Eyes Of Death: Chapter 1

“If you keep stealing the blankets from me, then I’m going to put my cold feet on you instead.” My mom laughs, as she pulls the blankets to her side, again.

“If your feet are that cold, then go put on some socks.” Pulling the blankets back over me. “Shouldn’t I be warm, not your feet. Besides, they can’t be that cold.” We start playing tug of war with the blanket and of course I was no match for my mom, again. She takes the blanket from me and she puts her icy feet on my back.

“My feet can’t be that cold, huh.” she says with a cruel smile on her face.

“Alright, Alright you win. Just get your feet off of me!” I yell as I sit up on the couch and move away from her feet. “I never win these things, but they are really fun.” My mom and I have always have little competitions like the tug of war with a blanket. I lose most of the time but I am okay with that.

Tonight we are sitting on the couch watching movies together. My mom, my dad and me. We get to our second movie and the tiredness hits me.

“Ok, time for bed Nigel.” she says, getting up from the couch to wake me.

“But, I’m not tired.”

“You were just asleep.”

“I was resting my eyes.”

“I’m not supposed to say this but we have a big day tomorrow. Now, go lay down and I will be there to tuck you in.” she says in her soft mom voice.

“Where are we going”, I stood up and headed for my room.

“You’ll see tomorrow.”

I am laying in my bed waiting for my mom and suddenly the bedroom door flew open. Instead of my mom tucking me in, it was my dad yelling “WE NEED TO LEAVE!”. He ran in my room, picked me up and started running towards the door with my mom to go outside. I was barely awake but I asked “What’s going on?”

“Nothing Nigel. Keep your eyes closed. Do not open them until I tell you so. Promise me!” I clench my eyes as hard as I can.

“Yes, dad.” my eyes start to water. “I promise I won’t open them.”

I can’t see anything but I smell smoke, and plenty of it. My growing curiosity took the best of me and I peek for only a few seconds. I see burning buildings and people running. I close my eyes again start crying. I should have listened.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a voice taunted. “The fun is starting!” My dad continues to run, but then he stops. I peek again for the last time and see the strange man standing in front of us.

“What do you want from us.” My dad asks, backing up slowly.

“We are here for the children.” he replies. “Now hand him over and I might consider sparing both of you. So what will it be? The easy way or the fun way.”

“Stay away from him! You will not hurt a single hair on his head!” My mom cries. I’m not opening my eyes anymore after the first couple times. I hear how sad she is by her voice and I don’t want to see her hurting. I don’t want to remember that. “If you want him, you have to get through me first. I will not let you have him without a fight.”

“So you chose the fun way? So be it.”

I don’t know what happens but all I hear is falling and screaming. “You won’t take him from me.” she cries and she keeps falling. “I have to protect him.”

I hear the man say “Is that all you got? Oh you still have some fight left in you. Let’s see how how much.”

My father puts me down to go help her and said, “Remember Nigel, no matter what, keep your eyes closed. This could get messy.” I cover my face with my sleeve to keep me from looking, but became soaked with tears. I accidently looked one more time and I see my mother laying on the floor. She wasn’t moving.

“Oh, another competitor, and just as I thought this was getting too boring. I hope you can put up more of a fight than her.” he says mockingly, almost as if he is testing me. Does he know about the promise I made with my dad? Or does he want me to see what he is doing to them? No, if he knew about the promise he would know that i broke it, three times. I know either way, my eyes are not going to open again. “You are just as pathetic as her. I thought this was going to be more fun. You might as well just go lay over there on the ground with her so at least you can die together.” It went quiet all of a sudden. I listen closer to for any movement. Then the man says “Well, that was easier than I thought. Now that they are out of the way, now let’s look at my winnings. Stop crying! You are really bringing down your value.” he says while wiping the tears off of my face. “Now, let me see your eyes.”

“No.”

“Open your eyes or I will open them for you!”

“No. I made a promise and I intend to keep it.” he slaps me. “Not like you know how to keep one.”

“Oh really, who did you make the promise to.”

“My dad.” I cried. “I promised I wouldn’t open my eyes until he said so. I won’t open them until he tells me that I can.”

“Your father is over there next to your mother. Let’s just say, they died as they lived, together. What are you going to do? Keep your eyes closed forever?” I am so angry and sad at the same time.

“If that’s what it takes, I’ll do it.” I say gritting my teeth.

“You really have to stop crying.” he says while wiping the tears off of my face again. “You’ll never pass inspection. Ha! Who am I kidding, the other kids will probably have dead parents too.” grabbing my face. “Now this is your last chance to open your eyes.” I bite his finger, punch him in the face and kick him in his ankle. I was angry and ready to let it out.

“You little brat!” he says. “You are going to regret that. If you don’t want to open your eyes, so be it!” I open my eyes but it didn’t do much good. He is standing over me with a sword and slashed my eyes. Deep enough to where I can’t see. “Now you’re coming with me. Being blind will render you useless for the normal children. We’ll use you for the special jobs.”

“You’re a monster.” I weep. “How could someone be so evil, especially to people who have done nothing wrong to you or any of the others. I will make you pay. I swear on everything you will pay!” I screamed.

“Leave him alone!” An unfamiliar voice says. “Pick on someone your own size.”

“What, what’s going on!” I yell. My feet are off the ground and there is wind in my face. Something is wrapped around my waist.

“Don’t worry, I’m taking you somewhere safe.” she replies.

“NO! Take me back to my mom! I have to see if she’s okay! I have to help her!” I start to struggle. “Take me back!”

“Stop, moving so much. I don’t want to drop you!” she tightens her grip. “There gone. They are all gone.” she weeps. Going back there will only get you killed.” I feel her tears drop on my shoulders and I calmed down, realizing that she must have had one hell of a night, too.

“I WILL GET THAT GUY!” I scream. “Even if it kills me.”

“Have you calmed down.” lowering me to the floor.

“I guess there is no use crying. I can’t anymore.” I look up to where I think she is.

“OH NO! You’re bleeding!” she examines my face. “Let’s just wrap this up. When it’s wrapped, you can’t mess with it, okay.”

“Do you just carry wrap on you or was it a coincidence that you have tonight?” I question.

“What can I say. I’m always prepared.”

“Oh ok. Than I’m in luck.” The wrap feel strange but I’ll have to get used to it.

“You’ve had a long night, now go to sleep and rest.”

“I don’t even know your name.”

“It’s Alexandria.”

“That’s too long to remember. How about I call you Alex.”

“Yeah. I like that.”

“Alex. Thank you for saving me back there.”

“You’re welcome. Now go to sleep.”