Do it

You are the protagonist. You decide what to do. Do it. You go down the stairs. The smell of dampness and blood makes you sick, but you’ve done this too many times to let that stop you. Every step you take, every step you go down, is followed by a moan. But it isn’t you who’s moaning. One more step and you enter the most absolute darkness. Whispering shadows surround you. The light switch is on the wall, next to your fingers. > You can press the switch. [[DO IT.->2]] > You can also keep moving forward, in the dark. [[DO IT.->7]]

A lightbulb hangs from the basement ceiling. It blinks a couple of times, as if too weak to light up the scene that awaits you. A chair. There is a young woman sitting on it. Her ankles and wrists are tied to the chair with leather strips. She is facing away from you. She can’t see you. You are very familiar with this situation. You know the woman is gagged. You can hear her mumblings. > You want to approach her. [[DO IT.->4]]

You move forward in the dark. You trip on something. You raise your hands in front of you. You don’t want to bump into whatever is making those moans. You stop. You can’t see anything. Your eyes can’t adapt to this soulless blackness. You retrace your steps towards the stairs, to the source of light. > Press the light switch. [[DO IT.->2]]

The woman can’t be any older than thirty. Maybe twenty. It’s hard to tell, because she’s bruised, gagged and covered in blood. Her eyes are open too wide, which doesn’t really help to make her look attractive. But she still is. > You feel the need to caress her hair. [[DO IT.->9]] > You want to check her bindings. [[DO IT.->6]]

Holding the knife in your hand, you go back to the chair and the woman. She gives you a terrified look. She tries to move her hands as she fights against the leather strips. It’s useless to drag it on any longer. You know what you have to do. > Use the knife. [[DO IT.->10]] > Or… are you a bloody coward? [[In that case...->8]]

At first cutting is hard, but little by little the straps are torn and the woman’s hands are free. She cries inconsolably. You want to remove her gag but you still don’t dare. If she screams, she may alert the man who kidnapped her. You’re a police officer. You’re armed. But the most important thing you’ve got to do right now is to rescue the victim. You untie her ankles. She leaps towards you and hugs you. It’s time to get out of here. (color: #FF8000)[**THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER**]

The knife in your hand feels like burning. You have picked a thin, narrow one. You don’t want to hurt her. A silent scream breaks through the woman’s eyes. The moment has come. > Use the knife. Now. [[COME ON, DO IT.->10]] > Or… are you going to stand there, watching? [[In that case...->5]]

When she feels your hand on her head she tries to move it away by turning her neck. You don’t understand. Or maybe you do; but the situation, even if you’ve lived it over and over before, is too much for you. You take your hand away and she bends down her head, crying. > You want to check her bindings. [[DO IT.->6]]

Hard, rigid straps bind the young woman’s wrists. They have unmercifully bitten into her flesh. The straps on her ankles look just as firm when you squat down next to her and pull them. You turn around, with your back facing the woman. There is a dirty table in front of you with a collection of knives in all the sizes and shapes you can imagine. > You want to pick up a sharp knife. You need to do it. [[DO IT.->3]]

The woman’s desperate eyes are begging you to do it. > Use the god damned knife. Use it. Go on. [[DO IT ALREADY. DO IT. DO IT.->10]] > What do you want? To wait and see what happens? [[In that case...->11]]

Suddenly, the woman’s eyes are no longer looking at you. They are staring at an indefinite spot behind your head. You don’t have time to turn around. You understand your mistake when the killer’s knife sinks into your back, again and again. You fall down on your knees. Life abandons you. The woman gives you a sad look. You understand. You were her only hope; you were the police officer who found her. And now, look at you. (color: #FF0000)[**YOU FAILED**]

=><= (color: #FF0000)[#**DO IT**] <img src ="doit1.jpg"> A short Halloween story created by (color: #FF0000)[Santiago Eximeno] and translated to English by (color: #FF0000)[Alicia L. Alonso]. [[DO IT. NOW.->1]]