by Jon Athan
As Kat approached the pair, Ed asked, “What's got you so happy, girl?”
Kat shrugged and said, “Nothing, nothing...”
“Yeah, yeah. You better not be up to anything that will get us busted. You know better than that, right? Right?”
“Of course. It's nothing, Ed. Really, it's something for me and Stanley, if you know what I mean...”
Ed rolled his eyes and marched forward. He said, “Alright, I get you. Come on, let's start heading out. You've got the money, right?”
“Yeah. Should be enough for everything.”
The family of murderers approached the foyer of the store. As expected, only two cash registers were open and the cashiers were working at a snail's pace. Minimum wage promoted minimum effort for some employees. The lines were brimming with people eager to checkout and rush home.
Ed sighed, then he said, “Let's just hurry up and get in line. I don't want to waste anymore time with these people.”
Stanley reluctantly followed the couple. He loved Ed and Kat with all of his heart, but the monotony of waiting in line was never welcoming. The enigmatic couple could not enliven the tedium of a twenty-minute wait. To his left, he could see the bustling electronics section. He had flashbacks to the days he visited the store with his mother and brother. Only a few days ago, he convinced his mother to allow him to visit the electronics section while she waited in line – he decided to do the same with his new parents.
Stanley tugged on Kat's dress and asked, “Can I go look at the video games before we leave? Please?”
Kat smiled as she gazed into Stanley's innocent eyes, then she glanced at Ed. She wasn't the leader of the family, so she sought permission before approving. Ed bit his bottom lip and nodded – let him go.
Kat said, “Go on. Have some fun. Try to be back in ten minutes, okay? Don't talk to anyone, either. You never know what kind of people shop in these kind of stores...”
Stanley jogged towards the other side of the store, slipping and sliding between the slothful customers. He slowed his jog to a leisurely stroll as he approached the electronics section. His eyes widened as he examined the shelves of video games, which were located behind sturdy glass.
He stopped in front of a handheld gaming system; the demo, of course, was latched onto a sturdy stand to prevent theft. He played as a plumber wearing denim overalls and a red cap, jumping on anything and everything in his path.
Stanley whispered, “I'm going to miss this...”
The young teenager lived a sheltered life for fourteen years. He was young, so he didn't have to experience the real world yet. The plunge made him nervous. He couldn't help but wonder how he would live without technology. Only the freedom of the open road waited for him ahead – no more video games or internet. He was taking a step back from technology while taking one giant step forward in his life.
With bittersweet thoughts running through his mind, Stanley whispered, “It's going to get better. All of us will be happy together. I don't need this. I don't need any of this.”
An elderly woman watched Stanley with narrowed eyes from afar, astonished. She rubbed her eyes and shook her head, like if she were trying to awaken from a dream, but to no avail. To the untrained eye, he seemed like any other boy playing a video game. The woman, however, recognized him. She had seen him on the news, she heard about him on the radio, and she read about him in the paper. Stanley was a living headline to her.
As she held her trembling hand to her quivering lips, the woman whispered, “It's him... Jesus, it's him...” She scurried towards an employee and whispered, “It's the boy from the news. It's actually him.”
***
Ed and Kat slowly moved forward, walking two steps for every paid customer. The couple were practically crawling towards the finish line, shambling like the undead in a horror movie. A few arrogant patrons sneered at the pair, scoffing at their lack of hygiene. Yet, the couple didn't seem to care. They only sought to escape civilization.
Ed clenched his jaw and tilted his head as he neared the cash register – only three customers remained until they reached the finish line. The excitement of finally departing did not unnerve him, though. A simple newspaper sitting on a rack caught his attention. From afar, he swore the image on the front page depicted a younger Stanley. The fact irked him, sending him into a tailspin of uncertainty.
Ed placed the hefty box on the ground, then he trudged out of the line. Kat watched him with a furrowed brow, baffled by his behavior. With each calculated step, Ed slowly approached the rack. The jitters increased as his view became clearer. The front page headline read: Family killed in suspicious fire, son sought for questioning.
