A Psycho and his Disciple

by Athan,Jon

  Lori sighed in relief, then she said, “Good, good.” She glanced at Lucas and said, “Hi. Sorry, I don't recognize you. I'm guessing Dean told you my name and he was too nervous to call out to me, right? He's still the same shy Dean from school...”

  Lucas scooted over in his seat, grinning. He said, “You're right about that, ma'am. He's as shy as ever. Have a seat. Let's chat.”

  Lori glanced at the seat beside Lucas as she twiddled her thumbs and sucked her lips. She liked Dean, but she did not trust the ex-convict. Aside from a mutual friend, the pair had no history together. She was not fond of his insistent attitude, either. His sexually aggressive attitude could be whiffed by a dog without a nose.

  Lori nervously smiled as she sat beside Dean. Dean returned the smile as he scooted an inch to the side. Lucas scratched his eyebrow as he glanced down at his plate. The rejection was infuriating, an attack on his ego. He had to wrestle with himself to keep his composure. He had to fight to spare the young woman from a violent death.

  Lucas smiled and said, “Anyway, I see you two know each other. I'm guessing you've got a bit of history.”

  As she gazed into Dean's gentle eyes, Lori said, “Yeah. We have some history together. I was only a freshman in high school when we met, but Dean was always very nice to me. Most people don't appreciate kindness, especially in high school, but it meant a lot to me. I never got to say thank you, either.”

  Dean said, “It's no problem. So, um... How have you been?”

  Lucas beamed from ear-to-ear as he stared at the woman's chest. He said, “Oh, I'd say she's been doing fine. What kind of problems could a great looking woman like this possibly have? Huh? I can name a few, but I think they'd be bigger problems for men, if you know what I'm saying...”

  Lori was unnerved by Lucas' leering. Goosebumps on her arms and hairs rising on the nape of her neck, she felt uncomfortable. She crossed her arms and covered her chest as she shuffled in her seat. She nervously smiled, trying to keep the situation from escalating.

  Lori said, “Actually, it's been kind of rough for me recently. I'm... I'm homeless.”

  Wide-eyed, Dean repeated, “Homeless?”

  “Yeah. I mean, I'm not living on the streets, I just don't live at home right now. I was kicked out a while ago. So, I usually hop from one friend's house to another. That's 'homeless' to me, I guess.”

  Lucas knocked on the table and said, “That's very interesting, young lady. You see, I've been homeless plenty of times before and I'm sure I can teach you a thing or two. How about–”

  “Stop. Don't do this,” Dean interrupted.

  Dean and Lucas glared at each other, arguing without uttering a word. Dean was a timid young man, but he was willing to brawl with his pugnacious mentor. He would not allow the ex-convict to manipulate his peer – a woman he adored.

  Recognizing the tense atmosphere, Lori said, “I... I'm going to have to go soon. Do you mind if I give you my number?”

  Dean asked, “You still have a phone?”

  “Yeah. I don't have unlimited minutes, but I don't mind talking to you or texting with you.”

  Dean grabbed a napkin and said, “I don't have a number to give you, but you can write yours down here and I'll give you a call later.”

  Lori pulled a pen out of her bag, then she scribbled her number on the napkin. As she jotted the note, she smirked and said, “Maybe we can go for a 'walk.' You know, a 'special' walk?”

  “A walk?”

  Lori giggled, then she said, “Yeah. Don't you remember? You asked me to go on a walk with you before homecoming. You said you liked going for walks at the park in front of the church. 'It's my favorite spot to think,' that's what you said. I didn't go with you then, but I think it would be nice now. We should do that soon.”

  Dean gazed into Lori's lustrous eyes, lost in her beauty. The woman was perfect in every sense of the word. She swept him away like a babysitter sweeping a child's mess under the rug. She remembered everything about their past – a past he tried to forget. He was elated to remember, though, and he planned on gripping his sweet memories with her until the very end.

  Dean said, “Okay. That sounds nice.”

  Lori responded, “Sorry if I sound pushy, but how does tomorrow sound? Or is the weekend better for you? I could really use a friend.”

