Chapter 5:

Chapter 9 The Disappearance of Isaac

EVIL


Chapter 9

 The Disappearance of Isaac

Rain is pouring down ceaselessly. José, who was digging through the mountain of trash looking for valuables, flees into the comfort of his shed under his blankets. Eve and her friends are walking by the hotel window shopping in exclusive shops, run back to the hotel dripping of water. Michelle's body is still motionless on the floor. Her face is pale and blood is trickling from her head. Although it seems the worst has happened and she appears as if she's not breathing, her body moves on the floor and she manages to open her eyes. Everything seems distorted.

"What happened? What am I doing on the floor?"

Her hand goes up to her aching head and her fingers feel the sticky fluid where she was hit. She screams in fear at the sight of blood on her hand and suddenly remembers the stranger and what he did. She screams out in fear. ..

"Abraham! Help! Someone tried to kill me!!! Abraham…helps me!! Help!! Where are you Abraham?"

Michelle manages to stand up and leans on the couch. She is able to stand on her feet despite the unbearable pain in her head. She curiously looks at the yard beyond the closed living room door and doesn’t see Isaac. She is momentarily worried by immediately smiles

"He is probably with Abraham in the bedroom unaware of what just happened to me...it's OK"

Michelle's eyes scan the room sure it would be messed up the way it should be after a burglary. To her amazement the room seems just as organized as it was before the stranger arrived. For a moment a terrifying fear takes hold of her. She holds on tightly to the couch to keep from collapsing again and whispers

"If the stranger wasn’t a thief or a burglar, then who was he? Why did he assault me? Maybe he did something to Abraham?"

She quickly walks towards the bedroom in dread and opens the door slowly; sure the stranger hurt Abraham and maybe even killed him! She prays and begs God

"I hope everything is fine! God don’t let anything happen to Abraham".

Her gaze focuses on the bed and on Abraham who is still sleeping and snoring like a donkey! Michelle quickly approaches him and looks at his face and body worriedly there is no sign or clue that Abraham was hurt. She smiles in relief, shakes him and laughs out loud.

"Abraham! You're OK! Nothing happened to you! I'm so happy…I was sure he assaulted you too!!"

Abraham sits up in bed in an angry face. His hand reaches out holding her arm in a vice screaming at her.

"Are you crazy? I asked not to be disturbed right? What are you talking about: someone assaulted me? You should be institutionalized."

He pushes her away and dresses quickly every once in a while looking at her angrily.

"Oh Abraham, You don’t know what happened to me earlier. I was playing in the yard with Isaac and someone rang the door bell and I opened the door and this strange man was standing there! The man with the weird black clothes and big beard and sunglasses asked something and then he hit me on the head! I was afraid something had happened to you too…I was afraid the stranger went looking for you and hurt you!! I'm OK now that I've seen you're fine. By the way, I didn’t see Isaac in the yard…I thought he was here with you?"

Abraham finishes getting dressed, stands in front of her and looks at her like a mental patient. He mocks her in disrespect and contempt

"Come on Michelle! Have you lost it? Someone hit you on the head? Have you been drinking? What are you talking about Isaac? You said you were playing with him, right? Don’t worry about it! Remember last time you said he was missing? Where did we find him? In the living room with the TV. He's probably hiding somewhere in the house".

Michelle smile and Abraham starts yelling.

"Isaac, where are you?"

They both run towards the yard and yell out his name. As they arrive at the living room door Abraham opens the door worriedly both panting and breathing hard. Their worried gazes scan the yard from side to side hoping to see Isaac. Unfortunately there is no sign of Isaac in the yard. They both look at each other and continue yelling out his name. They go back into the house. Michelle mumbles anxiously.

"Let's look around the house; Isaac is probably hiding somewhere around here! We'll find him Abraham, don’t worry, and trust me! When I look for something I always find it. I was searching for someone to have a baby with and found you right?"

She laughs and Abraham feels as if he was just slapped.

