We All Fall Down - Quills and Daggers Part Two: The Collective - Season 1, Episode 10

by Carver Pike

  The thought of it reminded me of another nursery rhyme. The one about the blackbirds baked in a pie. I’m a sick bastard but I have no desire to eat my victims. Baking them in an actual pie is going a tad too far.

  “Eating them would be nice,” Rotten said as I walked away from the man’s body.

  CHOMP came the teeth of Putrid and then his wheezing laughter. I always feared he might come too close to my ear sometime and actually bite it off by accident. Or on purpose.

  The high from killing someone didn’t last as long as I’d expected it to. The demons were content and left me alone, but I didn’t feel good like I had before. I wished I had someone to share these little victories with. It’s not like I wanted a partner or anything, but I hated that I had nobody to tell. I considered picking up another prostitute so I could share the gory details. I could imagine her face as she sat and listened to my story. I’d have to kill her after, of course, but at least it would give me a few minutes with someone who’d listen. That’s all I wanted.

  I thought about Mrs. Rebecca as I drove around the city aimlessly. What if I hadn’t killed her but instead had confided in her? How would she have reacted if I told her what I’d become? Would she have still loved me? Would she have treated me differently? Would she have called the cops and ratted me out? For a moment, I wished I hadn’t killed her. In truth, I hadn’t. The old bitch had slipped and killed herself. It didn’t matter. She was gone, and I had nobody else to talk to.

  Then I thought about Nikki. She could listen. I could call her and share the details. I could tell her all about the kill and how alive I felt and how it made my cock throb. Maybe it would turn her on and she’d see the power I possessed.

  I drove to a spot close to Swift Fleet and parked. There, I fished a new disposable phone out of my glove compartment and made my way to the building’s parking lot where I crept into my dark corner, wearing my new black mask, and called her.

  “Swift Fleet response, what’s the nature of your emergency?”

  The nature of my emergency? Well, dear, I’ve ripped open a man’s guts and poured a sweet sticky substance all over his intestines.

  “Swift Fleet,” she said again.

  My intention was to tell her all about my night, but instead, I whistled.

  Ring around the rosy. Pockets full of posies. Ashes…ashes. We all fall down.

  “Hello,” she said. “Why are you doing this to me?”

  “Because I l…l…like you,” I replied.

  “If you like me, then leave me alone. You know these calls are recorded, right? The cops will hear this message?”

  “G…good. I wa…want to t…tell you my n…n…name,” I said.

  “Kevin?” she asked. “Is this Kevin?”

  “K…Kevin?” I replied.

  What makes you guess that? Why jump to conclusions? We haven’t gotten that far in our game yet.

  “Leave me alone,” she said.

  “My n…n…name is S…Simon,” I finally told her. “Tell the p…police S…Simple Simon is my n…name.”

  “Please,” she begged. “Call someone else. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

  But I’ve told you my name. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Doesn’t that bring us closer together?

  “Do you like p…p…pie?” I asked.

  “I’m going to hang up now,” she threatened. “Bye.”

  “W…wait,” I said. “180th s…street. The v…v…victim will b…be f…f…familiar to you.”

  Silence. She didn’t like the sound of that. Of course she would be flipping through her mental Rolodex, trying to pinpoint who she knew that I might have attacked. The silence lingered too long so I filled the void with a familiar melody.

  Ring around the rosy…pocket full of posies…ashes…ashes…

  I paused.

  “We all fall dowwwwwn,” I said, but it wasn’t my voice.

  Hag had taken control of my vocal chords. It was the first time any of them had ever used me like a puppet. Her message was relayed from my mouth. The Midnight Man had once said the same words into my ear and now they were spoken into Nikki’s, and in Hag’s high pitched squeal, it must have been terrifying.

  Yes, we all fall down. We all fall down, Nikki.

  She hung up on me and I sat in the shadows thinking about the call. It was perfect. She was petrified. Her tough act had failed this time around and her voice had absolutely quivered on the line.

  “SHE IS NEARLY READY!” Samuel yelled.

