BOY MANIAC

Chapter 1

The Sound of music warped into my ears as though water was flowing down a stream. There was something enigmatic and mysterious about the musical notes as they fell into the fragile air about me. Nestled in my usual chair, my eyes blinked momentarily taking in the flickering light and images on the bright screen of the plasma before me. On the silver screen was a girl staring at three traditional african dolls; all dressed in white gowns. One was burned to a crisp, the second one was only scorched on one side and the third one was untouched by the flames. Reaching out her hand the little girl picked up the doll that had not been burned and gave it a dazzling smile. Suddenly the doll's face lit up like a neon sign and peals of laughter bursted from deep within it's throat. The laughter was throaty, and sounded more like an evil cackle than an expression of amusement. Blinking owlishly, the little girl stared at the doll quizzically, the boom of it's laughter making her shiver with fright. For several moments she stood unmoving; frozen to a point where she was hardly breathing. SWAP! Claws bursted out of the dolls fingers, thus making my heart skip, like it was slashed with a dagger.

RUN!!!

Get the hell out of there!

I mumbled, but she wouldn't do so. I was very scared that every part of my thought screamed at her to flee, but she wouldn't do so.

DAMN! STUPID KID! Toss that Gawd damn doll away, and get the hell out of there.

My heart skipped a bit as the devilish doll suddenly lunged forward and plunge it's dagger like claws into the girls neck. Covering my eyes with my fingers, the muscles of my heart tightened with incredible force as I peeked through the tiny slits in my fingers. Watching as the doll squeezed the girls neck like it was squeezing a sponge. The poor old girl struggled against the firm grip of the doll, gulping and gasping for air she tried to pry the fingers away, but it seemed quite impossible. Come on! Push it! Push it off! I mumbled, but she couldn't. It was as if the dolls claws were glued to her neck. It wouldn't even more and inch. My eyes widened with fear as she sagged to the ground, kicking her legs and screaming. Her face began to turn into a sickening color as her sight started to close in on her. DUM! DUM! DUM! her heart beat reverberated slowly from the speakers. Staring at the blood dripping from her neck, the doll opened it's mouth. revealing a set of dagger like teeth. At that moment I knew that nothing in this world could save her, because only one bite from those ferocious teeth would do the trick. Raising it's head, in a swift motion SWOOP! The doll motion to take a bite, but before it could take a bite, the light on the plasma screen vanished and darkness enveloped the room.

GaaaaAWD!!!

I blurted and let out a loud growl of annoyance. Nostrils flaring, I stood up from the chair, with fist clenched at my sides. I felt like exploding.

What sort of nonsense is this? Why do they have to take the light whenever I'm watching an interesting movie?

GaaaAWD!!!

I felt like transferring my anger on something or somebody. Now how am I going to know what's going to happen to that poor little girl?

I felt so angry, but what was I going to do? nothing! So I just had to accept my fate.

A chill spiraled down my spine as my mind suddenly replayed sounds and scene from the horrific movie in slow motion. Wiping a sweat from my brow, I tried to block the memory, but I couldn't prevent my self from thinking about the poor girl. Was she going to die? Would the doll succeed in killing her, or would someone appear out of the blues to save her?

The room was dark I couldn't see anything so I brought my phone out of my pocket and put on the flashlight. Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! sounded the clock. Squinting my eyes, I shifted my gaze towards the antique grandfather's clock and flashed it with my flashlight. Just then it struck 8 o'clock. Mom and dad should be on there way by now, I said thoughtfully and shrugged. I could feel my shirt clinging to my back. I was sweating so much like I needed someone to quickly dunk me in an ice bath. So I curled my fingers around my shirt, waving it in and out to create just a little air flow, but it was as if I was fanning myself with a toothpick. The air wasn't enough, so I decided to open the window and let in some to fresh air and probably peek if there are stars or moon in the sky. But when I drew the curtains aside; I swear my jaws dropped. My eyes widened and my lips parted into an O shape. The neighborhood was painted with light. It was as bright as daytime, floricent bulbs illuminated every corners of the street, and every houses with their pools of yellow and white lights.

My breath caught as I stared at it.

WHAT THE....

