by Joe Zito
Devin couldn’t help but laugh just a little because Allison did smell like the back of Willie Nelson’s tour bus, but his smile faded when he looked at her and saw her staring out past his car with a blank expression.
“Allison, are you all right?”
“She’s probably stoned out of her mind Devin, let’s go!” Candice said.
“I thought I saw something.” Allison said, but more to herself than Devin.
“What’s wrong Allis….”
And then Devin heard the sound of footsteps from somewhere outside. It sounded like running. Allison jumped back from the car and gasped. Devin was about to ask her what the hell she was doing and then he saw a plain white face rushing towards him in his rearview mirror.
There was a five second span between Allison jumping away from his Camaro and him seeing the white face running up to him in his mirror. The two events happened so fast that Devin didn’t have time to think. The person in the white mask thrust a ball bat into Allison’s stomach sending her backwards to the ground. Candice had snapped her lipstick case shut just as Allison hit the ground. Candice was about to make another remark when she heard the sound of feet running up the trunk of the Camaro and then stomping on the roof.
“What the hell?” Russ yelled. But he was cut off when a voice which Devin recognized as female barked into the open driver’s side window. “Get out of the car!”
The white masked fiend pulled Devin by his hair, dragging him out of the car and onto the ground.
Then, one of the fiends that was jumping on the roof jumped down onto the hood. They began taunting Russ, April and Candice who were trapped by the white masked terrorizers. They had no idea they were being ambushed by the Gretchen’s and that this was recruitment night for they were in search of Gretchen number four. Fortunately their prime candidate was in the storage room cleaning up for the night. Not really though, Cindy was just finishing up the joint that Allison gave her earlier. Gretchen number three ,who was on the trunk, put her face right up to the window and stared at Candice who was screaming hysterically. Gretchen number two on the hood put her thumb to her nose and wiggled her fingers playfully at Russ. He noticed their long black hair. But it didn’t look like hair to him. He realized they were wigs. And he also noticed they were wearing something like raincoats but were more like ponchos that were a clear blue, almost like what a surgeon would wear. Gretchen number three put her fingers behind her head giving herself devil horns at Candice. It was like a psychotic funhouse in hell.
Then their leader, Gretchen number one, spoke. “Sisters, sisters. Come now. Playtime is over.” Her voice was strangely calm Devin thought as he sat on the pavement with his hands now tied behind him. Allison’s were tied as well.
“I know we are all excited but there is work to be done.” Her voice sounded muffled from her mask. Who does she sound like? Devin suddenly thought. He couldn’t quite pinpoint who Gretchen number one reminded him off. Both Gretchen number two and three obeyed their leader like good little terrorizers and went to her and stood, one on each side. All three Gretchen’s looked down at Devin with their white, emotionless masks of the same color. Gretchen number two, now holding the bat, slowly hit it in her palm. The front door of the Camaro was wide open. Gretchen number one extended her hand to Russ who had his back up against the window.
“Please come out and join us. Everything is fine. I shall not hurt you.” When she spoke it was as if she had a constant smile on her face. The muffled tone from her mask made it all the creepier. Russ slowly pulled himself out. She took his hand and politely helped him out. He sat on the ground next to Devin. Gretchen number two began tying his hands behinds his back. Gretchen number one opened the back door and Candice let out a slow, dull scream.
“Ladies, please join us,” she said and extended her hand again. “I will not hurt you if you obey our instructions. If you do not adhere to our instructions I will hurt you oh so very badly.” She bowed to them and that made Devin’s stomach coil up in knots. The girls got out of the car and Gretchen number three tied their hands behind them and sat them next to Devin and Russ.
“Now that we’re all settled, I’d like to introduce ourselves. We are the Gretchen’s. I am Gretchen number one and these are my sisters Gretchen two and three. I’m sure you’ll find them lovely.” Their leader bowed once again. Gretchen number two stood bowlegged and waved shyly at the hostages like a little schoolgirl. She still had the ball bat in her grip.
“Up, up everyone. C’mon, the show is about to start.” Gretchen number one clapped her hands and her victims stood up one by one. They started walking in single file with Gretchen number two keeping guard, watching them. Gretchen number one led the way. They went through the employee entrance of the Freeze it.
