It was then that she realized that her trailer itself was relatively untouched. Her mother was probably inside, passed out on numerous prescriptions. She could have slept through this entire bloodbath. Jesse might have lost her father, but she could still save her mother.
Jesse picked her body up out of the mud and began to crawl towards the edge of the trailer, away from the dangerous man in the chair.
16.
Linda moved away from the window and looked back at Tyler. She looked into his eyes and slowly and sadly nodded. Tyler wasn’t sure when he was keeping watch, but she knew, even at this distance, the man she married all those years ago.
“It’s him.”
“Damnit!” Tyler shouted and then, put his hand over his mouth. They had planned to ride this out by being quiet and hiding. So far, it was working, but then they saw that thing uprooting and tossing trailers in the old section like they were nothing. They had hoped their trailer was too sturdy to be thrown. . . and then, he showed up.
Linda moved the curtain back slightly and looked again. He hadn’t moved from his chair and she hoped he couldn’t see her. He did, however, shift his head as if he was watching something. Then, she saw it, or rather him. Mr. Hack, their landlord, running towards her house. She wanted to close the curtain, but the terror on his face was captivating. She wanted to help him out, but she couldn’t risk drawing that thing’s attention. He got within several yards of the trailer, but she heard a loud roar followed by a whoosh. The black, swirling cloud of claws and fangs surrounded him. Linda had thought he vanished completely when blood pieces of flesh struck her window. The thing flew off and left nothing but a pile of broken bones.
David still sat in his chair.
Linda finally peeled herself away from the window, turning to embrace Tyler. He was gone. She walked to the back bedroom, thinking he might be keep watch on the other side. He wasn’t. She went across the hall and open Haley’s door. Tyler was sitting at the end of her bed. Haley was curled up in the fetal position next to him with her hands over her ears.
She can’t take the all the screaming, Linda thought. Even Tyler can’t comfort her.
This had to go down in history as one of the worst birthdays in the history of birthdays. She and Tyler gave up their usual date night and he even took the night off work to celebrate. They all went out to eat as a family and came back for cake. Afterwards, they let Haley stay up late and watch a movie. She barely made it to eleven o'clock before she fell asleep. After twenty minutes or so to make sure she wasn’t going to wake up, Tyler carefully picked her up. He had become an expert at this over the years. Linda had thought to herself that maybe they’d get their date night after all when the gunshot startled them all. From there, their mundane world had descended into madness.
17.
Jesse alternated between running full throttle when she had the cover of trailers and cars, and patiently waiting, watching to see if the coast was clear, and sneaking to the next available wreckage to hide behind. She rounded the corner of a trailer and collided with another person, sending both of them to the ground. When Jesse got up, she saw the familiar colors of her school’s cheerleading outfit. . . and blood.
Amanda’s eyes were wild. She got up and spun in a circle looking everywhere before she settled back to Jesse. “You’ve got to help me. We’ve got to get out of here!”
Of all the things that happened tonight, this might have been the most shocking for Jesse: Amanda wanting her help. All throughout her years in school, Amanda was always the leader of the pack when it came to her tormentors. And tonight, she conspired with the other popular seniors to deliver what would have been the most humiliating night of her life. If she hadn’t shown up, maybe her father would have stayed in their home and he’d still be alive.
“No. You’re on your own.”
“Wha-“
“You heard me, Amanda. I’m going back to my house. You can find your own way out.” She started to walk away.
Amanda grabbed her wrist and spun her around. “Is this because of that prank? It was just a joke, Jesse. I swear. Please, let’s just get out of her. People are dying. We can’t stay here!”
Jesse yanked her arm away and continued on her way. Amanda yelled at her back, “Fine! Be a bitch. I don’t need you. I can get out of here on my-“
A crash interrupted her and Jesse had to dive forward to avoid the trailer as it was pushed towards the both of them. She turned just in time to see the moving trailer pin Amanda against the adjacent trailer. The alley they had walked down was gone now and both trailers were pushed until they turned on their sides with one on top of the other. Blood poured out the crack between the two houses like a peanut butter sandwich that was made with too much jelly. Above the two houses was the Car Nex. For the first time, she could focus on it. She saw its red eyes in the center of the whirlwind.
They were looking at her.
18.
Linda left her daughter’s room. Tyler was always so good with her. He had become a better father than her real father could ever be. Tyler might not have a job you would brag to your parents about, but it paid the bills and he was there whenever Haley needed him. David was cold and distance. He cared more about his alcohol than he did Haley and when she tried to confront him about it, he denied having any sort of problem. He only seemed to notice them when they packed their bags.
Linda had pulled back the curtains a little only to find an empty lawn chair on that lot that used to be their home. David was gone.
A shotgun blast filled the trailer and Linda dove for cover behind the kitchen island. She looked up to see a giant hole where the knob to her front door used to be. The door slowly swung inward and David’s head appeared.
“Honey, I’m home.”
