When the man comes down to collect the trays, he lingers longer than he usually does, looking between us and looking us up and down like he's trying to figure out what we've been talking about. I do the same to him, as I've been doing all this time. If the police don't get him right away, they'll need as many details as they can, and I plan on telling them every little thing about this guy's face, his height, the way he walks.
"We're having a dinner party tonight," he announces. "At the dining room table, not down here. No, it's too depressing down here. Won't that be fun?"
Charlie and I make eye contact for a flash before we nod.
"Wonderful!" he smiles. "I'll be back with gifts."
When the door clicks locked behind him, Charlie runs over to me and whispers in my ear.
"Are we going to run away?"
We're going to try, I think, but that's too neutral for the situation we're about to put ourselves into. So instead, I nod. "Yeah. We are."
..............................
He comes back down with two piles of fancy clothes. For Charlie there's a rose-colored dress and accessories for her hair, and for me there's a suit and slacks. He makes me go into the bathroom to change first, and I do so as fast as I can, not wanting to leave Charlie alone with him for along.
I'm moving at lightning speed until it comes time to do the buttons on the suit, and then I freeze. It fits perfectly, like it was tailored. The only way this would fit me so, so well is if he measured me. And since I don't recall that ever happening, that means he did it when I was asleep.
I swallow the bile rising up in my throat and exit the bathroom, trying to hide the scowl my face has twisted into.
"So handsome!" he cheers, brushing invisible dust off my shoulders. "Go ahead, sweetie."
Charlie goes into the bathroom with her dress, glancing at me before she closes the door.
The man loops a tie around my neck and starts tying it. We're inches away from each other, and while his focus is on the tie, I stare directly at him with dead eyes full of hatred. He notices and smiles, complete unaffected by my malice.
Charlie comes out of the bathroom, awkwardly placing her old clothes on the mattress.
"Beautiful," the man says. "Now, come here. Let me do your hair."
I see Charlie stiffen, but she does as she's told and stands in front of him. He brushes her hair slowly, gently, and the entire time, Charlie's staring at me, her mouth pressed into a thin line. Unable to do anything, I just stare back.
He ties some of her hair up with a ribbon and lets the rest cascade over her shoulders, and as soon as he's done, Charlie walks away from him and stands by me. He takes offense to this, blinking indignantly, but he lets it go.
"Come. It's time for dinner."
He separates us by grabbing my hand with his left hand and Charlie's with his right. His grip on me is not tight enough to bruise, but not loose enough for me to pull away without giving him time to squeeze.
"Let's go," he repeats, and he makes us follow him up the staircase.
YOU ARE READING
Sins of the Father
Horror{Original} A teenager's good deed gets him kidnapped and locked in a basement. They say even the smallest decision can seal your fate, and he may have just sealed his. __________________ No romance or assault, but possibly distressing material. Viol...