One-Shots

Stolen

"Daddy!" a little girl squealed with happiness as her arms snaked around her father's legs. The father knelt down showering his child with kisses. Who knew that after years of being alone, he finally found something to look forward to. A happy loving family that is always there for him. He lifted the girl off the ground and spun her around. Her dark brown hair flew everywhere as her giggles filled the atmosphere.

"Daddy, put me down! " she said.

"Will not! Say the magic word! " he said as he started tickling her.

"Please! Stop, daddy! " she said.

Her laughter echoed throughout the house, leaving glints of joyfulness in everyone's heart. It was like her smile could just shine the whole world. Her breath came out short and uneven as she tried to suppress her laughter. A tear rolled down her chubby pink tinted cheek. "My little cupcake." he said as he put the girl down.

He shifted from his standing position and made his way towards the sofa. Stressed of work, he plopped on the sofa as exhaustion was wearing him like a cloth . His eyelids felt heavier as the time slowly ticked, mocking his non-stop everlasting job. They were good days and bad days but he still loved his job nonetheless. Besides, that job was their only bread and butter. The job that provided them with a roof on top of their head, comfy clothes to wear and scrumptious food to dine. He was grateful even if the job drained every inch of his energy.

Or at least, that was the life that he used to live. It's 2100 now. He lost his job. Nobody could employ anyone else. He even lost his only child. The cost of living has risen too high and it's almost impossible to afford food or even clothes. The smell of sweat and dirt enveloped him like a cloud. His hair looks ruffled and unkempt, as only his fingers were ran through his hair in an attempt to soothe its messiness. Where in this world could he even afford a comb if he can't even purchase himself a proper square meal.

His train of thought was interrupted when it started raining cats and dogs outside. He swiftly moved his legs, focusing on the old building in front of him. Little drops of rain fell from his forehead, illuminating his already hollow cheeks. He leaned his tiny figure across the wall, letting sleep overpower his hunger. His eyes fluttered shut, covering his tired blue eyes from the cruel world. Not even a second has passed by when he suddenly felt himself being tugged by something heavy, pushing him to move forward. A rifle was being pointed towards his back, telling him to find his way forward if he ever valued his life.

Reflexively, his eyes shot open and his thin lips started to quiver as the adrenaline poured through his veins. Everything turned silent, yet not so silent as he could still hear his heart beating rapidly, replying to his steadied nerves. Fearing his life, he moved forward, taking it one at a time and slowly boarded the greenish lorry in front of him. He turned his head and saw the man who was sprouting the fear in his heart. His face was masked with a demonic smile, knowing that his's life was now in the man's hand. Dead or alive, nobody would care as he was no one but a poor man, craving for some comfort and a few pennies.

The man behind him moved his rifle from him and signaled him to sit down. Obediently, he took a seat in silence while the lorry was drove around, finding more pathetic humans like him and stealing them from the little happiness that they ever achieved. The woman beside him was trembling uncontrollably, desperately trying to mask her sobbing. Soon, the journey came to an end. Everyone was ordered to get down from the lorry and move into the huge mansion that was standing majestically in front of them.

The lorry roared loudly, reversing itself, waking everyone up from their awed state and leaving them at the lawn with innumerous questions popping in their heads. He took the lead and pushed the mansion's huge door open. Surprised he was, when he saw that the inside wasn't as promising as the outside. Stench of dried blood followed him with every turn. His steps echoed the place as he explored every room, door by door, trying to locate where was the smell originated from. Two men and a woman was following him from the back.

He pushed a door to a bedroom. Paintings hung up of what looked to be important rich people with their eyes following his every moves. There was no bed, just a sofa and a huge treasury box. The black sofa which was once soft and comfy was now left to be collecting dust. Moonlight shined through the window, casting an eerie shadow on the wall. The dim light in the room provided them with almost nothing but a mere guidance to see where and what they are stepping on. The moldy wood floor tile creaked with every step he took. Slowly, he reached the treasury box. His hand moved swiftly but still ever so gently, fidgeting the box's lock. With a thud, it fell open.

A body rolled out from the box, stopping just in front of his toes. "Was he dead? He couldn't be! He's alive, isn't he?" a woman from the back whispered. The man was motionless. Stains of the crimson red liquid decorated his throat like a beautiful necklace hanging on a woman's neck. The realization hit her like a bullet. Her knees failed her and suddenly she was standing on all four. She throws up right there. He stood there, as still as a statue, trying to rationalize everything, convincing himself that this is all just a nightmare and he should be waking up anytime soon.

Out of the blue, a vicious laughter was heard echoing throughout the huge mansion. A metallic silver blade was pressed harshly against the wall, striking fear in every single one of them. He prayed every single prayer he ever knew while his shoes pounds hardly across the cold hard ground, almost breaking the wood floor tile in the process. The lights started to flicker and soon it went off. Nothing but plain darkness accompanied them. The last thing he heard was a bloody wailing coming from a woman before he missed a step on the stairs and hit his head hard. From there, everything went black.