From her vantage point, she saw Tyler come out of Haley’s bedroom. Their eyes locked and she motioned for him to go back. He needed to protect their daughter.
“I know you’re in here. I saw you two lovebirds peeking through the front curtains.”
Linda looked around for a weapon. All her pots and pans hung from the ceiling. Her knife rack was on the other side of the island next to the fridge. Then, she remembered the birthday cake and the knife she used to cut it were right above her head on the island.
“There’s no use hiding. If I don’t end up killing you, the Car Nex will. Look at what it’s done to your nice trailer park you guys kicked me out of.”
It’s now or never, she thought as she slid her fingertips up to the countertop.
19.
The creature hovered over her and Jesse cried out. It wasn’t very loud since she was exhausted from all the running and screaming she had done earlier. When her vocal cords finally gave out, she realized that all the other screams in the trailer park were gone. It was eerily quiet. Did everyone leave? she thought, or did it kill everyone?
She somehow found the strength to run. The Car Nex followed as if it had all the time in the world. She saw her house and the body of father up ahead. At least, I’ll die with my family, she thought.
A wave on pain shot through her as the creature effortlessly sliced her across the back with one of its many claws. She hit the dirt and crawled forward until she was next to her dad. She buried her face into his chest, trying to ignore his missing head. She squeezed her eyes tight and waited for the final deathblow as she could feel the heat pouring off the creature behind her.
20.
Linda gripped the counter and sprang up. With one quick glance, she found the knife and grabbed it as David took aim. She managed retreat back behind the island before the countertop exploded sending shards of wood and granite everywhere.
When she heard David start to reload his gun, she took a chance and rushed towards him. He brought the shotgun back up, but she slashed the knife across his forearm. He dropped the gun and Linda kicked it to the other side of the kitchen. He grabbed her wrist that held the knife and punched her in the stomach. Linda felt the wind go out of her as
she doubled over. She wasn’t going to give up with her daughter in the other room. She rammed her shoulder into David’s gut and slammed him again refrigerator. She ducked away and he fell to his knees. Before he could recover, she grabbed him from behind and put the knife to his throat.
At that same moment, a roar unlike any other roar she had heard tonight filled the trailer. The walls vibrated, throwing picture frames onto the floor. All windows cracked and then, shattered.
David smiled. “Come to daddy.”
21.
Jesse could feel its fangs pressed against the tops of her shoulders. The heat coming off of it was tremendous. Sweat dripped down her forehead, adding in with the blood and dirt smeared all over her face. Just when she wondered when it would stop toying with her, she felt her skin tear as its razor sharp teeth pierced through her shirt and just barely into her flesh. She screamed as the fangs slowly moved down cutting her shirt and bra, and splitting the soft tissue of her back. Jesse felt the Car Nex pull away and return to her shoulders again. This time, its teeth went in deeper, down into muscle. She waited for the tearing, for the blood, for the pain, for her death, but it never came. The creature pulled its fangs out and blasted her ear drums with a deafening roar. Then, the heat was gone. She looked behind her and all around. The thing wasn't there. She considered that it might still be messing with her and that she needed to get inside right away.
She carefully pushed herself away from her father’s limp body and headed to her still open window. She latched onto the frame and hoisted herself up and in. She awkwardly tumbled in and a nail snagged her shirt, tearing it even more. Jesse pulled the remaining bits over her head and let her broken bra hit the floor. She headed over to the door to find her mom when caught her reflection in the mirror.
From head to toe, Jesse was caked in mud mixed with blood and gore, a little of hers, but mostly from others. As she stood there, just in her underwear, she couldn’t help but think that she’d kill to be that insecure girl that hated her body and only had to worry about the mean girls at school. The girl in front of her was not quite dead, but very much broken inside and out. She was a survivor, but for how long? And did it really matter?
She reached for the doorknob and as she turned it, she called out, “Mom?”
22.
The front end of one of the nicer trailers in Pleasant Palaces exploded, leaving a gaping hole for the Car Nex to enter. ”Well, it’s about time, Nexie. Get her off me.”
Linda held David in front of her with the knife trembling against his throat. Despite the cold air from the outside being able to get inside now, the heat in her home was unbearable. The creature swayed left and right with its claws gripping the torn edges of the trailer. Suddenly, it lunged forward and raked one of its claws across her right arm. She winced and almost dropped the knife. She quickly recovered and as the Car Nex went to strike that arm again, she turned David to use him as a shield. The claws stopped inches from his face. The monster pulled back and bellowed.
Linda realized that as long as she had David in danger, she controlled the beast. “Tyler! You need to get out of here now.”
She tried to keep one eye on the creature as she half-looked to the back. Tyler and Haley appeared at the end of the hallway. They crept closer, but when Haley got a good look at the Car Nex she tried to turn around. Tyler knelt down and said something to her that Linda couldn’t hear. She turned around with her hands over her eyes and Tyler led her with his hands on her shoulders. Even with everything that was going on, Linda couldn’t help but smile.
