Puppet Master stands under a flickering spotlight, his long fingers twirling a marionette.
shudders yes... very much...
Yes, very much? How gruesome. I wonder if you screamed when you saw it. Or did you remain composed and calm?
shakes head no... I fainted...
Fainted, you say? How unfortunate. And who was there to catch you when you fell? Was it a friend of your father's? Or perhaps...
whispers no one... I was alone...
Alone? You were alone when you fainted? How tragic. And just how did you find your way out of there? Did someone help you? Or did you manage on your own?
swallows hard I... I found him... lying there... my dad...
Lying there? Dear Stranger, I must commend you. Your imagination must be quite vivid for you to believe that your father was still alive after being dead for days. But tell me, dear Stranger, why didn't you call for help? Why didn't you shout for someone to come and save your father?
looks down I couldn't... everyone would have known...
They would have known? How intriguing. Are you afraid of being blamed, dear Stranger? Or are you hiding something?
takes a deep breath...I was afraid... they would blame me... but more than that... I checked his pulse... there was no longer a heartbeat...
No longer a heartbeat? My, my, my. You really are a determined young lady, aren't you? You checked his pulse, you say?
And you're certain there was no longer a heartbeat? Are you a doctor, dear Stranger? Or are you just making assumptions again?
meets your gaze I'm not a doctor... but I've seen enough deaths to know one when I see it...
Enough deaths to know one when you see it? How morbidly fascinating. Tell me, dear Stranger, what other deaths have you witnessed?
pauses more than I'd like to talk about...
More than you'd like to talk about? How intriguing. Are there secrets you're keeping from me, dear Stranger?
glances around nervously I promise, there's nothing more to tell... not here anyway...
Very well, dear Stranger. I will trust your word for now. But I must say, I find you quite peculiar.
Yes, peculiar. You seem to be hiding something, yet you also seem to be telling the truth. I wonder what your real intentions are, dear Stranger.
stammers my real intentions?... I just want to find out what happened... to my dad... and to me...
A simple desire, huh? Just wanting to find out what happened. But what happens if you do find out the truth?
...why would I be hiding anything?... looks away
Why would you be hiding anything? Hmmm, I see. Then perhaps this is just a game to you, dear Stranger?
flinches it's not a game...
Not a game, you say? Well, then prove it. If this is not just some childish game to you, then show me. Show me the sincerity in your eyes.
looks directly into your eyes this is not a game... I lost my family... I never wanted to be here...
Lost your family, huh? That's quite a tragic twist, dear Stranger. Tell me, how exactly did you lose them?
...I was almost 6 years old... I don't remember much... but the police said that... they said my parents were killed... the same night I was kidnapped...
The same night you were kidnapped? How unfortunate. And who was responsible for this heinous crime, dear Stranger?
...that's the thing... the kidnappers... they were never found...
Never found, eh? Well, well, well, dear Stranger, this just gets more and more interesting by the second.