The Marionettist

The mysterious stranger took her to the bottom of the "doll house" and forced her to sit on a chair with chains. Shit! Again?! That thought flashed through her head. He tied Patricia up. At the end, he stood up, leaned in, and kissed her forehead.

She still had no idea who the stranger was, what he was doing to her, and why. He brought his lips to the side of her head right next to her ear and started nibbling on it before whispering something. "I told you you'd be mine!"

A chill ran down her spine. He looked straight into her eyes and smiled. She recognized the voice. The phantom that chased her so many times and jumped into the river in Prague. Terrified, she could no longer handle that much stress. “Who the hell are you and what do you have to do with these murders?”

Nonchalantly he pulled up a chair from the kitchen and sat astride it, hanging over the backrest. He gently caressed her hand and was about to tell Patricia the whole truth. “My name is Marcel… Marcel Schmitt.” He nodded.

“Yes, I am the firstborn son of that old lady up there on the surface. That guy who harassed you is my half-brother Alexander. It will surprise you, but she gave me up just because I was born a male."

His facial expression turned angry and he became louder. "She didn't even say anything to my father. She just left me. They divorced shortly after. He found me, took me in, and cared for me until he died. I inherited all his property. What am I supposed to do with so much money alone? I have no one left who likes me. I didn't have friends who would stand by me, I didn't have a family, I didn't have love, so..." (Thus he got crazy mad in his head.)

He raised his hands in the air and pointed to the entire large living dollhouse. "After my father's death, I contacted my mother. She pretended that she never had me, that she didn't know me. Then I found out I had a brother. He's not a girl either, but could he stay? He got all the motherly love that was denied me.

I had to change it. I studied hypnosis so I used my talents and abilities on both of them and made them my slaves. They have become my marionettes, I am The Marionettist! It didn't take long for me to get tired of it, but I had one dream.

I'm in my thirties, but I still love one thing. Porcelain dolls. Maybe it's because of my mother. Who knows... She bought me one when I was little. It was just before she left me and my father. I still have it."

He turned and pointed his finger at the opening, and indeed, inside stood a beautiful, well-preserved porcelain doll in a pink dress and a ribbon in her hair. While Patricia was looking where he was navigating her, he took a strand of her hair in his palm and smelled it. Marcel stood up once more next to Patricia and pressed his cheek onto hers.

"You look like a doll. You have real porcelain skin in contrast with ash-brown hair and big hazel eyes. I immediately fell for you!" Patricia had seriously had enough for today. Terrified, she just wanted to fall under the ground and disappear, but how?

"I'll definitely make you my bride, but I should probably kill that detective who's always hanging around you. But first I have to sincerely apologize for the one time I was rude to you. It made me sick to my stomach every time I saw you with HIM!”

He meant Marek. If Patricia could free herself right now, she would pull out those chains and strangle him with her bare hands. "Before, I was just playing with my puppets, I let them kidnap those girls and made them Alexander's 'sisters.' When they bored me and I wasn't paying attention, he treated them rudely, sometimes even raping them.

It wasn't in my intentions, I just wanted to make them play family. It wasn't my idea but I didn't stop him, most of the time I didn't make it on time anyway. The mother also played her role very well. I even liked the cat-and-mouse game with the police.

I stole all those things with my manipulation of people and the police. A knife from Mr. Grazer's small apartment, a gun from Mr. Hauer's estate, all those clothes from Mrs. Nerudova. No one has ever been able to find any evidence linking me and my family to those deeds.

Then I spotted you and I knew I needed you in my collection. You are perfect for me... and only me. I like your intelligence, you almost caught me... twice. You impressed me with that."

Patricia hissed. "You meant three times. I was also disguised in doll clothes.” Marcel shook his head. He looked confused, he didn't understand. "Well, it wasn't me one hundred percent. The first time I approached you was when you jumped into the river with that stupid arrogant detective, the second time was in Prague."

Patricia started calculating in her head. Could it be possible? Maybe it was Alexander, who attacked her first when she was disguised as Goldilocks? Patricia did not understand two things. How he knew where to find her and how he could survive the jump into the Vltava.

"When did you actually start chasing after me? How did you survive those bullets and the fall into the river?” He laughed with pleasure. "The first time I saw you was in a shop near that apartment. It wasn't that long ago that you got here. I watched your every step; all this time. And in the city, I was prepared for every detail. I've always been like that, I am good at predicting.

I had a diving suit and a bulletproof vest on top of it, that caught all the bullets for me, which were fired by you. And I immediately climbed out of the river near the bridge. I swam to that island and hid there. I broke into a restaurant. I finally came back here and was waiting for your return. I knew you would come back. Then the day of truth came and I patiently hid from you. Do you remember how it happened?'

Patricia remained confused. What was she supposed to remember? She didn't remember anything. That was weird. Maybe it was because of the drugs he gave her? She shook her head. He smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you... I was expecting you near the apartment building. I gave you about half an hour and then just unlocked my door. I simply took the key from the Romanian guy. I also managed to hypnotize him into handing it over just like that. I'm a lucky boy, aren't I?

So where was I... ah, I opened the door and walked in. You were just cooking something, your back was turned to me. I walked up to you and hugged you from behind and even gave you few kisses on your neck. I must say you really enjoyed it... but then my stupid cell phone started ringing. It was my lawyer. He always gets on my nerves and annoys me with bullshit. He wanted to borrow some money again.

But at that moment you knew that the phone did not belong to "your detective", so you immediately attacked me with a knife. I defended myself, but during all the chaos, you cut your wrist pretty badly. I had to stun you. I have to sincerely apologize for that, and I'm really sorry, but I had no other choice. I injected you with the drug and treated the wound. You have it on your left wrist under your sleeve.''

Patricia looked at her hand, moving it. She really felt a slight pain. He was right. "This was how I got you into the house. I hypnotized my mother and brother once more and the game could start all over again. But this time I couldn't let my lustful brother rape you. You are only mine! MINE! So I decided to keep you down here with me, I just needed some time to prepare..."

He gestured to the chair and the chain with his eyes. He stroked her cheek gently with the back of his hand. He stood up and gave her a kiss. That was really the last thing she wanted. He twisted around and started rummaging through his drawers.

Patricia was trapped and terrified that he might kill her now. She saw a faint reflection in the showcase with the doll. Marcel took something out and held it in his hand, but she couldn't make out what it was.

He slowly walked up to her from behind and raised his right hand. Patricia closed her eyes and waited for the last blow. He began to gently comb her hair. He handled her long brown mane with care. He didn't pull out a single hair. She could keep calm for now.

Shortly after he immediately disappeared into the kitchen to prepare some food. In the meantime, Patricia looked around and was looking for a way to escape. “There is no way out of this literal hell? Oh, I should have been more careful with him." Patricia heard Marcel in the kitchen. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Just be a good girl!” Now all she could do was wait for an opportunity.