by Athan,Jon
The man sighed and shook his head. He was simply searching for a place to rest. He thought he found a man like himself, a man who understood the struggle. Instead, he found something worse. He found an arrogant homeless man who would stomp on anyone to reach the top. He expected arrogance from the rich and privileged, so he often forgave them for their ignorance. He decided to forgive Lucas, too – everyone deserved a chance.
The man said, “We're all in this together, brother. We're all trying to survive. I don't appreciate you talking to me like that, but I'll forgive you. I think it's the alcohol talking, so I understand. I can forgive you, brother, and I would like to help you. I've been sober for five years and I can help you do the same.” The man extended his arm and reached for a handshake. He gazed into Lucas' deviant eyes and said, “My name is Chester. It's nice to meet you.”
Lucas stared at Chester with a deadpan expression, befuddled by the man's kindness. He glanced down at the homeless man's sooty hand. Although the gesture was thoughtful, the ex-convict felt insulted. How could a peasant touch the hand of a god?
Lucas sneered in disgust and said, “Get your damn hand away from me, you damn dirty vagrant. Who do you think you are? I should kill you right now, you stupid motherfucker. I should really kill you.”
Chester shut his eyes and nodded. He said, “It's the alcohol talking. I understand this problem very well, son. I can't force you to accept my help, but–”
“You're right about that. You can't... You can't force me to do anything. The alcohol... The alcohol is not the problem. People like you are the problem. You piss me off. You make me angry. It was never the alcohol or the drugs, it was the people. It's always been the people.”
“You have a drug problem, too? I know a place where you can rehabilitate. No questions asked, no money transferred.”
Lucas chuckled and nodded, then he said, “Yeah, I have a drug problem. I... I can't seem to find a place to do 'em in peace. You know what I'm saying?” He smirked and glanced around the park – a bulb materialized above his dome. Lucas said, “Well, I guess this place is good enough. It's better to commit a sin before the eyes of God than to commit it behind his back. Something like that...”
Lucas retrieved a small baggie filled with cocaine from his pocket – a gram of snow. Bug-eyed, Chester stared at the bag, then he glanced at Lucas. He was astonished by the man's audacity. He realized the ex-convict could not be saved. The homeless man scampered away from the bench, glancing over his shoulder with each hurried step.
As he rubbed the cocaine on his gums, sucking and slurping like a prostitute in an alley, Lucas shouted, “Yeah! Get the hell out of here! You're part of the problem! You and everyone else!” He sucked the residue from his fingertip, then he swiped his hand on his pants. As the pedestrians glanced his way, concerned about the shouting, Lucas yelled, “All of you are part of the problem! You hear me? All of you will pay! You won't be punished by a god, you won't be tortured by a devil. No, fuck that! I'm your punisher! I'm your worst nightmare!”
Lucas tumbled forward and fell off the bench. He crawled on the floor, disoriented by the drugs and alcohol. He knew he was causing a scene, putting himself at risk for another lifetime in prison, but he could not help himself. His inner-demons overwhelmed him. As he crawled towards the grass, he caught a glimpse of a couple at the other side of the park.
Dean and Lori walked with their fingers interlocked, strolling into the park. The pair were not the most stylish considering their vagrancy, but they glowed like beacons at the bottom of the ocean – their romance pierced through the darkest abyss.
Even from afar, Lucas could see the glee in Dean's eyes. A son's happiness would usually bring joy to a father's heart. Lucas was not the average father figure, though. He envied the young man. He trembled as an uncontrollable fury consumed him, raging through his body like a forest fire.
With glum eyes, Lucas whispered, “The... The little bastard would rather spend time with her than me.” He sniffled as a tear streamed down his cheek – a single drop coursing down his soft wrinkles. Lucas said, “He chose a whore over me...”
Saddened by the discovery, Lucas glanced around the park. Most of the visitors were staring at him, worried about his outburst. The police will be here any minute, he thought, they're not worth it. He took one final glance at Dean and Lori as he lurched away from the park, slipping and sliding with every step. He was depressed due to their happiness, but they would have to be dealt with later.
