Nightfall- Chapter 3

Melinda awoke slowly. She rubbed her eyes, yawned then stretched like she did every morning. She sat up and opened her eyes, although they weren't yet used to the light she could still tell something wasn't right, "DADDDDD," she yelled. Melinda heard running above her and stopped yelling as fast as possible. It was then that she remembered everything.1

Today is her third day being held in the dark cement basement. She wouldn’t even know what time it was if Thoris didn’t come in three times a day long enough to give her food. She still doesn't understand why he kidnapped her, but at least he is kind to her. 2

Over the course of the past few days she has learned that he's had a tough life, doesn't have parents and LOVES the color black. He's had some visitors, yet Melinda didn't say anything for some reason or another. It’s almost like he put a spell on her or something, she wants to yell and scream for help, however she just can't.3

Suddenly the door opens and Thoris comes in. He runs over to give Melinda a hug and says, "What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream? I heard it! I heard you call me dad! Finally my child, finally you are ready to discover why I brought you here, but first, are you okay?" 4

Melinda pulls away from the hug and answers, "Yes I'm okay but I didn't..." She wanted to explain that she was calling her real dad, but at the same time she wanted to know why she was here. She wanted to please him, and maybe get to go home. So she decided she would say anything to make him happy, "I mean... Yes I had a bad dream, but I didn't mean to scream. I didn't want to scare you..... Dad...”5

A smile broke across his face while he mumbled something about having to prepare for the party, and then he was off. Melinda barley had enough time to see the door close, and hear it lock and the sound of footsteps running upstairs.6

***7

It must have been around 6:00pm when Thoris came back. He had a knife so she automatically started to scream. Thoris gave her an uneasy look, obviously surprised by her reaction and said, “Oh, shush, I’m not going to hurt you!”8

“You kidnap me, Keep me here, and now come down with a knife, saying you don’t expect to hurt me?!?! WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO THINK!?!?” She screamed back at him. Then she remembered that she has to act like Thoris is her father. “I love you …dad, but this is getting scary! Please don’t bring knives near me! They scare me. They scare me so much,” Melinda sobbed.9

Thoris sighed, “Okay this is how it works. Your going to go upstairs and take a shower, I left a bar of soap, some towels, and a black dress in the bathroom for you. There is also some make-up, you do know how to do your make-up correct?”10

All Melinda could do was nod her head. She was scared and had no idea what was happening. Her head was racing with so many thoughts! She calls him dad, and now suddenly he gets all excited, carrying weponds around with him? What is this? A Horror story or something? This is my life, but even if it was a made up story, talk about a sick author! Talk about demented! Life isn’t supposed to be like this! Suddenly she looked up and noticed that Thor... Dad has been talking, so she only caught the last end of what he was saying.11

“Don’t put too much on, this is supposed to be a classy dinner and celebration, nothing more. Do you understand?” He asked. She nodded her head again, waiting for an explanation. “The last thing we need is for you to look like a tramp in front of my friends,” he mumbled.12

Knowing she wouldn’t get a free analysis of all this, she quietly asked, “father?”13

“Yes, my child?” He asked happily.14

“What is all this? What’s the celebration about?”15

“You,” he said a matter-of-factly.16

“What?! Why?” 17

“Well how else would we welcome you into our family permanently? Tonight we will get rid of your real family. You will meet your new loved ones, and finally able to be happy. Trust me, the minute you see their blood on you hands, you will be relieved. Now go upstairs and take a shower, and do as I say quietly or I will have to use this,” He turns the knife and light reflects off of it, “Get ready to say good-bye for good.”