The Fright Factory

by William R. Potter

  Robin knelt next to Jennifer on the couch. Jesse’s cinematic masterpiece was playing on his laptop. Robin doubted Wesley would give the flick a rave review. Robin held Jennifer’s hand, stroked her hair, and sang softly a song from their childhood.

  “I-I love you, Robin,” Jennifer said. “You were the best big sis a girl could ever…” she moaned. “Have.”

  “Love you too.” A tear fell from her eye and Jennifer reached her hand to Robin’s cheek.

  “If I don’t make it out,” Jennifer said through long breaths.

  “Shhh.”

  Jennifer shook her head. “You will take the baby and raise my Travis too? Please....”

  Robin didn’t think; she just nodded. “Of course,” Robin said with a slight smile. “We’re both going to make it out. I promise....”

  “You always—kept your promises—so don’t start making ones you can’t—” Jennifer sighed and cringed against the pain of another contraction. “—keep.”

  “I promise, Jenny....”

  “Promise? Promise what, Robbi-bob?” Jesse took Robin by the hair and shirt and yanked her away from the couch. Robin immediately noticed Jesse had constructed a reflector out of tin foil and paper and he wore it across his forehead. It was the type doctors wore in old movies. Robin didn’t know the actual name of the thing.

  “Doctor Jess is on the job,” Jesse said with his disgusting smile. “Let’s have us a lil’ peek, ‘eh, Jenny?” Jesse positioned himself between Jennifer’s legs. He poked around and then jumped back and pointed, “What the fuck is that?”

  “It’s the baby’s head, crowning,” Robin said. “Please let me help my sister.”

  “Please?” Jesse shook his head. “You had your chance to please me and did not.”

  “For Christ sake, Jesse, let Robin help her sister!” Wesley shouted.

  Robin was surprised when, for whatever reason, Jesse relented and moved aside to allow her to move closer. She then realized she had no training or previous experience with someone else’s delivery. Now what, she wondered.

  “Do something then!” Jesse shouted.

  Robin could still recall the labor and delivery of her son now nearly twenty years later. She had been young and naive and didn’t know what to expect. When she had a contraction, it was excruciating pain. But then, nothing. There was no lingering pain in between contractions, and she would tell herself it wasn’t that bad and then bam, another contraction. Jennifer seemed to be experiencing the same at that moment, calm before another contraction storm.

  Robin saw the head clearly now and as Jennifer moaned loudly in pain, Robin remembered there was a sensation of extreme pressure in the perianal area and as the baby crowned, this sensation of pressure begins to feel as if it may rip you apart.

  Robin was yelling, “Push!” and “Almost done!” as the baby’s head appeared.

  Jennifer was screaming and Robin remembered that once the head had been pushed out, there was a really strong feeling of release of the pressure.

  Then a new realization hit home. What the hell would she do with a slightly premature baby in this insanity? She would find out a few seconds afterwards.

  Robin held the baby close to her chest as it cried, wailing louder and louder. “It’s a girl,” she whispered.

  Jennifer didn’t smile. Her face looked sad and anxious. Robin saw her frequently glance between Brandi, Jesse, and then back to Robin.

  “She looks good,” Robin said, knowing she needed to cut the umbilical cord. “Just like her Momma.”

  “She looks a bloody mess,” Jesse said as he tossed Robin a blanket and a towel. “Cut the thingy.”

  “I don’t know where to do it,” Robin said, moving the baby away from Jesse’s reach as he put out his hands to take the baby.

  “Here,” Jesse said, as he took the cord and cut it a few inches from the baby’s tummy. “Should be good.”

  Robin wrapped the blanket around the tiny pink body and cringed as Jesse snatched the newborn from her.

  “Please let me see my baby,” Jennifer said, now crying.

  The baby wailed as Jesse danced around the room. Robin could tell Jesse was dreaming up something horrible by the way he stared into the baby’s face.

  “Little bugger looks just like me, don’tcha think?” Jesse said, holding the baby close to his face at an angle which allowed Jennifer to see.

  Robin cringed as Jesse swayed and swung the little person in his arms as though it was a stuffed toy. Once in the kitchen, he held the baby in one arm while he searched in the cabinets for something. He pulled out a large pot and then set it on the stove. Robin moved away from Jennifer and stood as Jesse paused in front of the stove.