Chapter Twelve
A New Guest
Lucas sighed, then he whispered, “Where are you? What's taking you so long?”
The ex-convict sat under the living room window in his self-declared home. A slit of moonlight poured through the boarded window above him, washing the room with a pearly glow. The illumination was inexplicably hypnotizing.
Under his breath, the killer murmured, “I don't know what I'm going to do to you, but you'll regret it in the end. You'll regret all of this...”
Lucas' eyes widened as he heard a squealing floorboard. With a simple glance at the door, he found Dean standing with one foot in the apartment. The pair stared at each other awkwardly, like flirting teenagers bumping into each other at a mall. In an instant, words were difficult to conjure. What to say to a man with a broken heart?
Dean bit his bottom lip, then he said, “I thought you'd be sleeping by now.”
Lucas nodded and responded, “Yeah, well, I'm usually sleeping by now. I figured I'd stay up and wait for you, though. I was worried, you know? I was really worried about you, Dean.”
“You didn't have to worry. I told you I'd be busy.”
“Yeah, well, your message was a little... a little too vague for my liking. It made me very... very nervous. What else could I do? Huh?”
“I don't know what to tell you.”
“You can apologize to me. Then, you can tell me where you've been. How does that sound? Huh? How does–”
Dean held his hand up, calling for silence. He said, “I don't want to argue with you. I never wanted to cause any problems, okay? Let's talk about this tomorrow. I brought a guest with me.”
“A guest?” Lucas repeated.
Dean leaned into the hallway and beckoned to his guest.
Lori walked to the doorway with her hands clasped in front of her stomach, bashful. She wore a black coat over a gray shirt. Her outfit was complemented by her black skinny jeans and her matching boots. Her hair was obviously curled for the couple's date at the park. Dean could not match her grace, especially considering he only had one set of clothing.
Fortunately, Lori did not mind. She understood his situation very well. She was not attracted to the surface anyway. She was charmed by the young man's gentle soul. Money couldn't buy a benign spirit, money couldn't buy a sincere woman's heart. With a tender heart all for herself, what else could a young woman need?
Dean asked, “You remember Lori from the diner, right?” He glanced at Lori and said, “This is Lucas Walker. He's my... my roommate.”
Lori smiled and said, “It's nice to see you again.”
Lucas glanced at Lori, then he turned towards Dean. With a raised brow, wide eyes, and a stiff posture, it was safe to assume the man was surprised. He blamed the woman for straining his relationship with Dean. And there she stood in his living room, unaware of the hatred he harbored within.
Lucas staggered to his feet and said, “Let's have a little chat, Dean. Come on...”
With his eyes locked on Lori, Lucas strolled out of the apartment. Lori sucked her lips, anxious – she could feel the tension in the room. Dean gently patted her shoulder and nodded, then he followed Lucas to the foyer of the building. Dean stood on the stoop, Lucas paced on the walkway.
Lucas said, “You brought a woman to our home, boy. You brought a girl to our home without my permission. You didn't even bother to ask. How could you do this to me? Huh? I apologized to you, I promised I would do better, and you... you bring her here? What's wrong
with you?”
Dean shrugged and responded, “I don't see the problem, Lucas. This is my home, too. We just wanted to spend the night together. That's all. What's wrong?”
“You didn't ask. You left without saying a word and you didn't ask for my permission. Those are the problems.”
“What are you afraid of? You think she's going to find out you've killed people?”
Lucas huffed, then he said, “Come on, boy, you know better than that. She could wake up at night, she'll start wandering, then she'll stumble upon the bodies. You think she's just going to ignore some dead bodies? You think she's only going to blame me? Do you really think she's that stupid?”
“She won't do that. She'll be with me the entire time. I can... I can take her to a different apartment, too. I'll take her away if you want.”
