by Jim Ody
“I’m not a kid any longer, Dad. I know what was happening. Mum wonders why that woman won’t speak to her any longer. I’m the one left with the secret, and it’s not fair. It’s not fair! I don’t give a shit about ex-wives or whatever!” He turned away, and Carl was sure his son was close to tears.
“I know, son. I know and I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you, okay? When you’re older.”
“How?” Marshall spat back. “How could you possibly?”
“Just wait and see, yeah? Give your old man some credit. I know what this must be like, honestly I do.”
Silence fell upon them both.
Carl was searching for some words of comfort, or perhaps even something of common ground to make them smile. A list in his mind of things moved like he was swiping his finger over his mobile phone screen.
But there was nothing.
Not one thing that seemed relevant any more.
Was this what it had come to? Was it his fault the way his life had spiralled out of control? Or was it since Marshall left for university?
“You can go now,” Marshall said quietly, not looking up.
Carl nodded even though he knew his son didn’t see it.
He walked to the door and was just about to close it when he said. “Let’s do something, Marsh? Just you and me? What d’you say?”
Marshall looked up, his face softened slightly before he shrugged. Carl took that as a positive. It was all he had, and he didn’t want to push things any further.
“Wonderful,” was all he said as he closed the door behind him, and made his way to his bedroom.
He stood at the double doors of his wardrobe. The contents packed with expensive Middle-class brands. They were expensive and good quality. They would serve to both look smart and business-like, whilst completely acceptable for a night out.
He went to the box sitting innocently in the dark recesses of wardrobe and opened it up. He felt around inside but it was empty.
He was sure they were there before.
It meant he’d have to now buy some.
He pulled out his phone and hovered over the name with his thumb. Could he?
He decided against it, put his phone away, grabbed a shirt, and thought about the best place to buy condoms in a rural village.
Little Miss Evil
Chapter 19 - Jenny
T hey grabbed their paper bags of food and walked out the back of the building. There was an adventure playground there and a sprinkling of picnic benches. It was a nice evening, so it seemed only right to enjoy it outside.
A handful of parents sat there either looking bored or else on edge watching their little darlings enjoy being children – which meant running into each other, slipping over, and getting stuck at the highest points of the climbing frame.
It was again typical how it worked out, Jenny thought. The tables were ideally for four people, and whilst you could have six, two were more than likely perched on the edge. So, there was the lover’s table of Brett and Meg, and Adam and Nat, then Jenny sat with Max at another table next to them.
“You’re stuck with me again,” Max said grabbing his two burgers.
“And you’re stuck with me,” she agreed.
“I suppose we’d better get used to it, huh?” It was hard to tell whether or not he was bothered. At that point he was wrestling the burger from its grease-proof paper like he was in some competition. If he had been, Jenny thought, he’d be pretty good.
“So, tell me,” she said leaning in slightly. “What are your mates like really? Are they going to hurt my friends?”
“What physically?” He said taking a huge mouthful of his cheeseburger, and chewing frantically.
“God, no! Or are they?” She then added with a slight tease to her voice.
“What?! Oh, no! They’re not like that.”
She carefully unwrapped the burger she had. She was feeling a little better now, but the alcohol was still loosening up her tongue.
“So what are they like?” She pressed on.
Max sighed. He was trying to eat, and her talk seemed to be stalling him. “They’re good guys,” he said and took another huge bite. It looked like the next bite would finish it.
“But?” She pushed on. She glanced over at them all. They were all lost in their own little world of flirting.
Max huffed which almost shot out some half-chewed meat in her direction. “But nothing. Adam is the quiet type. He sort of just goes along and the women think he’s sexy. Brett is the loudmouth. He has this way of getting girls.” He swallowed, and turned to her. “It’s like, at first they think he’s this typical guy. You know, all talk and shit, then he shows his gentleman side and they fall for it.”
“So it’s an act?” She was still pushing, and she wasn’t sure why. But it was hard work. They were big girls who could look after themselves – but you just never knew, did you?
“Nah, it’s just the way he is. He’s got charisma. He was well educated, but sometimes I think he wishes he was more lower-class.”
“Really?” she smiled. They were basically clever public-schoolboys trying to be ruffians.
Jenny took a careful and small, dainty bite from her burger. Max was demolishing his second. If she wasn’t careful, he’d snatch the remainder of her burger too.
She looked at her phone.
She had a message.
You look very nice x
She sat up straight and looked around. Her heart was beating fast. Was he here?
And then she thought about Marshall, but quickly dismissed him. So what? She’d talked to him for a few minutes. It’s not like they were meeting for a date.
She quickly typed back a response.
Where are you? x
Max had finished his burger. His eyes were looking at her with hunger. But he wasn’t actually looking at her, his eyes had fallen to the remainder of her burger.
“You finishing that?” he said.
“What? Oh,” she said and handed it to him. She had some fries, too, not that she’d eat many. Her appetite was suddenly gone as her stomach was now swimming.
The campsite. Do you want to meet me? x
She didn’t realise a huge smile had appeared on her face until she was aware of giggling, and looked up to find the residents of Lover’s table looking at her.
