Once there was a very close knit family who would do anything for one another. The small family of five lived in a small rugged village. A horrific accident had left their youngest son, Kent, paralyzed from the waist down. The boy’s parents had heard about a “magical” healer in the next town over. They heard that he was the one to go to for fixing what was broken. Even though the healer was many miles away and the poor family could barley pay for the visit, they decided as a family that it was worth the journey. On a cold dark night the whole family except Kent set on the long, treacherous journey to the healer. They walked many miles, taking barely anything. They were frightened as they heard the whistling of the trees and the bushes rumbling to the scurrying of midnight creatures.
Though, the shimmering, bright light of the full moon persuaded them to carry on. The family had then stumbled upon a winding, old, dirt path that lead them to a creaky, old cabin. The father could see there was a fire brewing inside. They all walked in with hesitation. The father went first, and the young kids sandwiched in-between, the mother acting as the caboose. They all stopped in their footsteps as they saw a pitch-black shadow on the wall. The shadow began to move towards the family. As a deep voice muttered “Welcome Devinson family. I’ve been expecting you”. The family sat down on a bench near the warm fire. They waited for the shadow to soon show his face. The man’s head turned slowly towards the family and his face was finally seen . He was a man in his 40’s, tall and lean, though his faced was overcome by wrinkles. He had an elongated face with his eyes indented in his skull, so all you could see were dark pupils. The family examined him and saw a meek little neck that could barely hold his head. He had broad shoulders and a thin body, so thin you could see his ribs protruding through his long, warn trench coat. Two twig-like legs extended from the bottom of his trench coat.
He spoke, “ What can I do for you today”? As he showed his stained yellow teeth, with an unfaithful grin. The family replied, “ Help us with our son”. The distorted man replied,
“ I can help you. No payment is needed, but you must allow me to make replicating carvings of each of you ”. The family agreed with the man’s proposal though they thought it to be a little odd. They begin to talk to the magical man. As the man listened, he sat across from the family, gazing at each of them and carving away at his figurines. The family left the cabin with their hope dampened but not destroyed. They had a long journey ahead, taking the long, winding, old path back to their home. Inside the creaky old cabin the man watch the family through the window until the glass was fogged by his wicked breath.
The family of five was finally home and greeted Kent, whom they had not seen for days. The next morning Kent noticed something altered about his family. His sister, Meredith, was no longer helping him with chores. She would always help Kent with the dishes. Kent would always rinse and Meredith would always dry and put them away, because she could reach the cabinets. Today there was just a pile of dirty dishes waiting in the sink. His brother was no longer assisting him either. Kent thought that they might just be tired from the long travel back last night. He did not think much of it.
Today was a bright and glorious morning. The sun was beaming down and the flowers were blooming, with bees frantically flying from one flower to another. It was the day to go to the market. The market trip was the one time Kent got to spend alone time with his parents. It had always been the highlight of the week. The trip this time went from worse to disaster.
The boy had started to notice his parents acting strange. They begin to steal. They took anything and everything from jewelry to food, money, and alcohol. His parents were out of control but there was not much he could do. His parents returned by the boy’s side and said in a stern and emotionless voices, “ It’s time to leave now”. Kent left with his parents as they carried bags of goodies away in hand. His one family-fun outing with his parents had turned into a nightmare he never wished to dream. That night Kent heard rustling outside. He woke up just in time to see both his parents walking into the shadowy woods. He had noticed that they were carrying some of the goodies that they had stolen earlier. Kent, with his young brain of curiosity, followed his parents into the forest. He plowed through the forest, but lost track of his parents. He kept trudging on until he came upon a winding, old, dirt road. He came upon a creaky old cabin. He thought he saw a fire brewing inside. Kent was cold and hungry from his long journey.
He disobeyed his parent’s rule and went inside the obscure cabin. It was warm and cozy and it felt enjoyable. Then, something caught his eye. A chessboard sat upon a wooden table. He examined the board, as he had been fond of the game. He observed that one of the pieces resembled his sister. At first he thought that was just a coincidence. Then, he beheld the next piece and it looked exactly like his brother. Kent went to gaze at the third piece but, out of nowhere, a boney, cold old hand with sharp, razor, talon nails whisked the chess piece away from the small boy’s hand. The boy looked up in utter shock. The man snarled in his face, “What are you doing in my cabin”? Kent replied hesitantly, “Loo.. look.. looking for my parents”.
The man replied, “ Here come your parents”. As the bitter man said that, he advanced a chess piece forward on the chessboard. Kent’s dad burst through the front door. He went to hug his father, but his father was standing as still as statue and his face was overcome by a stunned, emotionless look. Kent shouted “What are you doing to my parents?!” The man replied in gruff tone, “I am the puppet master of your family now. Checkmate (ha ha ha ha ha) !”
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