“Now where is our little prize at? What is the little darling’s name? Oh yes, Cindy.” No one answered Gretchen number ones question and she didn’t like being ignored. She was holding a big, black duffle bag that clicked and clanked as they walked. In her muffled, happy smiley face tone, she said, “Oh my dears, I have toys inside here that can make you talk instantly.”
Suddenly Allison said, “I don’t know where she is. Maybe the john or something”
“Shall we check in here sisters?” Gretchen number one turned her attention to the closed door that said dry storage on it. “We shall,” Both Gretchen number two and three said in unison. They all went to the door. It was dark inside the place because Allison had shut off the lights after her boss Ray left telling her to close up. Gretchen number one untied Allison’s hands so she could knock on the door.
“Please dear, don’t try to be a hero. Just simply knock on the door. We don’t want to frighten our little doe do we?”
Allison did as she was told and she knocked on the storage room door. She could hear music playing on the radio. She heard a cough and then the door slowly opened. The Gretchen’s had the others off to the side of the door so Cindy couldn’t see them, only Allison.
A line of bright light grazed across the kitchen area as Cindy opened the door. “Oh sorry. I was just cleaning up a little in here. Are you about ready to close up?” Cindy’s felt her face turn red because she knew Allison caught her smoking that joint. That’s quite all right honey. You enjoy it. It might be your last, Allison thought. “Are you ok Allison,” Cindy asked her. “You look scared or something.” And then out of the shadows of the dark kitchen, Gretchen number one’s white face appeared behind Allison. Cindy gasped and covered her mouth like she had been startled.
“Hello my darling Cindy,” Gretchen number one said as she pushed Allison into the room. Then the others were herded in by the other Gretchen sisters. The room filled up so quickly, Cindy didn’t have time to register what was going on. It was a shock to her system seeing Allison, Devin and Candice and these people in these white masks out of nowhere. Gretchen number two and three came in cackling and making their faces once again. Their clear blue poncho’s crinkled and made an awful plastic sound as they moved about the small room, terrorizing everyone in it.
“Settle down sisters,” Gretchen number one told them the way a grandmother would tell her grandchildren to settle down about the fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies she just made. There were a total of nine people in the small room. “Please, everyone take a seat,” the leader said. The six scared as hell teens did as they were told. They all knelt down and sat in a row. The three Gretchen’s stood before them, looking down on them.
“Wonderful. Now that we’re all settled, let’s begin,” Gretchen number one said with demented gaiety in her voice. That voice, what is that voice, Devin thought again. It reminded him momentarily of this hippy tour guide he had at the zoo one time.
“Welcome to the show my friends. We are the Gretchen’s and we’ll be performing for you this evening.” Gretchen one bowed to them and Gretchen two and three followed suit. She continued in her happy, muffled voice, “Tonight is a very special night for we will be recruiting one of you to jo
in our sisterhood, the unique Gretchen’s.” Gretchen two and three applauded. Gretchen one bowed once more.
What did Allison put in this pot? I must be tripping out. One minute I’m rearranging cans of peas and corn and the next I’m witnessing some freakshow with Candice Moore in the room. What the hell is going on? Cindy thought to herself.
No you are not tripping out sweet heart. Don’t you know you are part of the show? The Gretchen’s want you and they shall have you.
“Candice my dear, please come shall you.” Gretchen one motioned to Candice and then extended her hand to her. Candice shook her head no with a death frown frozen on her face. “Sisters,” Gretchen one said. Gretchen two and three grabbed Candice and pulled her violently to their leader who was now sitting on the floor. She patted her lap and said, “Don’t be scared now, this shall be very exciting.” Candice fought back but Gretchen two and three forced her down into Gretchen one’s lap. She began to stroke Candice’s blonde hair while her sister’s held her arms down.
April cried out, “What are you going to do to her.”
“Oh my dear, your friend is in good hands. My sisters are the best at what they do. You’ll see.”
“Now, Cindy my dear. I have a question for you.” Cindy was sitting directly in front of Gretchen number one with Candice squirming around in her lap.
