The Attic Follow story

I was lost in thought, and the more I pondered, the more I felt the urge to bash my head against the walls. Yet, I wasn’t so far gone that I couldn’t recognize the foolishness of such an act. I lay there, staring at the dusty beams of the attic, barely visible thanks to a sliver of light seeping through the strings of cracks between the planks. I had nothing to consume besides the carton of milk that bastard had left by my side. I abandoned all thought, striking the milk carton with the back of my hand to vent my anger. Where it landed in the darkness, I did not know, nor did I care. I wouldn’t take in a single thing that bastard had given me.

I wasn’t afraid of the dark, but I could feel myself nearing the limits of my sanity. For God knows how long, I was deprived of one of my most vital senses, unable to tell the time of day, and as if these weren’t enough to drive one into madness, I was battling hunger... not to mention the mix of urine and feces all over the corners of the attic. The thought of giving up crossed my mind more often than it should… What was the point of resisting? There were plenty of tools in this attic that could serve as instruments for my demise. A saw, a rope, pliers, shards of broken glass, nails... But I couldn’t bring myself to make that choice. A desire even stronger than the urge to give up burned within me—vengeance. All I wanted now was to crush the skull of that poor excuse of a man. Just the thought of dying without doing so had me tearing my hair and gnawing at my nails. I was like a rabid dog, screaming and thrashing about in fits of rage that served no purpose other than to sate my fury.

The trapdoor was, of course, chained shut. I tried countless ways to break that damn chain, but it wouldn’t give. The only glimpse I ever got of the room below was the blinding light that pierced through the narrow gap whenever the trapdoor opened just enough for a carton of milk to slide in, and those hairy hands of his that come along with it. However, though, this time I had a plan—a brilliant one, so brilliant that I burst into crazed laughter, marveling at my own genius. When that trapdoor opened, I’d grab his hand and hold on for dear life. I’d sink my teeth into it, rip it off, and devour it. As simple as that! That would be his punishment for leaving me to starve in here; at tit for a tat. As soon as this idea was born inside of me, I waited right in front of the trapdoor with the patience of a pup waiting for its master. But at the same time, like a wolf, hiding its savage intents until the very last moment…

I couldn’t tell how long I waited, as my sense of time was completely warped. At least twelve hours must have passed, as that trapdoor finally creaked open again. That’s how it was, he would bring me those damn cartons of milk that I don’t even know the contents of twice a day. I absolutely had to seize this rare moment, as by the time I got another chance, I’d probably be dead from starvation. I could not hold my saliva in my mouth during the entire time I waited for that hand to reach in. It felt like the whole process took a lot more time than usual. Why hadn’t that hairy flesh-waste stuck his hand in yet? Just do it already so I can tear you apart!

Yet, before the sight of his bushy hand projected my eyes, the sound of the clinking chains vibrated my ears. The lock was being opened. I was too unhinged to comprehend what was happening at the moment. I felt uneasy. Why would the trapdoor be opened? As per my curiosity, I reached out slowly and pushed the door as far as it would go. The wood groaned as I leaned forward, squinting against the light that pricked at my eyes, and I peered down. No one was there.

After descending from the attic ladder, the flashing blue and red lights reflecting off the house windows caught my attention. Those same windows allowed me to see my own apparition for the first time in days. My hair was a tangled mess like that of a caveman, my makeup had turned into war paint, and my back had hunched like a wild beast’s. I probably reeked too. Damn it all! I was finally outside! I was itching all over my body to find that bastard and disassemble him apart!

My bulging eyes darted left and right in search for him as I took the stairs down. The exit door appeared at the bottom, but I hesitated to descend further when I started to pick up noises of people gathered outside. I approached the already open door cautiously and was greeted by the sight of two police cars with their lights still revolving, and three police officers beside them. One stood off in the distance, holding the fat pig while the other two started approaching me, guns at the ready. I couldn’t take my eyes off him... Drunk, he was grinning like an idiot, his fat, hairy arms flailing as he made incoherent noises, his sweat-stained undershirt barely clinging to his greasy torso… I was so angry that I could feel foam gathering at the corners of my mouth. No, it wasn’t foam. I was drooling... This hunger was unbearable. Seeing how fat and juicy he was, I almost lost control again.

“Don’t get too close to it,” I snapped back to reality as one of the officers spoke, turning my gaze towards them, “we need to capture it without scaring it off, okay? Be careful.” They weren’t talking to me. Keeping their unwavering glances on me, they talked to each other. Braindead worms... They couldn’t even tell apart who the victim here is! Apparently, they were afraid of me. My appearance must have spooked them. I softened my expression and extended my arms towards one of the officers as if asking for help. He whipped his pupils at his partner for a moment, then back at me. They’d stopped advancing towards me. Seeing how much more hesitant he was than I had imagined, I grew impatient. Unable to resist any longer, I leapt at him. Once I had him pinned down, I sank my teeth into his neck and clenched my jaw. Then I pulled away with all the strength my back muscles possessed. As I bathed in the warmth of his blood, I swallowed the piece of meat I had torn off. You should’ve seen the expression on the second officer’s face. She had his gun pointed at me, yet lacked the unshattered will to pull the trigger. I had rendered her incapable of the slightest muscle movement she needed to fire.

I was proud. I felt powerful! I wanted to see how much more I could scare her, so I took another bite out of the man beneath me. This time, I tore off his cheek. But then I felt a warmth in my neck, and all my strength left me. Before I could swallow the piece I had torn off, I collapsed. My sight blurred, and as I lay there staring up at the starry night, the trembling female officer glided into my vision. Her gun was pointed at me, her eyes full of rage. Before pulling the trigger one last time, she roared at me, “Vicious beast! You’re a monster!” You filthy woman… Where did you find the nerve now?! Female humans were supposed to be scared to death against me...

“Vicious beasssst! You’re a monsterrrr! Ahhahaha! That was marvelous, officer lady! I remember seeing a movie scene like that once! *hic*”

“I just lost a fellow officer, I’d appreciate it if you showed a bit more respect.”

“Of course! *hic* I just need to let this out beforehand… I’m free at laaaast! Woo hoo! The damn thing’s dead! Finally! Fi-nal-lyyyyy!”

“*sigh* Sir, we’re going to have to keep you at the station until you sober up. Please get in the vehicle.”

“Take me awaaaaaaay... *hic* To the staaaaation!”

After securing the drunken man in the car, the officer shut the door, sealing his ear-piercing drunken song inside. Though it only got muffled and could still be heard faintly, the officer now at least had a brief moment of peace. She leaned against the car and sighed deeply as she watched a crow pick at the bodies of his fallen comrade and the Hag that lay beside him, “How many more of these things are out there?”