  “Not yet,” I argued. “I need more time.”

  “Time for what?” Samuel asked. “For this stupid game you’re playing? This stupid pie baking bullshit. Kill her. Kill them all. No more games.”

  “She liked my voice,” Hag said. “I think she wants to ride my mouth.”

  “Kill her tonight,” Rotten said.

  “Kill her now,” Putrid agreed.

  “You listen to me,” I warned them. “I will pull the fucking plug on this entire operation if you don’t leave me the fuck alone. And I dare you to punish me again. Do it. Do it and I’ll put a fucking bullet through the back of my skull and you’ll have to find a new playmate.

  The demons grew silent and fear struck me. Why was I daring them? What could I hope to gain from angering them again? Yet, the demons remained silent. The power that ran through me was immense. I decided right then that I would go after Nikki. I was tired of the games too. If they wanted her, I would give them to her. She’d be off work soon and I’d snatch her up off the street and hand her over to them.

  When the police arrived, I felt no need to rush off and hide. They wouldn’t be expecting me on the premises. No, Nikki had only received a prank call. Nothing more. As I figured, the cops went into the building and were right back out in no time at all. They didn’t take her seriously. They would when they investigated and found the body I’d promised. But for now, they were long gone.

  Nikki would get off work soon so I walked the parking lot, throwing rocks at the lights, making the parking lot as dark as possible. When she exited the building, she’d have no choice but to walk through the pitch black heart of the parking lot. She’d have to make her way toward the lit up street beyond, but I’d be right behind her.

  By the time she’d finally stepped out, I’d begun to get tired. Her shift ended earlier than I thought. The last time she worked she’d gotten off at about four. This time it was only two in the morning and she caught me off guard. I’d begun to doze off when I heard the metal door slam shut behind her. She paused for a moment and looked out at the darkness before quickly rushing into the parking lot.

  She was faster than I’d anticipated, and I’d expected her to be quick after her last dash through the alley. I hadn’t made up my mind completely about killing her tonight. If the timing was right, it would happen without any problems. If it wasn’t meant to be, she’d escape my clutches and I’d come after her again later. That was all part of the game. Even I didn’t know exactly how it would end.

  To kick the fun up a notch, I whistled. I could have stuck with my normal tune, but I thought a different one might cause some confusion or amp up the creep factor. At a low volume at first, I began.

  London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down…

  I wasn’t sure she heard me at first. She kept walking.

  London Bridge is falling down…

  Silence. She heard me that time. Her feet moved faster and faster until she began to jog. I was so close to her. She was fast but I was faster. I wanted her to know that I was barely farther than an arm’s length away. I could have reached out and taken her hair in my hand.

  My fair lady…

  Her jog turned into a sprint right when I reached out to grab her. Her hair had blown back in the breeze and my fingers missed it by an inch or two. I laughed as I realized how close I was and how lucky this bitch was. I switched to the song she was much more familiar with.

  Ring around the rosy…pocket full of posies…ashes
…ashes…

  She screamed out for help and I continued to laugh. I thought she’d stop at the bus stop or turn right and head down the sidewalk, but she went fucking crazy. She leapt right into oncoming traffic and a car hit her.

  If it weren’t for my all-black attire, I might not have been able to disappear back into the shadows so quickly. Nobody saw me. There, crouched down in the parking lot, I watched the driver of the car get out and check on Nikki.

  Don’t be fucking dead, Nikki. Don’t you dare. You can’t take that from me.

  I stayed until the ambulance arrived and it was clear she wasn’t dead. Yes, she was one lucky bitch. I’d have to visit her again later.

  Chapter 16 – Kevin

  Ivory woke me from my sleep early in the morning before the sun was up. Nikki had been in an accident and needed our help. If I’d known then what was going to transpire at the hospital, I would have stayed home and rested some more, but I’m not one to ditch a friend in need, so I got dressed and followed Ivory out the door.

  “She got hit by a car,” Ivory informed me as he drove my car.

