THE NOTHINGS ™
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They took my son….. Three years ago, three years and 28 days. He was only six. We were sitting at the park - he and I. Well, I was sitting and he was swinging on the swings. I remember it very clearly - his brown hair flopping in the wind, the lower parts of his legs pumping back and forth making the swing go higher and higher. A flock of geese were flying overhead - heading south for the winter. But, it was a very mild day - warm, but not too hot. The sun was clear in the sky - few clouds. A few other children with parents, the kids running while the parents looked on. A beautiful day…… Until they started talking to me.

I heard their voices - very faint. Whispering sweet nothings in my ears. Like wisps of pollen in the wind, brushing against your face. I looked around, but saw nothing. It sounded like they were whispering my son’s name. “Nolan……Nolan……Nolan.” Very soft, like a mother’s call from a distant room. But, there were many voices…… Some muffled, some distinct. There was incoherent noise in the call, also. Sort of like animal sounds - and muted breath sounds. At first, I felt rattled. Where was the sound coming from? It seemed to come from nowhere, and everywhere - from behind me and in front. But, there was no one there. As I listened, I became lulled by the whisper - they were making me sleepy so they could steal my son! I felt dizzy - and my eyes fluttered open and closed. One might have thought I was having a seizure - the sound had such an influence.

My brain was still cognizant of my son - he was swinging merrily. But, as my eyes fluttered the dizziness must have overtaken me. I remember swooning, and falling over for a moment. I put my arms out to lift myself up - I remember feeling the hard ground - and I looked over to make sure my son was okay - he was gone. The swing was still swinging, just as if he were still there. I began to panic - the voices were still calling. They had shifted from intoning my son’s name to what sounded like howls from monkeys - but from a great distance. The dizziness was still there, but I managed to get to my feet and stagger to the swing set. I tried to call his name, but I was unable to speak. It was like my mouth wouldn’t work - I was trying to speak but nothing was coming out. I frantically began to search - falling over once or twice - but he was nowhere to be found. My heart leapt up to my throat. My stomach churned with nausea. Where is he? Who is talking in my ear? What is going on? Suddenly, there was intense pain in my head - and I collapsed.

My wife left me within 6 months. I lost my job. The police were unable to find any clues to the kidnapping. I kept telling them that it was the voices that must have taken him - but this led them to suspect me - and led to my incarceration in this institution.

But, I know they took him - they still speak with me. They taunt me. “You must dwell within your mind!” they say. “He’s here!” they say. “Find him!” they say. They whisper sweet nothings………