Chapter 1: Discovering Mom is Missing
On a tranquil evening in the charming town of Butler, nestled in a serene suburban enclave, a young woman named Lauren Masefield sat comfortably on a plush couch in the family's cozy movie den. She was engrossed in a film, her companion for the night being her boyfriend, Michael Jennings. Lauren, a striking 18-year-old beauty, stood at 5'6 with cascading shoulder-length light blonde locks that framed her captivating light blue eyes. Michael, her equally youthful partner, shared her age and height of 5'6, boasting a striking appearance with brown hair and deep brown eyes. In this harmonious household, Lauren shared a close bond with her mother, the elegant Jeddah Masefield, a 49-year-old vision standing tall at 5'8. Jeddah's shoulder-length blonde hair perfectly complemented her piercing blue eyes, completing the picturesque scene of familial bliss. Engrossed in the movie for more than an hour, Lauren and Michael were captivated by the story unfolding before them. Suddenly, Lauren's thoughts drifted to her mom, who sat alone in the living room. A pang of guilt tugged at Lauren's heart, causing her to lose focus on the movie.
Lauren inquired anxiously, 'Michael, do you believe My Mom is alright?'
Michael confidently reassured, "I'm positive she's perfectly fine; the last time you had me investigate, everything was in order."
As Lauren rose from the cushy confines of the couch, she declared, "I'm checking in to make sure She's alright."
Lauren ascended the stairs to the family movie room, with Michael walking closely behind her. The deep bond she shared with her mom was unparalleled, a love that had only intensified since the loss of her father — the beloved husband of Jeddah. Lauren cherished numerous memories with her mom. One particularly vivid memory was from a High School Talent Show, where Lauren assumed the role of a Magician while Michael played her trusty Magician's Assistant. In front of the eager audience, Lauren confidently declared her intention to perform the classic act of sawing a person in half, while her devoted assistant, Michael, diligently prepared the Saw Box for the illusion. Lauren confidently held her Magic Wand aloft and directed its power towards her mom, Jeddah. With grace and determination, Jeddah stepped onto the stage. Michael, Lauren's trusted assistant, skillfully swung open the side and top doors of the mysterious saw box.
Assisting Jeddah into the box, he carefully guided her as she reclined inside, her luscious shoulder-length blonde hair cascading down the side. With a gentle hand, he closed the sides and top of the box securely, enclosing her within. Meanwhile, Magician Lauren and her Assistant Michael began positioning sharp metal steel saws around the box, creating an aura of anticipation and mystery. Unlocking something from beside the saw box, Magician Laren and her Assistant Michael carefully moved it back. The audience gasped in amazement as they witnessed Laren's Mom, Jeddah, being sawed in half. The talented magician Lauren emerged victorious in the talent show, filling her mother Jeddah with joy and pride as she watched her daughter claim victory.
An hour had slipped away before Lauren and Michael leisurely wandered from the kitchen to the living room. Their surprise was palpable when they noticed the vacant couch, realizing that Lauren's mother, Jeddah, was missing. They initiated a search for Jeddah, calling out her name persistently, but met with silence. Their quest continued and led them to a spare room on the opposite end of the house. In a chilling scene, a mesmerized Jeddah sat motionless on the couch, her back facing a bullet-proof glass window. However, she was not alone. A sinister figure cloaked as the Grim Reaper paced back and forth, fixating on the entranced Jeddah. Eventually, he halted in front of her, gazing intently, before delicately caressing her cheek with his black-gloved hand. An hour later, he departed, leaving Jeddah alone in the spare bedroom.
As Lauren and Michael remained downstairs, the hunt for Jeddah continued. They scoured the downstairs bedroom, the laundry room, and the bathroom, before venturing towards the opposite end of the house.
Michael peered at his girlfriend and inquired, "Lauren, do you suppose she could be out in the backyard?"
Just as Lauren was about to respond to Michael's question, a sudden clattering noise interrupted them. Michael's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of a mysterious figure dashing past the bullet-proof glass door that separated them from the back living room of the house.
Michael's astonished inquiry pierced the air, "Good gracious, Lauren, did you catch a glimpse of that spectacle?"
Lauren asked, 'Michael, what was it, Mom, did you find her?'
Michael answered, "No, it looked like a shadow just running past us in that room."
Lauren's voice was filled with disbelief as she questioned, "You saw a shadow, seriously Michael, you saw a shadow?" she asked, her hand gripping the handle of the bullet-proof glass door as she spoke to her boyfriend.
As they ventured through the doorway, they ascended the stairs at the back, their steps echoing softly through the corridor.
As they walked through the dimly lit alley, Michael's voice quivered with uncertainty. "Seriously Lauren, I did see a Shadowy Figure," he confessed, his words hanging in the tense air. Determined to unravel the mystery, he started following his girlfriend, shadows dancing around them in the moonlight.
Lauren replied, "Michael, you might have been hallucinating."
The search for Jeddah persisted as they combed through the upstairs bedroom, bathroom, and every corner of the house. Lauren paused, her gaze spanning the expanse of the home, until Michael caught sight of a startled expression on his girlfriend's face.
Michael's curiosity piqued, he inquired of Lauren, "What is catching your eye, my dear?"
Lauren gestured slowly towards the object of her gaze, prompting Michael to follow suit. To their astonishment, they beheld Lauren's mother, Jeddah, seated on the couch with her back turned to them. Standing ominously behind her was a ghastly figure clad in the attire of the Grim Reaper, its gloved hands gliding softly through Jeddah's shoulder-length blonde hair. Jeddah remained in a mesmerizing trance as the figure cloaked as the grim reaper bestowed a captivating scalp massage upon her.
In a hushed tone, Lauren questioned, "What is that thing doing to my mom?"
In a hushed tone, Michael suggested, "I don't know, maybe we should go in and rescue her."
In a hushed tone, Lauren expressed her concern, "No, we can't. Mom could get hurt."
In a dramatic moment, the figure clad as the grim reaper glanced back as Lauren and Michael fixated on him. Suddenly, the electricity flickered off for a brief moment before returning. When the lights came back on, the eerie figure and the mesmerized Jeddah had vanished from sight.
"With a furrowed brow and a sense of urgency, Lauren inquired, "Where did he go? Where did he take my mom?"
Michael responded with uncertainty, "I don't know."
Abruptly, a haunting sound of Horses Whinnying filled the air. Without hesitation, Lauren and Michael hurried down the stairs to the front living room door. What they beheld was a chilling sight: a figure cloaked as the grim reaper, settled inside a dark, gothic carriage. To their shock, they spotted Jeddah, in a trance-like state, seated alongside the cloaked figure in the eerie carriage. Her hands meekly folded on her lap. The carriage driver cracked the whip, urging the horses into motion. Helplessly, Lauren and Michael stood frozen, powerless to intervene, as the black gothic carriage slowly departed from the house, bearing a hypnotized Jeddah away into the night.
