasant of beverages, but knowing I'll go peacefully is what matters. Thank you Antisepticeye, I wish you good speed in your escape. Stop Mark and the others, stop this from happening to anyone else." He coughed. "You're welcome...I think..." I mumbled. "Go now, you need to focus on getting away." I picked up the bleach bottle and stepped back into the basement, I pressed the same brick and the wall slid back into place. "Rest in peace, Rat." I sniffed.

The basement door flung open, I quickly sat down on the blankets and pretended to be asleep. I heard Mark stop close to me, his breathing heavy. I held my breath and shut my eyes even tighter. Please don't find out...if I end up like Rat I'll never escape. I heard the hidden door slide open. "What the? I'm pleased you're dead you little rat but why can I smell bleach?" I gulped. No...no... please don't find out...I opened one eye and saw Mark with Rat over his shoulder, his lifeless body dangling like a doll. He was free. He got his wish. Poor guy.

"Anti! Wake up!"

My eyelids fluttered as I woke, I stretched and sat up. Mark was standing at my feet. "Good, you're awake. Right, my garden needs tending to today. You'll mow the grass, water my plants, and you'll clean up after Chica." He explained. I stood up. "Yes Master." I replied. I followed him upstairs. I don't think he's cottoned on that I helped Rat last night.

Mark led me into the garden, the once easily climbable fence was now covered in a steel mesh with barbed wire. "You've no chance of escape this time, demon." Mark cooed. I shuddered as he leaned in close to me. "I've got my eye on you, any funny business and you're in deep trouble." I nodded and he backed away. "Chop chop, I want the garden looking good for when Amy arrives." I nodded and set off exploring the garden.

I watched Chica dash across the grass, squeaky bone in her mouth. The lawnmower sputtered and crackled as it turned off, I shoved it back into the shed and caught my breath. I was finished, well, until Mark found something else for me to do.

"Anti!"

My eyes widened, "Dark!" I cried, stepping over to the gate. Dark was just visible behind the mesh covering. "I knew you'd come!" I beamed. "I'd never leave you behind." He called back. "Listen to me, Mark's around the front garden, we don't have much time." I heard him tinkering with the gate. "I hope he hasn't seen you." I looked around anxiously. Chica bounded over and began ramming my leg with her fluffy face. "Chica, no." I turned to her and tried to usher her away. She began to bark and jump up happily. "No no, shh!" I put my fingers to my lips. "Dark, how you getting on with that gate?" I called. The gate shook and rattled behind me. "Almost got it." He grunted. Chica continued to howl and bark. I panicked and grabbed her squeaky bone and threw it across the garden, she dashed after it happily. "Phew. Good thing that was there." I wiped the sweat from my brow.

The viranda doors squeaked. I gasped. "Shit. Dark, Mark's coming." I whispered to him. "Don't worry, I got it." The gate opened and Dark grabbed my sleeve and pulled me through. "Thank you, Dark." I puffed as he relocked the gate. "Don't mention it, come on, we're not done yet." He dragged me through the front garden and onto the driveway.

"Where are you? You better not be hiding from me you little shit!"

"Dark!" I panicked, pulling at his sleeve. "It's okay," he soothed, "come with me." I followed him off of the driveway and out onto the street. There was a rundown pick up truck parked outside. "We're borrowing this from Mark." He chuckled. Four demons were sitting in the back with guns. "We're putting an end to Mark for good." One called. I grinned. "Let's do it."