Damien felt completely alone, with no one to comfort him, not even his parents. He desperately sought their approval, showcasing his achievements in the hopes of receiving some appreciation, but they dismissed him as unimportant. This constant rejection led Damien to yearn for his adventures and discoveries, as a means of escape.
Not only did Damien lack parental support, but he also struggled to make friends. The other kids saw him as a weirdo and kept their distance, despite his efforts to introduce himself. They would mock his appearance, his awkwardness, or his worn-out clothes. In private, Damien would cry, unable to comprehend why nobody loved him. To distract himself from the pain, he would embark on daily adventures after school, finding solace in the joy of discovering new things.
One of Damien's favorite places to explore was the nearby woods. There, he encountered new plants, birds, and occasionally, deer. The sight of these deer brought him immense happiness, but his attempts to approach and pet them always ended in disappointment, as they would quickly flee. This further reinforced Damien's belief that even the deer didn't love him. He would return home to find his parents passed out on the floor, with needles stuck in their arms, a familiar scene that confused him but no longer surprised him. After grabbing something to eat, Damien would reflect on the adventures of the day and eagerly anticipate more in the future.
The next day, Damien approached the school with renewed hope. He made an effort to be as friendly as possible, holding onto the belief that one day, someone would reciprocate and become his friend. Despite the challenges he faced, Damien remained optimistic, ready to embrace new adventures and possibilities.
Upon entering his classroom, Damien was disappointed to find that his original teacher was absent and had been replaced by a new substitute named Mr. Bloomberg. However, despite being new, Mr. Bloomberg had a calming aura that made all the kids like him. Damien was excited when Mr. Bloomberg suggested a team game, but unfortunately, none of the other kids wanted to be on his team.
Mr. Bloomberg noticed Damien's disappointment and decided to be on his team himself, which made Damien feel noticed and appreciated for the first time. Mr. Bloomberg then introduced a game called "High Tower," where everyone had to build the highest tower using spaghetti noodles and marshmallows in under ten minutes. Damien was able to show his talents and, with Mr. Bloomberg's help, they won the game.
Damien was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, and he even shed tears, Damien was confused as to why he was crying, he had never experienced tears of joy before. Damien had always felt like a weirdo and nothing all that special, but Mr. Bloomberg's kindness and encouragement made him feel appreciated and valued. This experience gave Damien hope that he could make friends and be accepted by his peers.
After school ended, Damien felt a sense of excitement and adventure as he made his way to the woods a few blocks away from his home. This time, he felt brave and decided to venture even further into the woods. As he walked, he noticed an array of brand-new plants with vibrant colors, and some even had berries on them. He couldn't help but wonder if they tasted as good as they looked.
As Damien continued his exploration, he stumbled upon a variety of animals including bunnies, falcons, badgers, beavers, and most importantly, more deer. However, it was a small deer that caught his attention as it seemed to be fixated on something in the distance. Curiosity getting the best of him, Damien approached the deer to see what it was looking at. Unfortunately, he accidentally stepped on a branch, causing the deer to run away.
Despite his initial curiosity about the deer's gaze, Damien's attention quickly shifted to a larger and appeared to be sleeping deer with large antlers. Overwhelmed with joy, he gently petted the deer, relishing the soft and warm fur that brought him comfort. However, his happiness turned to concern when he noticed blood leaking from the deer's head. Determined to help, Damien retrieved a box of band-aids from his backpack and carefully applied one to the small hole-shaped wound. Assured that the deer would recover with rest, he then looked up to notice a nearby shack then thinking to himself "Who would want to live out here?" before deciding to head home for some much-needed rest himself. Unknowingly to him, a man in camouflage attire and armed with a rifle was silently observing him in the woods. Upon arriving home, Damien found his parents engaged in a heated argument, the topic of which he couldn't comprehend. Seeking solace, he retreated to the kitchen to grab a snack from the fridge. To his horror, he witnessed his father physically assaulting his mother. Filled with fear, Damien hurriedly escaped to his room, locking the door behind him. The echoes of his mother's desperate apologies and his father's derogatory remarks, he heard his father say "I'm the one getting the money, so I should have the majority share. But you know what, since you think you're so entitled I got a job for you that would work quite nicely". Desperate for sleep, Damien covered his ears and closed his eyes, but the disturbing noise prevented him from finding any rest.
