Crooked Man

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

´´Shut that damn clock up!!´ The booming of his snarling voice echoed through the empty cold room. Chills ran up my spine as his head slowly turned to look dead into my eyes piercing my soul like a poisonous dagger. The lone low hanging ceiling light illuminated his disgusting twisted features on his face if you could call it that. It swung menacingly slow the dingy yellow light it gave off barely making anything visible.

Tick

Tock

´´I said TURN IT OFF!!´´ This time I heard the chair scrape across the rigged wood floors and my heart skipped a beat it felt like my soul got torn out of my body. His body twisted and contorted in unnatural ways making me want to scream but nothing came out my throat was as dry as sandpaper. I was completely frozen as he crawled inhumanely across the floor and the only thing, I could do in my weakened state was drag myself backward with whatever strength I could muster up. The chains that held me down felt as if they weighed a ton my body ached with every dragging motion. I gasped as my back collided with the crumbling cement wall.

This is the end for me at that moment the only face that was running through my racing mind was my family´s. I could see them all smiling, moving on with life as they search for their missing daughter was nothing more than a foggy memory. When I heard silence, I dared open my heavy eyes and to my relief, something stopped the crooked man dead in his tracks. Glancing around the dimly lit room I could only wonder what made him come to a halt. Then I heard it the sound was ever so faint that I had to strain even to hear it. A scratching noise came from above my prison making the crooked man quickly hurry to the door that he kept bolted shut. When he disappeared into the blackness of whatever lurked behind my only way to freedom my heart leaped because he left it open ajar. It was the tiniest of cracks but in my mind, I knew this was my only opportunity to break free. Grunting I pushed my frail self up from where I was sitting on dirty blankets, he provided me with.

´´Ah! ´´ I wanted to kick myself for making such a loud noise. I stopped for a second to listen and make sure he wasn't coming back when I heard dead silence I continued. Mustering up all the courage in me as well as using my family's beautiful faces as motivation I pulled my wrists hard as I could I knew I was going to regret this but it was worth all the pain. My bones made an agonizing cracking noise indicating that most likely I broke something. Not letting that stop me I staggered over to the open door cautiously peeking my head out. All I saw was blackness then my body went completely numb when I heard footsteps stomping down the rickety wooden steps.

Crap where am I going to hide that's when I saw a small almost invisible storage closet. Moving as quickly as I could I tore the little toddler-sized door open and with all my flexibility had squeezed my grown 21-year-old self into that closet. Crouching in the most uncomfortable position I clamped my hands over my mouth scared even the slightest of breaths would give me away. The dingy little spot smelled like must mixed with rotting flesh making me want to gag. Swallowing I allowed my eyes to adjust to the dark almost screaming when I noticed a small lifeless frame squished directly next to me.

‘’NOOOO WHERE DID IT GO!?!’’ I recoiled hearing the crooked man's agonizing scream once he realized I was gone. Hoping that he wouldn’t find me my palms started to sweat and my heart was beating faster than someone who finished running a marathon. My eyes darted around the cramped space searching for anything that could be used as a weapon because if I was going down it wouldn’t be without a fight. I heard a loud boom as his iron desk slammed into the floor the sound making me jump. Unfortunately, the small compartment held no form of protection for myself I guess I would have to use brute force, or whatever was left of it. Glass started shattering on the floor as I assumed he was breaking all his precious mirrors he so meticulously owned. I knew at that moment that if he were to find me, I was a dead woman.

Freezing it felt like I was walking through a blizzard as whoever this person was led me straight through what I assumed was snow. My bare feet had tiny ice particles sticking to them and I had to grate my teeth to keep from screaming because if I did, I knew he was going to beat me. The blindfold covering my eyes made it impossible to tell where we were going and the zip ties on my wrists were super tight cutting off my circulation. My mom always told me to be wary when I went out and I usually just gave her a reassuring okay mom. I was regretting not taking what she said more seriously always thinking it could never happen to me that only happens to stupid girls.

‘’Pretty girl we are almost there only a little farther.’’ I knew now that it was a man due to his scratchy low-pitched voice. He had his hand tightly squeezed around the back of my neck to ensure I wasn’t able to escape not that any human being would survive being half-naked in a blizzard. I could only imagine what he planned on doing with me once we reached our final destination. The silence was torture as the only sounds came from his boots crunching in the freshly fallen snow and the howling wind taunting me.

