Slice (The Elledge Family #1)

by L Johnson

  “Oh please do.”

  “Hey Luke!” Asher’s voice rang across the parking lot. “You forgot your phone.” He paced quickly across the parking lot. “Drive away.” He whispered with a tense smile and a headshake.

  “I am. Hopefully with one of them under my tires.”

  “Leave,” He pushed the cell phone in my hand and backed away. “Don't forget next week!”

  My hands shook the entire way home. I dialed her number and there was no answer. Ten times of repetitive calling and she had not answered. Her car was in the parking lot, parked horrendously crooked and her living room light was on.

  I couldn't see straight from the hate that radiated from me. I wanted to see that man dead. His blood flowing under my blade until every ounce of the little soul, he actually had flowed uninterrupted into a pool around him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  The little flaws made her the perfect woman. My shirt hung from her shoulders and her shorts peeked at the nape of her ass. “I called you love.”

  “I didn't answer.” She placed her hand in the door jam. “You fucked her Lucas. And you made me a sincere promise that you would never do that to me.:

  “What?”

  “Persephone,” Cypress had not control over the tears that fell from her eyes. She sobbed, and shook her head at me as I stepped closer to her.

  “Don't cry, I was with her for a moment.”

  “A moment? Why was your hand up her skirt?”

  “Oh come on,” I mumbled frustrated. “I told her to leave.”

  “Did you? Was it before or after she came from your fingers. You fucking disgust me!” She roared.

  “I...”

  “Make up a lie,” she wiped her face. “I fucking trusted you Lucas.”

  “I swear it was nothing.”

  “What was nothing?” Her screech filled the apartment complex.

  “I told her to leave.” I stepped towards her and she jerked away violently.

  “Did you fuck her?”

  “I told her to leave.”

  “Before or after you fucked her?”

  “After,” I whispered.

  “After,” I could hear her heart break. “Stay the fuck away from me.” The wind from the door hit my face as she disappeared behind it.

  My fists hit her door. “Baby! Please open up.”

  “Go away!” She yelped.

  “Please,” My hands fell helplessly to my side. “Fuck, I'm so sorry. I swear. I meant nothing by it. I meant nothing. I couldn't bloody think...”

  The door swung open and I felt clothes being tossed as they fell to the ground. “Don't bring your ass back here!”

  I pushed pass the mass of clothes I had bought her mixed in with shirts I'd left here. “Sit down.”

  “No, no… I don't care what the detective said about you killing your exes I am not the one! I am tired of being treated like this! What did I ever do to you Luke? I loved you like no one had ever loved you. I gave you every inch of me.”

  “I'm still here. I fucked up I know.”

  “Yeah, get out.”

  “Let me talk.” I closed the door.

  “What is there to say? You didn't mean to fuck her?”

  “It was never intended to get to you...”

  “Wow,” She stood dumbfounded. “You are a piece of work.”

  “I don't mean to be.”

  “You are. Get the fuck out.” Her small hands hit my shoulders and I nodded my head.

  “Stop.”

  “No!” Her fists collided with my chest and she started to push more forcefully. I fell onto the wall and her hand fist hit my mouth. “Get the fuck out!” Her hand was covered in my blood. “I hate you.”

  “You hate what I did.” I felt the salty blood fall to my lip. “I am so sorry.” I whispered.

  “I can't forgive you.”

  “Then don't.” My lips crushed against hers and there was no resistance as she kissed me back. I could taste my blood in with her tears as they rushed from her eyes. “Please don't leave me...”

  “I can't stay with you.” She wept. “I can't.”

  “Please,” I pleaded as the desperation in my voice overcame me. “I can't...”

  She pushed me back, wiping her face with my shirt and sliding it off of her perfect body. “Get out.”