As he lay in bed, unable to sleep, the weight of his parents' toxic relationship and the haunting sounds of their altercation weighed heavily on his young mind. Damien's parents finally quieted down, giving Damien peace and he fell into a deep sleep, where he dreamt of the deer he had helped. In his dream, the deer expressed gratitude for the band-aid Damien had placed on its wound. Now healed, the deer could once again run freely with its family. Damien felt a sense of pride for his good deed as he watched the deer and its offspring disappear into the distance. Upon waking up, Damien prepared for another day of school, noticing his mother sitting silently and his father soundly asleep, with a suspicious white powder under his nose.
As Damien walked to school, he observed the various cars passing by, ranging from big to small and even long ones. However, his attention was caught by a car that trailed behind him at an unusually slow pace. Puzzled, Damien turned to see what was happening, only to witness the car speed away ahead of him. Although confused, Damien brushed it off and continued his journey to school. Upon arrival, he attempted to engage with his classmates, hoping to get some recognition after winning the recent game of high tower. Unfortunately, they still showed no interest in him, leaving Damien feeling sad. As he made his way to his classroom,
To Damien's delight, Mr. Bloomberg, the substitute teacher, returned to the class that day. Damien already felt a special connection with Mr. Bloomberg, as he was the only person who made him feel valued. As Mr. Bloomberg entered the room, Damien noticed his gaze fixed directly on him, reinforcing his belief that he was Mr. Bloomberg's favorite. The day began with Mr. Bloomberg deciding to show a documentary about deer, which seemed ironic given Damien's obsession with deer. As the video played, Mr. Bloomberg went over to shut off the lights, so the class could see the video better, and only five minutes in, Damien was completely captivated. Mr. Bloomberg chose to sit among the students and took a seat beside Damien. They exchanged a fist bump, making Damien feel quite cool. Glued to the screen, Damien eagerly absorbed new information about deer for thirty minutes. He learned about their diet, natural habitats, and peculiar behaviors. However, Damien began to feel uneasy when he noticed Mr. Bloomberg staring intently at him, breathing heavily. Despite shifting his position, Mr. Bloomberg continued to gaze at Damien. After an hour, the documentary concluded, and Mr. Bloomberg turned off the video. He then asked the class what they had learned. Damien eagerly raised his hand and shared his newfound knowledge about deer's exceptional sense of smell. While the rest of the class seemed disinterested, Damien remained captivated by the subject. As part of an activity, Mr. Bloomberg asked the students to draw something meaningful to them. While others drew their families, pets, or favorite TV shows, Damien chose to draw a smiling deer, specifically the one he had given a band-aid. Mr. Bloomberg walked around to observe the students' drawings and paused when he reached Damien's artwork. Damien continued to draw, sensing Mr. Bloomberg's presence nearby. This made him feel uneasy, so he decided to be friendly and greet him. However, when he looked up, he saw Mr. Bloomberg staring at him instead of his drawing, and he noticed that Mr. Bloomberg was sweating profusely. Damien was confused by his behavior, but then Mr. Bloomberg suddenly snapped out of it and complemented Damien on his drawing. Although Damien was happy to receive the praise, he still felt a bit creeped out by Mr. Bloomberg's actions.
