Eric's Monster

Chapter 1

He was different. Robert didn't know why, but he had to drop his gaze instantly. Robert was certain he's never seen him before. Robert looked towards the man again. This time he was looking at Robert.

Robert instantly turned around. His heart was knocking against his chest. He wasn't sure what was wrong. This man hadn't done anything to him. He's never seen this man before in his life. Yet, Robert felt like his life was in peril.

He glanced over his shoulder one last time. He stopped when he no longer saw the man. Robert sighed with relief and began heading to class. As he sat in class, he couldn't help but feel ridiculous. For that moment he was petrified of a man he saw across the school yard.

Once his class was done, Robert began walking home. The community college was conveniently only a few blocks from his home. He could walk home in less than half an hour.

As Robert was walking, he spotted a black butterfly on the sidewalk. He stopped and stared at it for a moment. His grandmother was superstitious woman. She believed that black butterflies were a sign of death. He remembered as a child, he would go pale on the sight of one.

Robert casually stepped over the butterfly. His movement must've frighten it, because it fluttered away. Robert gazed back at the butterfly as it flew away and saw him. It was the man he saw at his school.

Robert pretend he didn't see the man and kept walking. It was stupid to be afraid of someone who hasn't done anything. Yet, the man's footsteps just rang behind Robert, like a siren's call of death.

Was that why there was a black butterfly? Was it warning him of his own impending death? He shook his head. He was being stupid again. He needed to calm himself down. He slowed his pace until he reached a halt. All the proof he needed was the man to walk past him.

The footsteps were a crescendo of fear as the man neared Robert. Robert held onto his messenger bag for safety as he waited the man out. Before he knew it the man walked right past him.

Robert breathed out in relief. He began to walk again, when he noticed that the man was standing still in front of him. Robert froze where he was and waited. The man turned around and faced Robert.

Robert tried to convince himself not to be afraid. Yet, there was something about the man's gaze that made him want to run. Without warning, Robert bolted in the other direction.

Robert didn't get far when his felt the man grab him by the wrist. Robert tried shoving the man off him. However, the man was much stronger than Robert. "Relax," the man whispered and placed a cloth over Robert's face. Everything faded to black.

When Robert awoke, his arms were wrapped in multiple layers of chains that seemed to connect with the concrete wall behind him. He sat on a cold concrete floor. The room was too dark to see further than where he was.

"Help!" Robert shouted. "Somebody help me!" No answer. He banged firmly against the walls with the chains. Nothing. "Please! Somebody help me!" He didn't bother keep going. If there was no one outside, he was wasting his time.

He sat quietly in the darkness as his fingers went purple and numb. He tried undoing the chains, but they were wrapped too tight. With both hands tied together, his hands were useless.

He tried walking as far as he could, to see it the chain would separate from the wall, but nothing. He couldn't even find a secondary wall in the darkness. Although he could barely make out a door on the other side of the room.

"Help!" he shouted again. This time, he heard a faint clack of steps on old wooden stairs. "Please! Help me!" he shouted. There was a creak of a metal door and a flick of a switch.