I ran as fast as I could passed the trees. My bare feet against the damp ground chilled my exposed skin. My adrenaline refused to let me slow my pace. I knew I was only running towards more danger, but I'd rather die in the woods than be beaten to death by them. I ran far beyond their shouting voices. I collapsed beside a large lake, catching my breath.
I knew of the stories of here; The man driven crazy by the devil. In town he was a story everyone was told as a child. Most who had claimed to have seen him disappeared that very night. They say he's tall and thin from years of only eating rats and whatever he can find in the woods. His clothes are black to make him invisible in the night....when he takes you away and slaughters you in his forest.
I sat up, looking up at the resting lake. I laid back, setting my arm on my forehead. Everyone knew of the 'Taker', as he was called. In middle school through high school I heard many rumors of him. Some said once he kidnapped you he'd rape you or burn you alive. I heard one that he'd cut you up and feed you to wolves.
No one is willing to admit they believe that he's real. Everyone has that fear deep in them. Even the adults. The police refuse to search deep in the woods for missing people because "the animals and terrane make it too dangerous". In school many were dared to go in. Most were too afraid. Even I was. Every time someone asks if you believe in the Taker, you always say no. But deep down, we're all too afraid to not believe.
-
I awoke to being dragged away from the lake by my arms. I screamed and fought with all I had. He was so much stronger than me. Through my struggle I saw his dark cloak and pale hands. He dragged me away with ease, like it was effortless for him. We came to a two story cabin. He went in. He threw me into the basement, shutting the door behind me.
I cried, not knowing what else to do. It was him. It had to be. I couldn't believe the stories and claims were really true. He could do anything to me now. No one would ever be able to hear me scream from this deep in the woods. Will he torture me? Starve me? What if he leaves me here to die?
The strong smell of death in the basement was evident. I knew for sure this was where he took them all. But they weren't here anymore. It didn't take a genius to know what happened to them. They were kept here before they were killed. And now here I am, about to face the same fate.
After hours of sitting in the dark the door opened, light creeping into the cold empty room. I saw his tall figure as he stepped down the stairs. I scooted back slowly. He pulled a string in the center of the room from the ceiling, turning on the dim lightbulb. His face was thin and soft. He was young, but clearly older than me. I'm only 17. He looked about 24.
He stared at me, his face cold and serious. He had a chain in his hands, which he slowly wrapped around his knuckled as he looked at me. I was frozen in fear. I was completely helpless to whatever he chose to do to me. My whole body trembled as he stepped over in his black leather boots. Swiftly he wrapped the chain around my neck and used it to tug me forward slightly. I stared up at him, his dark brown eyes causing me to shake.
"This chain means you're mine, got that?" He stated in a low, threatening voice. I forced a nod, knowing it was better to obey than anger him. He put both ends of the chain in one hand and stood straight. He walked to the center of the room, causing me to follow by the chain around my neck. He chained it like that and chained the other end in a metal loop connected into the cement floor. I was now chained here.
He left again. I knew there was no point in trying to break free. There was no way I could break such thick metal. I had to accept that I was now at his mercy. He can do whatever he wants to me. And I know he's going to take advantage of that. All I can do is pray I'll die before the pain gets too unbearable.
I shook as he came back minutes later, holding a clear plastic box. He set it down near me and took off the lid. He pulled out a large black whip, setting it down on the floor. He next pulled out a red silk blindfold. I whimpered, making him look up at me. He smirked. He stood, towering over me. He slowly came over. He bent down to my level. He held my jaw in his hand, keeping my face still.
"Those eyes; That terror is too beautiful to cover up." He grinned with the corner of his mouth. "But it's no fun if you can see what I'm going to do." He tilted his head, fake pouting a little. He let go of me and went to get the blindfold. He handcuffed my hands behind my back but above the chain, making it impossible to bring them to the front of me. I began to cry as he put the blindfold around my head.
I heard him get the whip. His soft footsteps in my ear as he circles me caused adrenaline to build up in my chest. I heard the whip crack against the floor loudly, making me flinch and scream. He did this for a few minutes, the anticipation hurting worse than the whip itself might.
"Oh, I just love playtime. Don't you?" He said. I felt the whip crack against my chest.