After school ended and the other students left, Damien observed that Mr. Bloomberg seemed to be in a rush to go somewhere. Despite this, Damien didn't pay much attention and proceeded to go back to the woods. On his way, he noticed an unfamiliar man entering his home, which puzzled him. He wondered if the man was a friend of his parents. Ignoring the situation, Damien continued towards the woods, where he hoped to check on the deer he had previously encountered. As he walked through the woods, he noticed tire tracks on the ground, likely belonging to whoever lived near the shack he had seen before. However, Damien didn't care about the car, his main concern was the well-being of the deer he believed he had saved. He hurried through the woods, bypassing the usual admiration of nature, and solely focused on finding the deer. Unfortunately, when he finally reached the spot, the deer was nowhere to be found, leaving Damien feeling disappointed. He decided to head home, feeling upset about missing the opportunity to see the deer once again.
Unknowingly to him, a mysterious man residing in the shack had been observing Damien. Upon reaching the front of his house, Damien noticed two unfamiliar men exiting his home. One of them was adjusting his belt, leading Damien to think, "Wow, Mommy and Daddy must be popular." The men both smirked at Damien, Damien thinking they were being friendly Damien returned their smirks with a smile. Inside the house, Damien's father sat on the couch, counting a lot of money, while his mother sat beside him, appearing visibly distressed. Concerned, Damien asked him
"Are you okay Mommy?"But she responded with a blank stare. Damien knew something was wrong, but he also knew he probably couldn't do anything about it. Damien decided to just grab a snack and go straight to his room. As he went up the stairs, his mother watched him with tear-filled eyes. In his room, Damien pondered about the well-being of the deer he had helped and eagerly thought about visiting it again the next day after school. He finished his snack and quickly fell asleep, ready for the adventures that awaited him.
Upon waking up, he feels a surge of excitement at the possibility of encountering the deer once again. However, before he can pursue this thought, he must prepare for school. After getting ready, he goes down the stairs and notices his mother still awake, sitting in the same spot as she did the previous day. He had observed his father sleeping on the couch with a white powdery substance under his nose again. His mother had been staring at him, so he waved goodbye to her. Just as Damien reached the door, his mother tried to speak to him," Damien, I…" but abruptly stopped mid-sentence. Confused, Damien left for school, unaware that his mother began to cry as soon as he departed.
During his walk to school, Damien's thoughts were consumed by the desire to return to the woods and potentially encounter the deer. As he entered the school, he proceeded directly to his classroom and took his seat, ready to begin the day. To his disappointment, his regular teacher had returned, explaining his recent absence due to illness. Although Damien was slightly disappointed, he couldn't help but recall the peculiar behavior of Mr. Bloomberg the day before. Throughout the lesson, Damien struggled to pay attention, eagerly awaiting the end of the school day.
Damien's artistic expression uniquely captured his after-school activities. Through his drawing, he depicted himself surrounded by nature, including trees, plants, flowers, and various animals. However, the most significant element of his artwork was the depiction of a deer, standing beside him with both of them smiling. Damien was so engaged in his drawing that he lost track of time, only realizing that the bell had already rung. Hastily adding a few finishing touches, he handed it to his teacher and hurriedly left the classroom, eager to head to the woods and see if the deer would return.
As Damien dashed down the street towards the woods, his excitement almost caused him to stumble. However, he quickly regained his balance and continued running. Passing by his home, he noticed a line of five men outside, but he paid no attention to them, focused solely on reaching the woods. Finally reaching his destination, Damien lost his stamina, forcing him to take a break and appreciate the beauty around him. He admired the vibrant flowers, unable to resist their enticing fragrance. The melodious chirping of birds and the presence of smaller animals like rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and badgers further enhanced his experience.
Venturing deeper into the woods, Damien's anticipation grew as he spotted a majestic set of antlers in the distance. Excitedly, he thought to himself that he had finally arrived on time. As he approached, he noticed that the deer's head bore a bandaid, instantly recognizing it as the same deer he had previously encountered. Filled with joy and anticipation, Damien eagerly approached the deer, only to realize that something was off... The deer's body appeared different, smaller, and stubbier, and its posture seemed unnatural. Upon closer inspection, Damien realized that the deer was breathing very intensely and its appearance was almost as if it was a man in a deer's costume but Damien knew it looked too realistic to be that… right?
