1983
Orin woke up when a hand shook him. Elias is standing by the doorway of the closet, “It’s nighttime.”
He stood up and they walked out of the bedroom. Oskar is kneeling on the floor and looking into the bag. He looks up, “We can’t carry everything with us all the way to Norrkoping.”
“It’s just a bit outside of Norrkoping really, but yes, we can’t carry everything.” Elias explains. He kneels next to him.
“What are we going to do with all the stuff?”
Orin kneeled next to Oskar and Elias, “We take what we can on foot. It’ll look suspicious of we drag boxes everywhere we go. We should put the boxes in the attic for now. Good thing it’s not a lot. I assure you it’ll be safe up there. I’ll carry some kerosene, lighter, and a knife. You two carry what you want.”
Orin walks back into the bedroom, the sound of the attic door opens and the boxes fumbles around inside. He returns and is carrying a bag over his shoulder. Elias stands in front of him, “Thanks.”
“I didn’t do anything.” Orin looks at him confused.
“You tried to kill him, but now you’ll finish him off this time for sure. I’ve wanted to do it, but I just couldn’t bear the idea of going anywhere near him.” Elias’ face scrunches; he is about ready to cry. Orin kneels down in front of him, “I understand. Part of me wants to avoid him myself, but there’s a part in both of us that wants justice for this.”
“He didn’t do anything to you.” Elias says.
“There is the man who did terrible things to me as yours had done to you. Fiends like them should be put to an end. That is why I’m doing this.”
“Thank you again.” Elias smiles.
“Maybe we can help you with yours.” Oskar says.
Orin blinks, “Well, we’ll see but I would like that. Unfortunately, I have no idea where he was and unlike this one, he’s loose.”
“Would he come here?” Elias asks.
“I hope not.” Orin shudders. His face scrunches as he remembers the pain of the knives that severed his wrist and heels, immobilizing him. Constant stabbing and cutting like a gutted fish.
“You ok?” Oskar asks.
Orin blinks again as though just woke up, “Yes, I’m alright. We should head out now. You got everything?”
“We don’t know what we needed to bring. You already had everything.”
“You can bring your Rubik’s Cube. It’ll be a long trip.” Orin smiles.
Four nights has passed and Elias is on the top floor of an old building. He looks across the empty hall. The stair railing is rusty and pieces of paint are falling off of it. The walls around the hall are white and gloomy with pieces of paint falling off the floor. There is some debris on the ground next to his feet. There is a large rectangle window in front of him. There are two doors, one they’re staying in, another is empty and its one side of the wall is peeling off greatly. There is water stains above it. There was a possibility that a rain leaked in from the roof.
Orin is sitting down cross-legged, Oskar is sitting on the ground, twisting his Rubik’s cube to pass the time. Elias looks around the other room, smelling some peculiar fragrance.
“Someone was here not too long ago.” Elias said to himself. Orin heard him, thought he was talking to him, “Yeah, there has been some thugs smoking and whatnot. Don’t worry, they’re not coming back here.”
Oskar looks up at him from his Rubik’s Cube, “How do you know?”
Orin grins, “I chased them away. Now they’ll need psychiatric help.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Nah, I’m just kidding. They just went away, trying not to stay in one place for too long. There was a cop that was here earlier. Asked if I have seen anything odd. I didn’t.”
“This place is creepy. Gives a feeling like there are ghosts here.” Oskar says.
“No, it’s just very old. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Elias said. He walked back inside the room and sat next to Oskar. He hands him the Cube and Elias starts twisting it around.
“He’s right. Also, I think I remember being here a while back.”
“What happened back then?” Oskar asks.
Orin smirks, “You want to know? Really? It’s not for kids to know.”
“I can handle it.” Oskar says. There was a curious look in his eyes as he leans forward. Orin curls his lip, “It’s best you don’t know.”
After the next day has ended, Elias wakes Oskar up, “Come with me, I want to show you something.”
