Like Father, Like Daughter

Chapter Twenty-Two

 Chapter Twenty-Two

Sophia

David says he has a demonstration for me today; something I will enjoy he says.

He said it will help me realize my whole point of being; the whole reason I walk this Earth. He told me today it will all be clear as to why I am here.

He came down again earlier in the morning and gave me breakfast: an old apple and stale waffles, delicious. I ate it though; he terrifies me. He told me to be ready to be amazed. He said I will love what he has to show me. I'm sure I won't though. After yesterday with the friend's thing, I realized this man is capable of anything. He is crazy enough to try anything.

I hear footsteps coming down the basement stairs along with the sound of a banging. David rounds the small wall, showing his face only.

"Here, put this on princess, I have a few things to set up and I want you to be completely surprised." He tosses a black blindfold onto the bed with one hand. I am hesitant to tie it around my eyes; I don't trust one bone in that man's spiteful body. I do it anyway; terrified that he will start to yell at me. I take the small, silk thing and tie it around my eyes. All I see is darkness and my stomach drops. Why am I doing everything he tells me to? I should be fighting back, I'm strong. He is trying to make me weak, I can see that.

I hear rustling and all I can do is clench the pillow tightly, certain my knuckles are white. After what seems to be ten minutes David says, "Okay princess, I'm going to help guide you to your seat. Please be respectful to the audience and to the performer. There are three rules to the show. Number one is to please clap when need be. The second is to remain seated during the entire demonstration. The third and final being do not scream, shout, or cry at any time. It's just plain disrespectful."

I feel grimy hands on my elbow and I become on edge. I hate when he touches me. I hate how he feels the need to control me, I hate it all. David pushes onto my shoulders and I fall hard into a cold, plastic chair that feels like it will break with any single movement. I sit up, pin straight, petrified to break any of his rules. Father takes his hand and caresses my face with it, making me want to spit with utter disgust but I can't. Father won't like that.

I feel his hands at the back of my head now, starting to untie the blindfold. I am nervous to see what this demented man has to show me. "Sophia." His mouth close to my ear. "Enjoy my dear." He pulls the blindfold away and reveals the star performer.

I throw up next to the chair when I see the horrifying thing he wants to show me. There, pinned against a spinning wheel, is a teenage girl who looks to be about sixteen or seventeen. Her mouth is covered with thick, black tape and here eyes are puffy from crying. This man has probably been tormenting this poor girl and it makes me sick to my stomach.

"Today, Sophia. I am going to teach you your first lesson. The kill." He walks over towards the girl, leaving a loud noise as his boots thud against the ground. "I want to mentally prepare you for what you will be seeing in the future. I want you to witness me taking this life from this innocent girl. I want you to see what its like to see life leave someone's eyes. It's the most amazing thing you will witness." He looks towards me with excitement in his eyes and I get frustrated.

"What is the whole point of me seeing this?" My voice is sharp and harsh.

"I'm going to teach you." He replies, the same excitement still in his crazy eyes.

"Teach me to what?" My voice becomes weaker, scared of what he is going to say.

"I'm going to teach you how to kill. You are going to be the greatest killer this world has ever seen Sophia. I see it in you, the darkness. You can't run from it. I am going to help you channel that darkness and become the killer you were meant to be." I freeze. I think I actually stop breathing for a second. I throw up again but this time it is dry heaving. I feel a stabbing pain in my chest and I become sick. I start to shake and my jaw starts to bounce up and down uncontrollably, making my teeth clank together. I'm having a full-blown panic attack.

He wants to turn me into a killer. He wants me to kill for fun, to take the life from an innocent person. I may have a slight dark side but I don't think I would ever have the power to take a life from someone. I'm a nice person. I'm Sophia Wess, valedictorian, future pediatrician. I am not and will never be a cold-blooded killer. I can't think, my mind won't process anything. My heartbeat starts to pick up and my vision starts to blur. I can't. I'd rather die than be put through this hell.

He'll force me to do it. I'll have no choice. He will kill me if I don't but then again, I think I'd rather be dead. Curiosity killed the cat they say, and I thought earlier that I'd rather be dead than insane. The saying could not be truer. I dug way too deep and got myself into so much trouble. I think I may end up just like the cat. He is going to kill me when he finds out what a failure I am to him. He will take a knife to my throat the minute I refuse and I think maybe I'd be okay with that considering the other option.

"Don't be scared sweetie. It'll be so much fun." He comes over towards me to comfort me but I want him to get far away from me.

"Get away from me!" I scream as loud as my little lungs will allow.

"You broke the rules, I'm going to have to punish you later for that." He grits his teeth. "This girl is waiting to put on a show for you so sit in your seat and be quiet." He starts to stalk back over towards the girl but I can't let him kill her. I can't let him hurt her.

I jump out of the wobbly chair and sprint towards him. I jump onto his back thinking it will somehow help but then realize it was only a big mistake. "That's another punishment for you little girl. I'll deal with you later." His words frighten me, fears runs through every part of my body, consuming me. I thought I could conquer fear, but I was wrong. I'm not strong enough.

David slams me back into the chair and pulls rope from his pocket. "I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice." He pulls the rope tightly and I feel it piercing my skin, I know it's going to leave huge bruises.

"Now, please sit back and enjoy the show." His personality switches back to the happy guy and I brace myself for what I am about to see.