WHERE IS MADDY?
MAY 20, 2021
JACKIE
[JACQUES LUSTRADO | 24]
“MADDY IS MISSING!”
I unconsciously gave a sneering smile at Zack; the first person who startled me because of his horrifying face and because of the way he yelled at me as if it’ll be his last breath, the moment I opened the door of our room.
After I had a heavy drink last night, a hangover is now my companion. Because of that, there’s an enormous amount of headaches troubling me. Honestly, I don’t really like getting drunk. After I started my teaching career, I stopped drinking the way I often do before. And last night feels like my first time drinking alcohol again—I lost control of myself.
“Did you see her went out last night?” Zack shouted once more when I wandered straight to the kitchen to brew a coffee.
Soberness would soon kick in as long as I drink a cup of
CHAOS May 20, 2021 JACKIE When we saw Gabby and Santi get out of the car at the same time, we were all frozen to the spot. This was shocking to see—we all know how Gabby feels about Santi, but now? I'm at a loss! "Gabby! Are you alright?!" Lizzie broke the silence when she ran from Gabby, who's suspended in the air, held by Finn. When Gabby and the others gently guide Gabby inside, Zack held an umbrella in his other hand and shared it with them. He did not even dare to look at Santi. When they were already inside, I realized I had no choice but to go along with them. While I was foolishly biting the inside of my bottom lip, Santi trudges past me with a frightening scowl on his face.
LOST BOY [PART ONE]May 20, 2021West Lake is just a small province. Years ago, it was almost isolated because of the job opportunities deflation, which caused the locals to take risks in other towns. But their primary reason upon leaving was because this place was infamous for missing cases with two convicted serial killers. Adding in those darkest eras of West Lake, women's population slowly decreases, naming us the scariest and unsafe place in the country.My mother lived here and left at thirteen to work in a brothel in the city, where she met my father. She used to tell me stories about this place, how it's not simply full of grotesque creatures. Her face brightened up when she said to me that this was where she found her happiness because this is the place where she gave birth to me. I am her happiness.
THE CONTINUATION... It's only 6 a.m. And I already expected a turmoil in the basement as soon as he found out Maddy was free, or if she was lucky enough and chose herself over the girls, she might have escaped. But I didn't get my hopes up. All I know is that he'll be so preoccupied that he won't see us leaving the house. Everybody was still asleep when I walked into the living room. As I approached the front door, I noticed Finn sitting on the sofawith his eyes closed. I sighed and shook my head, then continued walking toward the entrance. It's a genuine pity because Zack's friends are great. The way he always comes out on top of life is annoying. He has a fantastic bunch of friends that he just brought to die in here; he has the loving arms of his uncle and aunt, a beautiful
TRAITOR May 20, 2021 GABBY For the first time in my life, I committed a heinous crime. I deceived the person who trusted me. No, she was not just a simple person in my life. She had been a part of me—we've known each other since we were kids. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself, not after what I did. "Gabby, please stay awake." Lizzie's voice tries to keep me awake while lightly tapping my face. I shiver uncontrollably, feeling the cold on every inch of my flesh. Perhaps this is my karma for what I did to Maddy. I never expected to find her there, and I never imagined Santi could do such things to innocent girls. But what I didn't expect was
SIX FEET DEEP [PART ONE]May 20, 2021GABBYMaddy's blood is getting closer and closer to my skin, and I can feel the sorrow rising in my chest as I stare at her with wide-open eyes. Everything happened so quickly, and my tears weren't stopping. At first, I believed Santi had fired his gun at me, but when he moved his palm across Maddy, I felt my strength dwindle ultimately.She was shot in the stomach. I couldn't stare at her any longer, but I also didn't want to avert her gaze. Maddy vomits blood while she lies unmoving a few steps away from me. When she gave me a faint smile, I shook my head in despair. I don't want her to do that to me; she can't just say goodbye after all these years of not seeing her. I can't just say goodbye to her now, not in this state.
