Chapter 8: Dinner with the Sawyers

Bound and Helpless

Alex's head throbbed. A dull, persistent pain pulsed at the back of his skull, making it hard to think. His arms were tied behind the chair, rope digging into his wrists. His legs, too, were bound at the ankles.

The room was dim, lit only by the flickering glow of an oil lamp on the dining table.

And surrounding him—the Sawyers.

Drayton Sawyer, the self-proclaimed head of the family, stood at the table's center, holding a rusty butcher's knife. His wiry frame was hidden beneath his dirty apron, his face twisted in an amused smirk.

To his left, Leatherface loomed like a shadow, his massive form barely fitting in the cramped dining space. The mask of stitched-together human skin stretched across his face, his beady eyes locked onto Alex.

And then there was the Hitchhiker, the wild-eyed lunatic who had attacked them earlier that day. He grinned, his stained teeth showing as he twirled a straight razor between his fingers.

And beside him—

Sally.

She was gagged and tied to a chair, her blue eyes wide with terror, her chest heaving as she struggled.

Alex clenched his fists.

Think. There has to be a way out of this.

"Well, look at that," Drayton mused, pacing around the table. "You two made it all the way here. That's real lucky of ya."

"Lucky?" The Hitchhiker giggled, running his razor along the edge of the table. "I say it's fate! Meant to be!"

Leatherface let out a low, guttural grunt, his gloved fingers twitching near the chainsaw resting against the floor.

Drayton shook his head. "No need for that just yet, boy. We gotta have dinner first."

He turned to Alex, his smile widening. "Now, son, you gonna eat, or we gotta make ya?"

Alex's stomach twisted as he glanced down at the plate in front of him.

Meat.

Cooked. Seasoned. Smothered in gravy.

But he knew what it really was.

His mouth went dry.

There was no way in hell he was eating that.

Side Quest: Play Along

Task: Convince the Sawyers you're cooperating.

Reward: +1 Charisma

Alex forced a nervous chuckle. "Y-you know, I'm not really hungry…"

The room went silent.

Drayton's smile faltered.

The Hitchhiker stopped giggling.

Leatherface's grip tightened on the arms of his chair.

For a second, Alex thought he had screwed up.

Then Drayton let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Picky eater, huh? You city folk never appreciate a good home-cooked meal."

Alex swallowed hard.

"Well, alright then," Drayton said, wiping his hands on his apron. "I reckon we oughta get to the main event."

Alex's blood ran cold.

Main event?

Before he could react, Drayton turned toward the Hitchhiker and said two words that made his stomach drop—

"Go get Grandpa."

The Horror Upstairs

Alex's pulse pounded in his ears.

Sally let out a muffled whimper, thrashing against the ropes.

The Hitchhiker let out an excited giggle, darting up the creaky wooden stairs.

Alex had seen the movie.

He knew what was coming.

And it wasn't good.

Minutes later, the Hitchhiker came back, dragging something behind him.

A frail, withered old man sat slumped in a wheelchair, his skin paper-thin and gray, his eyes clouded and lifeless.

Grandpa Sawyer.

Drayton clapped his hands together. "Now, now, let's make this real traditional-like." He motioned to Sally. "Bring her here."

Leatherface moved fast, lifting Sally from her chair like she weighed nothing. She screamed into her gag, her eyes filled with pure terror.

Alex's mind raced.

He had to stop this.

"Wait!" Alex shouted. "You—you don't have to do this!"

Drayton turned to him, amused. "Oh? And why's that?"

Alex's brain scrambled for a lie—anything to stall.

Side Quest: Distract the Sawyers

Task: Stall for time.

Reward: +1 Intelligence

"I—I'm more useful alive," Alex blurted.

Drayton raised an eyebrow. "That so?"

Alex nodded quickly, forcing his voice to stay steady. "Think about it. You kill me now, and that's it. But if you keep me around… I can help. I can bring more people here. People you can actually eat."

The Hitchhiker cackled. "Ohh, I like that idea!"

Drayton hummed, rubbing his chin.

For a second, Alex thought it had worked.

Then Drayton smirked. "Nice try, boy. But we ain't that stupid."

Alex's stomach dropped.

Drayton turned back to Leatherface. "Go on now, hold her steady."

Sally thrashed, her muffled screams growing louder.

The Hitchhiker placed a rusty hammer in Grandpa's trembling hands.

Alex knew what came next.

Grandpa—barely able to move, barely alive—was about to bludgeon Sally to death.

Leatherface held her still.

The Hitchhiker guided Grandpa's hand.

Drayton leaned in, grinning ear to ear.

And then—

The lights flickered.

The entire room shuddered.

Alex's breath hitched.

Something felt wrong.

Even the Sawyers paused, their grins fading.

The air grew cold.

Then—

A sound.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It came from the hallway.

Slow. Methodical.

Footsteps.

But not from Leatherface.

Not from the Hitchhiker.

And not from Drayton.

Alex's pulse spiked.

Something else was here.

The Sawyers turned toward the hallway, their expressions shifting from amusement to confusion.

Then the footsteps stopped.

Silence.

Then—

BANG!

Something slammed against the wall, so hard the entire house shook.

Sally let out a muffled scream.

Leatherface's eyes darted toward the noise.

The Hitchhiker twitched, gripping his razor.

Even Drayton looked unnerved.

For the first time since he had arrived, Alex saw something he never expected to see in the Sawyers.

Fear.

Drayton swallowed hard. "What in the hell was that?"

Nobody answered.

The air grew colder.

The shadows in the hallway seemed to shift, like something was moving within them.

Then—

A voice.

Raspy. Inhuman.

Whispering.

Alex couldn't understand the words.

But whatever it was—

It wasn't human.

The Sawyers weren't alone anymore.

And neither was he.

To Be Continued…