Ed was not illiterate, but he had some trouble reading. Despite his disability, he was able to skim through the article. He found several mentions of Stanley's name and the word 'suspicious.' Considering Stanley's heinous actions, 'suspicious' did not sit well with him. Ed winced as Kat gently tapped his shoulder.
Kat asked, “What's wrong?”
Ed stared at Kat with sharp eyes. He said, “They... They know...” He showed Kat the newspaper, tapping the image of Stanley – an old middle school picture. Ed repeated, “They know.”
Kat slowly shook her head and said, “No, no... I'm not going to let him go. It's not happening, Ed, not now.”
“Keep your voice down. I know that already. If we want to keep him, if we want to save him, we have to get out of here as soon as possible.”
Ed and Kat rushed towards the electronics section, leaving their supplies behind. A few customers in line called to the couple, complaining about the heavy tent and flashlights rolling on the floor, but the pair refused to stop. They had their sights set on saving Stanley from the prying customers and under-trained security officers.
Ed smiled as he turned the corner and spotted Stanley. The teenager stood near the handheld system, enjoying the game demo. The smile on his face caused a swarm of butterflies to dance in his stomach. In his mind, the boy was part of his bloodline. Kat did not birth him, but he was their son and his happiness was significant.
The savage killer's smile was wiped from his face as a loss prevention officer approached from the other side of the aisle. The frail elderly woman followed closely behind, pointing and whispering. The man was burly, his navy polo shirt clung to his muscles with each stride. Appearance didn't represent strength, but Ed would certainly be facing a challenge if the pair bumped heads.
Ed ran forward and shouted, “Stanley! Stanley, come here, boy!”
Stanley glanced at his mentor with a furrowed brow. He glanced towards his left and gasped upon spotting the security personnel. Before he could utter a word, Ed carried him away from the demo.
In a sonorous tone, the security officer shouted, “Stop! Sir, stop!”
Ed disregarded the demands and ran away. He grabbed Kat's forearm and yanked her towards him. He glanced towards the entrance to his left, then he sprinted towards his right. To his utter dismay, two police officers had already arrived at the scene. Ed stopped behind an aisle and dropped Stanley. Stanley landed on his feet, startled by the experience. The world was moving quicker than ever before.
Out of breath, Ed said, “Whatever happens... I want you to run. You understand me? Don't... Don't stop for anyone. Just keep running.” He placed his hand on Kat's cheek and gazed into her eyes. He said, “We've been through a lot, sweetheart. If it comes down to it, I want you to run away with the boy. Forget about me.”
Kat sniveled and moaned. She said, “I don't want it to end like this...”
Upon hearing the rapid footsteps in the neighboring aisle, Ed said, “We have to go.”
Stanley opened his mouth to speak, wanting to chime-in and spill his heart, but he was forced to run. Ed led the way, running ahead as he frantically searched for the best exit. Kat trailed the leader of the family, opting to stay closer to Stanley. She refused to lose the teenager in the chaos. The trio slipped into a home appliance section, crouching benea
th the washing and drying machines.
Ed whispered, “Kat, go up ahead with the boy.”
With a quivering lip, Kat asked, “What are you going to do? Huh? What the hell are you planning, Ed?” Ed bit his bottom lip and shook his head. Kat said, “Don't pull any of this macho bullshit now, asshole. Don't do this to us. Let's leave together. Let's be a family and–”
“Not yet. I have to take one with me. Go on ahead. I'll be right there.”
Stanley said, “I'll help you. I can–”
“Go.”
Kat whimpered as she stared at her partner in crime. She was irked by his foolish decision, but she didn't bother to challenge him. He was a free spirit, he followed his own rules. Stanley was astonished by his strict rejection. He couldn't challenge him, either. He wouldn't disrespect his mentor during such an unfortunate time. The pair reluctantly straggled away, crawling towards the other end of the aisle.
Ed planted his back on a drying machine and stared at the ceiling. He pulled out his trusty serrated blade as he counted the passing seconds. The sound of boots thudding on the tile flooring increased as someone approached. Ed inhaled deeply, then he lunged at his pursuer. He found himself confronting a police officer.
