BOY MANIAC

Chapter 1

 

The room was gloomy and dimly lit. The only beam of light in the darkness came from the screen of the Television. Nestled in my usual chair, my eyes rested on the flickering screen of the big box. On the screen of the box was a girl, staring at three traditional african dolls, all of them were dressed in white gowns. One was burned to a crisp, the second was only scorched on one side and the third was untouched by the flames. The girl reached out her hand and picked up the doll that had not been burned. She smiled down on it and caressed its cheek. The doll had eyes that seemed to sparkle. I stared in horror as the sparkly eyes suddenly warped into a bloody red. The doll cackled fiendishly, it's cackling was so loud that my windows began to vibrate.

“JESUS CHRIST!”

I blurted and quickly reached for the remote; turned down the volume and covered my eyes with my fingers. Through the tiny slits in my fingers, I peeked as the doll pounced on the girls face. A grotesque, cheshire smirk upon it's pale-white face. It's rows of terribly stained teeth flashed like daggers under a full moon. As the doll tried to plunge it's spiky teeth into the girls flawless face, the brightness from the television disappeared and the house plunged into total darkness.

“Oh, dang it!” 

I blurted, with teeth and fist clenched tightly. I gave an exasperated sigh, reached into my pocket, brought out my phone and switched on the flashlight. A chill ran down my spine as my mind pondered on what would happen to the poor girl. The ticking sound of the wall clock interrupted my thoughts. I shifted my gaze to the clock and flashed it with my phone's flashlight. Squinting my eyes I watched as the hands of the clock crept slowly around. 8PM already, Mom and dad should be on there way by now. I padded over to the window, reached out my hands and opened the curtain. My eyes widened, the whole neighborhood was well lit and illuminated.

WHAT THE....

Why is there no light in my house? I thought Dad payed the light bills few days ago. The bills can't expire so soon. I guess the power outage is from my house. I have to go to the basement, and check out that control box. I have to see what's wrong.

I went over to the center table, grabbed the big black torch on it, switched it on and plodded out of the sitting room. All the way down to the dark basement. I came to an halt as my eyes fell on the brass light switch that clung to the wall. My breathing became light and my mouth gaped open as I stared at it. For several moments I stood unmoving.

The switch, I thought it was supposed to be up, or down? why is it in the middle? or am I mistaken? No! I can't be mistaken. Dad said up, was to switch it on, middle, neutral, and down was to switch it off. Then why is the damn thing neutral? Did someone temper with the switch? Of course not. Who the heck in this world would want to temper the switch? Mom and dad are still at the party; I've gotten no visitor all day, why would anyone want to sneak in here just to prank me? For crying out loud no one except I and my dad knows where the switch is located. I guess the switch must have worn out or something. 

I shrugged and slowly reached out my hand to pull the switch. Just then a cold rush of air passed over me; the hairs on the back of my neck stood erect. I nearly dropped the torch as fear struck my heart like a sledge-hammer. The muscles of my heart tightened and raced with incredible force as footsteps and whispers echoed eerily in the silence.

“JESUS CHRIST!!!” 

I Screamed as a shadowy figure caught the corner of my eye. I quickly flashed the Torchlight at the figure.

“who are you?"

I asked, my voice quavering, but there was no response. Quickly I reached for the switch and pulled it up. 

“AaRrrrhhH”

I groaned, as the basement lit up, it's florescent lights searing my eyes like a hot camera flash. My eyes twitched unable to comprehend the brightness, I closed em up for a while. But when the burning sensation was over, I opened my eyes only to behold an unexpected blow. The blow crashed into my face so hard that my entire body twirled in the air. Everything began to blur as I swirled towards the floor and crashed on something hard. A splitting pain erupted in my head and darkness over-shadowed my eyes. 

 

             *                    *                      *

My body jerked upright with fear as cold water splattered on my face. Panick seized my brain when my eyes fell on a bulry man on red T-shirt, he was standing in front of me holding a red bucket in his hand. I tried to stand up but my wrists and feets refused to move. Something sharp and cold dug into my skin. I looked down and saw that manacles were holding my hands and feet to a wooden chair. I tried to shout but my efforts were rendered useless by the piece of clothing used to gag me.

The bulry man rubbed his bald head with his palm. His long black beard made him look like a young version of Santa Claus. Licking his smoky black lips, he watched as I wriggled on the chair, and then spun around and plodded out of my sight. I let my eyes dart around the forlorn room. Dirt motes floated through the pale light that came from the florescent bulb that hung in the room. The floor boards were rough and covered with dusts, debris of furnitures, cigar butts and empty bottles clustered the floor. The air was impregnated with filthy odours. Suddenly it struck me like lighting:

 

WAIT WAIT WAIT...

This is not my dad's basement. For CHRIST SAKE! What the hell am I doing here and who was that guy? I Hope it is not what I'm thinking? 

DAMN!

That guy, it must have been the guy who had smashed me in the face and.... I didn't see that coming....GaaAwWddD! I am finished... He kidnapped me... What am I going to do?

I stared at the dirty floor boards, anticipating what would happen next. Fear tortured my guts, it engulfed my conscience; thus, making me drastically exhausted. 

Minutes later, a man in blue and white stripped shirt strutted into the room with a tiger like tread. His black trousers were held by straps of grey suspenders, which ran over his small-shoulders. The pale light glimmered on his bald head as he halted in front of me; dug around in his pocket and brought out a cigar and lighter. He shoved the cigar between his lips, lit it and then took a long drag. Clenching the cigar between his cinnamon fingers he lowered his head and blew the cloud of smoke into my face. My eyes stung from the smoke; tears filled my eyes as I sneeze. Slowly he adjusted his round-shaped glasses, his squinty and smoky gray eyes peering into mine. Pursing his lips, he reached for the gag and in one swift motion he harsly peeled it off my mouth.

“AaarrrhhHH”

I yelled my lungs out, due to the searing pain.

“Somebody help!! help me!!!”

I yelled.

“shut up!! you slimy son of a bitch”

he shushed me by placing a silver gun on my lips.

“shhhhh, or else I'll put the cloth back on your mouth and blow your head off...”

he said slowly and gruffly, his cigar dangling at the corner of his mouth. With bulging eyes I stared at the gun and swallowed hard.

“please don't kill me....”

I cried and nodded vehemently.

“Very good, your dad wants to speak with you”

He said and dug his hand into his pocket, brought out a phone, tapped the screen for a while and placed it before me. My heart lept for joy when my dad's voice emanated from the phones speaker.

“stiles!!!”

“dad!!!”

we both called out at the same time.

“Don't worry son, I'll get you out of there as soon as possible. I promise you with the last ounce of my blood that no harm will come to you”

“Dad please....”

“time up”

the bald dude interrupted, by retrieving the phone, and placing it on his pierced ear.

“I give you thirty minutes to get me the money”

he snorted.

“Where or how do you expect me to get 2 million naira in thirty minutes?”

My Dad's voice boomed from the phone.

“Is that meant to be a rhetorical question you Idiot? I don't care to know how you get the money. All I know is get me the filthy money and don't you dare to involve the police or else, tsk tsk tsk. I'll send your son to hades in the blink of an eye.”

he bragged and shoved the phone back in his pocket.