Soon the blackness transformed to blurriness. The shrill beeping never missed a beat. Jesse blinked the sleep from his eyes and looked around the room. His alarm clock was loud in his ears.
What the fuck? he thought confused.
The apartment was still and dark. The only light came from the moon. He looked at his alarm clock. Midnight. Why was his alarm going off?
Jesse silenced the alarm and laid back in the bed. He could still feel Angie in his arms, could still smell her. Closing his eyes he turned on his side, stretched out his arms and brushed the soft hair that was next to him. The soft hair that was next to him?!
Opening his eyes Jesse screamed when he saw what was in bed with him. A powder white skeleton was lying next to him, head turned, staring at him. A deathly grin was painted on its face. Long red hair cascaded past its shoulders.
Jesse’s breathing was rapid. His stomach rose and fell heavily. Jesse didn’t know what to do. Should he stay there? Run out of the apartment? Call for help? His chest was growing tighter and tighter and it was getting harder to breathe. He felt pressure against the side of his skull pushing against it harder and harder, wanting to crush it.
What’s going on? he thought, feeling the ice cold sweat drench his body. First the dog now this.
Jesse’s eyes grew large and nearly popped out of his head when the skeleton got up, rolled on top of him and straddled him. The skeleton started laughing manically, high shrill laughs that sent chills up and down Jesse’s spine as it lustfully bounced up and down on him. Jesse let out a disgusted shame-filled moan and was horrified to find that he was hard as steel. The skeleton’s laughter turned to moans that sounded like a lion, guitar and piano were being mangled in a wood chipper. Its hands moved over its body. Throwing its head back, it screamed louder and louder.
Jesse fought with all his might but even though it was nothing but bones the skeleton was surprisingly strong. The two struggled and rolled off the bed. Jesse landed with a grunt. His arm hit his dresser. His leg scraped against the bed, he was sure he had drawn blood.
His briefs had slid off his hips and his penis hit the skeleton’s leg bone. The skeleton gripped his hard penis and much to Jesse’s horror put it inside its pubic bone. The skeleton fucked him hard. Jesse screamed for help and tried to get away, but all he could do was lie back and cry as the skeleton raped him until his penis throbbed and he shot load after load of white cum inside the skeleton.
What’s happening to me? he thought as the whole world turned to blackness.
Ten
The sound of bird’s happy chirping brought Jesse out of the blackness. He awoke with a jolt. His body was stiff. His upper body was on the floor. His legs were still in the bed. The sheet was wrapped tightly around his body like a cocoon. Sometime during the night he had lost his briefs. The orange and marigold yellow briefs were lying in a crumpled heap on his pillow.
“Damn what a dream,” he told the silence as he tried to untangle himself. It took several times but after a while he was finally free.
“I need to get a girl,” he spoke out loud running his fingers through his hair. “Doesn’t matter if it’s a girlfriend, NSA, FWB or even a hooker when you start havin’ dreams about fuckin’ skeletons that is a sure sign you need pussy.”
He walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He stared at his reflection in the mirror for several seconds. He let out a sigh that made his shoulders rise and fall heavily.
“I wish we had never gone to that carnival. I wish I had never met that crazy gypsy.”
“Wishes are for children,” Madam Theodora’s voice sent chills over every inch of Jesse’s body.
Jesse stared in disbelief as the mirror rippled with tiny little waves. Slowly his reflection was replaced by Madam Theodora’s unhappy face that coldly stared back at him.
“You’ve had more than enough time, Jesse. Why haven’t you performed the sacrifice? Why haven’t you given me the newest addition to my collection?”
“I …” Jesse’s throat was suddenly dry. “I’m sorry. I haven’t had any opportunities to kill Chase.”
“Liar. What about at the garage. You had plenty of time to kill him yesterday but you froze and do you know why you froze, Jesse? Because you’re weak.”
“Shut up,” Jesse ordered angrily, “I am not weak.”
“Bullshit,” she drew out the word teasingly. “You are weak. A real man would have killed Chase that very night but you aren’t a man. You are a weak little boy. No, you’re not even that strong. I see a weak little girl in front of me.”
“Shut up bitch!” he demanded, feeling his fists clench at his sides.
“Did I hit a nerve?” the old gypsy asked too sweetly.