The officer was startled by Ed's sudden appearance. The hesitant cop drew his handgun, quickly firing one round. To his disappointment, the gunshot missed the killer's torso by an inch. Ed pushed the officer's gun away before he could fire another shot, then he stabbed the man's throat. The officer dropped the gun, grabbing Ed's forearm with his right hand and trying to cover his wound with the other.
The cop's attempts were rendered fruitless as Ed twisted the blade. Blood squirted on the killer's face as the officer grunted and groaned. Like a waterfall, blood poured from the officer's mouth and streamed down his chin. He was brutalized in an instant.
Through his clenched jaw, Ed said, “You stupid motherfuckers think you can change us. You think you can come into our lives and rape our souls. You were wrong about that. You were dead wrong, you son of a bitch.”
Ed yanked the knife out of the officer's throat, then he shoved him away. The man was enfeebled by the stabbing, plummeting to the floor like a bomb at war. Ed glanced around the store. The loud gunfire caused the customers to scatter like cockroaches shocked by a blinding light. As he glared at the officer, fueled by an irrepressible hatred for authority, Ed picked up the handgun.
He pushed the officer's arms aside, then he sat on his chest. He shoved the barrel of the handgun into the wound on the officer's neck, further aggravating the grisly laceration. The cop squirmed and wheezed as he struggled to escape. Ed twisted the handgun in the wound, aiming upward towards the cop's head, then he pulled the trigger. Unlike the officer, he did not hesitate to kill.
As he stared at the streak of blood and brains on the floor, Ed whispered, “Good night and sweet dreams, motherfucker...”
Ed glanced towards his right as a barrage of footsteps approached. The department store's loss prevention officers rushed towards the thunderous gunfire. They were shocked to find the police officer sprawled atop a pool of blood. Ed smirked as the employees staggered in reverse with their hands up – terrified.
Ed waved at the employees, then he jogged down the aisle. Their respect and obedience allowed them to survive. Although he despised authority, he didn't mind stroking his ego through power. Ed gritted his teeth as he spotted Kat and Stanley lingering near the exit.
Ed asked, “What the hell are you doing? I told you to go, I told you to run. What are you still doing here?!”
Stanley responded, “I don't want to run. You said you wouldn't leave me behind, so I'm not leaving you behind. We're supposed to be family, remember?”
Teary-eyed, Kat rubbed Stanley's shoulder and said, “He's right. We weren't going to leave. We wouldn't survive without you. Fuck that, I'd rather die than break our family apart.”
Ed tapped his brow with the bloodied barrel of the gun as he shook his head. He murmured, “You stupid motherfuckers...” Despite his disappointment, he couldn't help but smile. His family was strong and he was proud of them. He said, “Fuck it. Let's get the hell out of here.”
With a dead police officer left in their wake, the family exited the store.
Chapter Eighteen
A Chase
Ed, Kat, and Stanley jostled through the inquisitive crowd. (Although the customers heard gunfire and frantic shouting, they couldn't help but wait and watch – rubbernecking.) In the foyer of the store, police officers barked their demands and called for help. Of course, the absconding group did not comply.
As he stumbled out of the crowd, Ed glanced around the parking lot. The dazzling sun partially blinded him, but he could see his selection of getaway vehicles. The parked cars, however, were out of the question. He wasn't going to spend time trying to hot-wire a car – it would be foolish. Fortunately, a young woman sat in her cherry-red sedan nearby, watching the commotion.
Ed glanced over his shoulder, staring at Kat and Stanley. He said, “Stick together and follow me.”
Cars swerved and blared their horns as the family sprinted through the parking lot. The nosy woman's eyes widened upon spotting Ed. She couldn't have known Ed was responsible for the chaos inside of the store, but his mere appearance struck fear into her heart. She turned and tried to lock her door, but to no avail.