“You showing her your hotdog, Max-Stallion?”
Max rolled his eyes. “I didn’t do a thing.”
“What’s going on?” Nat asked.
“Nothing,” Jenny said but couldn’t keep her eyes off her phone.
Of course. When? X she typed.
She watched the three dots moving, suggesting that a response was being typed, when Nat came over.
“I need the toilet, you coming, Jen?”
“Sure,” Jenny said as she saw the response.
Meet me at cabin 5 in an hour xx
C U then xxx
“Spill the beans, Jenny-Wren!” Nat asked leaning into her, and putting an arm over her shoulder.
“I’ve got a bit of a confession,” she began, and that stopped Nat instantly in her tracks.
“What?” Nat’s face was slightly amused, and Jenny struggled to keep the grin away that was suddenly there.
“I sort of chose this place not because I stumbled on it, but because it was recommended to me…” she stopped and chewed her lip. She had already said too much to go back on the conversation, but she knew once Nat knew it would be huge. A massive thing out in the open.
But deep-down Jenny wanted Nat to know. She wanted her to realise she could do something a little bit risky.
“Go on,” Nat encouraged, and suddenly they were sitting on a bench, and Jenny was leaning into her friend, just in case the odd person around them suddenly became interested in the mutterings of two teenage girls.
“I met someone online…er, he’s a bit older…” Nat was nodding, holding Jenny’s hands in hers.
“Wow! How much older?”
Jenny shrugged
. “Not sure. Later forties, maybe?”
“Oh, mature. Picture?” Nat teased. “Name?”
Jenny suddenly looked at her phone as she tapped the screen and then scrolled. She handed it to Nat and looked proud.
“His name is Harry.”
“Wow!” Nat said again. “He’s gorgeous! Where d’you meet him? What’s he like?”
Jenny felt herself go red, as her eyes dropped down. “He’s great… he’s funny, and smart… he says these cute little things.”
“But I mean, you know,” Nat winked at her. “Kissing and stuff.”
Jenny felt herself gulp. She knew what Nat would say, even before Jenny gave her the opportunity.
“This will be the first time we’ve met in person,” she admitted to her friend, and quickly added, “But we’ve talked on the phone a bunch of times.”
Nat looked slightly concerned but then smiled to hide it.
“Let me meet him, too. You know, just so he knows we’re here and we’re looking after you.” Her words said with authority but motherly, the edges softened with love.
“I don’t know, Nat. It’s just that…”
Nat held up her hand. “I know. I know. I get it. But you just don’t know whether he’s some weirdo from the internet that meets women and murders them!”
Jenny gave her a look that tried to tell her she was being stupid, but deep down, whilst she didn’t want to admit it, she knew her friend was right.
“I guess so.”
“So where and when, Jenny-Wren?” Nat was all giggly again now.
“Cabin 5, in an hour!”
Nat’s eyes grew wide. “Ohhh! Let’s go now!”
“What?”
“He wants you there in an hour when he’s set things up. What if he’s laying rose petals on the bed, or lighting candles… or maybe getting into one of those gimp-suits!”
“Eugh!”
“Come on let’s go!”
Jenny turned back to where the others still sat. “What about your man?”
“I’ll just go and tell him we’ve got girlie stuff to do and we’ll meet up with them all a bit later. He’s a man, he’ll stick around.”
“Now you sound like Meg!”
Nat looked back. “Nah, Meg likes to play hard to get, but Adam knows he’s going to score tonight!”
Jenny felt herself redden again.
“What?” Nat grinned. “You need to lighten up. Especially if you’re going to sleep with your handsome man.”
“Oh, gosh, I’m not sure I can.”
Nat rolled her eyes. “You can. You pretty much just lie there and let them do all the work.”
Jenny felt herself panic. She thought they’d kiss and cuddle, but she was only seventeen! Would he really want to sleep with her?
“You look like you’re about go to your death rather than a night filled with passion!”
“It’s just…”
Nat cut in. “Relax. Do you need another drink?”
Did she? Had she had too much to drink? Jenny was suddenly confused. She was actually close to just running off to a safe place. Her anxiety levels were reaching their peak.
“Okay,” Nat said. “I’ll tell them we’re going off, then we’ll pop back for a quick shot at our cabin, and then sneak over to Mr. Smooth’s cabin. How does that sound?”
“Scary!”
Nat laughed, then said. “Wait here!”
Little Miss Evil
Chapter 20
S he paced the room once more. Circling around. Clockwise, then anti-clockwise, the direction irrelevant. Her little hands clenched into fists. Her teeth grinding inside a thirsty mouth.
She could feel it inside of her. The raging beast that needed to be satisfied. She knew that one day it might burst out of her chest. Long claws ripping it’s way free, and her expired shell discarded on the floor. Human clothes not even making it to the dirty hamper basket.
Or was it her all along? Was she the creature that she was quick to blame? This small creature that had evil flowing through her veins, the dark thoughts sparking directly from the devil’s mind.