“I’ll kill him. Don’t worry about it and I’ll get rid of that bastard she’s carrying.”
“You better. You’re running out of time. They’re eloping in the morning.”
“The morning?”
“Yeah. They want to become man and wife as soon as possible.”
“I’ll do it tonight,” he promised suddenly growing nervous. He couldn’t let them elope. He had to save Angie before she made the biggest mistake of her life.
“You better. Bring me Angie and put some underwear on. The next time we talk I don’t want to be staring at you bare-assed.”
Jesse tried to think of something smart to say but the gypsy had disappeared before he could open his mouth. He was left with just his reflection to stare at.
“Do you think he’ll really kill the boy and the baby tonight?” The Magician asked Madam Theodora coming up behind her and kissing her shoulder and neck.
“No. He’s all talk. He won’t do it on his own. I should have used the other one to bring me the girl,” she said pulling away from him. She was in no mood for tenderness.
“What are you going to do?” The Magician asked stroking her hair.
“Don’t touch me,” she said swatting his hand away as a horse does to flies. “I don’t have time for that right now.”
Walking over to her table, she took out her tarot cards and flipped through them in lightening speed until she found the one she was searching for. She set The Fool down on the table. Gently she ran her hands over The Fool’s face.
“Wake up. Wake up sleepy head. I have a little job for you. Arise. Arise. Out of the card you must come. There is important work to be done. Arise. Arise. I have a job for you.”
Thick multicolored mist started swirling around the card. Slowly a white gloved hand rose out of the card. The hand was followed by a red clad arm than another gloved hand and another arm. The arms rested on the table and pushed down hard. The Fool flew out of the card and landed on the ground in front of Madam Theodora with a theatrical bow.
“I have a little job for you,” the gypsy said.
A huge evil ominous smile spread over The Fool’s painted face. Throwing back his head he laughed sadistically. It had been centuries since Madam Theodora had had a job for him. He was ready to have some fun again. It had been too long.
Eleven
The Fool walked slowly across the courtyard. The black dog barked when he saw him, making sure to stay a safe distance from the evil clown. The Fool looked at the dog and hissed. The dog squealed in fear and ran underneath a bush. The Fool laughed and walked into Jesse’s apartment building.
Jesse walked slowly to the door. He hadn’t moved from his bed all day, making sure that everything that had a reflective surface had been covered up. When the doorbell rang, he jumped so high his head almost hit the ceiling.
“Who is it?” His voice was shaky and cracked.
“Jesse, it’s me. Open up I need to talk to you. It’s very important.”
He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Angie’s voice. He was grateful that he wouldn’t have to stay in the apartment alone. All the events that had transpired over the past couple of days had really gotten him spooked.
Jesse was smiling when he opened the door. Angie’s b
ack was to him. She was clad in a very sexy red mini skirt and matching blouse that complimented her red hair perfectly.
“Hey, Angie. What are you doing here?”
Angie turned around and Jesse’s heart dropped. He opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out. It wasn’t Angie that was staring back at him. He had seen that face before on Madam Theodora’s tarot cards. The Fool. Its mouth was open wide. Its face was painted chalk white and black eyeliner made its eyes look sunken. Its lips were painted a deep red that looked like blood. The Fool looked deep into Jesse’s eyes and burst out laughing.
Jesse slammed the door, locked it and ran into the bedroom. He locked his bedroom door and made sure the door to the balcony was locked too.
Good God, he looked around panicked. How did he find me? What have I gotten myself into? God please let me wake up. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Just please let this be a bad dream. Let me wake up. I promise I won’t kill Chase. He can have Angie. I’ll leave them alone. I swear. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he silently prayed and begged for mercy.
He jumped when he heard the front door fall to the ground with a thud. The Fool laughed as he walked into the apartment. Jesse could hear the jingle of the bells that were attached to The Fool’s hat and shoes as he searched for the boy.
“Jesse Raphael Von.” The clown drew out his name in a shrill mocking sing song. “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” The Fool’s singsong voice made the hair on Jesse’s neck stand up.
Jesse screamed when the phone in his bedroom rang. Tripping over himself he picked it up, hopeful that help could get there in time to save him.
“Please, help me! I’m being attacked!” he screamed into the phone, body shaking with fear.
“Calm down,” the voice on the other end said.
