ILLUSIONS

Run

'Run son. Run.'

Raymond looked at his dad and was confused.

He didn't understand any of what was happening.
'Son, run!'

This time the ferocity in his dad's voice alone was enough to send him running like the devil himself was after him.

The place was dark and he kept on crashing into obstacles. He knew where they were. In the barn behind their house. He played there a lot of times with his dad.

Today however had been different. He had fallen asleep and when he has woken up, night had fallen.

He screamed his dad's name and then, had come the instruction to run. He wasn't scared at first but as he kept on running in circles and crashing into obstacles, his fear greatly increased.

He stopped for a while.

'Dad?' Ray whispered in the dark.

There was no response and his fear heightened.

'Dad?!' He screamed.

He started running again.

Something suddenly occurred to him. The obstacles had not being there. Some one had placed them there.
Someone who wanted to scare him on purpose.

Someone had set the place up but why?

He stopped suddenly and he heard a shrill laughter. It was very nerve racking.

'Tired of running, Ray?'

It was his dad alright.

'Dad, I'm scared.'

He groped in the darkness as he searched for his a place to hide.

He begun to cry as he increasingly became frustrated.

It hit him.

His dad had set this up but why?
He found a place to hide and became very silent.

His dad then started to search for him.

'Ray, where are you? ' his dad asked in the darkness.
'I'm not going to hurt you.'

Ray could hear him draw close as his dad searched for him. He was helpless and scared.

'Ray, I'm gonna find you, you know. '

Ray stood up and proceeded to run away and run straight into his dad, who grabbed his shoulders.

'You scared yet, son?'

'Dad, yes I am, ok?

He said between sobs. What's the meaning of all of this?'

His dad gently sat down and placed Ray on his laps.
It was almost as if Ray was staring at a stranger. He had transformed in that moment into someone he couldn't recognise.

'We are going to play a game, and I needed you to feel hunted first. I like it that way better.'

His dad smiled ruthlessly.
He loved the hunt and being in control.
'Now that that has been accomplished, the real game begins.'

His dad stripped his pants down.
It suddenly dawned on him what his dad was going to do.

'Dad, please don't do....'
His dad held him close.

'Shhhhhhhh, it won't hurt.'
Ray looked anything but excited about what was about to happen.

'Dad, please. ...'

His plea went unheeded as his dad stripped his pants.
'I love you, son.'

Then his dad turned him around.

Ray screamed.

He woke up drenched in sweat.

He was in bed in his plush apartment. Of late, he had been having more frequently, those dreams and hated it as they had become more real with time. He sighed audibly and sat up in bed.

Ray loved the dark and was used to it. Years with his dad in that hellhole had made him grow to enjoy the dark but not what happened there.

He got out of bed and made his way to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink. He took in three quick shots and placed the glass down with a thud. He needed it for what he was about to do.

He walked back to his bedroom and wore just a pair of slacks.

Barefooted, he made his way to the basement. The whole house was still in darkness and he loved it that way.

Finally in the basement, he walked to wall and pulled aside the curtain that covered that portion, revealing a secret door. He was the only one who knew about it.

He walked into his little haven and smiled. It was sickening. Here, he relieved every experience he went through each night in his dad's arms. Except this time, he wasn't the victim. He never was. He was in control. Ho loved the rush of blood through his blood vessels as his victims looked totally helpless.

The thrill he experienced was amazing and nothing could compare to it. He picked up a knife and walked to where the body lay. The individual lying on the floor was so battered and weak.
But Ray wasn't done yet.

There was one last thing to do.

Ray put the knife to the man's back and slowly run it down to his leg.

He was Rick.

'Wake up, Rick.'

Rick grunted.

He whispered into Rick's ears.

'You're free to go.'

Rick couldn't see a thing in the thick darkness.

'Run, Rick, Run.'

He got up, frantically looking for a way out but realised too soon there was no leaving this place.

Rick became more paranoid and like a blood hound could sense blood miles away, Ray could sense his fear.

Rick was already already weak, as such staggering around and bumping into obstacles didn't help him at all.

Rick was becoming increasingly alarmed and apprehensive. He was so scared he begun to scream.

Ray laughed.

He had Rick where he needed him.

He spoke calmly into the dark.

'Come here, Rick.'

Rick calmed down and followed the voice.

What kind of sick game was this guy playing with him.

He didn't even realise he was infront of Ray, until Ray said, 'stop,' that he realised he was face to face with him.

Ray blew air into his face

.
'You're ready.'

He laughed sadistically.

I looked at the caller ID.

Work again. My other work.

Either ways, who was calling at such an hour. I was dog tired and needed my rest. I loved my sleep.

'Shadrach West, Ocean View police department. ' I said drowsily into the mouthpiece.

A loud booming voice came over the line.

'There's been a homicide. Get here as fast as you can.'

That was the captain. He always had a way of making you so nervous and his voice alone worked wonders.

I mumbled a,'Yes sir ,' into the mouthpiece and hang up.

Welcome to my life.