A Girl Named Lynette

  It's a strange world we live in. No matter what horrible things seem to happen in the dark, life goes on the following morning. Even when we get that feeling like something happened, we bury it until it's forgotten. It's a shameful truth. The more I think about it, the more it upsets me. Mostly because I was guilty of it too, once. Once, and only once, I witnessed something horrible happen. It's hard for me to remember all the details surrounding it, but, I think it was a murder.

  A long time ago, there was a girl named Lynette. She was but a child without any parents. I think you'd call her an orphan. She lived alone, in an alley behind a restaurant. It was a nice little diner, staffed with nice little people. It's main attraction was its mascot character, who would serve the customers their food, sing songs for the other children, and occasionally dance a jig. She didn't care much for him though. Instead, she adored the character who was always in the corner of the building. He gave away little trinkets and toys to children for behaving or winning silly little games. The Prize Giver, people called him. A funny little man in a mask, he was always happy to see us, and happier still to give away his prizes. Prizes that gave the other children such joy, and would light up their eyes with life. She remembered him so fondly because he was the only one who saw her as anything more than filth from the street. He never minded that she had sneaked in, and he always had something to give her when she saw him. The last time she would see him, he gave her two gifts. His real name (which was Marion.), and a rather small music box. He said it would help her sleep. Their conversation would be cut short though, as she was then finally caught by security.

  As the place was small, they only needed one security guard on staff. A weasel of a man, dressed all in purple. He grabbed the girl and started dragging her towards the back. I can remember that the only ones who watched this go on were Marion, and to my surprise at the time, the mascot character. Everyone else averted their eyes. Of course they did. The man was simply taking out the trash after all. Nobody bats an eye when it comes to that. And though Marion watched, he did not move to stop the guard. The mascot moved for a moment, but it stopped as though something else wouldn't let it go to the girl's aid. So it is not long before we find the girl and the man in the back alley behind the diner. The girl's home. Here should be where the story should end. A girl is kicked out, the guard goes back inside, and life goes on. But fate would not be so kind that evening. No, the guard would not be satisfied taking just the girl's dignity away by the display earlier. He was too greedy for that. He wanted to take everything from her. At first he simply tied her to a pipe and left her there under pretense of going to get proper authorities. Things slowly dawned on her as the guard came back with his car and opened his trunk. Dread washed over her features as the man showed her various things he kept there. Things he told her, he planned on demonstrating the use of.

  The man was slow. Methodical. He had practiced this. I had a front row seat to the whole sordid affair, but was too shocked then to try and stop it. Even now I still curse my weakness at the time. The girl didn't have to suffer. To see her own blood as the man beat her. To feel the despair of crying out for help only for none to come. It went on for maybe an hour or so, but I'm certain it was the longest one of the young girl's life. After the man was finished, he stepped back to admire his handiwork and adjust his uniform. Then with a condescending sneer, he deposited the girl in a dumpster where, according to him, she belonged. She stayed there for the last moments of her life. Still clutching the music box. There really was nothing I could do, but at the very least, I had the strength to turn the music box. Marion was right about it of course. She was able to focus on the tune and let go. But she did so wondering why all this had to happen to her. Darker and darker her remaining thoughts would get, until eventually she would wake up.

  It seemed to be much later at night. Lynette climbed out of the refuse and found herself seemingly okay. She didn't seem to have a scratch on her. Puzzled, she tried to get back inside the diner to see Marion. She felt that he would be the only one who could help. Unfortunately for her, the restaurant was closed for the night. She futilely banged and banged on the door until eventually, to her surprise, it opened. Standing in the doorway was a large figure. It reminded her of the place's mascot, but this one was of a yellowed hue. It stared at her silently, at least she thought it was. She couldn't tell, as its eye sockets were empty. She began to plead with it, to try and explain what happened, and that she had to see Marion. The mascot beckoned her inside, and led her to the showroom floor. Upon seeing him in the corner, she immediately rushed past the mascot to see her friend. To her horror, her friend was slumped over in the prize box. There was no life in him at all. It is at this point that she finally noticed. The strings. As she held the body, tears began to form. She looked back at the mascot, who merely nodded as though confirming her realization: Her friend was never really alive in the first place. She felt the mascot's hand on her shoulder and looked up. It pointed at her and then back at what she thought was her friend. It uttered only one word: SAME.

  Lynette understood immediately what it meant. She wiped her tears and asked the mascot what she should do. The answer it gave her wasn't understood right away. It told her: SAVE THEM. She didn't know what who it was referring to and when she asked, there was no reply. She looked down at her friend, as though to ask him. If she was supposed to save people, did that mean she would become a superhero? She'd certainly try at least. Reaching down, she pulled the mask off her friend and put it on. If "Marion" was just a role her friend was playing, then she would do the same. She would make sure to give those who needed her the perfect prize, Life. When she looked back up, the mascot was nowhere to be seen. She took this to mean that she was doing the right thing. But I think at this point, we all know how this story ends.

  She would successfully give her prizes, but unfortunately, it would be much too late. The purple man would not be stopped in time. But at least, I "Marion", have some new friends. Friends that you've become quite acquainted with by now, haven't you? They've held you still in that chair this whole time after all. You've also listened to my story rather quietly, without so much as a peep. Maybe you're too frightened to say anything. As well you should be. For you knew your role in this story. You know what you did. I had regrettably buried it long ago, but then you decided you'd come back and dredge these memories back up. I guess you weren't finished yet. Well, I suppose you are now. Even now as I come around, wrapping arms around you from behind, I can see the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. You want to move, but you can't, as my friends won't let you because I'm pulling the strings now. This is truly delightful. I will of course, do this slowly. Methodically. You'll find what I will do to you nostalgic I'm sure. I'm sure you remember the music box, yes? This time, the tune is going to help me take everything back from you.

After all... that's the way this story ends. Pop! goes the weasel.