Oskar rubs his eyes and stands up. They’re inside a small room; the window is caked with dust and is covered by cardboard. The room has a rusty smell, the walls are peeling apart, and a small single bed is the only thing in the room. It has no sheet and it is lying in across the bed frames inaccurately.
They head out of the room, into the dark hallway. It’s cold, gloomy, and the hall stretches long and narrow like a thing of a nightmare. A light is shining from one bedroom. They creep across the hall, trying to keep quiet. Oskar wants to ask, but from Elias’ look, it’s best not to speak.
Elias takes his hand and they walk into the room. He closes it and turns to Oskar, “I’ve been having bad dreams. Oskar, I want to show you something, something in my past. No, it’s not like last time. This is not as bad. I just need you.”
“What kind of dreams?”
“I will show you. Do you trust me?”
Oskar swallows and then nods. Elias steps forward and presses his lips on Oskar’s. his eyes closes and moves his lips across his.
1774
Oskar opens his eyes and sees the trees around him. It’s cold and foggy all around him. It is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. He hears the sound, “Elias… Elias…”
A faint shadow forms within the fog. It began to take shape. It is a form of a man. Oskar feels the bad vibe from him. His face was masked and he is wearing rags. He looks at Oskar, “My, what are you doing out here little one? Where are your parents?”
Oskar couldn’t speak, he moves backward away from him.
“Don’t be frightened of me. It’s quite chilly out here. Why don’t you come inside.I’ll make you some nice hot soup. Then we can go find your parents hmm?” He moves forward. Oskar wasn’t sure why he’s afraid, but then he understood. He had a knife tucked underneath his sash woven tightly around his thin waist.
His hand beckons him forward and Oskar slowly rose to his feet. He carefully follows him behind as he stumbles through the fog. The ground is uneven and there are rocks and sticks everywhere.
“My house is not too far from here.” The old man wheezes.
His house is a small log cabin. Inside he takes his ragged coat off and hung it on the hook. He beckons Oskar forward into the kitchen which is just few feet away. Inside the house is spacious where the living room and the kitchen combine. The table is small and there’s a crack on the side.
“Would you like some soup?” He walks forward and looks at the counter with cans stacked neatly on the side. There’s a small fire stove that is burning brightly.
Oskar shakes his head, though his stomach’s growling. He knew he isn’t hungry for soup, but the old man’s blood. Is he going to have to kill the old man?
“But you seem very hungry already. I have plenty of soup. Come, I’ll make you soup.”
He walks over with the can and opens it with a knife. The liquid inside spurts out and the he dumps the contents inside a black pot. He brings it over to the stove and hangs it over the fire.
“Alright, you can rest right there and by morning, we’ll search for your parents. Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.” He walks over to Oskar who backs into the wall. Then the man backs up, “Alright, alright I just want you to get comfortable here. Would you like a bath of course? You need it.” He looks at him and takes a whiff. He tries not to gag, and gives a weak smile, “I have no idea how you managed to end up here. Your parents must be worried sick.”
Oskar shakes his head, “My parents are dead. I’m all alone.”
He brings his hand over to his mouth, “Oh my… then who is supposed to take care of you now?”
“I have no one.” Oskar swallows.
He hangs his head low, “I’m so terribly sorry. Well, then you can stay here if you wish. Here, I’ll start the tub and the soup will be ready for you.” He heads into a small room where the tub is and shortly, he pours warm water inside the tub. Oskar stands there, watching him. His stomach growls.
The old man turns, “Ok, you can get undressed and get yourself cleaned up. I’ll get your soup ready.” He leaves him as he walks to the kitchen. Oskar walks inside the small room and slowly removes his clothes. He looks down between his legs and bit his lips. He remembered… the knife. He started sobbing and recoils into the corner.
Minutes after he spent crying, he slowly crawls into the tub. It’s feeling a bit cold. He wasted too much time and the water got cold. It didn’t matter to him and stuck his head underwater.