A suffocating darkness pressed down on me, the only sound the erratic thump of my own heart. My head pounded, a dull ache punctuated by sharp stabs of pain. Memories flickered like dying embers in a fire - a woman with fiery red hair, a scream, the glint of a blade. Who was she? What had happened?
With a groan, I pushed myself upright and scanned the cold, damp room. Bare concrete walls, a single barred window high up, offering only a sliver of moonlight. Panic clawed at my throat. I was in a cellar, a prisoner.
My fingers brushed against something hard in my pocket. Relief washed over me as I pulled out a worn leather-bound journal. It felt like a lifeline in the darkness. Hastily, I flipped it open, expecting a blank page, a diary for a future I might not have. Instead, the first page held a chilling inscription:
"Day 1: They took everything. My phone, wallet, even my shoes. But I won't let them take my mind. I will survive this."
The journal was filled with cryptic entries, each dated a day in the future. Day 2 spoke of conserving energy, Day 3 detailed the construction of a makeshift weapon from a loose brick. Vanessa Moore was a constant presence in these entries, a desperate longing threading through the lines. Who was she? My wife? My girlfriend?
Suddenly, a heavy metal door screeched open, flooding the room with harsh light. A hulking figure stood silhouetted against the doorway. "Finally awake, Mr. Evans. You've been quite the guest."
His voice was rough, laced with amusement. Fear choked my throat. Who was this man? Where was Vanessa? He shoved a plate of greasy food towards me and muttered, "Eat. You'll need your strength."
As I wolfed down the meager sustenance, a wave of nausea washed over me. The memories, the fragments of that night, were agonizingly close. A woman, a struggle, the taste of blood... but whose?
Nightmares plagued me throughout the night. Vanessa's face morphed into a mask of terror, the scream that echoed in my head growing louder. In the morning's dim light, I forced myself to focus on the journal. Maybe it held the answers I desperately craved.
YOU ARE READING
The Killer's Journal
Mystery / ThrillerMark Evans wakes up in a cold, damp cellar with no memory of how he got there. A cryptic journal found in his pocket becomes his only solace, detailing his struggle for survival in captivity. The entries reveal a brutal past - a chilling accusation...
