Willow was frozen, she didn’t know what to do anymore. She’s only heard stories about Jinar’s uncle, Stein, but they were only to mention his name. That’s something Jinar’s parents were always guaranteed to react to, something they hoped he would just forget already.

  “Don’t worry child. You will be number 3,401. I won’t hurt you so long as you don’t interfere with my experiment.” Stein said reaching into his lab coat and pulling out a bloodied revolver. Willow tried her best shaking her head in agreement. But a single noise caused her to freeze.

  “Help!” Ivan’s muffled screams could be heard from the next room over. This caused a shiver to roll down Stein’s back, not out of fear but annoyance.

  “I want you to wait here.” Stein’s grip tightened around the gun and loosened repeatedly as if he were trying to calm himself down. Stein stood up and started to walk towards the room the screaming came from. As he walked his foot would first, plant firmly against the hardwood floor sending echos into the empty hall and entry way to the house and then as he lifted his foot it sounded like he stepped in something sticky revealing a bloodied foot print in its place.

  Stein rounded the corner to see the badly beaten Ivan still tied to the chair right where he left him. Stein’s gaze softened as he began to think about the chair Ivan was tied to. It was an old chair that Stein remembered fondly and that’s why he chose it for Ivan, his special experiment.

  “I heard someone else out there! Willow was it you? You need to run and get…” Ivan began to beg for the safety of his own friend. Trying to warn her of the dangers but as he continued Stein’s face began to twist with disgust and before Ivan could say another word a loud bang followed by a lot of ringing filled the room.

  Stein had shot the floor just inches away from Ivan’s feet. “You’re lucky I need all of your blood number 548. Now be quiet before I will have to improvise a better solution to that impulsive mouth of yours.” Stein said putting the gun back into his lab coat. Ivan was visibly shaken, Stein who was now satisfied that he won’t cause anymore outbursts had turned and began to make his way back towards his new guest.

  “Ivy! Are you out there?” Willow faint pleas could be heard before Stein rounded the corner. Willow had unlocked the same door she had came through and was now sticking her head out.

  Stein didn’t say a thing, he kept his steps light and quiet as he approached her up until he had made it right behind her and poked his head above hers and he took a look around to. There was nothing outside anymore, the three holy men were probably dead and Ivy too. The body that had been pierced had vanished leaving only a daunting pool of blood. There was no wind or any movement.

  “Why don’t we just close this up child? You’ll let the heat out and might even let something worse inside.” Stein said pulling on Willow’s shoulder and shutting the door, locking it once more. Willow was a husk, she had just witnessed all of her friends disappear and there was nothing she could do.

  “I heard…” Willow found what courage she could to speak but lost it immediately when she looked up at Stein. His dark green eyes stared straight through her cutting any thoughts or plans going through her mind.

  “Go on number 3,401. I give you permission to speak. What did you hear exactly?” He said guiding down the dark hallway towards the back of the house. The hallway which was usually bright and filled with fun inspiring photos and cheerful wallpaper were no more. The pictures laid on the ground, broken, and the wallpaper was torn and covered in blood splatter. Willow kept quiet as they continued, holding back what she heard because what difference would it make if she heard a gunshot or not?

  They passed by an open door on the right which held Ivan. Willow began tearing up and made a motion to take care of her friend. She can’t let another person be hurt in all of this. Ivan opened his mouth as if wanting to say something but Stein’s powerful gaze stopped any rebellion he had left now that Ivan knew he had Willow. “No. Not yet. Keep going.” Stein said grabbing Willow by the shoulder once more and guiding her down the hall. There was just one room on left and then it was a dead end.

  The house began creaking and shifting slightly as if a strong breeze was about to blow the roof off. Willow wanted to freak out but after seeing Stein’s cool demeanor she decided it probably her mind playing tricks on her.

  “In here.” Stein said shoving Willow towards the open doorway, the room was void of anything as if it were teleporting them straight to space.

  “Sorry it’s a bit messy but I’m running out of rooms and I can’t have you and 548 trying to escape, yet.” Stein said reaching over Willow and flicking the light to the room on revealing several puddles of blood and two bodies that were motionless and stacked sloppily in the far corner. The bodies had the same camo as the men who saved Willow before.

  “Why are you doing this?” Willow’s words struggled to find their way out. Stein smiled as he pushed her in the room. His smile was that of a teacher who had just heard a silly questions from one of his students. It even brought a smile to his face.

  “If I were to tell you it would ruin my life’s work. Now you will wait here or else.” He said simply and shut the door. He then removed the revolver from his pocket once more and flung it open sending all the bullets freely but chaotically towards the ground. The empty bullet casings left off a small indistinguishable ringing sound as they bounced off the solid surface. While the unused bullets fell with the force of a brick, they didn’t bounce but instead rolled across the hardwood. The tungsten bullets laid there, wasting away, as they watched Stein walk back down the hall to the opposite end of the house.

