Authors: Kevin Anthony
She rushed after him, Evan already halfway upstairs. “I said get out of my home.”
“
I am your family,” Evan roared from the top of the stairwell.
The house rumbled and it felt as if the home jumped from the surface and came crashing back down. The flat screen television dropped from the wall, all the dishware in the kitchen came clattering from the cabinets to the floor and Sidnee nearly lost balance, using the wall as support. A plank from the wall she fell against came down and whacked her on top of her head. Sidnee cried out as she threw her arms over her head for cover, a pulsing headache already present.
Levi approached her from behind. “I’m sure we all definitely felt that.”
Evan chuckled and headed to his bedroom.
Sidnee slapped Levi against his chest. “You need to do your job,” She cried out.
“
I’ve felt the house’s presence, but I still can’t speak to it. It’s very guarded.”
“
If you don’t fix my house soon I’ll fire you and hire a real speaker.”
Levi tightened his lips and rested his hand on Sidnee’s shoulder. “Why are you lashing out at me?”
She slapped his arm away and started for the door. Sidnee began feeling a bit lightheaded and was having difficulty walking steady. She reached for the doorknob, seeing double. After a short struggle, Sidnee managed to grab the doorknob, open the door and rushed to the outside. She immediately bumped into Bala who was standing on her porch.
Bala reached for Sidnee’s forehead. “There’s a trail of blood coming from your head.”
Sidnee jerked away. “Don’t touch me.”
“
Sorry, relax. I was just stopping by to invite you over for homemade margaritas.”
Sidnee took a deep breath, still woozy. “Sorry.”
“
Are you okay?”
“
No, I think I can actually use some margaritas and to spend the night at your house.”
Bala pointed at Sidnee’s door. “What’s going on inside yours?”
“
Madness.”
Bala settled for the vague answer, just glad to have a drinking partner this evening. She escorted Sidnee next-door to her home, grabbed her warm towel and a margarita. Sidnee felt drained and defeated and hoped this drink would help her forget about home problems and family issues momentarily.
Chapter 20 - Joy
Rubble had remained mute about the identity of the serial-slasher so to create some kind of sense of security in his apartment; Ford brought some door alarms from an electronic shop. The moment he was finished installing the hand size devices, there was a knock on his door. He checked the peephole to discover Lu.
He opened the door. “Lu, what’s going on?”
She hunched her shoulders and softly let out. “Hi Ford.”
Ford wasn’t used to her gloom demeanor or lack of Jace. “Are you okay?”
“
No.”
“
Is Jace okay?”
A tear streamed down her paler than usual face. “I don’t know what that monster is up too.”
Ford felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The serial-slasher hadn’t struck. “Monster?”
She grabbed Ford’s hand and dragged him from the house. “I need you to come with me.”
She managed to get him outside. Ford quickly locked the door. “Where exactly?”
“
Ford please, I’m hurt. I just need you to be with me.”
He followed her to her car. “I need to know where we’re going.”
“
Why Ford? Do you think I’m the serial-slasher? Did you forget we’re both suspects,” She shouted.
“
I just want to know where I’m going, that’s all.”
She stood at the driver’s door. “If you don’t get in I’ll kill myself,” She said as she slammed her fist on the car.
He approached the passenger’s side. “Are you that upset?”
“
You have no idea.”
Lu unlocked the doors and they both entered the dingy, white car. The entire drive she remained silent and fought back tears. Ford knew Lu for a long time, but not well. He wondered if he was on the way to his grave. Ford’s speculation stopped as she brought the car to a stop.
He peered outside his window to discover a row of houses. “Where are we?”
Lu pointed forward. “Do you see the yellow home two houses down?”
It was a standard home, one story, a kept lawn and blue car parked out front. “Yeah.”
“
That’s Jace’s house.”
“
You don’t want to move in with him?” He eyed the other homes. “It’s a nice neighborhood.”
“
The neighborhood isn’t the problem Ford.”
He shrugged. “I don’t understand. I’ve seen more tears than I’ve heard words, Lu.”
“
I’m not a crier. I feel broken.”
He wanted to help her, but still lacked a problem to solve. “I’m going to walk home Lu.”
She grabbed at his forearm, squeezing. “Please don’t leave me.”
“
I will if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”
“
Jace has called off our engagement,” Lu whimpered out. “It’s over.”
Ford knew a hug or any of his words would not solve her problem. She sniffled as she sat there staring at him.
“
What happened?”
“
He said I was turning him into a monster,” Lu said. “He’s a true reformed slasher.”
“
Well, it’s not like you were making him slash.”
“
He claimed that I was driving him to that point, attacking Hank was the supposed start.”
Ford searched for the appropriate words for the moment. “It’s horrible.”
“
Of course it is,” She shouted at him. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“
I’m sorry, don’t yell at me. Lu, I’m not an expert in this field.”
“
Me either,” She motioned at her teary eyes. “I’m a mess, look at me.”
“
I think you’re heartbroken.”
She dug under her seat and revealed a knife. “I need to stab something.”
Ford backed away as far as possible. “It better not be me.”
“
You’re my friend Ford. Why would I do that?” She put the knife away. “No, no stabbing. I need some fresh air.”
He lowered the passenger’s window. “It’s a good thing we’re already outside.”