The odor emitted by the deer resembled that of decaying flesh. Upon closer inspection, Damien noticed small white worms wriggling inside the deer's eyes. Although unsettled by its appearance, Damien was preoccupied with his thoughts and failed to realize that the deer had stopped breathing. Nervously, he reached out his hand and asked if the deer was alright. To his surprise, the deer stood up on its hind legs, revealing a long stitched line running down its body. This terrifying sight left Damien frozen in shock as he and the deer locked eyes for a brief moment. Suddenly, the deer struck Damien with its hoof, rendering him unconscious.
Several hours had passed, and Damien's mother grew increasingly worried about Damien's whereabouts. Normally, Damien would have returned home earlier. Concerned, she approached
his father and expressed her worry. In response, the father dismissed her concerns, suggesting that Damien would eventually come back. This prompted the mother to raise her voice, saying "DAMIEN IS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD HE SHOULDN'T BE OUT THIS LATE!!!". In a fit of anger, the father struck her and responded," WHO THE HELL ARE YOU YELLING AT, and since when did you ever start giving a shit." The mother's tears flowed as she cradled her face, the place where he had struck her. Meanwhile, Damien regained consciousness, only to find himself in a dimly lit basement. His gaze shifted to the left, where he noticed a deer skeleton with its antlers removed. This sight filled Damien with terror, and he attempted to escape, unaware that he was chained down. Damien also realized that he had been stripped down to his underwear. Confusion overwhelmed him as he struggled to recall the events leading up to this moment. Suddenly, a man descended the stairs, his face obscured from Damien's view. As the man reached the bottom, Damien's horror intensified. The man had the head of a deer. Damien's eyes fixated on a bandaid on the side of the deer's head, confirming that it was the same deer he had encountered before. In a state of shock, Damien found himself speechless. The deer man broke the silence," Oh you're finally awake, I was starting to get quite impatient. Damien recognized the deer man's voice, but couldn't quite put a finger on who it could be. The deer man spoke again," I've been patiently waiting for this golden opportunity, it's a shame honestly I really thought you had quite the potential, Damien." Damien, confused and frightened, as to how he knew his name and had no idea what fate awaited him. The deer man spoke once more," I know you felt so alone and unloved by everyone but don't worry Damien because YOU'LL NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN". Overwhelmed with hopelessness and fear, Damien screamed for help, but the deer man assured him "there's no point in screaming Damien, no one is going to hear you this far out in the woods." Despite this, Damien continued to scream at the top of his lungs, refusing to give up. The deer man goes "oh well scream you want, that will just make this more entertaining".Damien's screams echoed throughout the woods, but not a single person heard. The horrifying acts being inflicted upon Damien remained unknown to the world. After four agonizing hours, Damien's mother grew increasingly worried about his whereabouts.
Determined to find him, she gathered supplies and prepared to leave, while her husband slept. However, as she reached for the doorknob, her husband abruptly woke up and confronted her, "HEY!! WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING." the mother responded, "I'm going TO FIND OUR SON." The man replied, "WHO CARES ABOUT THE LITTLE SHIT HE'LL COME BACK ONCE HE'S HUNGRY, plus you have a job to do." Despite his objections, the mother quickly tried to leave, causing the father to run after her. As she tried to open the door the father grabbed her arm and said "Oh I don't think so."
The mother grabbed a knife from her pocket and in defense she began stabbing her husband multiple times, leaving him shocked but his emotions quickly shifted to anger as he tried to throw a punch at her but stopped midway and passed out due to blood loss. Overwhelmed by her actions, she cried because there was a point when the father was a good man, She looked back on those memories and soon felt guilty but she had to flee from the house, vowing never to return, and embarked on a relentless search for Damien, which spanned days, to weeks, and even years, leaving her with the haunting question: where is Damien?
Thank you for reading
By Dami