Masked (now an EBOOK on Amazon)

Chapter #17

                   CHAPTER #17

My mouth was taped shut; my hands were tied; I was bound and thrown in the corner of a room. I saw that the room I was in, seemed really familiar. I looked around for a minute and then realized that it was Aaron’s attic. What the hell was I doing here, of all the places possible? I frantically moved about, trying to at least sit up. After a long struggle, I sat up and looked around; I didn’t know for what though. A few minutes later, I strained my eyes to see who was coming in. it was dark so I assumed it was around 6 p.m. or later than that.

I saw a figure walking towards me. I figured that it was Aaron. Even after all he’d done, I still hoped for him to pull me out of here; I would never understand why. I didn’t even know who had done this to me and it might have been Aaron- no, that’s not possible. I shook my head to get rid of the thought.  When he finally got to me, I gestured for him to pull me up so I could stand, and he did. I staggered under the weight of my own legs; I didn’t know how long I’d been bound here.

As soon as he untied my hands, I ripped off the plaster covering my mouth and took in huge gulps of air. Even if I was in an enclosed space, it felt so good. I somehow managed to croak out a ‘thank you’. He said nothing; took me by the crook of my elbow and led me down to the living room. The first thing I noticed was the silence. I don’t know why but it was the eerie kind. He left me standing there and went to turn the T.V. on. All of a sudden, a woman’s voice boomed from the T.V:

‘FAMILY OF 4 FOUND DEAD IN OWN HOUSE. FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED.’

Such things happened all the time now. It didn’t surprise me, but it made me upset. Who wouldn’t be? I cast a sideways glance towards Aaron and I saw him snickering. Oh apparently, he’s someone who’s not upset.

“Why are you laughing?” I asked softly.

“Huh? No reason.”

“Sure. So you just turned the T.V. on, flicked to this particular news channel, and start to laugh because of no reason?”

“Yeah, what’s your beef?”

“What? I was bound and gagged in your attic for God knows how long. Then you wordlessly bring me down here to show me something that’s quite obviously going to upset me for a long time. I don’t know what’s happening, who did this to me or why you’re laughing. Still want an explanation?” I said.

“Jesus, you’re such a baby,” he muttered.

“What the hell? Try stepping into my shoes for a second and figure out who did this-“

“It’s not such a big deal. It was just me,” he said, casually.

“What? Aaron, stop fooling around-“

“I’m not. I’m serious.”

“Who are you protecting-“

“Oh my God, lazy. IT. WAS. ME. Okay? I did all this to you,” he said, enunciating every word.

“But why would you?”

“Look at the screen and shut up now,” he said, pointing to the T.V. I stared at him in disbelief; then turned to the screen

What I saw next on the T.V. made my knees go weak. They gave way and I sank to the ground. I didn’t want to believe it. It can’t be. It’s not possible. I-

‘Skylar and Noah Blackwell along with their parents were murdered in their own house. The kids were stabbed and the parents were killed by asphyxiation- something that isn’t very common nowadays-‘

“Turn it off,” I whispered. When he didn’t do it, I grabbed him ankle from my position on the ground and screamed,

“TURN IT OFF! NOW!”