There is light!? Then why is there no light in this house? What the hell is going on here? Why did they cut our power supply? Have they forgotten that my pop's just payed the light bills three days ago? Oh my Gawd what kind of nonsense is this? Of all the houses in this town, why is it that this house is the one with no light? Damn! Or is the power outage from this house? Perhaps there is a problem with the fuse or the control box. Oh my gush! I wish pop's was here, he would have dealt with all this mess. Well, I can't wait in this darkness for him to return so I have to go to the basement, and check out that control box myself. Lemme see if I can do anything about it.

So I carried a big black torch on the table switched it on and flashed my way down to the basement. After a while I came to an halt as my eyes fell on a brass light switch, hanging on the wall. For several moments I stood unmoving, wondering why the switch was neutral.

Did someone touch the switch? I thought it was supposed to be up, or down? why is it in the middle? or am I mistaken? No! I can't be mistaken. Dad said up, was to switch it on, middle, neutral, and down was to switch it off. Then why is the damn thing neutral? Did someone temper with the switch? Of course not, what am I even thinking? Who the heck in this world would come in here just to prank me? Mom and dad are still at the party and I've gotten no visitors today. For crying out loud no one except I and my dad knows where the switch is located. I guess the switch must have worn out or something.

So I shrugged and slowly reached out my hand to pull the switch. Just then a cold rush of air passed over me; making the hairs on the back of my neck stand erect. I nearly dropped the torch as fear stabbed my heart like a sword. The muscles of my heart tightened and raced with incredible force as footsteps and whispers echoed eerily in the silence.

"JESUS!!!"

I Screamed as a shadowy figure caught the corner of my eye. Quickly I flashed the torchlight at the figure.

"who are you?"

I asked, my voice quavering, but there was no response. Quickly I reached for the switch and pulled it up.

"AaRrrrhhh!!!"

I groaned as the basement lit up and bathed my eyes with it's florescent bulbs, searing them like a hot camera flash. For a while my eyes twitched uncontrollably, unable to comprehend the brightness of the lights, I squinted my eyes until the burning sensation was over. But when I flipped em open again BOOM! an unexpected blow crashed into my face so hard that it sent my entire body twirling in the air and my mind into oblivion.

Chapter 2

My eyes snapped open as cold water splattered on my face. The sudden shock making me tense my muscles. Eyelids fluttering I tried to wipe the droplets of waters that trickled down my face, but my hands were stuck. I Tried to free my hands of whatever was trapping em, but they wouldn't budge. I tried harder and harder, but something sharp and cold kept preventing me from doing so. So I shifted my gaze downwards and saw that manacles were binding my hands and feet to a wooden chair. Staring at the manacles my eyes suddenly caught a dark menacing shadow on the floor. Slowly I traced it with my eyes until they fell on a bulry guy. I swear the size of his biceps made my heart skip. By the look of his arms, he must be doing five hundred pushups a day. For a while I give his face a good stare, but he wasn't a bit familiar. He was so tall and thick that his muscle rippled underneath the tight red T-shirt he was putting on. The man had the swagger of someone I didn't even want to lock eyes with, because his eyes were sharp and cold just like the rest of his facial features. Running his hands on his bald head, he watched as I wriggled on the chair, and then spun around and plodded out of my sight.

My heart was beating faster and faster until it reached a climax.

Where am I?

I let my eyes dart around the forlorn room. Dirt motes floated through the pale light that came from a lamp hanging in the room. The floor boards were rough and covered with dusts, debris of furnitures, cigar butts and empty bottles clustered the floor. The air was impregnated with filthy odours. Suddenly it struck me like lighting:

WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!

This is not my dad's basement. For CHRIST SAKE! What the hell am I doing here and who the hell was that guy? I Hope it is not what I'm thinking? GaaaAWD! I'm finished... After smashing me in face, he still had the guts to kidnapped me... What am I going to do now?

I felt like my heart had been ripped out. A state of misery that I couldn't see the end of the tunnel. A terrible weight fell onto my shoulders as I sat still on the chair, anticipating what would happen next. Fear tortured my guts, and engulfed my mind with negative thoughts that I couldn't get rid off. I kept on tugging the manacles, I never gave up. My desperate attempts to stay alive. I kept on tugging hoping that a miracle would happen.