THE CONTINUATION... "Julius, you friggin' traitor!" When we came upon a wounded cop with blood splattered on his thigh, Santi ordered me to pull over with a gritted-teeth grumble. "Santi! Help!" Cried by the man on the ground. "I'm coming back for you! I simply need to—" He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence when I hit him in the jaw, causing him to collapse against the car door as he accidentallyrelinquished the gun, which fell to the floor. For a split second, I considered grabbing the gun lying on the floor in front of his feet while he's dizzy. But I was hesitating and thought that it would just be a trip to hell, so I opened the car door and tripped on the mud, but I quickly dragged myself to my feet a
THE MADE-UP LIES [PART ONE] MAY 20, 2021 JACKIE We were urged to sit here in the living room by Santi after he yelled at us not to leave, and it was also the time two guys in police uniform knocked on the door. They instantly became familiar to me. They are one of Santi’s friends from last night. Lizzie and Gabby are in Zack's room; his breathing surprisingly returns to normal after he passes out. When the two cops arrived, Lizzie stopped, begging Santi to let us take Gabby to the hospital. We were all quite concerned about Gabby's condition, and I was afraid we would lose him. Fortunately, he is fine, but he still has a fever, so Lizzie is with him to care for him. It was still a mystery to me what happened to Gabby and Santi; they were together, and we had no idea where they went. And when t
THE CONTINUATION...Zack took a step forward toward Santi, saying, "Do you know how Debbie constantly abused me when I was a kid?Debbie, who was sitting on the bed with Chloe next to her, scoffed in disdain."She's your grandmother!" Santi yelled like an older man demanding respect in return."Yet she didn't act like one!""Zackary! I'm just trying to keep myself under control right now. Don't test my patience!" I noticed Santi's fist clenched in rage, and his lips curled in contempt."Stop accusing me of abusing you. You're a scoundrel; I just did it because I want to remove the horns from your head! Zackary, you were such a stubborn child. There was
THIS WILL BE THE LASTEPILOGUEONE YEAR LATERZACK"Congratulations, Zack. I’m so glad to say that this is the end of our sessions." Dr. Peterson, my psychologist, said to me as we both stood up and embraced.I couldn't believe that after a year of therapy, I was finally done. I was diagnosed with PTSD, and it took us a long time to cure the nightmares that I had been having since the night Santi was captured. I admit that lingered with me for a long time, and it's still difficult for me to this day, but it lessens; most of the time, I'm paranoid, thinking they're simply around me when they're not."I'm going to miss sitting here," I chuckled, and he agreed and laughed too.
A NEW NIGHTMAREMAY 30, 2021ZACKSeveral different colors of lights blinded me as soon as we walked out of the garage door, indicating that we were being directed to the ambulance. The general public and the media were quick to follow. I was expecting the cops to put us in handcuffs, but they didn't."Zack!" When I heard my sister's voice, I blinked and sat on the stretcher, searching among the crowd for her. As reporters fought to get a hold of us, several cameras flashed through us, but the police were quick to stop them."Chloe!" I yelled, I was going to hop out of the ambulance when the nurses stopped me, till Chloe got close to me with officers sprinting behind her back."I-I'm truly sorry!" Chloe sobbed as she climbed into the ambulance and embraced me. "
IN HELL, WE ARRIVEMAY 26, 2021ZACK"What were you thinking?!""Don't listen to him; he's brilliant at manipulating us, just like you said. So anything he says will only end up being a lie." Julius murmured, but he didn't look me in the eye."What I'm saying is true; their names are Kevin and Daisy. They were such sweet children, Zack; you should’ve met them. But sadly, they both died in the lake—Debbie killed them both," Santi stated once more. "That bitch is a badass when it comes to drowning kids."Santi laughed.When I return my gaze to Julius, he is glaring at Santi with his fists balled and quivering, as if he is angry at what Santi has said, which further adds to my skepticism.I shiv
HONEST ANSWER May 26, 2021 ZACK "Are you certain about this?" Julius asked nervously as he handed me the chainsaw. I nodded at him and looked at Santi, who was roped to the chair and had a tape across his mouth because he was still attempting to get free. "I've never been more certain," I said. While I was looking at him, Finn walked towards me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and nodded, showing his support. The notion of torturing someone has given me a thrill, and I'll confess that I'm a little anxious and a little scared. This isn't the first time I've killed someone, but it is the first time I've felt a rush in my stomach at the prospect of torturing someone. And it just so happened to be my father, and the fact that I am so thrilled is terrifying.