  My face had started to throb and I wasn’t up to driving.

  “Ha…how?” I asked.

  “What do you mean how, Kev?” he snapped at me. “In the fucking street I suppose.”

  It had been a stupid question. He was right. As I turned my head in my seat to try and find a more comfortable position, I saw the hammer and lead pipe I’d left in the backseat. If Ivory saw them he’d know I’d been lying earlier. I needed to remember to move them in case we needed to bring Nikki home with us.

  The streets were still relatively empty at this hour. Only a few cars were on the street, people with early enough shifts to get up and beat the rest of the traffic. The parking lot at the hospital was half full and I wondered how many of the people visiting were there to see loved ones who were on their death bed. Some had to be expectant parents, but of course some were saying goodbye for the last time.

  The thought made me sad. I often dwelled on things happening to other people and imagined what it might be like. A homeless man desperately in need of a shower, a kid who walked with a limp, a blind man begging for change outside a supermarket. These people dealt with issues every day. My worries were nothing compared to theirs.

  Inside the hospital, we were stopped at the nurse’s station. Ivory told them we were there to see a friend who’d gotten into an accident earlier that night. He told them her name and eventually they put a clipboard in front of him. It was only a sign-in log with some simple questions. Ivory told me to go ahead and see how Nikki was feeling while he added us to the log. I forked over my license and went on ahead of him.

  When I found her room, I stopped and looked into the room across from hers. It was loaded with flowers and balloons. Someone wanted her to get well soon. I realized I hadn’t brought anything for Nikki. Feeling strange walking in there empty handed, I shoved both hands into my pockets and made my way slowly into her room. She was there in bed, looking great considering the circumstances. I’d expected to see her with her limbs wrapped in hard casts and a feeding tube down her throat.

  Even without flowers or a teddy bear, I was sure she’d be happy to see a friendly face. I hated hospitals. Something about IVs sticking out of the back of my hand made me feel like I was chained there, so restricted. I could lie in bed at home and watch TV for hours but the moment I was put in a hospital bed, I got antsy and couldn’t stand staying still.

  I smiled as I got closer to her bed. Expecting to get one in return, I was shocked when she suddenly went all rigid and freaked out. She clenched her blanket in both hands and her eyes went wide. She looked as if I’d walked into the room carrying a severed head. I actually had to look at myself in the glare of a picture on the wall to make sure I hadn’t grown a second face.

  Why is she so spooked?

  “N…N…Nikki,” I said. “Are ya…you okay?”

  “Please,” she whispered.

  The word came out weird like she was trying to yell it but couldn’t. She sounded the way people do when they lose their voice with strep throat but want so badly to get their point across.

  “Wha…wha…what happened?” I asked.

  “James?” she said through the gap between her lips.

  In any other situation, I might’ve made fun of her. She looked like a ventriloquist, or a kid playing at one, trying to give her dummy a voice without moving her mouth. This would be fun to bring up later in jest over drinks, but right now wasn’t the time. It wasn’t a laughing matter.

  “H…he’s s…signing the v…v…visitor form,” I said. “They w…wanted c…c…copies of our la…la…licenses.”

  Nikki’s head sunk back into her pillow and she slapped the mattress. I smiled at her, trying to calm her nerves, but it wasn’t working.

  “Stay away from me,” she said, this time moving her mouth fully.

  “I’m s…sorry?” I asked.

  I’d heard her, but I didn’t understand. This didn’t make sense. At Del Mar’s earlier that night, or later yesterday evening actually, we’d sat so close to each other and ate pie and talked about Mrs. Rebecca. Everything was normal.

  “Stay away from me,” she repeated.

  “N…N…Nikki,” I said, holding my hands out and shrugging my shoulders. “It’s m…me. K…K…Kevin.”

  “Get the fuck away from me!” she yelled.

  No. Why are you yelling at me? What have I done? What have I done wrong? I don’t understand.

  “N…N…Nikki,” I said as I reached down to touch her arm.

  She slapped my hand away and fell out of the bed as if my touch might kill her.