‘’Natalie, what an elegant name.’’ I started to panic inwardly wondering how in the world he knew my name. He must have picked up on it because he whispered in my ear, ‘’I heard your friends say it don’t worry it’s not like I’m some creepy stalker.’’ I wanted to cry at that very moment thinking of how everybody was going to wonder what happened to me. Was I just going to be another statistic another trending piece of news? Taking a deep breath, I refused to let this stranger see any weakness. We stopped suddenly and I heard him rustling through his pockets seemingly searching for his keys. Once the door opened and we stepped inside it was equally as cold in this place as it was outside. What was worse than the frigid cold the smell of decaying bodies I forced myself to hold back a gag as he forced me down a flight of splintery stairs.

‘’Home sweet home.’’ He sounded proud of himself as I felt the cuffs locking around my wrists dread settling in as I came to a realization, he wasn’t going to kill me but keep me captive. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he removed the piece of cloth from over my eyes. Squinting my eyes finally adjusted to the intense light in the room. The first thing I noticed was how many mirrors this man had they were all different sizes and shapes.

‘’So, darlin you’re gonna be here for a while might wanna get cozy.’’ He took a seat on the only chair that was in that room. This was the first time I had a chance to get a good look at my abductor he had greyish skin, wiry faded brown hair, and his eyes were the darkest black I’ve ever seen in my life. He smiled a devilish grin at me his head twitching ominously. I said nothing at his comment the only thing I could do was stare at him in disbelief. His head snapped suddenly in the direction behind him the only area that was shrouded in pure darkness.

‘’Shhh, I know what I’m doing I don’t need your help!’’ Glancing in that direction I saw nobody standing behind him but apparently, he did. He then turned away from me to face his desk and started scribbling in a notebook. Then I heard a woman's voice humming ‘’hush little baby’’ it was very faint but extremely eerie. As if he knew I heard it he said, ‘’Don’t worry Natalie be a good girl and she won’t hurt you.’’

My attention was ripped back to the present when I heard the man screaming my name over and over. I knew I had to get out of here it was my only chance because if he found me, he was going to kill me. My heart sank when I heard him talking to that woman at that moment, I realized he was going to find me. ‘

‘’In the storage closet.’’ I heard his voice float through that dingy room. Taking a deep breath, I shoved the little door open and flew up those stairs. With all of my might, I slammed my body into the door at the top of the staircase and to my relief, it swung open without any problem. I could hear the crooked man right on my tail as I picked the first direction and ran. I felt adrenaline flowing through my veins as I bolted like a jackrabbit across what I assumed to be the forest floor.

‘’NATALIE, COME BACK YOU UNGRATEFUL WHORE!!!’’ His voice seemed to be getting further away from me and that gave me another burst of adrenaline. Then I saw an old abandoned barn straight ahead that made me run even faster because I knew I couldn’t rest yet. Tripping into the doorway I pulled it shut behind me breathing hard as I looked for a hiding spot. There it was behind hay stacked in a messy pile in the corner of the barn. Moving as quickly as possible I made my way over there and ducked behind them praying that he overlooks me. Jumping I heard the doors ripped open and the crooked man’s heavy breathing as he dragged something metallic behind him.

‘’Oh, Natalie I’m sorry for calling you that please forgive me I didn’t mean it.’’ He swung whatever it was that he had and I heard it make a loud clanging sound against the wall. Holding my breath when I heard his footsteps drift by my hiding place, I squeezed my eyes shut hoping this was all a bad dream and I would wake up from it at any moment. When he continued searching another portion of the barn something caught my attention. Looking up there was a damaged piece of the roof that allowed me to see the night sky. Perched on a tree branch that had broken through the roof was a pure white barn owl calmly peering down at me. Tears started streaming down my face as I wondered what a magnificent creature could be doing out here in such an ugly dark place.

