Free Journalstone's 2010 Warped Words for Twisted Minds by Compiled by Christopher C. Payne

fixture, his eyes remained fixed on the bricks in front of him. Amidst the dark stillness, Mehta’s last words echoed in his mind.
    “Your son…sleeps in my room.”
    Letting out a scream, Ashok lifted the lamp over his shoulder and ran to the wall. Chips of brick and mortar ricocheted off the sides of the cupboard as the psychiatrist violently bashed the base into the back of the structure. Cracks began to form on the bleak, grey surface and with each blow, his scientific mind came to terms with what he once perceived as illogical.
    “JAI!” He screamed, praying to hear his son’s angelic voice respond. “JAI!!!”
    Painful tears streaked down his dirt-stained cheeks. Finally, a solitary brick flew back and after a momentary pause, he jumped forward and tried to look through.
    Darkness was all he could see.
    “Jai? Beta? Can you hear me? Speak to Papa, beta? Don’t worry,” he gulped, “Papa will get you out.”
    Fueled by fear and adrenaline, his swings got mightier as the wall started to give way to his will and might.
    “Don’t worry, beta, Papa’s coming!” Ashok repeated reassuringly. “Papa’s here. Almost there, Jai, almost there.”
    Knocking through a few more bricks, Ashok dropped the lamp and started to pull at the remaining structure with his torn, bloodied hands. Finally, he stuck his head through the void into the darkness on the other side.
    “Jai?’ Are you there, beta?”
    Stepping back, he grabbed the flashlight and leapt back through the cavity, into the darkness, and shone the light around. The circular beam travelled along the walls of the long, narrow channel as Ashok continued to walk forward, detecting a blinding stench. Covering his nose with his dirt-covered shirt, he moved on.
    “Jai? Jai? It’s Papa. Jai?” Ashok called out.
    The secret passageway ran the length of the house and even with the flashlight, Ashok struggled to see clearly. Suddenly, catching his foot on a protrusion in the floor, Ashok tripped and fell forward onto the ground. Moaning in agony, he reached out to the flicking beam of light and brought the flashlight to himself. As he got up on one knee, he slapped the base of the light until the beam remained steady. Covering his nose again, he turned the flashlight to the floor and noticed a large black clump that had caused him to lose his footing.
    Lifting his head, he turned the beam, and his gaze followed. As he gasped, the air escaped his lungs, and his body suddenly turned cold. There she lay, balled up in a semi-fetal position, nothing but bones and rags covering her. Realizing he was no longer breathing, Ashok inhaled deeply, only to cough brutally as the dust contaminated his lungs. Returning the light to the corpse, he followed the torso and uncovered the rag around her mouth, firmly attached, just as Rakesh had described. The beam continued down the limbs and Ashok noticed the worn ropes hanging off her hands. As he inspected the body, the light began to flicker once again. Ashok caught a glimpse of another shape in her arms, and anxiously turned the light before it went out completely. Recognizing the vibrant colored garment, Ashok jumped forward.
    “Jai? Jai?” He shook his son by the shoulder before picking him up and pulling him to his chest. “Jai, it’s Papa. I’m here, Jai. Wake up.”
    Ashok patted his son on the back as Jai’s limp head rested on his father shoulder. Concerned by the lack of response by his son, Ashok felt for the light on the gritty ground. Struggling, he laid his son on the floor and crawled on all fours in search of the comforting luminous glow. Finding it had rolled behind him, Ashok picked it up and smacked it to life.
    “Jai,” he called out as he turned and shone the light on his son.
    Lata’s dead arms were once again draped over his son as she held him close to her bosom. Scrambling towards his son the flashlight fell out of his hands, and the beam landed on Jai’s face.
    “JAI!!!!”Ashok shrieked as he