  “Help me!” she screamed.

  “I…d…don’t understand,” I said as I backed away from her to give her some space.

  “Help me!” she screamed again. “Somebody help me! There’s a killer in my room!”

  I must have frozen in place because I don’t remember moving until two male nurses were wrestling with me. I tried to pull away from them. I meant nobody any harm but they were rough and they were twisting me in ways my body didn’t appreciate. It hurt and I was uncomfortable and I didn’t deserve this.

  What is going on? What did I do?

  One of the nurses was strong and he was hurting me so I grabbed him by the throat, picked him up, and smashed his face through a picture on the wall. I hadn’t meant to do that last part. The picture was there and the guy wouldn’t let go of me and it just happened. Glass fell on the floor all around us.

  Where is Ivory? What is happening?

  A second nurse tried to subdue me, but I reacted too hastily and I think I may have broken his wrist. The man howled in pain and clutched his forearm.

  “Get the fuck off my brother!” I heard Ivory yell.

  When I turned to look behind me, Ivory was choking one of the security guards. Cops suddenly rushed in from all directions. They were everywhere.

  What the fuck is going on?

  Ivory was being held down on the floor. His face was against the cold tile and spit flew out of his mouth as he tried to talk.

  “Nikki,” Ivory said. “What happened? Why are they doing this?”

  “James,” she said. “Kevin is the killer. He’s Simple Simon.”

  What? I’m not. I’m not a killer. Who is Simple Simon? What is she talking about?

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Ivory said.

  “Shut the fuck up and stay still,” one of the cops on top of him warned.

  “I can’t move much with your knee in my spine like that,” Ivory said.

  “Ive…Ive…Ivory,” I said.

  All I could think as they put the handcuffs on my wrists was that they had everything all wrong. I’d only wanted to visit my friend in the hospital. Nikki was still hurt from the accident or something. Why else would she say such things? Maybe she’d hit her head. She wasn’t thinking straight.

  “This is the guy?” a cop asked, looking
down at Ivory.

  Nikki threw her hand out and pointed at me.

  “Him,” she said. “That’s the killer. I’m sure of it.”

  Without the chance to argue or defend myself, I was hauled out of the hospital. With my head hung low in defeat, I watched my feet drag across the ugly yellow tile floor. I wasn’t a monster but I felt like one. For a moment, I doubted myself and wondered if there was any truth to what Nikki said.

  Who is Simple Simon?

  I’d blacked out earlier when I beat up the guys who’d jumped Ivory, but I was nowhere near Nikki. I stayed away from her. I’d followed her in the past, but innocently. I’d never approached her or threatened her or hurt her in any way. I wasn’t driving the car that hit her.

  Why is she treating me like this? I only want to understand. Dear God, please help me understand what I’ve done this time.

  In the police car, the cops said things that only added to my confusion.

  “You like to call women and fuck with them at night, huh?” the driver said.

  “Nah, he likes to kill innocent people in the streets and brag about it,” the passenger said.

  The passenger, a mean looking black man with a scar near his eye turned and smacked the cage that separated our seats with the palm of his hand.

  “You’re gonna pay now though, motherfucker,” he said.

  “I d…d…don’t know wha…wha…what’s happening,” I said.

  “I d…d…don’t!” the driver said, making fun of me. “Shut the fuck up. You have the right to remain silent. We told you that already. You might wanna use that right wisely.”

  Once at the station, I was dragged through the doors and processed. It all happened so fast. That’s a lie. It dragged on forever, but I zoned in and out through the entire process. I remember being fingerprinted. I remember the photo. I remember someone asking me questions and I didn’t know the answer to any of them. Some cop they called Mac. He looked like a Mac. Like a Big Mac. He was tall and had green eyes that always seemed to be drilling into me, but he could drill all he wanted to because I couldn’t concentrate at all. His name had my mind going off in a million different directions, everything from MACintosh to Mac Truck and finally settled on Mac & Cheese. Then I couldn’t take his questions seriously. They all seemed…cheesy.