  “No need to worry 549. I will bring you to your full potential soon enough.” Stein spoke with absolute confidence, it was as if he was saying this out-loud so that someone else could hear it. One by one Stein loaded the hefty bullets into his gun, fishing them out of his jean pocket.

  Stein, now satisfied with his loaded gun, swung it around so that he could check his cracked watch that read ‘7pm’ The second hand of the watch flickered back and forth in place as an attempt to jump forward and begin its minute long lap but tripped every time. “We are right on time. Time for 7 to meet 549.” He remarked as he reached the room where he had just met Willow.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Stein stopped and stared at the door opposing him. It was a solid white door speckled with red dots that didn’t follow any pattern. The faint yellow light could be seen barely shining under the door, it was flickering as if it were calling for help for who ever was in the room with it. Still with no answers for its hour long screams.

  While Stein made his duty bound march towards the door he couldn’t help but remember who was behind this door, who existence brought back failed memories and empty feelings. If Stein wasn’t pressed for times he would be giving a speech to 7, giving her one last glimpse on how she was about to reach greatness and that her life will have meaning once more. However Danica won’t get such treatment.

  The door slowly opened, the light of the living room inundated the restroom and Danica let a muffled scream escape from her covered mouth. “7. Lets go.” Words, colder than Stein’s heart, shirked from his lips. Danica screamed behind her bonds. She put on the bravest face she could assemble, it quickly cracked to reveal her desperate cries just hoping her kids were alright once Stein pointed the gun at her.

  “Get up now.” Stein ordered, grabbing Danica by one of her arms and yanked her out of the restroom and pushed the bound, broken mom towards the front door.

  “Now go out there and call for your son.” Steins words grew more empty as he knew the missions he just gave Danica was impossible but removed the cloth from her mouth and pushed her out the front door.

  Danica took a few steps towards the forest to get her balance back. She gave one last soulless glimpse at her house before directing her gaze back to the forest.

  “Jin…” Danica’s words solidified and retreated back to her body as her eyes froze on one single object right behind the closest tree. Jinar stood there, half his body hidden behind the tree but a mom would never mistake the sight of her own child.

  “Jinar!” For the first time hopeful tears fell down her face. She stumbled towards her child tripping over her own feet, letting excitement fuel her motives.

  “Thomas will be ok.” Were the words that Jinar simply said. Danica’s pace picked up when she noticed her child’s tears turn red.

  “Yes! We will all be ok dear! You don’t meed to worry anymore!” Danica said. She was only six feet away from Jinar before she stopped suddenly. The scent of a rotting animal hit her square in the face, killing all momentum.

  “Don’t worry mom, we will look after Ivy.” Jinar’s words crawled out of his mouth and ran towards Danica before climbing up her legs and sending shivers down her spine.

  “Jinar?” Danica pleaded with all of her might, Jinar had to be ok. He was the last thing in her life that, as far as she knew, was ok. That some part of her life wasn’t ruined by her insane brother. Her doubts were swiftly proven when Jinar took a step froward, pushing himself against the tree he was hiding against.

  Jinar’s face twisted into a grin while his body was raised directly up into the air like he was being lifted by a harness and string. His body began to twist until the other half of his body was revealed. The hidden half was just bones held together by clumps of red moss at the joints, Danica was horrified. How could she have mistaken this thing for her son.

  “The rules are you’re it.” Jinar’s spiritless words brought a thick fog the quickly consumed him and Danica. Once Stein heard Danica scream, he smiled and shut the door locking it once more knowing phase two of his plan was done.

  “Now, to prepare 548.” Stein’s grin couldn’t contain his excitement as he jumped in the air and trotted towards the room that held Ivan.

  “Father…” A faint whisper brought everything to a halt. Stein’s spine shivered in place once an icy hand grabbed his. Stein’s body fought against him, every muscle contracted and twisted to make him face this disfigured, innocent voice but he fought. A quick tug of his arm and he brought his arm in front of him, there hung a little girl clinging desperately to his entire arm now. The girls body was missing chunks from her face, torso and arms. Red moss was crawling out of her open wounds and attaching to the lab coat. She was crying but Stein was not phased by any of this, instead he calmly reached into his lab coat, pulled out his gun and pointed it at the little girl.

  “549. You know it’s not time yet. I was kindly ask you to return to the forest or I will have to punish you again.” Stein said, he was manually breathing trying to keep his calm facade. The face of the girl began to twist, her skin began to crawl like there were thousands of bugs trying to break out. Stein took a step back but to prove he wasn’t bluffing he cocked the gun and pushed it against her forehead.

