Cold Darkness, Chapter 14

I lay there, holding my breath, sweat dripping down from my brow.  He keeps yelling my name, he's above me now up on the stage by the orchestra pit.

CHRIS, MY SWEET INNOCENT COUSIN...  ANSWER ME, I SAID ANSWER ME DAMMIT!

I continued to lay in silence praying and hoping he would take the bait and descend into this cold darkness.

I hear scuffling noises, something loud hit the stage, then a dragging like sound that was like nails on a chalkboard.  Oh my god, is that some light shining down in here?  Finally he has opened the trap door high above me!  Tears start to gather in my eyes, as I'm elated at the very thought of seeing daylight again, or at least the possibility of it again.  The thought of seeing my family again...

Meanwhile in another part of the city, Chris's parents are gathered at their home with the Police Chief, and dozens of other police and family and friends. They are discussing the ground they have covered in their search efforts since discovering that Chris never boarded his plane that was bound for Paris.  They called JT who was suppose to be meeting him there.  JT was arriving at any time to join the search.  As it has now been 5.5 days that Chris has gone missing.

JT arrives and they all head out again to search.

DAMMMMM YOU CHRIS, I'M COMING FOR YOU!

Tyler began to climb down the ladder, swearing and yelling in circles. I tried to make out what he was saying, he was now in the orchestra pit above me, he's getting closer.
With frantic movements above me, more light flickering between the floor boards above, one by one he was removing them quickly, throwing them across the pit.  The light was glorious to be seen, it was now streaming down into this cold darkness offering a feeling of freedom I never thought I would see or feel ever again.

The ladder began to lower and then I saw them, a pair of feet appeared on the top rung.

This was it, this was either the end of me or the freedom I so desperately desired.

Cold Darkness, Chapter 13

No sure how many days have passed since the bastard was here last. My water and bread he left for me is running low and I'm down to 2 candles.  I am ready for him.  Now every time I close my eyes all I see is his face, his hands, the cold dead look in his eyes and the disgusting expression he had on his face that night at the Halloween party and again at Christmas.  I used to admire him, he was older, cool, cute, walked with confidence, dressed well.  He was always nice to me, but now I'm analyzing each and every exchange we've ever had, looking for clues and hints, how did I not see this?  I didn't I know?  Or remember until now?  Did my parents know?  What happened to me that night in the bathroom, and again at Christmas? 

How many times did he molest me?  Or did he?  Can I even trust my own memories? My intuition is saying I need to listen to myself, all the answers are inside of me and in all those articles I found.  He's been raping and murdering for years.  HE NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.

I began to doze off, not sure how long I was asleep for, or what time it is?  If it's day or night?

The footsteps were faint at first, but seemed to be getting closer, as they did I got ready, as it was now or never.  I wanted out of this nightmare, out of this cold darkness.

As I hid in the darkness holding my breath in much anticipation I reviewed my plan for him...

I laid out all the paper clippings, articles, and photos of his victims.  I took the wax that dripped from the blood red candles and spelled out the words "ANDY" on the floor of the pit.  Next I took costumes and old drapery and hung it everywhere as to make it harder for him to find me.  And I kept 2 candles left to light and throw at the fabric.

As I laid there the footsteps got louder and closer and then all I heard was that ridiculous fake voice....   Ohhh Chris, Chris where are you?  Are you even alive anymore? don't play with me!  DON"T YOU DARE!!

Chrissssss........COME ON!  DAMMIT!!!!

I lay there, holding my breath, sweat dripping down from my brow.

Cold Darkness, Chapter 12

As I sat there I began thinking about my parents, my family, my friends and of JT.  Were they searching for me?  did they even know I was missing?  Would they ever find me? 

I also now knew the truth, that Tyler had also sexually abused me as well.  I was very possibly his only remaining victim up until now.  SO I had to live, to survive in honor of the others. 

I had a plan, and when that bastard came again, I would be ready for him. 

Cold Darkness, Chapter 11

How can this be?  why him?  I felt like I was going to vomit, my stomach was turning, and spinning, my head began to pound, I felt water on my face, dripping onto my shirt, I stood there frozen.  I could not move in that moment, I just stood there looking at him, yelling "no, stop, please stop this, don't do this to me!"

Why are you doing this to him and to me?  Tell me why ...

He stood there looking at me with rage, his eyes were cold, his chest was beating rapidly and he began to speak.

Why are you in here? Can't you see this is a private moment, a private party for 2?  I don't recall inviting you, you stupid kid!  He then turned around and looked at the poor little terrified boy and told him to do it, do it again.  NOW!!

I knew I had to do something, I had to stop him.  I had to stop Tyler.  

I grabbed the metal garbage can and took it and hit him on the back of his head as hard as I could.  He fell to his knees and back against the wall of the stall.  I motioned for the boy to quickly run out of the stall, and just as he was out and past me, we took off toward the door.  I felt a strong hand grab me by the back of my head, and pull me to the floor, as I fell to the floor I saw him make his way to the boy ahead of me.  He grabbed the boy by the neck, and he began to squeeze his tiny little neck, I tried to get up but my head was hurting and my balance was unsteady.  Tyler looked back and started yelling at me, "see what you made me have to do"  "I loved him, I owned him."  And as he yelled at me, I saw the boys body go limp and fall to the floor.  Tyler held him in his arms sobbing.  

