What Is and What Isn’t (PROLOGUE)
“I imagine you are worried that I am some kind of creep or madman.” the man said addressing me with stone cold eyes. He continued glancing out of the cellar window of his house with suspicion.
“And I for one cannot blame you for that.”
I had long since given up crying and calling for help because I knew no help would come. After all I was a pathetic 13 year old kid with no fighting skills or sharp wits for that matter.
“I will release you, believe it or not, and in short time you may continue living your life like nothing has ever happened to you. You may even call the police and try to get me arrested.” He paused and looked deeply troubled. His face full of age and evident sleep deprivation.
“I don’t know how someone can go on living with themselves after such a tragedy has happened.”
I looked quizzically at him and asked nervously,
“S-sir, do you think you might have me mistaken for someone else?” He looked at some photographs of something I couldn’t see from my restraints in the chair.
“No, no I know you are the one person I know for sure. The others they… I was wrong. But you are the only person who can understand.” I started crying again, I couldn’t shake the fear I had at that moment, not sure if all my life would be ended in that cellar.
“What?!” I cried. “Understand what?! I’m just a normal kid I never hurt anyone I don’t deserve to die!” He looked shocked at my reaction to his monologue. He dropped all menace in that instant and looked me deep in the eyes.
“Kill you? I would never kill an innocent youth like yourself. I want to help you!” He looked for understanding in my eyes but found none and turned away.
“You don’t know do you? You’ve lived your entire life never in doubt, carefree as a true child should.” I shrugged sniffling.
“Son, I think it’s time you understand why i’ve gone from a perfectly normal being to a hiding wretch looking for someone to understand me in this world.”