She didn’t believe in God. Even at her body’s young age she had a strong opinion. Perhaps it was hers; perhaps it was coerced by others. Her mind was so much more mature. She couldn’t believe that a God would allow such atrocities of the world. However, these weren’t thoughts of a residing regret but said through a knowing smirk.
Who is going to save you now!
She stopped dead still and lay hands onto the coolness of the walls. Would this calm her down? Cool the beast for a little longer. She felt caged. She was caged. Ready to attack, she lay in wait until she was allowed to do what came so very naturally to her.
Somewhere she could hear the faraway sound of music playing. The dull thud of bass.
She could picture the smiling faces of people throwing their bodies around in a way that was supposed to be fun. She’d seen similar moves to those with slit throats, stumbling around to a silent music whilst a wonderful fountain of blood sprayed all around. Hands confused into either grabbing at the wound, or reaching out for help.
Now that was fun. Really great fun.
Deep inside she made a guttural growl. A feral creature held together with complete and utter evil.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
Let the games begin.
Little Miss Evil
Chapter 21 - Giles
H e had promised her he’d be good. But he was going to show her! Here they were away and what was happening? He was told to stay in the cabin whilst she went out for a few drinks. He’d heard it all before. She thought he was bloody simple, or summit.
She’d changed clothes again. She thought he hadn’t noticed when she came out of the bathroom wearing a tight top and no bra. It was disgusting.
“I’ll be back in an hour or so,” she’d said, keeping her back to him and walking out faster than he’d seen her move for a long time.
“Whatever,” he’d responded and flicked though a comic book. Thanks mum, I’ll just entertain myself, shall I?
She was pissed at him for making a mess at dinner. She reckoned he was showing up, or showing off – one of the two. He didn’t care. Maybe he was. Who cared?
He looked around the cabin. Two beds, a small kitchen area and a bathroom. What the hell was he supposed to do? Did his mum really think he was going to go to sleep early?
He looked out of the window. Then as he saw people, he turned off the cabin lights so they couldn’t see him.
This held his interest for less than five minutes. Everyone else seemed to be heading off for some fun, and here he was like some little mummy’s boy staying at the cabin.
Sod that! he thought, and walked out of the door. The key at first swinging in his hand before he slipped it into the front of his jean’s pocket.
To the right he saw the cabins lead off into the darkness. Only a single swinging light from an old wire gave off light.
He followed the path up the slight incline. The cabin at the end of the woods was dark. It was missing a number. The wood was old and marked.
He would never admit it to anyone else, but he was actually scared. He swore he could smell blood. The thick metallic whiff floating in the air.
He heard a branch snap. His head whipped towards the sound, but the woods were dark as the night stole away any light.
Maybe he’d read too many comic books, or watched too many horror movies. Instantly, he hated the thought. It was something his mum would say.
He gritted his teeth and walked around to the doorway. It was facing out towards the darkness.
Of course it was.
There was a porch and a door with four dirty glass panes.
Slowly, and carefully, Giles cupped his hands and looked through the glass. He strained his eyes but it was useless. Dark on dark. He reached into his pocket and got out his phone. He slid his finger over the screen, pulled down from the top and tapped the torch icon.
The light explode
d and made him jump. He felt stupid. What did he think was going to happen?
He lifted it up and jumped as the light hit the glass and shone back. He saw his reflection silhouetted there.
Slowly and careful not to mist the glass, he looked inside.
Everything looked old. This could be one of those boring museums his mum insisted he went to. The sort where they were set up the way things were years ago. Life-like dummies to scare the babies.
He looked carefully.
This one had a mat that had something dark on it.
It was blood!
And then a face exploded into view.
Giles screamed – not a little shriek – but a full-on scream-queen from the movies! He ran as fast as his legs would take him. He dared not look back as he ran towards people.
And that’s when he ran straight into a guy holding a bunch of cheap flowers.
They were both knocked off their feet.
“What the fuck!” the guy said. He was looking at the flowers now splayed out on the floor.
“Sorry, man. I-I er,” slowly Giles managed to compose himself.
“You what? Lost your mommy?” the guy said in a snide voice that turned slightly American with the last word.
“No.. I…” Giles was stuttering. He hated being caught on the hop like this. “I was with some girl, wasn’t I? Her boyfriend turned up!”
The guy smiled at that. He got to his feet. “Really? You sure you weren’t peeking through windows?”
Giles’s stomach sank. How did he know? “No, I… of course not… Why would I?”
“Haha! I get it,” the guy winked. He was a lot taller than Giles had expected when they were both sat on their butts a minute ago. “I was your age once?”
“Really?” Giles said, trying to save face.
“Cheeky sod! Now, go on and peek elsewhere! You don’t want to see me naked, do you!”
“You’re gross, man!” The guy turned and walked towards cabin number 5.
Grinning Giles shouted, “Paedo!” and ran off.
Little Miss Evil
Chapter 22 - Jenny
J enny and Nat were back at their cabin. Jenny was still wondering whether another shot was a good idea or not, but Nat was dismissing any argument against, suggesting that more alcohol would give her the clarity she needed. Jenny thought perhaps the opposite was more the case but continued anyway.