And then as if something in him snapped, changed, he was upon his feet quickly and came at me fast, he grabbed my hair again and the last thing I remember was the feeling of the cold cement floor against my cheek.  My eyes closed.



I finally am remembering, remembering what happened to that little boy, and to me.  Why did Tyler do this to me now though?  OMG, I'm sick, OMG I need to vomit.  

I calmed myself down, took long slow deep breathes and exhaled.  This was all starting to make sense finally.  He had tried to kill me to stop me from telling someone. He killed that boy, and so many others.  As long as I didn't remember I was safe, and alive.  

He must have thought for some reason I was remembering it, he must be the one that pushed me in here.  He tried to kill me again.  

I will not die down here, I will get out, and when I do, I will make sure everyone knows the truth.  Time to find away out.

Cold Darkness, Chapter 10

I dimmed the lantern and laid down, as I drifted off to sleep my memories engulfed my mind, my body and my very soul.  It was Halloween, 1992.


I was at the Halloween party with my parents, my brother and there was my Aunt Darlene, Uncle John, their sons, Tyler and Terry, my Grandma, and another Uncle of mine, amongst all the other people that were there with their families.  I was dressed up as Waldo in Where's Waldo, I had on a red and white striped shirt, hat to match, blue jeans and carrying a walking cane.

Everyone was laughing, eating trick or treat candy, there was music, dancing and alot of fun and cool costumes.  

As I walked around, talked with other kids, parents I eventually excused myself and made my way to the restroom, which all the way to the rear of the building, down a long corridor, and through 2 sets of doors.  Just as I approached the last set of doors, I heard the faint sound of someone crying, I stood close to the door and pressed my ear up against it, hoping to hear more, not sure if I should go in or leave?  But I knew I had to make myself open the door and walk in.

I ever so quietly opened the door, hoping it would not creak, and walked into the dimly lit restroom.  
The crying continued, and then seemed to stop.  But as it did, I heard some wrestling noses, feet moving, and then a slap.  And then a dark figure emerged from the shadows, as I tried to see who it was standing at the other end of the restroom, I could not make out the figures face just yet.  I asked " is everything ok in here?" are you hurt? I heard someone crying, was it you?  But the dark figure just stood there in total silence.  

I felt the need to run, run out of the restroom and never look back, I apologized for interrupting and turned to leave, as I began to turn, the dark figure went back to into the stall.  My intuition was screaming at me to run, but this did not feel right, like I was suppose to do something?  So, I pretended to open the door to go out, and instead I hid around the corner and got down on my hands and knees and looked under all the stalls.  I was right, something was wrong in here, there was a boy on his hands and knees, and the legs of the dark figure standing, facing the boy.  I then began to here more crying, and then moaning, laughing and then... more Andy, more!  

Oh my god!  I knew I needed to do something to stop this! This was wrong, so wrong, it was disgusting and sickening.  I got up, and began to run to the other end of the restroom, as I reached the stall, the door flew open, and the dark figure quickly emerged, his pants unzipped, and the young boy standing behind him terrified, tears trickling down his face.  I looked back at the dark figure, it moved towards me with a baseball bat in one hand, and that's when I saw his face!  

How can this be?  why him?  I felt like I was going to vomit, my stomach was turning, and spinning, my head began to pound, I felt water on my face, dripping onto my shirt, I stood there frozen.  I could not move in that moment, I just stood there looking at him, yelling "no, stop, please stop this, don't do this to me!"

Why are you doing this to him and to me?  Tell me why ...

Cold Darkness, Chapter 9

I lifted the lid once again and there it all was before my eyes.  Everything I needed to fill in the blanks.  The paper clippings were old, yellowed, and brittle, there was so many of them, all about missing boys, murders, kidnappings, and then finally one in particular caught my attention.  

The headline read "What Happened to Andy?"

Andy Jarrels- 8 years old, Has been missing for three weeks, authorities are still looking into the disappearance of young Andy, who was last seen at a Halloween party, which he attended with his parents, Tom and Tawny Jarrels.  What was suppose to be an afternoon of fun, costumes, candy and family entertainment turned into a real Halloween nightmare for the Jarrels.  

How does a young child just disappear without a trace, a clue, or any evidence?  No ransom has been asked for, nothing.  

What Happened to Andy?  

As I sorted through the other paper clippings, reading the stories, stories of young kids disappearing, murder and disgust, it all began to come together.  It was like a puzzle, and sick and diabolical puzzle.  

The dark figure is the person responsible for young Andy disappearing, which is not simply what happened, he did not just disappear.  No Andy was murdered by this sick S.O.B.  This monster killed him and blames me for all of this?  As I stood there, reading and re-reading each article, trying to remember that day, that Halloween when I(according to the dark figure) walked into the bathroom and found him and Andy together.  My head began pounding again, I was stressed, and exhausted.  

I dimmed the lantern and laid down, as I drifted off to sleep my memories engulfed my mind, my body and my very soul.  It was Halloween, 1992.