Itâs everywhere. The floor. The walls. Mariaâs toolsâŚ
The room is drenched in it.
He canât believe it. Still wont believe it. But the proof is hanging right before his eyes. Like meat in a butcherâs shop window. No⌠no he canât think like that. He didnât even want to look. But he canât move. Canât 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 asâŚ
Tears were streaming down his bloodied face. Simon didnât even register the immense physical pain he was in. His mind was too busy burning this image into his memory. Itâs what the killer wanted. For Simon to live with this image in his mind. It was his punishment.
âI see youâre awake.â
His whole body flinched just at the voice. Simon was trembling in fear, trying to locate the source of the voice. âTo be honest, I thought you would have died by now. Especially after everything youâve been through. Itâs good, itâs good. Canât have you dying too soon. Whatâs the fun in that?â
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 didnât want to be near this man.Â
Standing behind Simon, hands grasped at his cheeks. Softly. Delicately. Almost in a comforting way as the stranger hushed him. âNow now. You shouldnât 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.â
Simon froze at this. Mathew?Â
âMmm, said he was going to come by tomorrow. Considering youâve been ignoring him for several days. Nice of him to give me warning, so Iâm going to have to cut my time here short. So⌠lets make sure to make this night one to really remember⌠Canât have you ever forgetting meâŚâ
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. âThere is so much more I want you to experience..â