The Psychological Enigma

I adjusted myself on the rear seat as my father drove precariously over the rough terrain. There had been a sporadic decline in the temperature and the daylight had dwindled significantly. I was captivated by the sight of the verdant landscape that encircled us. The old bungalow stood atop a hill, amidst the desolate landscape.

We drove through the winding landscape and came to a halt a few meters ahead of the main gate leading to the bungalow. I aided my father in pulling down the luggage from the dickey. We were greeted by an overgrowth of bushes and twigs as we pushed open the creaking, old, rusted gate. The white halls of the bungalow had been bespangled by lichens. The twigs beneath our feet crackled as we walked over to the balcony. As we stood on the balcony, my father turned the knob and propelled the door open.

The interior of the bungalow had a tenebrous aura. An old, malfunctioning television had been placed on the wall overlooking the door. An intricately designed, golden clock stood on a pilar adjacent to it. An L-shaped black leather sofa had been placed perpendicular to the pillar. An oval-shaped table stood at the center of the living room.

An eerie chill crept down my spine as I found myself in the midst of the dark and gloomy bungalow. Little light penetrated into the house as all the curtains been pulled over. The dark clouds hovering over the house had reduced the visibility to a great extent. A dimly lit, long corridor opened to the right of the pillar. Two rooms overlooking each other stood at two sides of the corridor. 

"I hope you remember this house. We had not been here for a long time," my father spoke in his intimidating, deep voice. 

"Yeah, I do remember," I replied back in a faint voice.

"The place looks so desolate after the demise of your grandparents," he spoke in a low, grief-stricken voice. 

I kept silent as I glanced at my mother standing beside me. I had been six years since I had come here the last time. I was nine years old back then.

"Let's put in the luggage in the room and freshen up," my mother broke the choking silence that had begun to cloak the atmosphere. 

My father nodded as we walked through the dimly-lit, long corridor. It was narrow and opened into the kitchen and two rooms on the way. It culminated into the master bed room, which had a window overlooking the verdant landscape of the region. We placed our luggage in the farthest corner of the room. We had a bath and changed into fresh clothes. We had been overcome by fatigue after a strenuous day. My parents rested in the master bed room, while I shifted into a smaller room which opened into the long, dark corridor. 

The sun had set in after a few hours and darkness had cloaked the atmosphere. The atmosphere had been cloaked by an absolute silence. Only the chirping of a few crickets emanated from a distance. The moon had been shrouded by the dark clouds hovering above. I had fallen into a deep slumber after my arrival. But, I was propelled out of my sleep by the bellowing storm which lurked outside. The torrential downpour roared while the trees swung violently. 

I reached out for my slippers and walked over to the master bed room, where my parents had been taking rest. But, they were not there! Sweat trickled down my forehead as an unknown dread swept through me. I shuddered as a dread lurked in me. I could not find my parents until an intimidating voice called me.

"Where are you Raghav!," a deep, intimidating voice bellowed.

I shuddered as I turned around and found my parents behind me. But, their eyes had protruded out of their sockets with blood trickling down their temples. Their hairs had been dishevelled and they held a dagger in their hand.

A terror swept across me as the lights blew off and absolute darkness cloaked everything as far as I could see. Only the red bulging eyes of my parents could be seen in the darkness. My eyes dilated and my blood froze. I clung to the walls as I supported my wobbly legs. They were coming near me! nearer! nearer! They were coming closer to me with ever passing second. 

But, I mustered my courage and fled towards the room closest to where I stood. I took refuge in the room and bolted it from inside. The door shook with the impact of my parents. They were breathing down my neck. They bellowed as they tried to break open the door. Splinters of wood flew from the door with their every impact. I whimpered as I folded my legs and sank into a corner of the room. But, the dread lurking outside did not seem to vanish. I knew that the weak door could not sustain the blows and would flew open any moment. I knew then knew what I had to do. 

The door flung open with the final impact of my father's arms. They groped for their way in the absolute darkness as they looked around for me. As they turned around, I whirled an axe and decapitated them with a single blow. Their screams reverberated through the darkness as their blood splattered on the floor. I was soaked in their gore. As I knelt beside the decapitated bodies of my parents, a thick mist began to cloak the atmosphere. I lost my senses as the thick mist engulfed everything on its way. 

I regained consciousness after an indefinite period of time. I could not recall anything that had happened the other night. I pushed open my drowsy eyes as I found myself in the kitchen. The sunrays had seeped in through the small window. I was flabbergasted as I glanced at the axe I had been grasping. I was terror-struck by the sight of the decapitated bodies of my parents which lingered ahead of me. I shuddered as I recalled what I had done. 

I screamed in affliction as my voice reverberated through the desolate landscape. I knelt on the floor as I found myself alone, encircled by the sequestered valley.