Breaking up the moment, David said, ”So, you’re going to sacrifice yourself so your boy toy can get away. How touching.”
The whirlwind came at her again and Linda barely turned David in time. Once again, the creature shrieked and backed off. She pushed the knife harder against David’s throat causing beads of blood to appear. The Car Nex screamed out. Linda gave David a little push and commanded him to “Walk.”
She and David slowly moved forward, away from the front door. The creature backed up and Linda looked back to see Tyler guiding Haley to the door. They reached it and Tyler quickly opened it, scooped Haley up, and took off running. The Car Nex’s eyes started to turn so Linda brought the knife upwards and nicked him in the jaw with the tip of the blade. Its attention went back to them, but David used this opportunity to get a hand between the blade and his neck and bash the back of his head into Linda’s nose. The knife and Linda hit the floor. She went to grab for it, but David’s boot came down with a crunch on her fingers. David kicked the knife out the front end of the trailer and walked around to the other side of Linda, grabbing onto her long, blonde hair.
The Car Nex flew at her and David stepped over her, putting his hand out. “I don’t think so. This bitch is mine! But first, I’m going to take care of Mr. Perfect.”
He retrieved his gun and dragged her over to the open front door. Linda tried to warn Tyler, but David brought his knee down on the side of her face. He held it there, making her watch the silhouette of Tyler, and took aim. “Still within range. Guess the blackjack dealer’s luck has run out. The house doesn’t always win.”
David pulled the trigger. Tyler went down. Once the ringing in her ears went away, she could hear Haley crying. David stood up and looked at her confused. He went to speak but couldn’t. He looked back towards the Car Nex and finally saw it on the kitchen counter: Haley’s birthday cake. “How. . . How could I forget?” He asked as he turned back to Linda. “How could I forget my little girl’s birthday?”
A whoosh made him turn his head. Emptiness where the hole was. David ran out the door. Linda could only watch in terror as the whirlwind headed towards her crying daughter with David in pursuit.
“No! Get back here! I COMMAND YOU!” David yelled, but the creature with so many claw and so many teeth didn’t seem to have any ears. It descended onto Haley before David could reach her. Anticipating the worst sounds imaginable, Linda turned away and covered her ears.
It did no good.
23.
Jesse walked into the living room. The first thing she noticed was that it was quite chilly, but she just assumed it was due to her almost-nudity. Then, she saw it. . . when she looked up. The roof that her dad put over their heads and was so damn proud of had a large chunk ripped out of it. Jesse walked under it, letting the cold and the moonlight blanket her body. For a brief moment, she felt at peace until she realized she wasn’t alone in the room.
Her mother sat in her usual spot: a recliner facing her aquarium. Sometimes Jesse’s dad let her sleep there rather than try to move her to the bed. She had her journal on her lap, a pill bottle in her hand, and slash across her neck that made it look like she was wearing an apron of blood.
Jesse ran over to her and burst into tears. She shook her shoulder hoping, believing that her eyes were mistaken. Her mother couldn’t be dead. She might not have been the best mother, but she didn’t deserve this. She tried her best to raise Jesse, but her pill addiction was too much.
Jesse grabbed the journal off of her lap. Somehow it had avoided getting any blood on it. Jesse was always forbidden from looking in it. Her mother always had it on her, even while she slept. She told her it was personal, but one day she could read it. Jesse figured why not now. Chances were that the Car Nex would return any minute and finish what it started. She opened the cover.
Jesse, my loving daughter, my whole world, I’m starting this journal so that one day, when you’re ready, you’ll understand why things were as they were. You never met your grandmother. You would have loved her as I loved her. When they diagnosed her with cancer, it destroyed my whole family. We were told Chemotherapthy had worked wonders for other families. We were not prepared for the side effects. She lived for another five years, but they were years of sleepless nights, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding from everywhere. When she died, it broke me. It felt like it was all for nothing.
Jesse, if you’re reading this, then I’m already dead and
someone, hopefully your father, told you about the tumor that was growing in my brain. I know Chemo has come a long way since my mother underwent it, but I can’t put you through that. Your father knew and he dealt with it the only way he knew how: drinking. I tried my best to be a mother to you, but I’m afraid the pain was too much. The doctors gave me medicine for the headaches, and when they stopped working, I got even stronger medicine. That cycle never stopped.
Half the time, I felt as if I was time traveling. One moment, I saw my beautiful girl going off to school and the next, she was getting ready for bed. I wish I could have stayed awake long enough to be there when you needed me, but I was weak and the blinding pain was too much. Some days I swore to myself, I’d only take one pill and before I knew it, half the bottle was gone.
I decided to write in this journal to explain why I did what I did. I also wanted to write down everything that I saw and felt. Some days I could see everything, but I couldn’t get my mouth to move.
Ravenous Page 11