Finally, after landing my dream job in LA, the next challenge was finding a comfortable place to live. As a bachelor, the process of renting a flat became a nightmare. After speaking to 15-20 landlords, one finally agreed. I now had a two-room apartment to call home.

While my place was comfortable and affordable for my salary, being an extrovert with no immediate neighbors left me feeling bored. One summer evening, around 7:00 p.m., I could hear two people engaged in a heated argument near my apartment. Intrigued, I peeked through the keyhole to catch a glimpse of who they were.

I spotted a woman, possibly in her late 30s, and a man in his early 40s. They were yelling at each other. Eventually, the woman stormed inside, leaving a boy, around 10 to 12 years old, standing alone outside. The boy's eyes scanned every door on the floor, accompanied by his father. Unable to contain my curiosity, I rushed out to greet them and welcome them as my new neighbors.

"Hi, may I help you with carrying your luggage?" I eagerly asked the man as I opened the door.

"Just get away!" the kid yelled abruptly.

"Oh, uh, okay," I replied, taken aback by his unexpected rudeness. What was it like to be insulted by a child?

"Lucas, go inside," his father instructed.

"Hey, sorry about that. He can be a bit rude with strangers. Please forgive me. My name is David. I own a coffee shop nearby," he explained after his son went inside.

"No problem, sir. I work in the IT Department and-" I started to reply.

"Honey, come inside! Help me with this stuff," the woman called out from inside.

"Would you like to have dinner with us tonight?" David offered.

"Alright, thank you," I smiled in response.

At 9:49 p.m., I glanced at my phone to check the time before ringing David's doorbell. The door swung open, revealing Lucas wearing a red hoodie and black trousers. He glared at me with anger and immediately called for his father. However, before he could enter, I handed him a chocolate bar, which he snatched from me.

"Hey, come on in! We were waiting for you," David exclaimed, welcoming me inside.

After a few minutes of chatting with the couple about the neighborhood and other topics, Lucas approached me and said, "Thank you." It was a small gesture, but it caught me off guard. David's wife, Emma, announced that dinner was ready, and David headed to the dining table. As I was about to rise from the couch, Lucas grabbed my arm and shook his head. I smiled at him and proceeded to join them at the dining table.

The table was adorned with an array of dishes, including pumpkin cake, hot tomato soup, fish, and sweet potatoes. We engaged in lively conversation while savoring the delicious meal. As we finished eating, Emma offered me a glass of wine. I took a sip, but suddenly, my head began to spin. Coughing up blood, I heard both David and Emma burst into laughter. My consciousness started to fade.

When I woke up, I found myself lying on the floor, surrounded by candles and a disturbing symbol drawn in blood. It took me a few moments to adjust my eyes to the darkness, and that's when I saw Emma sitting beside me, chanting something. Her eyes had turned completely white. Meanwhile, David stood before me, brandishing a knife.

"Darkness... oh, our darkness... our devil, please accept this gift from us. Grant us all your powers so we may be like

you. Let the blood rain and bestow upon us your demonic strength," Emma's chant grew louder.

What on earth was this family doing? Death seemed imminent, with no chance of escape. Just then, Lucas appeared behind me, offering a glimmer of hope for survival. "I warned you," he whispered.

"Lucas, please save me! I beg you," I pleaded tearfully.

"I can't, but when you were having dinner, I placed a knife in your pocket," he confessed.

"Lucas, come here and offer your blood! Our devil thirsts," Emma called out.

He looked into my eyes, encouraging me to escape. Summoning every ounce of strength, I managed to retrieve the knife from my pocket. Swiftly, I began cutting the ropes binding my hands. Within moments, I freed myself. Hopefully, David hadn't noticed the knife Lucas had given me.

David thrust his knife into my right hand and then the left. Summoning all my courage, I retaliated, driving the knife into his stomach. With blood pouring from his wound, I ran as fast as my legs would carry me.

"Go after him! If he escapes, we'll be in big trouble! Run!" Emma commanded.

I reached my house, locked the door, and immediately dialed 9-1-1. Describing the situation to the police, I refused to open the door until I heard the sirens approaching. David and Emma were apprehended, and they were ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment for their heinous crimes. It was revealed that they had murdered over 25 people, including Lucas's family, whom they had kidnapped. Without Lucas's assistance, I would not have survived the encounter.

Now, Lucas is my adopted son. He saved my life, and in return, I promised to give him the love and care he had been deprived of for so long.

- Agastya Bahuguna

© AgastyaWrites2022