Minutes later, a man in blue and white stripped shirt strutted into the room with a tiger like tread. His black trousers were held by straps of grey suspenders, which ran over his small-shoulders. The pale light glimmered on his bald head as he halted in front of me; dug around in his pocket and brought out a cigar and lighter. Shoving the cigar between his lips, he lit it and then took a long drag. Clenching the cigar between his cinnamon fingers he lowered his head and blew the cloud of smoke into my face. My eyes stung from the smoke; tears filled my eyes as I sneeze. Slowly he adjusted his round-shaped glasses, his squinty and smoky gray eyes peering into mine. Pursing his lips, he reached for the gag and in one swift motion he harsly peeled it off my mouth.

AaarrrhhHH"

I yelled my lungs out, due to the searing pain.

"Somebody help!! help me!!!"

I yelled.

"shut up!! you slimy son of a bitch"

he shushed me by placing a silver gun on my lips.

"shhhhh, or else I'll put the cloth back on your mouth and blow your head off..."

he said slowly and gruffly, his cigar dangling at the corner of his mouth. With bulging eyes I stared at the gun and swallowed hard.

"please don't kill me....PleeeeASE"

I cried and nodded vehemently.

"Then you better shut up or else I will"

Sweat pouring down my body, I tried my best to stay as still as possible.

"Very good, your dad wants to speak with you"

He said and dug his hand into his pocket, brought out a phone, tapped the screen for a while and placed it before me. My heart lept for joy when my dad's voice emanated from the phones speaker.

"stiles!!!"

"dad!!!"

we both called out at the same time.

"Don't worry son, I'll get you out of there as soon as possible. I promise you with the last ounce of my blood that no harm will come to you"

"Dad please...."

"time up"

the bald dude interrupted, by retrieving the phone, and placing it on his pierced ear.

"I give you thirty minutes to get me the money"

he snorted.

"Where or how do you expect me to get 2 million naira in thirty minutes?"

My Dad's voice boomed from the phone.

"Is that meant to be a rhetorical question you Idiot? I don't care to know how you get the money. All I know is get me the filthy money and don't you dare to involve the police or else, tsk tsk tsk. I'll send your son to hades in the blink of an eye."

he bragged and shoved the phone back in his pocket.

"if your daddy doesn't bring my money in the next thirty minutes, I bet you, you'll kick the bucket."

AHEM

he cleared his throat, adjusting his red polka dotted tie. He took a long drag from his cigar and then plodded out. Wincing and groaning I kept on tugging the manacles but it was futile. As I waited in the dark of the abandoned room, bounded in manacles, my mind raced like someone expecting a death sentence. My heart was throbbing in my ears, loud and irregular, but I could barely hear it, for my mind was clouded with fear.

The sound of footsteps rushed into my ears as though water flowed down a stream. Raising my head up, my eyes fell on the bulry guy and the bossy guy with the silver gun. Walking over to me, the bossy guy grabbed my chin with one hand and forced my head back. Looking me up and down he inquired,

"do you know how to pray?"

Chapter 3

The sound of footsteps rushed into my ears as though water flowed down a stream. Raising my head up, my eyes fell on the bulry guy and the bossy guy with the silver gun. Walking over to me, the bossy guy grabbed my chin with one hand and forced my head back. Looking me up and down he inquired,

"do you know how to pray?"

Yes I nodded

"Very good, because you should better pray that your daddy gets here in the next five minutes or else, you see that chair that you are sitting on?"

yes I nodded

"Do you know it is an electric chair?"

No I shook my head

"Now you know what it is, so better be praying that your daddy gets here in the next five minutes or else, I'll turn it on and electrify you to death,"

"Why did you bring me here? What did I do to deserve this?"

I asked tears dripping from my eyes.

"Oh boy! You didn't do me any wrong, infact you haven't done me anyway wrong in anyway,"

"Then please let me go back to my parents"

"I wish I could do that, but I can't"

"please sir, please.. tell your boss to let me go"

"I am the boss and I can't"

"Why?"

"I just can't do it"

I kept on pestering him, but he wouldn't reply me. But I didn't give up, I kept on pestering him to tell me why he has captured me and why he wouldn't let me go

"Why can't you? tell me why? please WhhhhhhY?"

