Episode 5 – Few Escape
Families go through rough moments
no matter how wealthy or close they may be. Owen’s family is going through one
as of late. His parents are having a serious talk while Owen watches TV in his
room. While watching his usual shows, a show that he’s never seen on this channel
starts to play. A show called Adventures Into the Forbidden. Owen has heard
about this show before, but it’s never interested him. He watches it out of curiosity
since there’s nothing else on.
A creepy puppet takes the stage with
a completely white background. Its eyes, mouth, and nose seem hollow and there’s
a swirl on its forehead. It wears a black sweater and has two hand puppets in
his hands. One puppet is like him with a black sweater and a smiling face while
the other is black with a white sweater and a frowning face. The name that
appears above his head is Malek the Puppet Master.
“Hello, boys and girls,” the puppet
says in a voice that sounds like it’s a mix of male and female voices, “You’re
lucky to see this exclusive episode with me in it. My name is Malek the Puppet
Master. The creator of this show and the voice behind every puppet you’ve seen.
Since this is a special episode, I’d like to talk about a special topic. For
the families who are currently going through hard times, know that everything
will be all right in the end. Know that you will always have a friend in me.”
Owen feels strangely targeted by the
creepy Malek. He considers changing the channel.
“Don’t change the channel yet. I
have more to say to you.”
Convinced that Owen should turn off
the show now, he switches the channel only to find Malek on it. He keeps switching
the channel only to find Malek on all of them and he says different things on
each one.
“You don’t deserve a dysfunctional family.”
“You should find a different
family.”
“Abandon that silly faith of yours
for a different one.”
“Why suffer for broken people?”
“You’re the master of your life.”
“Do what you want.”
Owen finally turns off the TV to
shut up Malek only for the TV to come back on.
“Don’t you think I’m correct? I
know you’ve all had thoughts like these. You should follow your feelings and do
what you think is right. You have these senses and feelings for a reason. Follow
them. Give in.”
The TV then suddenly turns off.
Confused but thankful, Owen lies his head down. His parents then come into his
room and tell them that everything is going to be all right now that they’ve settled
things between them. He peacefully goes to sleep until his TV turns back on by
itself. Malek is back on and this time, there’s something different about him.
Owen’s eyes are focused on Malek’s
hollow mouth. In it, he sees the many parents who’ve led their children to Hell
by their example. Generations and generations of families yelling out for
relief fill Owen’s ears and he can’t find a way to shut them out or shut off
the TV.
“Owen, you know the right thing to
do. Your parents will fight again later and who knows how bad it will get. Do
the right thing,” Malek says.
“I know,” Owen says as he takes out
his rosary.
Once he starts praying his rosary, Malek
writhes in pain. The screams coming from the TV get louder and more horrifying
until Owen has finished praying a decade of the rosary. Then there’s silence as
the TV turns itself off. Owen calms down and continues to pray. He asks why he
had to see and go through all this horror.
In his mind, he hears a woman say, “Just
like at Fatima, I showed the children Hell to show them why they should pray
and make sacrifices for sinners who have no one that prays or sacrifices for
them. Do the same for the sinful families who pass on the weight of their sins
to their children who pass their sins to their children and so on.”
The woman’s voice calms down Owen.
He goes back to sleep and makes a promise to dedicate his life to help the
sinful families on earth while they still have time to change.
The End
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