Artificial Tears

Chapter 21

I open my eyes and find myself in a dark, dusty room.

As I try to move I notice that my hands are bound behind my back with something like chains.

I try to get loose, but it doesn't work, I'm only hurting myself in the process.

"Goddammit." I half cry half panickingly whimper.

Am I still in the nightmare? Or am I in reality, which has also become the nightmare.

It takes me a few minutes to remember what happened: I had been abducted by the masked killer and they didn't kill me. The real one this time, the first one was probably a fake.

I hate that it's too dark to see, especially since I just woke up out of a nightmare.

Hah, from one nightmare, back into another.

Why can't this be just some kind of stupid prank?

Then my friends will jump out of nowhere yelling: "Surprise!"

But they aren't as sick to pull off a joke like this... right?

After I don't know how long of struggling and even calling out, the sound of a heavy door opening gets my attention.

Is someone here?

Is it the killer? Or is it someone else?

I stay quiet as I hear the heavy footsteps approach.

"How are you doing, Edith?" The now all too familiar digital voice asks me.

It's the killer.

Not sure what to say and not wanting to anger the other person, I respond with: "I-I'm okay..."

What the hell was that? Do you want to get killed?!

"Hmpf, I haven't had any friends say that to me before. Usually they just scream and cuss me out."

They get closer to me until eventually close enough to touch.

"May I sit here?"

"S-sure..." I can't help the nervous laugh escaping my lips.

They're going to kill me now, aren't they?

It's silent for a long time and then suddenly they break the silence: "You and I are not that different you know."

I have no idea what he is rambling on about, so I'll just nod carefully.

"Do you know how difficult it is to find someone like us?"

"N-no...?"

I can hear the digital laugh that has haunted my nightmares before: "There might only be the two of us."

Silence again.

"You seem like a nice person, Edith. I will bring you a friend to play with next time."

Finally they stand up and I can hear their footsteps echo through the room, after I can hear the heavy door close again.

Leaving me in the dark again, alone with my mind.

Alone in the silence, alone in the deep, dark feeling of guilt of what will never be righted again.

My breathing wavers and I let out a sob.

Alone is better than with them anyway.

My hands tremble and my tears won't stop.

Should I just give up?

Should I just die?

It might all be my own fault after all.

No, it might be System's fault too.