  Dean smiled and said, “I'll have to think about it. I'll call you soon, I promise.”

  As she walked away from the booth, Lori waved and said, “Okay. I'm going to be late for my interview if I don't go now. See you soon.”

  Hypnotized by her movements, Dean watched as Lori walked away. Her walk was normal, a nice posture and a decent pace, but she resembled an angel on earth in his eyes. Lucas glanced back, smirking as he stared at her ass. What a woman, he thought, she'd be an excellent lay for us.

  Lucas turned in his seat and said, “Listen to me, boy. I can see something in your eyes. It's not good for you, at least not now. I think I need to teach you something about relationships. Come on, let's go to that shopping strip next to the bar. It's a prime location.”

  Dean shook his head as Lori left his sight – he could finally pay attention. He asked, “A prime location for what?”

  Lucas smiled smugly and said, “You'll see...”

  Chapter Eight

  A Lesson in Relationships

  Lucas and Dean stood outside of a small doughnut shop – Go Nuts Donuts! Paperboard cups in hand, the pair sipped their coffee as they leaned on a wall and gazed at a large department store across the parking lot. If it weren't for the vile stench the couple emitted, the duo could have easily been mistaken as cops conducting undercover surveillance.

  Riker's Department Store sat diagonally across the parking lot from their location. The store was the focal point of the shopping strip. Most of the surrounding stores were out of business, but a few restaurants and small shops lingered. Only a few people walked through the entire shopping center. Even at noon, it was not a busy place.

  Lucas leaned over a rusty newspaper vending machine. As he stared at the entrance of the department store, he whispered, “Let's see what we've got today. Who will be the lucky lady? Who will I bless today? Give me something. Come on, give me something to work with...”

  Dean walked to Lucas' side and asked, “What are we doing? What are we waiting for?”

  Lucas simpered, then he said, “Well, my friend, we're waiting for a beautiful, vulnerable woman who needs our loving. We're waiting for that beautiful specimen to walk through those doors so we can... so we can mingle. Yeah, that's what we're waiting for.”

  Mingle – the word did not sit well with Dean. He furrowed his brow and tilted his head, confused. Lucas' explanation was rather simple on the surface, but he could sense a spark of deviance in the message. The young man was too afraid to ask for more details. He knew about his murderous lust, but he was not certain of Lucas' true capabilities.

  Staring at the store's sliding doors, analyzing each and every female customer, Lucas explained, “This woman... She needs to be small. Personally, I like a woman with a little more meat. Thick thighs and tender breasts like mama's fried chicken. But, we need her to be small so it's easier for us. She needs to be alone, too. It'll be a breeze then.”

  A frog in his throat, Dean croaked as he opened his mouth to speak. He had questions and he sought answers, but he could not utter a word. Fear snipped his vocal cords. What would be easier for us?–he thought. He bit his tongue for a moment longer, hoping for an innocent explanation.

  Lucas continued, “She also has to be poor 'cause no one cares about a poor whore. This one is easy to see, too. We can tell from her clothing. She won't be wearing any of that fancy crap. Shit, shopping at a crappy store like this should show us she's poor already. And, since we don't have a car, she can't have one either. Keep an eye for anyone that doesn't go into the parking lot. Make sure she's at least cute, though. I want a pretty one.”

  Dean sneered in disgust as he listened to his peer. I
want a pretty one – the man sounded like a girl picking a doll in a toy store. He didn't seem perturbed by his objectifying statements, either. His articulation and his plans were methodical. He knew exactly what he was saying, he simply did not care.

  Dean asked, “When you find this 'pretty one,' what are you going to do to her?”

  Lucas smirked and responded, “I told you already: we're going to mingle.”

  Dean tugged on Lucas' shoulder, flustered. He said, “That's not good enough for me. I need you to be specific and honest. Enough of this cryptic school teacher shit. Enough of this enlightened crap. What are you going to do with her? This isn't a bar, this isn't a club, this isn't a place where normal people mingle.”

  With a deadpan expression, Lucas asked, “Who said we were normal people?”

  “Talk to me, Lucas. Answer my questions. What are you going to do with her? Huh?”