“Do you like Candice?”
Cindy looked away with her brown hair hanging in her face.
“Darling, its ok. You don’t like Candice do you?”
Finally Cindy shook her head slowly back and forth. Candice let out a scared cry.
“Do you think she is cunt?” Gretchen number three shouted.
“Oh dear sister Gretchen, language please. I am so sorry you had to hear that Cindy. What my lovely sister meant to say was do you think she is a fucking whore cunt?” And that’s when Devin felt the true, sick evil behind that mask. “Is she mean to you? Does she say hurtful things to you? Does she make you feel like a worthless sack of shit?” Gretchen one asked Cindy these questions in her happy, demented voice. Cindy covered her mouth trying to hold back her tears because this monster in this mask was nailing every feeling she ever had about Candice. Then Gretchen one’s voice turned soft. “Oh dear Cindy, we’ve been watching you, and we know that you are hurting and that Candice is part of the problem,” she said as she tucked Cindy’s hair behind her ear. Unbeknownst to Cindy, the Gretchen’s have been spying on her in the halls at school, watching her every move. Gretchen number one even stood outside of her bedroom window last night watching her sleep. She hummed a tune to herself as she stalked.
Cindy was crying now and Gretchen one leaned in towards her. She said, “You really don’t like Candice do you honey?” Then she whispered through her emotionless white mask, “What shall we do about that?”
“Let the show begin then!” Gretchen one said brightly.
“Gretchen number two, you’ve been a good girl thus far. Retrieve your black bag and let’s see what goodies you have inside.”
Gretchen one put her hand inside the bag and pulled out an x acto knife. Candice screamed and squirmed some more at the sight of the knife. April shrieked. Russ looked pale. Devin’s face was disgusted and Cindy was as calm as ever. Her tears were gone.
“Sisters,” Gretchen one motioned and nodded to Candice. Gretchen two and three each took one of Candice’s ankles and pulled up her legs. She screamed in terror.
“Ladies and Gentlemen this is our show and Cindy shall be our director,” Gretchen one said proudly. “Where would you like us to start?”
Great Expectaions by Kiss began playing on the radio; more than likely on some college station because Kiss never got any mainstream airplay.
“Oh my dear Candice, please sit back and relax for this is going to hurt oh so very badly,” Gretchen one told her and bowed again. The darling Gretchen’s performed their show on Candice’s legs as directed by Cindy. She would point to where on her legs and they would cut and Candice would scream. Gretchen number one even allowed Gretchen number two to masturbate during the cutting session. She said, “Go ahead darling sister. It’s ok. Make yourself feel good and watch as we slice her legs all up.”
Devin couldn’t look at the bloodshow unfolding before him. He turned his head away only looking every few seconds. But when he did brave a peek there would be more blood than the last time he looked. He felt queasy in his stomach, like the way he would feel when he was a kid watching a scary movie with his parents and them telling him to turn his head. Then he realized why the Gretchen’s were wearing those clear blue, plastic ponchos. The event was rather messy. The red color all over Candice’s legs now matched the color of her short red shorts. Her high pitched screams would only stop when she would cry out, “Make them stop!”
Devin didn’t know who he hated more at the moment, Cindy or these freaks in these masks.
Allison with her eyes glassy and bloodshot watched Cindy, thinking she should have used tough love on her a couple of hours ago when she was crying over Candice. Buck up kiddo, tell Candice Moore to eat shit! She thought. But she had to play big sis’ with the shoulder to cry on and now she was watching these monsters control Cindy. She saw the look of satisfaction in her eyes, the pleasure and the power too. It made her sicker than seeing Candice’s bloody, cut up legs. “I could tell just by the way you looked out there that Candice was cutting you up pretty bad.” What she had said to Cindy earlier popped into her head suddenly as she saw Candice with her legs being held up by those monsters in the white masks against her will. Allison knew that the Gretchen’s had Cindy in their web.
The cutting party lasted about thirty minutes and she was cut up pretty bad. Near the end Candice was shivering and crying weakly from exhaustion. “Please Cindy, she’s had enough. She’s going to bleed to death,” April had pleaded with tears running down her face, her voice quiet and shaky. And then it was over. The cutting had stopped.
