Ellie, shivering in the rain, stumbled upon an eerie silence. The city's vibrant streets now seemed deserted. Her phone calls went unanswered. A screeching sound from behind the bush sent her running, but she slipped, fell and lost consciousness.

Hours passed. Ellie awakened in an unfamiliar room. A faint creek from the door heralded the arrival of a small figure. "Hey kid, do you know who took me here?" The child nodded, gripping her hand.

"Where are you taking me?" Ellie asked, but the kid's silent stare unsettled her. "Something doesn't feel right."

At Anton's house, Ellie entered a dark room cluttered with anonymous faces. "Who are they?" she asked.

Anton dismissed her concern. "Nothing. Let's eat."

In the kitchen, Ellie's terror escalated. Human body parts filled jars; severed fingers and tongues lay scattered. Anton chopped flesh with sadistic pleasure.

Ellie's horror mingled with fascination. Anton's gaze locked onto hers. "You're special, Ellie. My friends rarely meet...the ones I care for."

The child watched, intrigued. Ellie realized she was trapped in Anton's twisted world.

Days blurred. Ellie witnessed heinous crimes, her grip on reality faltering. Anton's affection sickened her, yet she feigned interest to survive.

Ellie probed Anton's psyche. "What drives you?" she asked.

"Love," Anton whispered. "My way."

Ellie walked a thin line, fueling Anton's obsession. Her survival depended on it.

One fateful evening, Anton's possessiveness peaked. "You'll never leave." Ellie seized the moment, grabbing a nearby knife.

Ellie stabbed Anton, fleeing the house. City lights blinded her. She collapsed.

Hospital bedsheets enveloped Ellie. Police questioned her, but she remained silent. The psychologist's query lingered: "Did you love him?"

Ellie's chilling response: "I love him still."

Ellie's gaze drifted toward the window. Anton's smile reappeared. She smiled back, whispering, "My love."

Few months passed Ellie's recovery was outward only. Her mind still trapped in Anton's twisted world, she struggled to recall life before captivity. The psychologist's probing questions unraveled her defenses. "What drew you to him?" Ellie's eyes dropped, her voice barely audible. "He made me feel seen."

The anonymous child, now in state custody, drew Ellie's portrait. Their gaze held a haunting familiarity. Ellie's determination solidified – she would find the child, unravel the tangled threads of Anton's legacy.

[A poem for Anton and Ellie]

"Masquerade"

Beneath the Sheep's Clothing

A wolf in disguise, with angelic face

Concealing demons, in a sacred space

Lies woven tightly, truth suppressed

Sincerity lost, in fabricated dress

Multiple masks, a chameleon's guile

Each smile, a deception, all the while

Charisma overwhelms, a siren's call

Hypnotic voice, entrapping all

Beware the predator, in innocent skin

Lest charm deceives, and hearts give in

For beneath the surface, danger resides

A wolf in sheep's clothing, where love hides.

And

"Toxic Devotion"

You're my vice, my vital sign

Addiction's grip, forever mine

Medicine and poison, a deadly blend

My soul, forever bound to yours, my end.

Anton's obsession with death began at age 10, witnessing his mother's gruesome murder. His father, a serial killer, slaughtered her. The traumatic event warped Anton's perception of love.

His father, Victor, trained Anton in the art of killing, justifying it as "showing love." Anton's moral compass shattered.

At 16, Anton committed his first murder, mimicking his father's methods. The rush of power and control enthralled him.

Anton's mental state deteriorated. He developed dissociative identity disorder, compartmentalizing emotions. His "love" became synonymous with violence.

Anton adopted the mysterious child, training them to assist in his crimes. The child's silence and obedience fueled Anton's twisted sense of family.

Anton's fixation on Ellie stemmed from her resemblance to his mother. His warped mind craved reenactment.

Ellie's escape and his near-death experience shattered Anton's facade. His grip on reality faltered.

As police closed in, Anton smiled, knowing Ellie still loved him. In his twisted world, that justified everything.

The anonymous child in the story was born into a world of trauma and violence. Orphaned at a young age, they were adopted by Anton, who sought a protégé to perpetuate his dark legacy. With no knowledge of their biological family or past, the child's identity was shaped by Anton's sinister guidance. Their silence and obedience were likely coping mechanisms, born from the trauma and manipulation they endured. The child's inner world remains a mystery, but their actions suggest a deep-seated desperation for survival and approval.

# Ellie's past and childhood Trauma 

Ellie's parents, struggling with addiction, neglected her. She often found solace in solitary walks, developing a strong sense of self-reliance.

Her parents' divorce left Ellie feeling abandoned. She struggled to form close relationships.

Ellie witnessed a school shooting, leaving her with PTSD and anxiety.

Ellie immersed herself in studies, seeking refuge from her past.

Ellie's tumultuous childhood eroded her confidence.

 Her parents' neglect and subsequent abandonment intensified her need for validation.

Ellie's PTSD drew her to intense, potentially harmful situations.

# Anton's Appeal

Anton's charismatic nature and mysteriousness captivated Ellie.

His twisted world, though terrifying, felt familiar, echoing her own traumatic experiences.

Ellie's vulnerability and Anton's manipulation forged a toxic bond.

# Inner Conflict

 Ellie's horror struggled against her morbid curiosity.

Her desire to escape conflicted with her twisted emotional connection to Anton.

The experience left Ellie questioning her sanity and judgment.

Ellie's backstory explains Ellie's vulnerability to Anton's manipulation and her complex emotional response to the horrific events.

Thanks for reading my very first novel everyone

Maybe in a few months I'll post another stories like this again:>

giving y'all another poem hehe

And Once again Thanks for reading my novel I hope you all liked/loved it:>

(⁠´⁠∩⁠｡⁠•⁠ ⁠ᵕ⁠ ⁠•⁠｡⁠∩⁠`)(⁠*⁠˘⁠︶⁠˘⁠*⁠)⁠.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ hehe

Love you all

(the author) ♡⁠(⁠Ӧ⁠ｖ⁠Ӧ⁠｡⁠)