‘’Natalie, this isn’t over I will find you and make you regret ever leaving me!’’ The crooked man’s enraged voice seemed to fill every corner of this desolate place. I wanted to wail when I heard him scurry off into the night but I refrained from doing so fearing that he would hear me and come back. Lifting my head back up to see if the owl was still there it watched me intently blinking now and then confirming it wasn’t just some fake prop to keep the crows away. I saw it spread its glorious wings about to take off in flight it shot me a glance I don’t know what it was but I knew I had to follow it. Even though my brain was screaming at me to get help my legs kept carrying me in the direction of the white barn owl. The walk was peacefully quiet considering the dire situation I just escaped from. At this moment I felt hypnotized by this animal that was gliding above me.

It led me through dense forest with only slivers of moonlight lighting my path which was strangely clear for it being a forest path. The air had a refreshing chill and off in the distance I could hear the sound of a rushing waterfall. I felt as if I was in the movie Avatar with how vibrant the colors of the surrounding forest were and with all the sparkling fireflies floating through the air. Finally, I pushed my way into a clearing where one massive willow tree stood and the owl casually landed on one of the branches never taking its eyes off of me.

‘’Zephyr, what have you brought me this time?’’ I heard a male's voice float out of the forest. My mind started racing what if he is just like the crooked man?! I scanned the area desperately searching for somewhere I could hide. Turning on my heel frantically I had no time to react when bam I crashed right into his chest. He smelt like fresh forest air mixed with a hint of mint making me want to stand there and inhale his scent all day but also making me want to hide under a rock. Pushing off of him I tried to scamper away but the next words that poured out of his mouth made me halt immediately.

‘’If I, were you, I would refrain from going back into the forest.’’ His tone was calm making me even more nervous to continue sprinting away. I turned slowly around to face him this time the moonlight gave me light to see who this mystery man was. He had fiery red hair, porcelain skin, and two ice blue eyes that I observed were staring deep into my soul. Embarrassed that he just caught me examining him I shot my gaze straight to the floor trying to change the subject.

‘’Who are you exactly, and why did that bird bring me here?’’ Fidgeting with my shirt was a bad habit that I swore to break many years ago failing miserably several times. I could feel the intensity of his glare burning holes into my skull.

‘’I am the person who is going to guide you in the right direction and in turn, you never come back.’’ His voice was stern making me flinch as if those words stung.

‘’But-’’ Ignoring me he started walking in the opposite direction from where I came from. Realizing he was flat out leaving me in the dust I scrambled to keep up with him. Looking up I noticed the white barn owl quietly flew above us never giving me a second glance as it did before. I felt out of place as if I stumbled upon something I really shouldn’t have I just wanted my life to go back to normal. I wanted to forget all the terrible things the crooked man did I wanted to forget this mystery guy who I didn’t even know his name.

We walked, more like jogging for me, for what felt like hours when I noticed we were approaching a highway. My heart leaped with pure joy mixed with relief I wanted to bear hug this stranger for getting me to an actual road with actual people driving on it. He paused in the tree line pointing me to an approaching truck in the distance. I hesitated for a moment glancing at him to see if he would follow me. Standing as still as stone he gestured me forward again.

‘’Wait, what’s your name?’’ I hurriedly stuttered out hoping he would give it to me so I could properly thank him. Instead, he didn’t spare me a look and coldly stated, ‘’As I told you earlier that is none of your concern just hurry up or you're going to miss your one opportunity to get to safety.’’ Taking that as my cue that he didn’t want me there I stepped fully into the view of the truck driver. The breaks made an awful screeching noise as the man slammed on them.

‘’Hey, darlin what are you doin out here in the cold wearin' nothin'?!’’ I winced at the word darlin as it brought up disgusting memories of the crooked man.

‘’I-I'm lost can you help me?’’ I felt hot tears welling up behind my eyes as I looked at the dirty girl in the reflection of his car. She had matted blonde hair her skin caked in dirt as her giant ocean blue eyes filled with tears from all the pain she endured. The man placed his arm gently around my shoulders as he guided me into the passenger seat of his massive truck. As he loaded himself up into the driver seat, I peered out the window looking to see if I could see my mystery savior amongst the pine trees. I felt a tinge of sadness in the depth of my heart when I couldn’t see him anywhere. Just like that, he had disappeared into the madness of that decrepit forest. I couldn’t understand the ache in my heart as the gentle old man who kindly offered help drove down the gravel highway and off into the night.