  “The masses are calling for us all. I just want to feel again!” She screamed so loud that the windows shattered and the wood for the cabinets splintered. Stein’s ears began to ring as blood began to drip from them.

  “I know. I want you to feel again too.” He said before pulling the trigger causing red moss to splatter across the room. A wet, heavy thud signaled her body hitting the floor. Stein stood over number 549, a single tear traced his jaw as he saw the body melt into red moss. He knew this wasn’t the last time she would be back but it hurt him any time he would have to hurt his little girl.

  “Come on Willow! We need to hurry!” Ivan whispers could be heard by anyone but since Stein had just had 549 screaming in his ear he couldn’t hear a thing. Instead he continued his now sorrowful march towards the first room. Stein’s heavy footsteps echoed through the room causing Willow’s hands to shake uncontrollably. She couldn’t untie Ivan’s bonds fast enough.

  “Run Willow!” Ivan screams were loud enough for Stein to hear this time. Little that did now that he was in the door way watching them try to flee. Stein quickly fumbled for his gun. He reached for his pocket. Willow lunged at him holding a knife that one of the hunters had buried in their chest and stabbed Stein’s arm.

  “Willow! No!” Ivan stood up with the chair still tied around his chest. He ran at them both hoping to stop anything else from happening but was too slow. Stein was screaming in pain but managed to use his other hand to punch Willow sending her back, landing straight on her stomach. He then kicked Ivan in the chest causing him to fly back, a few of his ribs gave away with the sound of a snap that was covered up with the sound of the chair breaking.

  “You are running my plans!” Stein’s face was so red it resembled a tomato. He ripped the knife out of his arm and threw it behind him, blood was dripping from his finger tips and pooling at his feet. Within seconds the puddle was spreading further than the entrance of the room and was trailing down the hall to meet his daughter’s body.

  “Ivan…” Willow cried out, reaching her hand out to him. Her words and the light in her eyes were sapped the instant Stein firmly placed his foot on her back.

  “You’re not needed. I was going to keep you so 549 would have a friend after this was all done but you’re not worth this trouble.” Stein said cocking the revolver, with the simple click Willow knew her life was done. She knew any moment Stein would pull the trigger. She thought that maybe she would be able to see Jinar after all.

  Ivan opened his mouth, in an attempt to protest but all that came out were heavy wet coughs. “Stop hurting her!” Ivy’s voice brought that spark back for Willow. The instant those words were spoken all attention was turned to the heroic girl standing behind Stein whose trembling hands held the knife Stein threw.

  “You do not tell me what to do.” Stein said sternly. His foot loosened off Willow and he spun on his heel to face Ivy. Ivy was covered in scratches and blood and tears stained her face and cloths both almost indistinguishable from each at this point.

  Stein took a confident step towards Ivy, knowing fully that there was nothing she could do with that knife to stop him. He could just smack it out of her hand, she was nothing but a mere child to this full grown adult.

  “I’ll tell you what. I’m injured but I’m feeling generous. Give me the knife and I won’t kill your friend.” Stein’s injured arm reached, trembling in place. Ivy looked at Willow and Ivan and lowered her head but not the knife. Noticing her defiance Stein, not taking his eyes off Ivy, pointed his gun at where Willow was lying.

  “Now.” Stein said extending his arm out more. Ivy looked back up just in time to see Ivan and Willow were both now standing behind Stein. In that moment Ivy knew what they were planning, what they were about to do and she didn’t know if she could have the strength to do what they needed of her.

  “Now!” Willow screamed and Ivan lunged at Stein grabbing his arm that held the gun and held it tight to his body while Willow did the same to the other arm. Ivy tightened her weak hands around the knife hoping using both of them would stable it more, she took a step forward.

  “Stop this you stupid kids!! Do you have any idea what will happen?!” Stein screamed in a more panicked tone. His voice for once was showing true emotion. He almost got his arm free from Willow and started to shoot the gun wildly at the space in between him and Ivan. Willow jammed her finger into the stab wound she caused Stein moments ago resulting in him screaming louder.

  Ivy took a deep breath and turned her brain off. She took a big step forward holding the knife with both hands and drove it into Stein’s stomach. One last, sharp inhale would haunt the kids nightmares as Stein grew limp. Willow and Ivan let go and watched the body drop, lifeless to the ground. As if the house itself was crying out in pain it began to creek and twist until the walls to the side split open like wet cardboard revealing that some of the trees themselves were twisting in a similar manner. They kept twisting sending shards of bark in all directions, they kept twisting and spinning like they were dancing until they snapped and fell to the ground causing the ground to shake with each one.