Chapter 12: The Bathtub Bloodbath
The house was eerily silent as Detective Andrew, Kyla, and Darwin approached. The flickering glow of candlelight could be seen through the drawn curtains, casting ominous shadows on the walls. They knew something terrible had happened here; the neighbors' panicked call had been chillingly vague but urgent.
Andrew motioned for Kyla and Darwin to stay close as he pushed open the front door. The house felt cold, despite the warm summer night. The silence was broken only by the faint, almost rhythmic sound of dripping water.
They moved cautiously through the house, their flashlights sweeping across overturned furniture and shattered glass. The air was thick with an unsettling sense of dread. As they neared the bathroom, the sound of dripping water grew louder.
Kyla shivered, feeling a chill run down her spine.
"Andrew, do you hear that?"
Andrew nodded, his face set in a grim expression.
"Stay behind me."
They reached the bathroom door, which was ajar. The flickering candlelight inside cast long, dancing shadows into the hallway. Andrew pushed the door open with a slight creak, and they stepped inside.
The sight that greeted them was nothing short of horrific. A woman lay in the bathtub, her body submerged in water that was now a deep crimson. Blood dripped from the edges of the tub, pooling on the floor. The children stood around the tub, their eyes glowing eerily in the candlelight. They held scissors and razors, their faces devoid of emotion.
Kyla gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my God..."
One of the children, a girl with long, dark hair, looked up at them. Her black eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, sending a shiver down Kyla's spine.
"Why are you here?" the girl asked, her voice cold and detached.
Andrew stepped forward, his hand resting on his holstered gun.
"We're here to stop you. This has to end."
The children exchanged glances, their expressions unchanging. The girl tilted her head slightly. "You can't stop us. We belong here."
Darwin felt a wave of nausea wash over him at the sight of the mutilated woman.
"Why are you doing this? What do you want?"
The girl smiled, a chilling, almost otherworldly smile.
"We do what we must. The rituals demand it."
Kyla's eyes filled with tears as she looked at the lifeless woman. "This is wrong. You don't have to do this. We can help you."
The children's expressions remained blank, but there was a flicker of something in their eyes—perhaps doubt, or a fleeting moment of recognition. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
Andrew tightened his grip on his gun.
"Step away from the tub. Now."
The children didn't move. The girl stepped forward, holding the bloodied scissors in her hand.
"You can't save her. It's too late."
Darwin glanced at Andrew, his voice low and urgent.
"We need to do something. We can't let them hurt anyone else."
Andrew nodded, keeping his eyes on the children. "We need to get them out of here. Separate them."
Kyla took a step toward the girl, her voice soft and soothing. "Please, let us help you. You don't have to do this anymore."
The girl's expression flickered with uncertainty, but before she could respond, one of the other children—a boy with short, blond hair—lunged at Andrew with a razor. Andrew reacted quickly, grabbing the boy's arm and twisting it, forcing him to drop the razor.
"Darwin, get Kyla out of here!" Andrew shouted, struggling with the boy.
Darwin grabbed Kyla's arm, pulling her toward the door.
"Come on, we need to go!"
The children seemed to hesitate, torn between attacking Andrew and stopping Kyla and Darwin from escaping. In the chaos, the girl dropped the scissors, and for a brief moment, her eyes seemed to soften.
"Help us..." she whispered, so faintly that Kyla almost didn't hear it.
Kyla stopped, her heart pounding. "Wait, Darwin, she—"
But the moment was gone. The children regrouped, their eyes glowing with renewed intensity. Andrew managed to push the boy away, drawing his gun.
"Everyone, out! Now!" he ordered, backing toward the door.
Kyla and Darwin hurried out of the bathroom, Andrew close behind. They slammed the door shut, barricading it with a heavy dresser. The children pounded on the door from the other side, their voices a mix of anger and despair.
"We need to call for backup," Darwin said, pulling out his phone. "This is beyond us."
Andrew nodded, catching his breath. "Agreed. We need to get professionals in here."
As Darwin dialed, Kyla leaned against the wall, trying to process what had just happened. The girl's whisper echoed in her mind: "Help us..."
"Andrew," she said quietly, "I think... I think she wants help. They're not completely gone."
Andrew looked at her, his expression serious. "We need to understand what we're dealing with. If there's any chance we can save them, we have to try. But right now, our priority is to make sure no one else gets hurt."
Darwin finished the call and looked at the barricaded door. "Backup is on the way. What do we do until then?"
Andrew took a deep breath. "We hold our position and make sure they don't escape. We can't let them hurt anyone else."
As they waited for backup, the pounding on the bathroom door grew more frantic. The children's voices were a haunting chorus of anger and pain.
Kyla clutched Darwin's hand, her mind racing. "What if there's a way to break the cycle? To end the rituals?"
Andrew nodded. "That's what we need to find out. But first, we need to survive the night."
The minutes ticked by slowly, each one feeling like an eternity. Finally, the sound of sirens filled the air, and a team of officers arrived, ready to take control of the situation.
With the help of the police, they managed to subdue the children and secure the house. The children were taken into custody, their expressions vacant and unsettling. The officers looked visibly shaken by the encounter.
As the scene was cleared, Andrew, Kyla, and Darwin stood outside, watching the children being led away.
"We have to find a way to help them," Kyla said softly. "We can't let this continue."
Andrew nodded, his resolve firm. "We will. We'll find the truth and put an end to this nightmare."
Darwin wrapped his arm around Kyla, offering her a comforting smile. "We're in this together. We'll figure it out."
As they left the crime scene, the image of the girl in the bathroom, her whisper for help, stayed with them. They knew their journey was far from over, but they were determined to uncover the truth and bring peace to the tormented souls of the Black-Eyed Children.