It’s everywhere. The floor. The walls. Maria’s tools…
The room is drenched in it.
He can’t believe it. Still wont believe it. But the proof is hanging right before his eyes. Like meat in a butcher’s shop window. No… no he can’t think like that. He didn’t even want to look. But he can’t move. Can’t look away. Tied to this very spot, forced to stare at what was left of his family.
Their cries still rang in his ears. His little girl… Maria… she tried to be brave. She tried to tell Simon it would be ok. Even as…
Tears were streaming down his bloodied face. Simon didn’t even register the immense physical pain he was in. His mind was too busy burning this image into his memory. It’s what the killer wanted. For Simon to live with this image in his mind. It was his punishment.
His whole body flinched just at the voice. Simon was trembling in fear, trying to locate the source of the voice. “To be honest, I thought you would have died by now. Especially after everything you’ve been through. It’s good, it’s good. Can’t have you dying too soon. What’s the fun in that?”
Simon tried to tug free; causing the barbed wire being used to hold him in place to cut into his flesh deeper. He wanted to get away. He didn’t want to be near this man.
Standing behind Simon, hands grasped at his cheeks. Softly. Delicately. Almost in a comforting way as the stranger hushed him. “Now now. You shouldn’t let them see you crying like this. That pretty wife of yours did tell you to be strong, right? Oh… you shoudl know. Some guy called Mathew rang. Left a message on your phone.”
Simon froze at this. Mathew?
“Mmm, said he was going to come by tomorrow. Considering you’ve been ignoring him for several days. Nice of him to give me warning, so I’m going to have to cut my time here short. So… lets make sure to make this night one to really remember… Can’t have you ever forgetting me…”
He could almost feel the man behind him grinning as fingers trailed up his cheek. Only to sink into his empty eye socket to draw an anguished cry from Simon. “There is so much more I want you to experience..”