Owed? As in past tense. For what? When? Why? How? Those were the only questions that seemed to keep circulating in my head, so much it was almost like a mantra.
My eyes snapped open; my head was pounding. I was slow to remember my settings. Below me was a fluffy, plush bed. I had never laid on anything so cushioned. It was as if I were laying on a cloud, it was a congenial change from the cold, firm ground I had been perched on. My ears registered the constant beeping of an ECG. I formed my hands into a fist, as I tried to push my body upwards. I felt the pinch of a needle in my forearm. The door unlocked, and I was graced with the presence of a tray overflowing with food, I hadn't paid mind to the bodily figure carrying it. My eyes, nose, mouth and all my other senses were focused on the tray, and it only. The needle and medical equipment were long forgotten. The tray was placed on the far table below the window, a jug of water next to it, far from my reach. I glance up at the figure, only realizing it was him.
"You passed out before I had the chance to explain what had happened. The doctor said it was due to malnourishment and dehydration, I'm surprised who've gone three days without water." He stated.
I wasn't listening to him though; the tray of food had thoroughly occupied my senses and judgment. My eyes were set on the tray and it alone, the swish of the water in the jug slowly coming to a halt, the smoke emitting from the hot meal, the smell of the chicken wafting towards my nose. I was drooling at this point. The shard of a glass cup cutting the tip of my ear jolted me out of my trance. I finally look up at him, my eyes wide unable to comprehend the fact a glass cup had been thrown to me. I stared right into his eyes and I was not prepared for what I saw. His eyes were distant, bleak and just… cold. I had never understood when a person said they could see the emotions a person was feeling just by solely looking into their eyes. But I did at that moment. His eyes, seemed to be a swarm of darkness, it was indescribable. Soulless was the only the word that just scraped what I seen. We stayed like this, I don't know for how long but I just stared and as did he. I struggled to yank my eyes away from his, it felt like they were dragging me into they're endless storm. I began to allow them to wander his sculpted face, absorbing and analyzing every single feature he occupied.
He cleared his throat, and held the tray of food towards me. I attempted to lift up my arm to collect it but the needle in my forearm was causing me great discomfort so I pulled it out of my forearm annoyed by the thing and seized the tray from his extended arms. I licked my lips, my mouth salivating once again. Ignoring the profound presence of the man, I dived into the food, savoring the explosion of flavors on my dry, deprived tongue. I ate like an animal, tearing into each item on the large tray. The cutlery was put to no use as I allowed my hands and body to act on its own accord, and before I knew it the whole tray was pile of bones. I gulped down the jug of water and let out a bellowing burb. I patted my stomach in content and slumped back into the plush bed.
Suddenly acknowledging the figure in the room, that had watched me devour the tray my cheeks turn a deep crimson red. I took a quick glance at him, thinking I was being sly, but in fact wasn't. I looked down at my hands. He hadn't uttered a word yet. Right as my mouth was about to open, he stood up and took quick long strides towards me. His scrutinizing gaze made me shrink further into the pillows, he glanced down then averted his gaze and collected the tray and empty jug and was gone. It was only when he had left that I realized my fingers were shaking terribly fast. I sat on the bed waiting, for what? I don't know.
It was beginning to get dark when the handle to my door finally shook open. I was once again graced with the presence of him. With a toothpick in his mouth, he dragged a chair from the vanity table and set it at the side of my bed. Right in front of where my arm lay and sat on it. Clearing his throat, he began.
"Your parents and I were very close, once upon a time. Your mother was my arranged wife actually, until I killed her. A bullet in between her eyebrows. I remember the look on her face when I raised my gun at her, the look in her eyes as her soul left her body. Her last words to me were "it'll catch up to you soon, they know, she know-' Pathetic he whispered to himself, but I caught it.
***
17 years ago.
The continuous thump against the door resonated through the whole house. Splinters flew into the house as the door was being smashed in. Mum ushered my sister and I into the small kitchen cupboard.
"We are going to play a quick game of hide & seek, her voice wavering. But you need to be quiet and cannot leave until I find you, okay baby? she said as she cupped my cheek. No matter what you hear don't leave the cupboard. She was letting out heavy sobs. I love you both."
"Wait mummy- "
The door busting open stopped me from finishing the sentence. Mum slammed the cupboard doors shut and all I could hear were her feet shuffling quickly away.
I could hear faint voices talking.
"L-let's talk about this" I heard her beg. She let out a shriek of pain, then I heard someone laugh. It wasn't comical at all, but... sadistic.
"Like you had talked to me, huh?" a voice had snarled. It didn't sound like dad's. I didn't recognize it at all.
"Where is she?" he asked. No... more like mandated.
This wasn't beginning to feel like a normal game of hide & seek we usually played. My cheeks were beginning to get doused in my tears, that tickled my chin as they fell. My thighs were beginning to hurt from the weight of Arlo's body resting on me who'd fallen asleep. Attempting to make myself more comfortable I rest Arlo against the cupboard door while I tried to re-arrange our positions. The creak of the door slowly opening and the plop of Arlo's body dropping to the kitchen floor should've been expected.
There was a shift of silence. I got down to pick up Arlo's wailing body when I felt the entail to raise my head and god, I wish I hadn't.
Mommy? There she was, a black object held between her eyes, tears were gliding down her red face. She was looking at me... shaking her head. She twisted her head up to the black figure, silently begging, her bloodied lips moving quickly. A ringing noise blasted through the house and her body dropped. The red liquid that came out when I cut my knees on the see-saw was now gushing out of her lifeless body.