"I know Michelle…you were looking for sucker and found a good one…OK, let forget it now…we have to find Isaac"

He turns his back on her and walks into the third room in the house intended for various things, mainly for Isaac when he stays with them or guest that stay overnight. Michelle walks into the bathroom and them each search for Isaac, yelling his name out loud. They search under the beds, inside closets, in nooks and crannies, behind chairs and couches and anywhere in the house that can be used as a hiding place. Michelle returns to Abraham who seems lost.

"You didn’t find him?"

Worried and confused she shakes her head and expects Abraham's reaction as he seems desperate and frightened.

"I couldn’t find him either…I'm going to look in the yard again"

Michelle hugs him with affection and mumbles.

"I'm sure Isaac is hiding somewhere…don’t worry we'll find him! Let's go into the yard together"

They go out and search every corner of the yard. Michelle even opens the door to the shed and looks inside. Abraham watches her face as she comes out and doesn’t say a word. Her depressed, desperate look says it all. Abraham walks up to the door leading out to the street and touches it. The door that should be closed is open!!

"Oh my God!!The door should be closed but it open, and that means Isaac is out of the house…I don’t understand it…why did he leave the yard? We warned him not to leave the yard! Where are you Isaac?"

Abraham leans against the iron railing of the door and whimpers. Michelle quickly hugs him.

"It will be OK Abraham! Maybe…maybe the stranger that attacked me has something to do with Isaac's disappearance? I think we should call the police immediately…and we have to call Eve and tell her too! We have to let her know!!"

She continues to hold him and stroke his hair.

"You're right Michelle…but I would like to continue checking the neighborhood before we call the police. We might find him and avoid giving Eve a heart attack"

"OK Abraham, maybe you're right"

Michelle continues to smile stupidly and Abraham watches her pithily he waves his hand at her in dismissal and goes out quickly on to the street. She runs after him trying to catch up. Their screams echo around the neighborhood and the neighbors curiously come out to watch. Some of them join in on the search. A little while longer, they thank the people for trying to help and return to the house. Abraham calls the police.

"hello, my name is Abraham Menes and my son Isaac who was in the yard playing is now missing since 8 a.m. my partner and I and the neighbors searched everywhere and so far have not found him…I need to report his disappearance? "

"Well Abraham, you need to come down here to the station and report his disappearance! 24 hours after the disappearance the police will start investigating. You need to come down here together with the boys' mother".

"I understand officer… the boy's mother and I are divorced! She is on vacation and he was staying with us. I'll call her right away and let her know and then I'll come down to the station".

"OK. Call his mother and then if possible, come here together".

Abraham hangs up the phone and lights a cigarette in silence. Michelle also lights one and smokes in silence. Michelle holds the phone out and mumbles

"We need to call Eve, it can't be put off any longer…If it's too difficult for you, and I can call for you"

"No Michelle, I have to do it, I'm calling her"

Abraham's hands are shaking and his body cringes in terror as he takes the phone from her and dials.

"Hello, I need to speak to room 1324…thank you!"

"Hello Eve, its Abraham…I called to tell you something important"

Abraham can't continue and bursts out crying, Michelle quickly hugs him. On the other end of the line, Eve hears Abraham weeping and fears something has happened to him or Michelle.

"You're scaring me Abraham! Did something happen? Why are you crying? Did something happen to Michelle?"

Abraham tries to speak but terror has a grip on his throat. He know he must face the demons in his head and tell Eve that her life is about to change.

"It's not Michelle, its Isaac! He's disappeared and we can't find him. We have to go to the police to report it"

Abraham and Michelle start crying again! Eve's body is shaking. Her mind feels as if it's on fire. Her friends sense something is wrong and try to catch her but are frightened by the horrible animal scream coming out of her throat.

"Nooooooooo…!!!!"

The blessed welcome darkness descends on her like a sheet covering a corpse and she collapses onto the floor with a terrifying thud.