  Asher

  The pounding on my door had continued for the past thirty minutes. I was sure it was a nightmare or it could have been the alcohol. I wanted it to be the alcohol. What could Lucas want? Surely not to kill me after making this big of a scene. I opened the door and there he stood and he looked destroyed. “What is it Lucas? It’s late as shit.”

  “I fucked up.”

  “What did you do?” My thoughts wandered to what 5-10 years in a white cement walled room. I was not good with jumpsuits. Maybe they would be lenient and give me the shirt and pants. “What did you do?”

  “I cheated.”

  “On a test, what are you talking about Luke?”

  “On Cypress.” He pushed his way passed me and into my apartment. “I cheated.”

  “We must be friends now. You’re banging down my door because of relationship problems?”

  “I guess I don't know.” He looked at me, his stare was cold but amusement danced around them. I feared whatever kind of amusement he had. “I searched for Mark he was gone. She dumped me.”

  “With whom?”

  “What?” He looked genuinely confused as he paced the entrance to my apartment.

  “Who did you cheat on her with Lucas?”

  “Persephone,” he grimaced.

  “You get checked?”

  “Asshat,” he spat. “How do normal people handle this shit? Should I give her space or should I go and fucking kill that agent and Persephone? I am not trying to be rash but I swear the second one seems the most logical.”

  “How does it seem logical?” I shook my head and tried to stifle my laugh. “Normal people don’t handle it with murder,” I answered. “They usually do what you’re doing. They try to confide in someone to tell them the right way to handle their situation. You actually done good by coming here.” Surprisingly there was not a trail of dead bodies sprawled across Colorado Springs.

  “Well, I haven't killed anyone. I won't. I fucking can't, they won’t stop bloody following me. I mean they’re following me everywhere. I can’t piss without seeing their bloody feet in the next stall.”

  “Well, you brought it upon yourself Luke. You’re their prime suspect. I’m just happy you haven’t killed anyone. I know we drank earlier, but do you want one?” I had no idea why alcohol had become my newest friend but I seemed to drink more and more here of late.

  “Put a damn shirt on will you?” Lucas said from out of nowhere.

  “I thought it was my girlfriend at the door. And it is late man.”

  “That librarian chick?”

  “Yes,” I smirked. “The librarian chick hates you.”

  “Well, tell her to join the majority of the world. I don't know what the fuck I do to people to make them hate me.”

  “You don't care for one.” I made my way to my bedroom and grabbed my shirt from the bed then turned to head back to the kitchen and grabbed two chilled beers. “Tell me how it feels.”

  “It doesn't.” He said blankly. “I just don't care.”

  “That’s not normal.”

  “Well, pardon me,” He popped the top open. “I don't care. I just want to be alone most of the time. The only person I have tried to care about is Cypress and sometimes I don't care for her either. I mean she can be the most irksome person to deal with, like for example she brushes her teeth in front of the mirror.”

  “That’s normal Luke.”

  “Why do you have to stare at yourself while cleaning your teeth? How is that normal?”

  “I don’t care to argue it with you but that’s normal Luke. You have to learn to care what people say Luke.”

  “Teach me oh wise one.” />
  “That’s a lesson for another day.” I paused. “You had me on your list didn't you?” I was curious how close to death I had actually come. “I mean you can tell me. I just want to know.”

  “I was about to slice you from ear to ear the moment you stuck your nasty hand up her skirt.”

  “I'm grateful you didn't.”

  “Lucky you,” He knocked the drink back and chuckled. “I wanted you dead, so bad I had fucking migraines about it. I researched everything about you and had planned to burn you alive after I watched the blood spill onto your nice hardwood floors here.”

  “Dude,” I stopped him with my hands up. “Please spare me the details of my impending death.”

  “I was destined to send you to ashes Asher.” He laughed in amusement. “I'm happy I didn't though, you do have good taste in beer.”

  “Glad my beer choice saved my life.” I mumbled.

  “Oh, lighten up. I just wanted you dead. We all have to die some time, your death was just planned”

  “Yeah, no big deal.” I nodded my head. “As friends, let's promise to not ever bring up that one time you planned to kill me.”

