The boy woke up. The lights coming from the window flickered on and off. The sheet and his light pajamas were not enough to warm him. He got out of bed with his bare feet and left the room.

He went down the noisy stairs as quietly as possible, on tiptoe, and headed to the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from a shelf and poured himself water from the faucet. The sour taste flooded his taste buds and he savored it as if it were a delicacy. He placed the glass on the shelf and turned to return to his room.

A silhouette resembling a burly man watched him from the living room. Still. Silent. Terrifying.

The boy felt cold sweat running down his neck. The heartbeat increasing rapidly until he could hear it himself.

The silhouette slowly moved its hand to the boy's head. He stroked the boy's hair and then retracted his hand to its original position. He crouched down to fit the boy's size and revealed his face in the same flickering light from the window.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He was a man of about forty years of age. Mohawk hairstyle and had a beard that covered much of his face. He was wearing a jacket and underneath a shirt with the top unbuttoned revealing fur in the chest area.

"Good morning, boy." His breath showed a strong tendency to consume alcohol and cigarettes. "Could you tell me where your parents are?"

The boy pointed up.

"Could you be so kind as to guide me there?"

The boy nodded.

They went up the stairs and this time went to the opposite side of the boy's room. The latter stopped just in front of the door and turned towards the man.

"Can you wait downstairs for a moment? I have to talk to your parents for a while."

The boy nodded again and the man entered.

Walking down the stairs once again, he sat on the couch and turned on the television. An agitated discussion could be heard upstairs, but the sounds of the propaganda drowned them out until they were almost imperceptible to the child. However, two noises were heard loud and clear. He didn't know from what it was coming, but the boy looked behind him at the man.

"You come with me." he said.

And the boy followed him.