  Lucas shrugged off Dean's grip, like if he were brushing dirt off his shoulders. He leaned over the newspaper vending machine and stared at the entrance. Like an angsty teenager, his mood shifted from merry to brooding in an instant. He was not happy with Dean's apparent challenge – not at all.

  The ex-convict inhaled deeply, then he said, “I'm going to fuck that whore. It doesn't matter what she says, it doesn't matter how hard she fights. I'm going to have my way with her. You understand me? She's going to have a lucky day, no matter what. And, if anyone tries to interfere, they're going to suffer. I'm going to hurt them.”

  Dean stuttered, “You–You're going to fuck her? You're... You're telling me you're going to rape someone? Today?”

  Lucas said, “Rape is such a nasty word, son. What the fuck is wrong with you? Huh? Do you kiss your whore mother with that filthy mouth?” He chuckled and shook his head, then he said, “That word is affiliated with the criminal justice system. It's something that gets people into trouble, something that people hate. I don't like that word. I don't want it associated with me.”

  “You've killed people before, Lucas. What difference does a word make? If you touch her, if you fuck her without her consent, you'd be raping her. There's no way around it.”

  “No. No, no, no. That may be true for everyone else, but it's not true for me. She wants it, she just doesn't know it yet.”

  Dean staggered in reverse, his legs wobbling like noodles on chopsticks. He was appalled by Lucas' rationale. He was shocked by the man's apathy. The man was sick in the head, depraved and wicked. Pure evil commanded the human vessel.

  Dean dug his fingers into his hair and whispered, “You're sick... You're sick, Lucas...”

  ***

  Lucas clenched his jaw as he gazed at the entrance. Although he wanted to strike his insolent student with a savage backhand, he learned to tame his anger. He was insulted, but he was more concerned with the matter at hand. He could tame his anger, but his lust was a different animal. He needed to get his extra finger wet before he exploded.

  Lucas' eyes glimmered as a woman strolled out of the department store – the perfect subject. He was swept off his feet as a swarm of butterflies flittered in his stomach. His sexual appetite blinded him.

  He whispered, “You... You're the lucky girl.”

  The raven-haired woman was tiny – four-eleven, perhaps an even five feet on a good day. She wore a green polo shirt, black pants, and matching work shoes. It was the uniform from a neighboring store. She only stopped by the department store to buy some food before heading home. The woman stopped and browsed through her plastic bag, making sure she had everything she needed.

  Without taking his eyes off of her, Lucas tapped Dean's arm and asked, “What do you think of her? Huh? She's perfect, isn't she?”

  Dean shook his head and said, “No. I'm not helping you with this. I appreciate your help and... and your friendship, but I'm not going to do this. I can't do it. I'm sorry.”

  “Are you kidding me? I can't tell if you're a pussy or just confused. You're going to have to grow up someday. When I'm finally gone, you're going to find yourself in this same position. This will be you instead of me. You should be listening to everything I say. Hell, you should be taking notes. Accept it and it'll make your life easier.”

  “I'm not going to... No, I'm not going to rape someone. I'm not going to help you, either. I don't even like killing people. I'm not sure I like any of this.”

  Dean couldn't imagine himself walking in Lucas' shoes. He genuinely appreciated his help, but he did not want to follow in his footsteps. He wanted a grip on his life, he sought temporary shelter and companionship, but he never intended on becoming a killer for the remainder of his life.

  Lucas sneered at Dean, disgusted by his insolence. A disrespectful sack of shit, he thought, his druggie mama should have taught him better. He was a bit more respectful towards Dean, though. He didn't outright insult his kin – his spiritual successor.

  Lucas chuckled, then he asked, “Son, do you prefer men? If so, you should let me know now. I won't hold it against you, but it'll help us avoid these issues in the future. Tell me: what kind of men do you like? What's your type?”

  “Stop it,” Dean snapped. “I don't like men. Stop asking that. I'm getting tired of your bullshit, Lucas. Whenever I don't want to abuse a woman, you call me 'gay.' It's stupid, so stop it. Alright? We're not in high school, damn it.”