Lucas placed his hands on his hips and shook his head like a disappointed parent. He said, “No. Unless you're taking her across town, that won't work. She'll start asking questions, she'll get curious. 'Why can't we stay here, Dean? What's wrong with this place?' It won't work. I don't trust her. I don't think I trust you, either. This is unacceptable, boy. I'll get rid of her.”
Lucas bit his bottom lip as he marched towards the entrance of the building. Dean stood at the doorway, blocking his path. The young man's insolence enraged the ex-convict. Dean could see the anger in his mentor's livid eyes. The killer would not hesitate to put his hands on the young man – he was not a soft father figure.
Dean said, “I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry. I spent the day with her and I want to spend more time with her. That's all. I didn't think it would bother you so much. Please, let her stay. Don't put your hands on her. Don't make this into anything bigger than it has to be. I'm sorry.”
Lucas gazed into Dean's eyes. The young man was sincere, but that didn't concern him. He no longer saw a shade of himself in his eyes. The spark of deviance had vanished, extinguished by the power of love – the woman calmed his soul. Yet, the killer could not force himself to attack his student. He couldn't hurt him.
Lucas nodded and said, “Okay, okay. I'll let her stay the night. Sure, you can 'cuddle' with the woman. I don't care. But, you have to help me with a little project tomorrow. None of this disappearing bullshit, either. No, I want your full cooperation. Do we have a deal?”
Dean asked, “What exactly are you going to need from me?”
“That doesn't matter.”
“Come on, Lucas, don't be like this. I can help you, but I can't go around killing people. What do you want from me? What kind of 'project' do you have in mind?”
Lucas jabbed his index finger at Dean's chest and said, “It doesn't matter. You didn't tell me you were bringing the girl over, so you don't deserve to know about my little project. Fair is fair, right?”
Dean could see the man was not going to budge – cooperate or die. The young man glanced back into the hall. Lori tended to her own business in the apartment. She respected the quarreling couple's privacy. She wasn't the type to snoop through phones or eavesdrop on private conversations – she was a keeper.
Dean said, “Fine. I'll help you tomorrow.”
Lucas smirked and said, “Good. Now, let's go back inside and welcome our guest. I'm sure she's dying to know more about us.”
***
Dean sat near the door, his arms wrapped around Lori's body. He whispered honeyed words into her ear, making her blush and giggle with each gentle compliment. She returned the whisper and seduced him with her tender voice. The couple were made for each other, like a pair of plastic dolls manufactured to sell romance to children.
Lucas scoffed at the affectionate couple. He didn't bother to eavesdrop on their flirting. Romance made him nauseous, turning his stomach more than savage gore. Jealousy was also consuming his mind. He was placed in a strange position. He didn't actively seek a lover, but he wanted what Dean had.
He grabbed a small metal trash can, which he found in a different apartment, then he placed it towards the center of the room. He grabbed the note Dean jammed into the boarded window and he tossed it into the bin. The paper was a symbol of the young man's betrayal. He tossed other sheets of paper into the trash. then he tossed a match into the bin. The fire slowly spread through the papers, conjuring a bit of warmth in the dreary room.
Lucas glanced at Lori and said, “It's better than nothing.”
As Lucas sat under the boarded window, Lori said, “Thank you. I appreciate it.” The ex-convict grunted and nodded – you're welcome. As she scooted closer to Dean, Lori asked, “So, how did you guys meet? Dean tells me you're friends. I never thought he would be friends with a... with a man like yourself.”
Lucas scowled and asked, “What's that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, no, I didn't mean it like that. I meant you're... You're just so different in age, you know? I mean, Dean's not much older than me and you look like you can be his father... I'm sorry, that probably didn't come out right, either.”
Lucas inhaled deeply as he stared at the anxious young woman. He bit his tongue and stopped himself from spewing a vile tirade. He glanced at Dean, hoping his peer had a change of heart. Dean slowly shook his head, conversing without saying a word – don't do anything stupid or I won't help you.
Lucas sighed, then he said, “Well, we met at a bar. Our boy here was being bullied by a drunk. I swooped in like a superhero and... well, I saved his ass. So, from that point, I decided to help the boy. I figured he could use a man like myself to watch his back and teach him the way of the world.”