FILM SHOWMay 26, 2021ZACK"This will be the last," I murmured firmly as I gritted my teeth into him, my gaze fixed on his. I blinked before returning my focus to the fragments of his photograph."And these? And all of these?" I paused. "If you think you can trick me for the second time, you've failed," I sneered. As I watched the rage cross his face again, I narrowed my eyes at him. He looks like he's about to erupt at any minute.I exhaled furiously as I leaned back in my seat and messed up my hair, but I was startled when he smacked his fist with a gun on the table, forcing me to return my sight to him. I'm not sure what happened to me, but I don't feel anything. I don't feel any emotions other than fury, but all the fears I've felt toward him? They're all gone.
ALL TO BLAME MAY 20, 2021 ZACK I gritted my teeth as I pushed open the garage door, clutching the gun tightly as I walked carefully inside. Before I decided to step my foot inside here, I made sure to steady my breath and settle the panic inside me. I don't know where Chloe is, and I'm not going to stop looking for her; after I remembered that I witnessedthe filthy animal things he did to my mother at such a young age, I'm convinced that my sister is suffering in the same way that my mother did at his hands. Gabby was mistaken about my lack of familiarity with Santi. Because I do, I just forced my little old self not to remember Santi's true colors. Santi's awful crimes were kept hidden because of my cowardice. It was all because of me if I didn’t absentmindedly twisted my memories of him and choose to believe the few kindnesses he g
DREAMING OF MEMORIES MAY 20, 2021 ZACK "W-what am I doing here?" I asked myself, but as I looked up and saw my mother standing there, I pursed my lips in surprise. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat as panic starts growing within me. I moved my eyes around without moving my body, and when I saw my mother's room, I got chills all over. There are many posters of various singers, bands, and celebrities on the wall, as well as many of her belongings scattered on the floor; everything is in disarray, and tears welled up in my eyes as I returned my gaze to my mother. I came back from when she was still living, and I don't like this memory; I pushed it to the back of my mind so I wouldn't think about it again, but now I'm here again. Mom is grinning at me, her hair is a tangle, and she
BURIED DEEPMay 20, 2021ZackI forced all the air out of my lungs and exhaled as forcefully as I possibly could. Any attempt to get me up only results in me dropping to my knees on the ground, where I end up wailing and sobbing all by myself. Just as I was about to close my eyes, I noticed my grandmother gently fading from my vision as she drifted away with the wave, but instead of floating, the water ate her body, sinking her.I just found myself again and stopped crying when the sunset and the light in the sky faded. I mustered the will to get back on my feet and walk briskly toward the door. My foot is still blazing in pain, as if someone had slammed a mallet into the interior, generating a searing sensation inside of my foot.With he
DRIFTED BY THE DARKNESS VAST "Your son has dissociative amnesia, a condition in which your child blocks his memory because of acute trauma or stress; it can also be hereditary." The doctor in front of them said. "Based on his testing, his condition is still not so severe, but it could become so if he continues to forget memories." Olive grasped the strap of her sling bag as she returned her gaze to Zack, who was sitting by the window, refusing to play with the toys scattered on the floor mat. Olive's eyes filled with concern, which her husband immediately noticed; Sam reached for her other hand, which was sitting on her lap, and gently squeezed it, which drew her attention. "Does it have a cure?" Olive asked Mr. Peralta; a child psychologist offered them a tight, warm smile and nodded, causing her to sigh with relief.