Queit Places: A Novella of Cosmic Folk Horror

Camila Carson fumbled through her bag after she heard her phone ringing. She frowned her face in disgust when she saw that it was Bella calling.

“Hello” she muttered.

“Camila you have to help dad please, he has been kidnapped and they said if we don’t give them the money in the next 24 hours he will be dead. Please help our dad, I know that you will never let something bad happen to him”

Bella kept on ranting over the phone with nervousness in her voice.  Camila felt weak and she started sweating, she couldn’t imagine something bad happening to her dad. This was a bad nightmare which she didn’t foresee.

The two of them didn’t get along very well but she knew that Bella would be incapable of lying about something grave like that. So she began to pay attention.

“What?” She asked dumbfounded at the turn of events” but he was okay this morning when I left for college? What happened?”

“They said he has a huge amount of debt which he has failed to pay. Please, the company is not doing well and we don’t have the amount of money they are demanding. Hurry up …. For the Love of God I am begging you, do something.” Bella’s voice was desperate and she understood.

“How…..how much are we talking about” Camila was afraid that it will be a huge sum of money. If that was the case it would be difficult for her to get it in such a short period.

“3 million” Bella didn’t hesitate to reply.

“Alright Bella, I am going to take care of it” Camila said and hanged up the phone.

Honestly she didn’t even know where to start from, Camila was only a nineteen year old girl going to college. She didn’t have any savings or friends to contact.

However there was no time to feel sorry for herself. Camila quickly wiped her tears and breathed in deeply.

 It just clicked on her head that lately she has been thinking of a way to help her father out of the debts he was in before the goons got to him first. There was still hope, she can still save her father’s life.

In the darkly lit room, Camila was sobbing helplessly. She had to do the unimaginable and she wasn’t sure whether her father will be able to forgive her once he was free. But this was her last resort and she will never regret it.

 The door opened and she sat straight on the bed. She could not see the stranger but his shadow was tall and straight. He brought an aura of power and dominance. Yes …why wouldn’t he when he has agreed to give her that huge amount of money? She was sure that her problems will be over once the money is in her hands and her father was safe.

 What brought sadness in her face was the fact that she may never go back to finish her degree in art.

The man walked slowly and stood in the middle of the room. Although she could not see him, she was practically shaking from fright. She thought of running away but then her father will be dead and she will never forgive herself for that.

“Are you ready” the man asked with a deep and emotionless voice.

“I ….I think so” Camila replied with a trembling voice.

“Good, we talked about the rules before and I do hope that you remember them. Because if you break a single one of them you won’t receive any money from me” he said arrogantly.

“Yes….Yes I do”

“Strip for me and lie down on the bed” the man ordered as Camila heard him take off his clothes.

 Then he climbed on the bed and he was on top of her. His hands started caressing her back and forth and just when she thought that he was going to at least prepare her for the main deed, she felt an excruciating pain in between her legs as the man broke through her pride.

He didn’t show her any mercy as he pushed his length deeper and deeper while hurting her. As if it wasn’t enough the man now started moving his hips and Camila moaned in pain.

He didn’t care, as for him this was business and Camila was just a deal that he was about to seal. There won’t be any foreplay and emotions involved, those were the main rules of the agreement.

He finally stopped and got up from the bed satisfied that he had accomplished what he came for. Camila recoiled back on the bed in pain and hoped that he could just go away.

“For being a virgin, you will get a bonus of 20 % after you have done your part. “He said and then added” the deposit amount of 3 million dollars has been transferred to your account. But make sure you perform well or you won’t get the rest.” His voice was cold and distance.

 “Thank you.  Camila muttered.

As soon as he left, Camila swiftly took her phone and transferred the money to the account Bella sent to her earlier. Then came a reply from unknown number“   We have received the money. Your father is safe and sound in his mansion.”

 That was all she needed to hear as she heaved a sigh of relief.

The following week Camila saw a red spot on her panty and she communicated this to his house maid. She looked at her with a disgusted face and rushed back to the house. Camila guessed that she was going to report to her boss.

 The next few minute she came back and all she said was” the boss said that the deal is off and you can leave this house at once. You are not useful to him if you can’t become pregnant.”

Camila didn’t say anything, she just picked up her things and left the house quietly.

9 months later a baby could be heard crying and Camila was doing her best soothing the baby.

“I am sorry honey…..It’s okay. Are you hungry, don’t worry I am going to feed you right now” The baby heard her voice and kept silent.

She had sent the mysterious man a message that they should meet. She needed to talk to him about the baby. The man replied arrogantly that he had nothing more to discuss about with her and so he was going to send his assistant.

While waiting for the so called assistant at the restaurant, a man soon came and whispered in her ears” the boss said that I should take you to your usual place”

Camila became afraid, the memories were still fresh in her mind as if it were yesterday. However she had no any other choice. If she wanted to negotiate further, she had to appear before him at all costs. She wrapped her soundly sleeping baby well and then entered the car that had been sent for her.

Soon they arrived at the mansion and no one needed to tell her where she was supposed to go. The room was dark as she remembered and the man was also siting in the dark waiting for her. She could feel his presence and slow breathing.