|T h e   p u p p e t e e r|

" It had supposedly been months since the last attack on our small town; Bonney killing Monica in miss. Lily's apartment.

Saying that, it did shake up the quaint town to the core; it made an unsettling feeling loom over the town, businesses had shut down, curfews set, people even thought that there was some gas leakage somewhere which caused the recent events to occur.

I have always been a realistic type of person and I believe that Bonney just went nuts, I mean believing old folk law would definitely cause you to go off the handles with this town.

The amount of ghost stories that have spread over the years is insane and I don't believe any of them, there just old campfire stories to make sure children go to sleep- it really is that simple!

But so many people get pulled into the stories that most of the time they believe it; they end up being caught in the web of lies this town stirs up.

I like to refer myself as Pinocchio said, 'there are no strings on me!' Meaning I ain't being drawn into the lies (strings) this town tells, meaning I am stringless.

Anyway, I was at work talking to one of my colleagues and I was told about a recent death that had occurred only a week ago. I mean it isn't that good being in a town where there have been deaths occur not even months apart; I mean the one where the twins went missing and the Bonney incident, only happened weeks apart!

So like I do with most things I'm told, I brush it off. I'm not trying to be mean but I think that these type people just want the attention, and I find it absolutely sickening! But many people fall for others reasoning which I find funny, I mean it's obvious they've lost it and just needed the satisfaction of causing havoc in this town."

The officer in front of me frowned, "it sounds oddly psychotic, your reasoning and all."

I rolled my eyes, "it's not like I've done anything wrong, I was a victim of whatever happened!"

The officer nodded his head for me to continue.

"So, I got off late from work one night; not surprising as I'm always dedicated to my work and i have nothing better to do so yer.

Anyway, I was walking home along my usual route and along the way I saw this man- well, at least I thought it was.

I walked closer to him and asked if he was okay and he didn't respond, he just stood there looking all creepy and all-" the officer interrupted me again.

"Can you give me a description of the man?" The officer asked sternly.

I let out a small chuckle, "I didn't get much but sure.

He was wearing a black hoodie which covered his face, he was pretty muscular and stood around 6 foot.

He wore black ripped jeans and wore black boots."

The officer stared at his notepad and jotted some notes down before nodding at me again to continue.

"So, the guy just stood there being creepy and all; I being me just took that as an indication to leave, and that's exactly what I did."

The officer butted in yet again, "you should have called the police if the guy was acting suspicious."

"Well, I'm human- I make mistakes." I said bitterly.

The officer just nodded his head again.

"Anyway, I was walking passed him when all of a sudden everything went black."

The police officer gave me a deadpanned look, "really? Just like that you were out?" He asked.

I nodded my head, "now let me continue."

He nodded his head.

"So, I eventually awoke with a pounding head ache and I looked around me to see darkness; wherever I was was very hidden as there wasn't any light seeping through anywhere-"

"How would you have known you weren't under ground?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes, "well if you wouldn't stop butting in, I would be able to explain how I knew."

The officer nodded his head.

"So, I was waiting in there for what I thought was about an hour or so and that's when the door opened, which exposed the morning light into the building." I said whilst smirking.

"The guy from last night walked up to my body and started to tie stuff to me, I didn't exactly know what but it was something.

Anyway, the guy must have signalled his mates to come in somehow and that's when they shut the door and turned the lights on.

I looked around and saw multiple people who were hung up like puppets, I looked further down their bodies and saw blood dripping from them.

I then looked down at myself and saw that my legs and arms were attached like a puppets; I followed the ropes and saw that they dangled from the ceiling.

Panic started to become apparent as I started to look around for my nearest exit.

The people came closer and surrounded me, making sure I had no escape.

They started to chant words over and over again, 'all strings are real.'

That's when I realised that all these people were people who believed all the ghost stories and that, I think that Bonney and maybe Monica were apart of this group." I stated.

"I started to feel claustrophobic from them being so close.

The words consistently being chanted over and over again.

I then saw someone pull out a knife and then started mumbling some ritual words or something.

Someone else held a bowl as the guy with the knife cut his hand open and poured his blood into the blood, as did everyone else.

I watched them do it and mentally freaked out, I mean I would get all types of diseases if I were to have that put on my skin or drink from it.

Once they all put their blood in there they came towards me and put the mixed blood over my body, which I mentally cringed at.

And then they all mumbled these chants, whilst they were mumbling I struggled out of the ropes which were evidently hopeless.

Then it stopped.

The chanting stopped and just like that everyone left.

So, I took this as an opportunity to make a run for it. With loads of effort I had somehow managed to get loose and make a run for it.

And that's how I ended up here!" I finished.

The police officer gave me a serious look, "do you know where this place was?" He asked.

I frowned, "it was too dark for me to see anything."

The police officer sighed, "well, thank you for your time."

I nodded my head, "likewise."

I had walked back home with ease and into my favourite room.

I turned on the light and marvelled at my creation.

I grabbed the rope and moved them up and down as I stared at my rag doll human; it bounced at my command and made me smile.

"There are no strings on me!" I gleefully said as I let out a hefty laugh.