"Because your worthless daddy ran my son over with a car,"

He suddenly fired in a thunderous voice. Breath wheezing he continued,

"He ran my son over and then drove away, leaving him helpless on the road. Now my son is crippled for life."

My breath caught, and I swallowed hard.

"My dad? NO! my dad would never do such an evil thing."

"NooOOH! my dad would never do such an evil thing,"

he mimicked me in a tiny voice.

"Well he did you idiot, and this is payback. I want your daddy to pay; I want him to suffer for the pain that he inflicted on my son. I want him to know what it's feels like to watch his own son go through hell of pain. My bad! You are going to be the one to pay for his sins"

"Boss, he is here,"

A voice suddenly interrupted him.

"let him in."

Four new faces processed in, three of them were carrying guns, while the other held a black briefcase.

"Stiles!!!"

shouted the man with the briefcase

"dad!!"

I shouted and watched as the briefcase fell from his hand. With a wry smile he ran towards me and threw his arms around me. His daunting breath flowing unto my face as he exhaled; his breath wheezing like he had run ten miles. He pulled me in nice and tight and wouldn't let go for a long time. Biting his lower lip, his eyelids fluttered as tears welled up in his chocolate brown eyes.

"Enough!!!"

A voice interrupted us. It was the bald bossy dude with an angry expression distorting his face. Stroking the bristly moustache below his dainty nose he ordered,

"Now go pick up that box and hand it over like a gentleman."

Slowly my dad disengaged; shaking his head, he plodded sluggishly to where the box lay; picked it up and handed it over.

"Attaboy,"

He complimented my dad; petting him on the back.

"Can we go now?"

My Dad asked; his eyes frail and bloodshot.

"Not until I check if the box is intact."

"Skylar!"

He thundered

"Yes boss,"

answered one of his men.

"Check if the box is intact."

"Okay boss."

Skylar flipped the case open; for a while he stare at it with wide eyes and then muttered,

"Boss, half of the box is loaded with cool cash, while the remaining half is littered with changes."

"Changes!?"

"Yes boss"

"Hey you,"

he called my dad.

"Are you sure that the money in this case is complete?"

"Yes it is,"

my dad replied briskly.

"You will regret it if I find out that the money in this case isn't complete. So now for the last time, is it complete?"

"Yes it is."

"Well then if it is complete; boys, grab him."

"NooOOH,"

my dad screamed as the men with guns quickly grabbed my dad and shoved him down.

"it's time."

said the bald bossy man.

CLANK!

The bulry dude placed a metal plate on my head, strapped my legs together and attached big cables to it. My teeth chattered in fear. I could feel my bowels loosen as my bladder reacted freely to the all engulfing fear. My life flashed before my eyes as my whole body shook in the constant fear of the future that loomed before me. My heart pounced in my ribcage like a hungry lion trying to break out of it's den.

God please save me.

I prayed over and over again.

"Hey kid! I am so sorry for what I'm about to do"

The bossy dude whispered into my ear.

"please don't kill me..let me go..let me go.."

I pleaded and tugged the manacles, my eyes wet with tears.

"how old are you kid?"

He asked with a wry face. I tried to reply but I couldn't will my mouth to speak.

"I said how old are you? You nitwit."

He bellowed stentoriously

"S... I XT..E...E...N"

I replied, my voice quavering, and my lips trembling as I spoke.

"well, I'm so so sorry that you are going to die so young for a crime you didn't commit."

"tsk, tsk, tsk,"

he added, shaking his head.

"Leave my son alone you bastard! I've given you what you demanded for,"

My dad said with teary eyes; wriggling to set himself free from his captors.

"What did you just say?"

"Leave my son alone, I've given you what you demanded for"

My dad replied sniffling.

"OH! you think you've given me what I really want? Well, I don't think so. What I want from you is something that only God can provide. What I really want from you is something that you'll never ever forget in a hurry; and that is your son,"

he replied; his voice gruff than ever.

"Please...why are you doing this....?"

"Shut up! Foolish people always ask foolish questions. But don't worry, you'll soon find out why I'm doing this.."

He said and strutted towards a red lever. A vile smirk appeared on his face as he reached out his hand to pull the lever.