Ed pulled the driver's door open and yelled, “Get out! Leave the keys and get out of the damn car!” The woman held her hands up and indistinctly yammered as she gazed into Ed's bestial eyes. The killer tapped the barrel of the handgun on the woman's face and shouted, “Get out of the car, damn it! Get out!”
The woman was paralyzed by her fear. Ed grabbed a fistful of her blonde hair, then he yanked her out of the car. She wept and screamed from the pain. Ed shoved the woman to the ground, then he glanced around the steering wheel. To his delight, the keys were still in the ignition.
Ed said, “Get in here. Hurry your asses up!”
Ed sat in the driver's seat, Kat took the passenger's seat, and Stanley hopped into the back seat. The wheels squealed as Ed sped out of the parking lot. The sedan jounced with each speed bump, causing the trio to sway every which way. The family could see the cops rushing out of the department store and the customers pointing at their car. The emergency sirens wailing beyond the horizon were equally disquieting.
As he took a sharp right and exited the parking lot, Ed shouted, “Get your seat belts on! This is going to be one hell of a ride!”
Ed glanced at the rear view mirror as he stomped on the gas pedal. He could see the cars rolling to the side of the road, making way for the convoy of police cruisers – a dozen, at least. The police were rapidly approaching, hurtling towards the sedan. The vibrant red color of the car made them an easy target to track, too.
Fearless and careless, Ed swerved into the oncoming lane. Kat pressed her left hand on the ceiling of the car and her other hand on the dashboard, trying to keep her balance. Stanley buried his face in his knees, blocking out the madness. He could still hear Ed's husky breathing and indistinct whispers above the blaring horns and sirens.
The oncoming vehicles barely evaded the red sedan, swerving into other lanes and stomping on their brakes. The daring move did not dissuade the police, though. One police cruiser followed directly behind the sedan while the rest of the convoy trailed the car from the right lane. The police were certainly persistent.
As he spotted the pursuing car, Ed punched the steering wheel and shouted, “Damn it! Damn it!” His eyes widened upon spotting an escape route. He glanced at Kat and Stanley, then he said, “Hold on. Just hold on...”
Ed took another sharp turn into an alley. With the pedal to the metal, he hurtled down the alleyway. Ed and Kat gasped as a homeless man shambled towards the center of the narrow path. The man, wrapped in layers of tattered coats, staggered upon spotting the zooming vehicle. His fight-or-flight response told him to wait and see – maybe it'll stop in time, maybe
it'll just disappear.
The speeding sedan charged through the man at a breakneck speed – likely breaking the man's neck. The homeless man was tossed four meters into the air, vaulting over the car. As he glanced over his shoulder, Ed caught a glimpse of the man spiraling towards the ground. Even over the roaring engines and wailing sirens, the thud of a living person hitting pavement echoed into the sedan.
Ed took a sharp left and found himself barreling into a busy street. Dozing in-and-out of consciousness, the oblivious drivers waiting for the light were in for a rude awakening.
As he slowed the car, dropping from 70 to 30 miles per hour, Ed said, “Take the wheel, Kat.”
Wide-eyed, Kat repeated in a dubious tone, “Take the wheel?”
“Take the damn wheel!”
Kat reluctantly leaned over the driver's seat and carefully handled the steering wheel. Ed rolled his window down, then he protruded his head from the opening. With one eye closed and the other squinted, the murderer aimed the handgun towards the alley. His breathing was controlled, his demeanor was composed.
With the wind blowing through his hair, he fired three rounds at the pursuing police cruiser. The bullets penetrated the windshield, hitting the driver twice in the chest. The black-and-white car swerved as the police officer lost control. At a high speed, the car crashed into a parked truck. The sound of shattering glass and clanking metal reverberated through the street.
Ed smiled as several police cruisers pulled over near the crash site while others slowed their pursuit. The cops weren't going to have a shootout on a busy street, especially without the proper preparations. Ed glanced over at the road ahead. His eyes widened as the car cruised towards a busy intersection. He slipped back into the car, shoving Kat aside. He stomped on the brakes and veered to the right. The car bounced over a stone divider, then they crashed into the back of a black van.