I’ve Seen A Lot Of Sick Things As A Police Officer, But I’ve Never Seen Something Like This

Tommy’s cuffs lay twisted and broken on the floor.

“Jesus Christ, what the fuck is happening…” I sputtered.

And then the power went out.

I heard Henry yell in surprise and confusion as I backed up against the far wall, stumbling in the complete darkness. A voice in my head told me that things had just escalated to a level I couldn’t contain any longer.

“Turn the lights back on!” Henry called.

Feeling like I was in a daze, I walked forward and found the railing again. I leaned down into the black, listening for some clue as to where Tommy had gone, my heart thumping in my ears.

And then…from the abyss below….

“Hehehehehe….”

I stumbled back and crashed down the hall towards Henry and the girl, hands groping and grasping in front of me like a blind man. I found a door and could hear Henry breathing in front of me. I dropped to my knees and called out to him.

Suddenly, light blinded me and I raised my hands to my eyes. Henry lowered his flashlight, his face pale and terrified.

“What the hell is going on?!” He hissed.

I started to answer, but stopped when I saw the little girl he was holding in his arms. She couldn’t be more than five years old. Rope twisted and coiled around her body in knots and weaves that seemed endless. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was sealed with duct tape. I noticed her tiny cheeks were bloated, like her mouth was filled with something.

I reached out and ripped the tape off, my fingers coming away bloody. Slowly, something began to ooze out of her mouth in a mixture of blood and saliva.

“Oh my God…”Henry whispered, voice shaking.

Dozens and dozens of sharp tacks poured from her lips and dripped onto the carpet. My eyes met Henry’s and we shared a look of absolute horror. Gently, Henry reached into her mouth and pulled the remaining ones away, tossing them aside with a disgusted grimace.

“What kind of monster does this?” I whispered.

“That’s not the worst of it,” Henry said, shaking his head. “Look.”

He lifted her tiny yellow skirt up and I felt all life drain from my body in a rush of cold mental agony.

“W…what did he…h-how…” I mumbled, feeling a lump of fury and sorrow rise in my chest.

Henry lowered her skirt, “It’s going to take a lot to get her right again.”

Suddenly, from the black beyond the door, we heard the creak of wood as someone ascended the stairs to the second floor. I pulled my gun from its holster and Henry clicked his flashlight off, shuffling against the wall and throwing me a terrified look.

“Kill that fucker,” Henry whispered.

I stood, the pistol grip growing sweaty in my hands. With my back flush against the wall, I peeked out into the dark hallway.

I heard something whisper from the shadows by the top of the stairs.

“Officer down…officer down…hehehehehe…”

I pulled my flashlight from my belt and readied it in my hands, bringing it under the pistol and pointing towards the voice.

“Do it,” Henry growled.

I clicked the light on, heart sputtering, and prepared to shoot…but there was no one there. I swung the beam of light around, jumping at every shadow, but the hall remained empty. I licked my lips and stepped out towards the balcony, finger tight against the trigger.