She cranked up the car and sped off. “No, I need fresher air.”
Lu drove away from the neighborhood and they arrived at Jackson Park. The playground area was empty and a few joggers were starting to head home before dark. Lu and Ford made their way to the center of the park and took a seat against the statue of the man the park was named after.
Ford and Lu sat side-by-side near the stone structure. She grabbed his right hand and smirked.
He glanced over at her. “What is it?”
“
Your hand is healed.”
He wiggled his fingers. “Yeah, I took the wrapping off a day ago.”
“
I lost my ring and you lost your wrapping.”
He discreetly slipped his hand away. “Yeah I guess.”
“
May I ask you something Ford?”
“
Go ahead.”
“
After your first slashing, what did you do?”
“
I went home to do my homework and cried until I fell asleep.”
“
Cried about what?”
“
I just slashed two people. The guilt drove me insane.”
She leaned back against the legs of the statue, staring up at the night sky. “This is the very same park that my first slashing took place.” She pointed out at the trees that surrounded the park. “I was hiding in some bushes. It was late and a woman was walking her dog and it ran off. The moment she came close enough I stabbed the woman in her stomach. I remember her cute little poodle barking constantly. I kicked the dog, dragged my victim’s body deep into the woods and took the happiest stroll I’ve ever had back home. There was no guilt, just joy.” She pointed at a small brick building that contained a set of bathrooms and vending room. “That’s where I washed her blood from my hands. The water was freezing that night.”
“
So you never experience guilt?”
“
A little, but I get over it. The joy outweighs the guilt.”
“
You're saying no matter the victim, your emotion afterwards is no different?”
She softly laughed. “Nope, they’re all cushions for my blade.”
“
I don’t see it that way.”
“
I’m a slasher and I was born to slash.”
Ford considered slashers and killers two different types of persons. Killers made it a choice to harm others, slashers had to constantly battle the urge or cave to it. Lu seemed to have not participated in the battle of deciding to slash and simply just killed because it brought her joy. Ford started to suggest it was time to leave until he noticed a dark figure approaching them, carrying a knife. The stranger in black wore a dark ski mask.
Ford stood. “It’s him.”
Lu focused on the approaching armed stranger. “Who?”
“
The serial-slasher.”
A snarling Lu stood and shouted, “You sick asshole,” She shouted toward the stranger in black.
The serial-slasher simply waved as he continued toward them.
“
Lu, we’re going to turn around, head for the woods and split up.”
“
How far do we run?”
“
Once we reach the woods, sing your complete alphabets then make a detour to the car.”
“
I hate all of this. I’m not used to being the victim”
“
And you’ll never be,” He quickly responded. “Now run!”
The slashers ran the opposite direction of the serial-slasher. Ford sung his alphabets and took the planned detour back to the car. The slasher slapped branches from the many trees in his path as he headed to the parking lot. Ford arrived to the car to notice Lu wasn’t there. He yanked at the handles of her car doors, discovering they all were locked. He had to get inside and retrieve her hidden knife.
“
Ford,” He heard Lu shout from over his shoulder.
He spun around to discover Lu sprinting towards him. The serial-slasher emerged from the woods after her. Ford pointed to over her shoulder, prompting Lu to spin around. The serial-slasher came to a quick stop and hurled the knife at her. It drove deep into her chest and Lu fell backwards to the ground. Ford made decisive steps towards her, but as the serial-slasher yanked the bloody knife from her chest, he turned away and fled.
A grocery store was the place nearest to the park. Ford headed inside the store for safety. He slowed his pace and flashed a phony smile at the cashier who greeted him. He headed down the beverage aisle. Ford grabbed the first bottle of wine he saw, returned to the checkout line and paid for it. He just witnessed a friend be slashed and the only thing he could do was drink warm red wine in the parking lot of a grocery store.
Ford continued walking and drinking, his mind and body in different places. His body was exhausted but apparently his mind had somewhere to be. The slasher was so out of it that he crossed a busy street while the light was on green. He returned to reality as he realized that the red wine he drank was all gone. Ford took in his surroundings to learn that he managed to walk all the way to Jace’s house. Ford dropped the bottle of wine to Jace’s lawn, approached his door and knocked.
A panting Jace answered the door. “Are you here to talk about her?”
Ford nodded.
Jace stepped aside. “I had to end it. She was changing me. I accepted her flaws, even her interesting in slashing.”
There was barely any furniture inside his home. A weight bench was placed in the center of his living room and a basketball game played on his mounted television. The table in his kitchen was crowded with empty beer bottles and his back patio door was open. Jace took a seat on his weight bench and slipped off the lifting gloves he wore.
“
I was becoming violent again.” He nodded outback. “Do you think I’m a bad person for putting my sanity first?”
Ford ignored the question. “She’s gone.”
“
Yes, she’s out of my life. I loved her but I can’t be with a slasher who’s still actively slashing and refuses to stop.”
“
No,” A frustrated Ford shouted. “She’s dead.”
Jace smiled then it quickly faded as his mind caught up with the words he heard.
“
Jace, Lu is dead.” A woozy Ford paused. “The serial-slasher…he killed her.”
Jace lay back on his bench and aggressively pumped the weights. “I hate this shit!”
Ford leaned over and vomited up the bottle of wine.