  “I can do that for now.” Lucas was quiet and his eyes looked around the room. He seemed so relaxed contrary to earlier in the day.

  “You’re like a lion you know that?”

  “Explain,” he leaned back on the couch and one of his arms draped over the back of the couch. “I mean I have never seen myself in action.”

  “You're graceful... you smile too often and no lie, it’s creepy. You lurk and lurk until the person is vulnerable and then you pounce on them leaving no way out and they’re terrified. You like to taunt them and then you slice.”

  “I love the feeling of slicing someone open.”

  “I’ve seen the joyous face Luke. I can tell.”

  “It's like it opens up a happiness that only some things can bring out. The first slice means everything in a kill.”

  “Why?”

  “Are you studying me Asher?”

  “Not at the moment.” I lied. I wanted to know every detail as to why he acted the way he did. It amazed me that he talked about a kill like I talked about soccer. He truly enjoyed it. Lucas was a psychopath and he embraced it without any trepidation.

  “You are too.” He finished his beer.

  “Well, why is it important?”

  “It doesn't matter. They die and I feel better.”

  “You do know that when you’re caught which statistically speaking it will happen… everything around you will fall.”

  “I won't ever get caught.” He sounded one hundred percent sure of himself as he said it. He sat the beer bottle on the table. “I am never careless. I am never uncertain and even when I challenge myself to pursue outside of my normal encounters... I never do too much. I have just ventured enough to know that I can.”

  “I hope not. I prefer a Serta rather than a spring filled cot.”

  “Yeah, I prefer a tanning bed to the electric chair.” Lucas burst into laughter and shook his head. “I'll never give anyone the satisfaction anyhow.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I will slice myself open before I allow someone to take away my final kill.”

  “Lucas,” I paused.

  “I would kill myself Einstein.”

  “Wow,” I looked at him. “How would you know when to do it?”

  “How would I not?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lucas

  I'd heard of the world crumbling. My mum used it to describe Declan. He was her world and when he left her world crumbled. Her world mourned. My mind was there and it could only think about how to heal. The scar of Cypress. I would not kill her. That would destroy me more than heal me. But I could go after Persephone. I could watch her bleed out as I pushed the blade into her heart. I could mute her and tie her down to a bed make sure I saw every moment she suffered. I slapped my face and stared back at the television. I hadn't watched it since the demise of the relationship that brought me sanity.

  “Are you okay?” Tracey said from the kitchen.

  “I'm fine.” I murmured. Visits home were normally few and far between but ever since she’d left me, I'd made it a point to be around people so the urge to kill would simmer. McMillan watched me like a hawk. So home was a safe haven even if I had to listen to Tracy gawk over her cooking shows and lavish tree houses.

  “How is she?”

  “Mum,” I said. “Could we just watch this man slice and dice veggies?”

  Slice, my heart pumped at the thought. “Sure,” she handed me a glass of tea. “I don't know how you drink this sock water.” She nodded her head as she handed me the warm cup of tea.

  “I don't know either, my mum used to drink so it became a habit.” I gulped the tea down.

  “Your father was always into tea as well. He said it made him feel at home.”

  She hated my father. “Oh god not another tale of Declan, spare me.”

  “You and him are too much alike.”

  “I said you can spare me details. I don’t want to hear it.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I slept with another girl.”

  “Cypress is perfect for you.”

  “Tell me more mum.” My eyes cut over to her as I tried to bite back my sarcasm. “Can we sit in silence? Is that too much to ask?”

  “You can sit in silence at home, when you come here I want you to talk.”

  “Perhaps I will head home. These shows are nauseating.”

  “I think you should calm down. You should write her a letter, women love letters.”

  “Oh God Save the Queen woman,” I took my keys from the sofa. “I’m leaving. Tell Mark I'm headed back to the Summit and tell Lydia that I will help her with her English paper another day.”

