The Dead End by Stanley

"Three...two...one!" I murmured to myself, smirking. Finally, a tiring day at school ended. I packed up, grabbed my bag and dashed to the school gate, expecting my mother over there waiting for me. But she was nowhere in sight. 'Strange... My mother is always punctual. Why is she late now?' I wondered.

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone... something staring at me. As soon as I spun around, the strange figure was gone.

'What in the world was that?!' I pleaded silently in my mind. I looked behind and saw he rest of the pupils who stayed back for remedial lesson like me. Some walked home by themselves and others went home with their parents. I was left alone.

Waiting patiently, I got the feeling that I was being... watched. Just then, a lady walked up to me with a smile. I felt confused. 'Why is that woman look at me like that?' I thought.

"Are you John?" The woman asked.

I replied, 'No?' raising one brow at her.

For a moment, I thought I saw her frown but she quickly regained her composure by putting on a smile.

"Your mother told me to take you home. She is ill and I'm Wendy, her friend."

Suspicion was building up in me. Knowing that serial killers hunting kids were on the loose and kids like me should not trust unfamiliar faces. But I saw the faces of the killers on news and I was certain she was not one of them. Still, I eyed her with suspicion.

I told her to lend me her cell phone to call my mother, just to make sure. I dialled for my mother and when she picked up, I swore I heard men's voices in the background, My mother assured me everything the lady said was the truth. But, there was something different in her voice and in the way she spoke.

Assuming it was just because of her deep nasal voice and perhaps the cold she had, I hung up and followed 'Wendy' into her car.

Never did I know that was the biggest mistake I was going to make.

As I rode along, I noticed we just missed a turn and was heading for a different direction. I stared at her and I almost screamed. Taking a close look at her, I realised that her face was not really connected to her skin.

"Who...Who are you?!" She laughed and the car screeched to a halt just outside a warehouse. She got out and pulled me out. Having a strong grip on me, struggling was futile. I stepped into the warehouse and my eyes started to water. The stench was unbearable. But as I walked in deeper, my eyes watering was not because of the stench but the horrendous scene I saw.

My mother, tied to a chair, headless, blood everywhere. I looked around, skeletons almost the same size as me, chained to the wall. I looked to the woman, two huge looming shadows appeared behind her. The woman removed her face...no! It was a mask!

What was hidden behind it was a horror I never thought I would face. They were the serial killers I saw on the news. No connection, no link was found between their victims. They were sick bastards who killed defenseless kids just to satisfy their freakish thrills.

Burning with hatred and anger, I stared at them, looking into their brutal, murderous eyes as I got chained up on the walls. Resistance was useless as we were in a remote place. What could I do? I shut my eyes, awaiting death as a sharp object plunged deep into my heart. 'Wait for me, mother! I'm coming...'