• chapter 1
    a lone shadow walked outside
    could this man be the mass murderer
    lurking at night
    a cat crossed the alleyway
    it's paws making no sound
    the shadow of a man continued
    down the road
    TAP TAP TAP
    its heels clicked against the cement rocky ground
    as it stopped in front of the less than cared feline
    it stooped on its feet
    glancing at the curious cat
    it stopped in front of the shadow
    dark spirits rustled screaming not to go further
    the cat stopped at the man's feet
    a hand reached out
    what would it do?
    it rested on the warm soft head of the animal
    the cat, sensing the casual loving touch approached
    no sooner had he lifted a paw
    the hand swooped down to grab the poor animal's neck
    in a single twist
    the poor animal slumped into the crevasse of the man's hand
    as he closed his fingers into a tight fist
    there was a sudden whimper behind him that caught his attention
    a little girl dressed in dirty rags hanging in threads stared back
    her face a horrible sight where the tears made white trails on her dirty face
    She gasped as the man turned towards her
    with the feline still in his hands, he swung the feline into the frightened girl's face
    Bam as it hit on impact
    and the girl fell to the floor
    the girl recovered from the shock and shook the dead feline off her face
    as the man turned to leave
    she grabbed his coat
    and hammered him with her small fists

    it did not matter to her whether the man was dangerous or not
    she yelled for help to the lit houses
    not a soul came
    the man turned
    his eyes gleamed as he saw a desperate face covered with blood from the carcass
    he smiled a bloodthirsty grin
    he lifted the little girl in his arms
    and picked up the corpse
    from the floor
    the girl screamed for help
    why would no body come?
    a rough hand went to her mouth, covering her nose also
    her muffled screams were reduced to nothing as she too slumped onto the shoulder of the man
    the man's shadow crossed the plains and across the river
    DANG DANG SPLASH
    sopping wet with water and dried blood,
    the man encountered a small wooden shack
    setting the dead cat upright like a guard dog watching a palace
    he walked into the creaking shack and layed the little girl on the floor
    he took off his cloak and his shirt
    shook off his boots and lit a fire
    the shack was surprisingly well furnished
    two chairs neatly placed next to a huge fire hearth
    a wooden table with two wooden chairs
    the only other room
    was a single bedroom with a slightly dusty bed
    with fading blue covers
    and pillows
    the man looked at the unconcious little girl
    he took his discarded shirt
    and started tearing them into strips
    what was his intention you ask?
    he laid the strips in a neat pile
    and kneeled next to the girl
    he started a knot of cloth around her feet, binding her so that she may not run
    he continued to her hands where he limited her movements
    then he placed a gag tying it to her mouth
    sealing her fate
    he went out
    took a bucket from the nearby well
    and dropped it into the river
    he pulled, his muscles straining
    finally,
    he obtained his bucket of full water
    carrying the bucket of water back to the shack, he noticed a small cup lying in the river
    he picked up the cup and turned to go in
    the girl was upright against a wall
    she had awaken and seen her surroundings
    so unknown to her
    she glared at the evil man that abducted her
    he returned the favour and settled the bucket on the table
    he dipped the prized cup into the bucket and brought it over to the girl
    she stared, now in terror
    as he
    threw the cup of water, dozing the fireplace
    the source of heat that was no longer there
    how helplessly lost she was to think so
    that the fire could serve as an eternal flame
    to warm her lonely cold fear
    her heart was dead
    many moments ago
    her friend killed
    a captor unknown
    she trembled as he approached her with a cup full of water
    the liquid was sprung onto the girl's trembling lap and she winced as she felt the coldness
    it was like a sharp dagger drilled into her heart
    she gave a shudder as he dozed her on the chest
    helpless and unable to move or speak, she continued to fear something worse would happen
    he took her by the shoulders
    he dragged her outside
    where the river ran like a silver train
    he forced her to her knees as she yelped in pain
    she begged the man to have mercy
    spare her so that he will not have a life of regret
    the man ignored her
    and resorted to forceful violence
    as he picked up the bucket he had brought along
    he brought it down on the girl's head
    in the moonlight, he beat the innocent girl
    her hair was dripping with blood and water
    her legs and arms covered in bruises
    he stopped as she collapsed onto the wet riverbank
    he picked her up again and listened to her breathing
    Miraculously, she was still alive
    but she was weak
    his toy would die tonight he decided
    if he didn't think fast
    he ran to the shack with vigorous speed
    banged down the door with his foot and tumbled inside
    he placed the girl on the mattress of the only bed
    she was still bound, her eyes closed
    he inspected her, all bloody and young with the bruises on her face and body growing purple
    his intent reason sprung up
    like an evil weed among the flowers
    his greed and desire choked any of his sympathetic human nature away
    he saw his wilting flower bowing
    would he be the one to taint her petals?
    a young seedling grown into a young plant
    would she never see the sun again?
    he decided that she was played with enough and settled in an armchair
    he did not lit the fire that night