  Jesse gently placed the baby in the pot and turned around to look at the others. “Don’t know ‘bout you all, but I’m starvin’.”

  Robin gagged when she saw the sick smile covering his face.

  Jesse reached for the stove control and exaggerated his movements while he turned the dial to maximum.

  “Jesse!” Wesley hollered. “NO!”

  Chapter 15

  Wesley pulled and twisted on the tie-straps at his wrists and ankles. Pain blasted from his wounded hand. He knew the only way to free himself would mean breaking his wrist and even then he wasn’t sure if it would be enough movement to slip out of the strap.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Robin twirl and then move suddenly toward the kitchen. Brandi saw Robin too and she began to pursue Robin. As Brandi moved past Wesley, he forced all his weight to his left, causing the chair to flip over and his body to block Brandi for a few seconds.

  He turned his head in time to see Robin charge straight for Jesse. Robin weighed somewhere around 150 pounds, at least 70 pounds less than Jesse. She crashed into Jesse with enough speed and momentum to send him stumbling to the floor. Robin saw her opening and kicked Jesse in the testicles. This gave her enough time to scoop the baby from the pot.

  “You fuckin’ bitch!” Jesse screamed. He raised the revolver and fired with one hand. His other hand clutched his balls.

  Wesley expected the powerful round to knock Robin off her feet and for the baby to go sailing through the air. Instead, she was twisting and weaving like a football running back breaking tackles. A second and a third shot boomed and still she advanced to the opening in the wall.

  Jesse was hollering at Brandi to bring Robin and the kid back alive. Brandi pulled her pistol from the holster. She hesitated, but obeyed Jesse and bolted after Robin.

  “What’s the matter, Jessica?” Wesley shouted. “You long-haired, fucking queer!” he smiled. “You can’t shoot worth shit.”

  Jesse changed directions abruptly and galloped toward Wesley. Wesley expected to die at that moment but it was worth it if Robin got away with the baby. The revolver clicked and clicked again—empty.

  “What—what did you call me?” Jesse asked as he cleared the spent casings from the revolver and slowly reloaded.

  “You heard me,” Wesley lay on his back, his arms and legs remained tight to the chair. “My wife just kicked the shit out of you.”

  “Bullshit!”

  “Really? Why you still holding your balls, then?” Wesley said. “I always thought you were dickless—now we know it for sure.”

  “Time to die, Wes!” Jesse said. He pointed the revolver and began to squeeze the trigger.

  “You really are a fuckin’ queer, Jess. But—but you knew that already.” Wesley hated the continued homophobic talk but it always worked to throw Jesse’s concentration off. Any hesitation by Jesse might be enough to allow Robin a small advantage.

  “My father called me that…a long-haired queer,” Jesse said and then paused. “Now you’re gonna go meet the old man in hell.” He took the pistol in both hands and grinned his horrid smirk. “Could you tell my Daddy to go fuck himself?”

  Wesley shut his eyes and prayed to himself. Please, God, let Robin and the baby escape. He heard Brandi shouting outside in the parking area. J
esse heard it too and he turned away from Wesley to listen.

  “I know you’re hiding in that car, bitch!” Brandi shouted. “Get your lard ass out or I’ll blow you away.”

  The baby was wailing louder and louder. Jesse walked toward the front door. He glanced back at Wesley a few times as he peered through the hole in the wall. “Brandi!”

  Wesley looked around the cabin for something, anything he could use as a weapon. He saw one of the spike boards Jesse had deployed during the female fight. It was useless to him as he was tied to the chair. He began to pull and turn at the straps. He heard movement in the cabin and suspected it was Jesse watching his wife search for and subdue Robin. The movement was Jennifer and she had crawled across the floor and was working a nail clipper on the straps on Wesley’s hands.

  “Where?” Wesley whispered.

  “He went outside,” Jennifer said. “I can still hear my baby...please.”

  Wesley used the clippers to free his legs. He stood and then fell to the floor. Both his legs were so numb he could not walk. He crawled to where he saw the nail board and took the plank in his right hand. Wesley knew his only chance to beat Jesse was if he surprised him. Surprise would mean he had to choose the correct spot where Jesse would enter, front door or gaping hole in the wall.