“There there now dear Candice, all done,” Gretchen one said gently stroking Candice’s hair. The excitement in Cindy’s eyes had gone away. She looked as lifeless as the three white masks’ in front of her.
“Oh shoot!” Gretchen number three said. “We forgot the alcohol. We could’ve burned your pretty little legs right off doll!”
“Now it is time for the grand finale of our show and the recruitment process shall be complete. Dear Gretchen two please hand me your black bag.” She gave the bag to Gretchen one. The sound of metal hitting together could be heard inside. All eyes were on Gretchen one as she reached in and pulled a large machete. Cindy’s eyes widened. Both Allison and April gasped loudly at the same time; their female breathe full of horror at the sight of the large, sharp and shiny object. Gretchen one began to explain to young Cindy what was to happen.
“Now my dear, this is for you.” She handed the machete to Cindy. She took it and wrapped her small hands around the big black handle.
“Do with it what you will. You can torture her long into the night if you wish or you can end it quick.”
Gretchen two said, “Or you can ram it right up her cunt!”
“Or you can chop off her arms and legs,” Gretchen three suggested.
“Sisters please, this is Cindy’s night. It is her decision. She shall be one of us once the deed is done.” Gretchen one stared directly at Cindy. She swept her hand gently across the sixteen year olds face. “Kill her, my dear.”
“Cindy please, Candice is my best friend. She is a bitch and a loudmouth but she doesn’t deserve this.” April cupped her hand over her mouth and cried. Cindy gave her a blank look and then looked at Candice on the floor with her head still in Gretchen one’s lap. Candice was exhausted and breathing slowly; her legs still bleeding out onto the floor.
Then, Devin began laughing to himself. Allison thought maybe he was losing his mind. It grew louder and maniacal as if he could have possibly lost his mind. But he had figured it out.
“Do you find something funny sir?” Gretchen one ask
ed him.
“What’s so goddam funny?” Gretchen two scowled.
He roared laughter in the small room. “You fucking bitch!” Devin said to Gretchen one, the twisted leader of this odd girl cult. “You sound like fucking Glenda the good fucking witch from the wizard of fucking oz!” He roared out crazed laughter. Gretchen one did not respond. She only cocked her head sideways and stared for a long time at Devin.
“Kill him,” she said in her happy voice.
Gretchen two went for the machete in Cindy’s hand.
“NO! Wait!” Cindy screamed. “Please, not him. Please don’t hurt him.”
Gretchen one crossed her arms and tapped her fingers on her elbows as if taking into consideration what Cindy said.
“Very well then. Sir, are a very lucky man. Shall we proceed?”
Cindy repositioned her hand around the handle of the machete. It was rather heavy but she would be able to lift it. All three Gretchen’s joined hands as they prepared for their soon to be newest member to kill Candice.
The look on Cindy’s face was that of intense concentration. Her eyebrows slanted inward and her lips pursed tightly together. She was thinking of how she was going to end Candice’s life. She was looking at her the lying on the floor with her head in Gretchen one’s lap.
“Take your time dear,” Gretchen one told her.
Cindy put the tip of the machete up to Candice’s neck, and then caressed the flat side of it on her cheek. A tear fell from Candice’s eye onto to the big life ender. Cindy lifted the machete. She didn’t even notice or hear Slow Ride by Foghat playing on the radio. Something was brewing in her mind, a onetime shot to prove that she wasn’t a pushover. That dead set look of knowing and pure power on Cindy’s face scared the hell out of Allison. She’d only known Cindy to be this shy, quiet girl that kept to herself and never once showed a single outburst of violence ever. And now Allison was going to have to watch her kill Candice in front everyone. As if watching her legs’ being sliced up wasn’t bad enough. Her mind was in a whirlwind of terror. Jesus Christ this can’t be happening. You have to do something. Are you just going to sit here and let her do it? You can’t be a burnout forever Allison. You can’t be a loser and get stoned every day and work at the Freeze it for the rest of your life. Please wake up Cindy. Please, please, please!