The Masked Killer - A.T Ben Saad || English

Chapter 18: Noah (The past)

I stride through the corridors of the football club, elated, my heart soaring with excitement. I've just been moved up to the team for boys aged fourteen to sixteen! I'm finally allowed to join the real players! My dreams are expanding, growing with every step; what if I get scouted? Maybe I could play for a major club someday! I parade around with an almost giddy pride.

As I round the corner toward the canteen, I collide with Ward. His grip is uncomfortably tight on my upper arms as he motions toward a locker room. I freeze, my elation quickly giving way to unease. I follow him, knowing all too well what this means. Why is it that I can never be happy or naive without being crushed by Ward's looming shadow?

The locker room has a lock. Ward approaches me, his fingers caressing my cheek with an unnerving gentleness. "Congratulations! I heard you're joining my team?" he says, his grin wide and menacing. I look at him, bewildered. Since when is Ward the coach of the boys' team? His smile widens. "We should celebrate this, of course."

His voice makes my skin crawl. "So, what should I do now?" he says, his gaze raking over my body. "Well, turn around," he orders. I comply, feeling a cold sweat break out as I hear him unfasten his belt. My gaze falls to the ground, my body numb. I feel myself sinking, overwhelmed by a desperate urge to escape. I wish I could be someone else, somewhere far from here. Ward's hands reach the waistband of my pants, and I slip away into a dark void.

---

I find myself in a dimly lit room. A single lamp casts a feeble glow over a small, thin figure hunched over, mirroring my earlier stance. A man and a woman watch me with sympathetic eyes. The man, a towering figure with a muscular build covered in tattoos, exudes a formidable presence. The woman, elegant and composed with her hair neatly tied back, opens her arms. I rush into her embrace, tears streaming down my face.

"I don't want this anymore! It hurts so much!" I cry out. The woman strokes my hair soothingly. "Shhh, it's alright. We're here to help you." Her voice is a gentle balm, reminiscent of my mother's comforting tone. She caresses my back, her touch warm and reassuring. "Don't worry, there's no need to cry." Her voice somehow numbs my grief, and the tears cease as if by magic. She lifts my chin and wipes away my cold tears with her warm hands. "It will be okay, alright?" I nod, feeling a glimmer of hope.

She gestures to the man with the imposing physique. "This is Damon. He will help you in threatening situations," she says formally. I look at Damon, his icy gaze softening in my presence. I hug him, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you!" I exclaim. He stiffens momentarily but then wraps his strong arms around me.

"And this is Mike," she continues, pointing to the thin figure bathed in the lamp's light. "He will help you with—well, situations like this. You always wanted this to stop happening, right? Mike is eager to take over." She indicates the slender boy. I start to move towards Mike, but the woman holds me back. "Don't! He's not here," she says.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confusion gripping me.

"He's in your world now. As soon as you step into the light, you'll return to that dreadful situation. He will signal you when he's ready," she explains.

"Oh—oh, okay," I say, my voice echoing in the quiet room. "What's your name, by the way? Mrs...?"

"You don't need to use 'Mrs.' for me. I don't have a name yet. You can give me one." I raise an eyebrow, thinking hard. "Chloë," I say finally. She nods, her smile warm. "That's a beautiful name, thank you." A genuine smile spreads across my face, a rare feeling of peace and tranquility washing over me. I no longer have to be afraid. I am safe.

Mike steps out of the light. "Mike! You're back!" Chloë announces formally. Her posture is perfect.

"Yes, indeed. Hi, I'm Mike. Nice to meet you," Mike says quickly. He extends a shy hand.

"Hi!" I respond with cheerful relief.

The lamp begins to flicker, and the room starts to shake violently. I nearly topple over, but Damon catches me. "Oh, Noah, your time here is up! It's time to step back into the light!" Chloë calls out.

"But I just got here!" I protest.

"You can return as often as you like, but go now or we will disappear!" she insists. I nod and sprint toward the light. I manage a final wave, but soon feel myself being lifted by an unseen force. Before I know it, I close my eyes, losing all control.

---

When I open my eyes, I'm alone in the locker room, my pants around my knees. Ward is gone. Where did he go? It feels as though time has skipped, as if I missed what just happened. I feel a sharp sting and reach for my ass. I touch warm fluid—no, not fluid. My world begins to spin when I look at my hand; red blood, mixed with something I deny thinking about. I stagger to the bathroom and quickly clean myself up. Walking is painful. What has happened to me? I sigh, shrugging off the confusion. I can't tell my parents, because Ward is my father's best friend and he won't believe me if I would say what he did to me. I pull up my pants and cautiously open the door. No one is there. I am safe.