  He crouched next to the door and waited. Outside, he heard the calm voices of Brandi and Jesse. This suggested to Wesley that the pair had caught Robin. He listened and then the baby started up again. He glanced at Jennifer who had returned to her spot on the couch.

  Jesse and Brandi came in through the jagged gap in the wall. Brandi had her pistol pointed to Robin’s skull.

  “Jennifer! Where the fuck is Wes?” Jesse said as soon as he noticed the chair was empty.

  Wesley saw Jennifer shake her head.

  “Bullshit! Where is he?”

  Wesley raised the nail-board above his head and then charged.

  “Jes, behind you!” Brandi shouted.

  Jesse moved suddenly as Wesley stabbed the spike toward Jesse’s brain. Jesse spun around and managed to deflect most of Wesley’s power. Still, the spike found its way deep into Jesse’s left shoulder.

  Jesse’s eyes bulged with surprise. “You cocksucker!” He pulled the nail from his flesh and dropped it at his feet.

  Wesley saw Brandi move her aim and point the revolver from Robin to him. This was it.

  “No, don’t shoot him, Bran,” Jesse said. “Tie up Robin and her sister and I’ll take care of Mr. Tate.”

  Brandi pushed Robin toward the couch. Wesley was breathing long, deep breaths as though he’d been running.

  “You wanna kill me, Wes?” Jesse smiled. “You wanna stick me with a fuckin’ nail, huh?” He moved toward Wesley slowly between glances at the blood now soaking his shirt. “Let’s do it, you old fuck!”

  Wesley was backing away gradually. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Brandi as she made Robin tie Jennifer’s hands behind her back. He continued to step back in Robin’s direction. Jesse clenched his right fist and pursued Wesley.

  Wesley knew if he survived he would never get Jesse’s insane grin from his mind. Wesley was within a few feet of where Brandi was barking at Robin to hurry up.

  Wesley’s heart was thumping in his ears. Pain that ached from every inch of his body was relenting as adrenaline kicked in. He concentrated on Jesse’s face and imagined throwing his best punch into that ridiculous grin.

  Instead, he spun, shifted his weight, and swung with all he had left and caught Brandi on the chin. Brandi stumbled forward and collapsed at Robin’s feet near the couch.

  “What the fuck are you doing, Wes?” Jesse asked. “Bran? Brandi. Fuck, Wes, I’m gonna kick your pussy ass!” Jesse moved by Wesley and picked up Brandi and set her on the couch.

  Wesley made eye contact with Robin who moved away and sat in her chair. She placed her hands behind her back and kept her feet to the chair legs. Jesse was sitting next to Brandi, rubbing her arms in an effort to wake her.

  Wesley’s mind was spinning about what to do. He was free and Jesse was distracted. Wesley turned and lifted a chair and swung it at Jesse. With his damaged hand, the blow was weak and it did little more than anger Jesse.

  Jesse had hit Wesley three or four times before Wesley knew what was happening. He crashed to the floor and saw nothing but darkness.

  * * *

  The baby was wailing, long, hungry screams. Wesley was awake but did not open his eyes. He sensed he was lying on the floor, with someone lying on top of him and next to him. He suspected that Robin and Jennifer were piled in with him for some reason.

  He listened for Jesse and for Brandi and heard them talking. He decided they were having their usual chat. This talk normally took place after someone had been killed.

  He jolted his eyes open and called for Robin. It was dark and very cold. He called both Robin and Jennifer.

  Robin answered but not from close by. She sounded across the room. That’s when Wesley realized the people piled on top of him were dead. He began to struggle and squirm and he noticed his wrists were strapped together. He rolled to his left and then his right and a soft light met his eyes. The dead, cold bodies of Tommy, Nicole, Rebecca, Mike, and Derrick were all over him.

  Wesley couldn’t free himself from the tangle of death. It felt as though a stiff, cold weight was holding his arms and legs. Someone’s matted, bloodied hair choked his mouth and nose.

  He twisted and shrieked and screamed. When he managed enough light he saw Nicole’s face, eyes open and glazed over. He trembled and shook and screamed as his friends’ naked, bloody corpses crushed and suffocated him. He had invited them all to the cottage, to their deaths, and they were intent on revenge.