With glowing eyes, Lori said, “That's so cool...” She bit her bottom lip, then she said, “I hope you don't mind me asking, but I'm curious. I'm just a naturally curious person, so I can't help but ask a lot of questions. Most people would call me nosy, but whatever. Anyway, since you're teaching Dean, are you two looking for jobs? I mean, how do you work when you're homeless?”
“You work 'independently,' I suppose. You start off with small jobs, you save some money, you rent yourself a place, then you continue moving up the ladder. Just as the government wants us to.”
“Small jobs? What kind of jobs are those?”
Dean could see the devil sitting on Lucas' shoulder, whispering wicked words into his ear. He could see the man's serpent tongue and deadly fangs, waiting to poison the young woman with the truth. The ex-convict wanted to confess, particularly to spite Dean. Dean, however, refused to give him the opportunity.
Dean said, “The type of jobs an average American doesn't want to do. You work out in the fields or do some carpeting with the illegals. Small, under the table jobs.”
Lori nodded as she accepted the explanation. She asked, “So, if you're working the fields or whatever, what did you do before you were homeless?”
Lucas vacantly stared at the ground as he pondered the million-dollar question – a difficult question with a difficult answer. The question was equivalent to asking a psychopath: what do you do in your free time? The answer was never easily thrown in the air. Self-incrimination was not on the psychopath's agenda.
Dean carefully observed his mentor, prepared to interrupt if at all necessary.
Lucas responded, “I used to... I used to paint houses. Yeah, that's what I used to do before I was homeless. It was a job I had since my teenage years. It paid well, too, but things didn't work out. Things change. Things always change.”
Lucas smiled as he stared at the floor, reminiscing about the past. He remembered painting houses before his incarceration. He didn't lie to their guest – he didn't tell the entire truth, either. He painted houses in order to stalk people. He'd take note of the houses with weak security and small families. He'd peep into the house to watch women changing. His peeping wasn't restricted to adults, either.
The memories aroused him. He remembered watching young women as they exited their showers; he remembered watching kids as they played in their backyards. His young adult life was plagued by his wicked behavior, but he didn't seem to mind. He was norm
al, everyone else was different.
***
Lucas shook his head, snapping out of his contemplation like if he had just awoke from a dream. With Lori's silence, he figured her questioning was over. The respectful woman wasn't going to dig for more information. So, Lucas seized the opportunity.
He turned his attention to Lori and asked, “You said you were homeless now, didn't you? Where did you live before being homeless?”
Dean asked, “Why do you want to know?”
“Well, I'd like to know where she comes from if that's okay with you. Besides, she asked plenty of questions, I figured I could ask a few, too.”
Lori smiled and said, “He's right. It's only fair.”
Lucas extended his arms away from his body and said, “Fantastic. I'm glad you agree. Now, where do you come from, sweetheart?”
Lori shrugged, then she said, “Jeez, I come from nowhere special, really. Before I basically ran away, I lived with my parents and my younger brother over on Mel Hill. You know, near the south side of town. You've heard of it, right?”
“I think I know the place. It's a little diverse, though, isn't it? What street?”
“It was the red house on Fifth Street. A little house on the corner. You can't miss it. Well, maybe you can, but I don't know...”
Lucas asked, “Why'd you run away, sweetie? I can't help but be curious. Why would a beautiful young woman like yourself run away from home? Family problems? Money issues? Love?”
“You don't have to answer that,” Dean said as he shook his head. “You don't have to answer any of his questions, Lori. This isn't a game show. You know, we can leave if you want. We can go.”
Lori furrowed her brow and asked, “Why? I'm not offended or anything like that. I mean, if I met someone like me, I'd probably ask the same questions.” She sighed as she turned towards Lucas. She twirled her hair and said, “Family problems. It's always family problems, isn't it? My dad is an asshole, my mom is passive, and my brother is a dick. It just wasn't a good environment for me.”