  Lucas smiled and lifted his hands over his head, as if he were stopped by the police. He couldn't help but chuckle at Dean's defensive response, savoring the young man's fury. The killer-in-training had a shade of Lucas in his eyes – a psychopath waiting to strike.

  Dean exhibited masterful restraint, though. At heart, he wanted to smack the smug smile from Lucas' face.

  Lucas waved at Dean – scram – then he said, “I was wrong. You aren't ready for this lesson. Go home and cool off, boy. Go jack off or something. I can handle this myself.”

  Before Dean could respond, Lucas jogged across the parking lot. He hurried towards the department store, weaving and bobbing his head for a better view of his target. From afar, Dean could see the young woman walking across the shopping center. She was heading south, walking deeper into the bad side of town.

  Dean whispered, “No... No, please don't do this, Lucas.” He ran his fingers through his hair and stomped, grunting and groaning in front of the doughnut shop like a tempted person trying to stay on his diet. He shouted, “Shit! Why are you doing this to me?!”

  He glanced back at the woman. He could see Lucas following a few meters behind, leering at the woman's figure. The killer moved like a shadow at night, blending with the crowds as he stalked his prey. He clearly had experience in the art of stalking before his incarceration.

  Dean bit his bottom lip and shambled forward. As he followed the couple, he whispered, “What am I doing to myself?”

  Chapter Nine

  Pouncing on the Prey

  Lucas snickered as he walked down the sidewalk. He could not contain his joy. Ever since the first day of his incarceration, sex clung to the back of his mind like a tumor – tormenting him. His target, a perky young woman, walked on the other side of the street. She was blissfully unaware, swinging her bags as she marched home.

  Lucas glanced around the residential area. His home was in a neighboring block, hidden amongst the rundown buildings. The area across the street fared a bit better – working lights, running water, and cracked doors. The neighborhood was not affluent, but the residents managed to survive. The poor lived unfortunate lives, but they were strong and persistent.

  The woman entered a five-story apartment building on the corner. The walls were scrawled with graffiti, some of the windows were shattered, and the chain-link fence was knocked over – at least the building was still standing. Arguing couples, crying children, and barking dogs could be heard throughout the block.

  Lucas bit his bottom lip and rushed across the street, hunched over to avoid any wandering eyes. He slowed his run to a stroll as he approached the apartment complex. He stood on his t
iptoes and peered into the hallway. The woman stood at the second door to the right on the first floor, turning her key and the door knob.

  Lucas whispered, “There you are, baby. Why don't I pay you a little visit?” He glanced towards the side of the building and said, “Well, let's have a little fun first.”

  The ex-convict walked towards the right side of the building. There was a tall wooden fence separating the apartment complex from the neighboring building, but there was enough space for a single person to squeeze through.

  Lucas slinked down the side of the building, sidestepping towards the second apartment. Unfortunately, the first floor tenants had unflattering window views of the withering fence. However, the area was perfect for a prowler.

  Through the broken blinds and dusty curtains, he could see into the living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms of the apartments. The first apartment didn't matter to him, though. He stopped at the second set of windows – his target's home.

  He licked his lips as he crouched and peeked into the living room of her apartment. The woman walked around her home, settling in after a hard day's work. She slipped out of her shoes, then she removed her shirt and pants. She stretched and yawned in her black brassier and underwear. She did not have the 'perfect' model body, but she was healthy.

  Lucas smiled and giggled like a boy flirting with his crush. Sweat poured from his glands, drenching every inch of his body. His hand instinctively glided towards his crotch. He softly rubbed his denim jeans, teasing himself as he watched the oblivious woman. The peeping made him giddy – a stone was erected in his pants.

  As the woman walked out of the living room, Lucas whispered, “Wait, baby. Where are you going?” He sighed in relief as she returned seconds later draped in a blue bathrobe. He smirked and said, “Oh, there you are...”

  Lucas inhaled deeply, then he tapped the glass. As the woman glanced towards him, the ex-convict giggled and crouched into the tall grass. He leaned towards the fence and glanced up at the filmy window. He could see the woman as she approached, baffled.