  “FUCK!”

  Chapter 16

  Robin wanted to bolt to her feet and run to Wesley to pull him from the gore that was covering him. She knew he was panicking and yet she could not help. She knew even though Jesse and Brandi were injured, Jesse would keep an eye on the video feed on his laptop in the bedroom.

  Wesley screamed and fought against a motionless enemy. Nothing was keeping him from standing and walking away from the mass of bodies and bloody clothing. Jesse and Brandi had stripped and dragged the bodies and covered Wesley as he lay unconscious.

  “Wesley, you’re okay! Just stand up,” Robin said. Slowly he stopped struggling and eventually stood up. He looked around him and vomited a thin stream of green slobber. His hands were tied behind his back and when he bent to throw up he almost fell.

  Not even thirty seconds later, Brandi charged out of the bedroom and struck Wesley on the chin with the butt of her pistol. Wesley staggered and turned and walked away from Brandi.

  “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Brandi shouted as she followed Wesley. She had the pistol pointed at his head. He stopped. “Sit the fuck down before I put a hole in your head bigger than that wall.”

  Wesley took his position and Brandi strapped his legs to the chair. He glanced at Jennifer with the sleeping baby and then he made eye contact with Robin.

  Robin gave him a thin smile and a slight nod. She hoped Wesley understood what she was trying to tell him. He returned the nod and looked away.

  Jennifer’s ankles were strapped together and then a rope was tied to the strap and then to the legs of the fireplace. If she stood she could not walk far on her leash, as Jesse had called it.

  After Wesley had been knocked out, Jesse allowed Jennifer to attempt to breastfeed the baby while Brandi applied bandages to the nail wound in Jesse’s shoulder. Initially, Jesse had had no interest in seeing Jennifer’s baby fed. However, Robin convinced him that breastfeeding may be enough to stop the crying.

  Robin doubted the baby had received much milk but the suckling action seemed to quiet the newborn for a while. The content baby sounds were in sharp contrast to Jesse’s constant noise.

  She looked around the cabin and attempted to see past the carnage and death. The design and décor of the place
had been beautiful until Brandi tainted it with her ugliness and before Jesse unleashed his evil. The stay should have been an amazing, memorable time, exactly what her marriage needed. Wesley’s heart was in the right place; some much needed down and alone time and then a get together barbecue with their friends.

  Robin couldn’t help but see the blood and gore in almost every corner of the floor. A short while ago the mere thought of this much blood and violence would make her gag. It was previously unimaginable she could ever experience anything like this without becoming a quivering mess.

  Her thoughts began to wander to the future, if there was in fact going to be a future. Would she ever see Jordan and Monica again? If she and Wesley survived, what would become of their marriage? Wesley had cheated with a younger Brandi and that mistake had led to this mayhem. If Jennifer made it home, how would she cope after watching her husband’s brutal death?

  Tears trickled down Robin’s cheeks onto her jeans. The material was filthy, ripped, and spotted with dried blood. She knew Jesse was watching but she no longer cared. She sobbed.

  “Rob?” Jennifer called softly. “You okay?”

  “I’ll be okay,” Robin said. Her words sounded stupid. How could anyone be okay in a situation like this?

  Jesse was shouting. She shivered. Robin realized Jesse wasn’t taunting her and the others or barking orders. He and Brandi were arguing about something. She heard a slap as though one had struck the other.

  “You cunt!” Jesse yelled.

  Brandi charged from the bedroom, paused, and turned back to see Jesse on her heels. He slapped her. Her head snapped to the side under the force of the slap.

  “Fuck off, asshole!” Brandi spun and charged out the door. Jesse followed, screaming insults and obscenities at her.

  It was then Robin remembered she was not tied to the chair. Brandi had begun to fasten Robin to the chair when Wesley had struck her. She looked at Wesley and Jennifer who were both staring at her. She stood, then lay on the floor and brought her tied hands under her feet until they were in front of her. She quickly moved into the kitchen and in the top cutlery drawer found a serrated chef’s knife. She held it in her hands and it felt strong. Then she jammed the point of the knife between her wrists to cut the tie-strap. She picked up the tie and tossed it on top of the fridge.