  “Sit down,” Tracey whined with her hands on her hips. She rarely had them but I could tell this was about to be a mothering heart to heart that I would rather not sit through. She watched as I slouched back down on the couch. “You're stubborn like him too.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I don't want her to be with me if she hates me, Tracy.”

  “She doesn't. She’s just hurt and it’s no one’s fault but yours. So you have to fix it and you should do it sooner rather than later.”

  “Please, tell me something I don’t know.”

  Lydie made her entrance into the room crunching loudly on her cereal. “Perhaps you shouldn't have cheated on her and you wouldn’t have to be over sulking around drinking tea. You could be at home with her being the normal great happy couple that you were.”

  “Perhaps you should shove off.” I clenched my eyes shut and every time I closed my eyes I seen red, mainly towards Persephone. No, I shouldn't have fucked her. I should have just killed the bitch. I stretched and tried to hide my irritation. “Mum, I’m leaving.”

  “You know I’m happy you are wallowing in self-pity Lucas. You shouldn’t have cheated on her.” Lydie opened her water and laughed.

  “I'm not talking about this.”

  “Yeah, exactly what all men do.” It was apparent that she was in favor of Cypress over me at the moment.

  “Lydie,” I paused. “Leave it be.”

  “Leave him alone Lydia.” Tracy warned.

  “Well you know mom, Mark does this kind of shit. You were always the one big brother that gave me some hope. I love my boyfriend but if you can cheat I don't know if can even be hopeful anymore. You were supposed to be the one that treated her right.”

  “Watch your mouth,” Tracy interjected.

  “It was an accident Lydie! Do you think I don't love her? Do you think that every damn night I don't regret it? So yeah, bash me. I fucked up. I know this. So let me torture myself and you keep your thoughts to yourself.”

  “Whatever,” she rolled her eyes. “She is still coming to my graduation and you will be nice. Do you understand? As a matter of fact, just stay away from her.”

  “Goodbye,�
� I pecked Tracey's cheek and walked towards the door. “One more bloody moment in here and you’ll witness War World III.”

  I hadn't thought about Luther in a few months and he was now a successful product of the Colorado Corrections Department. Rehabilitated and successful merged with normal society, it was a major feat. I wanted to personally reward him. But Mark had forbidden it. They watched my every move like a hawk. But if I could slip away from them unnoticed I could take a road trip to see my dear friend Luther and have some fun. Some much needed distraction.

  The two agents parked in the front of building had nodded off. I had brought them a good cup of coffee earlier. I left the lights of my loft on and walked down the fire escape silently and took Mark's mini coop. He loved the car, now I did too. Quiet, small and black it was perfect for the kill. My chest tightened as the car drove out to the interstate, he'd move three hours out and the was just perfect. I could say I was going to visit Cy. I should really go. I clenched the steering wheel. I needed to kill. Luther was a little more important.

  His lights were out. I parked a few blocks away and started my prowl. Luther was a piece of shit. He deserved it. I picked the lock and made my way in his home. It smelled of cigarettes and old beer. His clothes lay scattered all over the house.

  “Who the fuck are you!” He yelled.

  “Shhhh...” I smiled. Luther had startled me but it was okay. I wanted to talk to him. “It's time Luther.”

  “Look kid, I have to work early in the morning. I just want to get some sleep. I'm not gonna call the cops. I'd much rather they not get involved.”

  “Shut the fuck up.” I snapped. “Sit down. I want to talk.”

  “Kid, don't get your British ass whooped.”

  “Be nice Luther,” I laughed. “Sit down, please?”

  Luther lunged towards me. I dodged him quickly leaning to the side and the skinny frail man landed hard on the tile floors. I took advantage of the situation. I secured his hands in a belt then his feet I tied to heavy oak table in the kitchen.

  “What do you want? I don't have anything. I just got out the pen.”