“Please! You have to help me!” he begged. “Please! He’s going to kill me! He’s going to take me to her and she’s going to kill me!”
“Okay. I’ll help you. Just stay in your bedroom,” the soothing voice assured him.
“Okay I … How do you know where I am!?” Jesse screamed into the phone, tears dripping out of his eyes.
The Fool’s otherworldly laughter, loud in his ears, was his only reply. Jesse’s head turned slowly when his bedroom door rattled.
“Open up.” The Fool laughed.
Jesse jumped when The Fool started pounding on the door. The clown had such strength Jesse was sure he could pull the door from its hinges if he wanted to. Jesse didn’t want to stick around to see if The Fool had that kind of strength.
Running into his closet, he brought his knees tight up to his chest and hid as far in the corner as he could. Jesse’s hands clasped themselves over his mouth when he heard his bedroom door crash to the floor.
“I know you’re in here,” The Fool’s voice took on a high falsetto.
Jesse could do nothing but look up in fear when the closet door was ripped off its hinges and The Fool looked down on him, smiling.
“Peek-a-boo. I see you.”
The Fool wrapped his arms around Jesse so tightly that in no time at all, he was unconscious from lack of oxygen.
Twelve
Something was horribly wrong. Jesse knew that as soon as he started to regain consciousness. For one thing his chin was resting against his chest. Secondly, he was sitting and thirdly his arms, legs and waist were tied to the chair. The rope was tight, cutting off his circulation. He could feel its itchy, rough skin digging into his own, drawing blood.
What happened? his mind questioned. He panicked. Where am I?
His head hurt like Hell. Slowly he opened his eyes. Even though the light was dim it felt like a thousand pins were being pressed into his pupils.
As soon as his eyes were opened and focused Jesse’s scream caught in his throat, making him cough violently. His body shook with out of control convulsions.
Standing in front of him was The Fool, mouth open. Its stomach rose and fell in silent laughter making Jesse wonder if he had gone deaf but he realized his own coughing rang in his ears clear as a bell. The Fool continued to laugh silently.
When Jesse’s coughs had subsided he stared into the clown’s gaping mouth. Foul breath that could curdle milk assaulted Jesse’s nostrils. Jesse tried to keep the contents of his stomach at bay but The Fool’s breath was too strong. Jesse’s stomach did flip flops. Bile burned his throat. He tried to swallow it back down. Gagging, vomit filled his mouth to overflow and spilled over his lips. He threw up several times, emptying all the contents of his stomach onto his shirt and pants. Jesse felt the hot branding iron of embarrassment burn his face.
This tickled The Fool whose mouth opened wider and his stomach rose and fell in more rapid succession. Jesse’s embarrassment quickly boiled over into anger as he sat, tied up and covered in quickly drying vomit, and watched The Fool point and laugh at him.
As he stared into The Fool’s gaping mouth, he wondered if the clown was half anaconda by the way he could unhinge his jaw which resembled a Jack-o-Lantern. What few teeth The Fool did have were yellow and the tips were a deep coal black. They barely hung onto The Fool’s gums by a thin tendon. The Fool’s long tongue, rotted and resembling Swiss cheese, crudely darted in and out of his mouth like a vulgar snake.
The Fool reached out his hand, ruffled Jesse’s hair and skipped around the boy, randomly poking his body.
“Well look who’s up,” Madam Theodora’s voice was pleasant.
She walked into the room carrying the little black dog followed by The Magician and the skeleton from Jesse’s dream. Jesse’s eyes grew huge as dinner plates when he saw the skeleton. The skeleton waved at Jesse and rubbed her pubic and breast bones like a porn star. The dog’s tail started wagging at the speed of light and barked at him.
“Your friends are glad to see you,” the gypsy laughed. “Especially Veronica.” She stroked the skeleton’s hair. “You should be honored. She has been with many men and said you were one of the best. Even if you are quite small.”
It looked like the skeleton tried to smile flirtatiously and bat her eyes at Jesse as she blew him kisses, but she only succeed in putting a deep terror in his soul. Jesse was so scared that the skeleton would rape him again that Madam Theodora’s insult about his lack of size didn’t even phase him.
The dog jumped out of Madam Theodora’s arms and ran to Jesse. He barked at the boy and nipped at his shoes a few times. Seeming to smile and never taking his eyes from Jesse, the mangy little black bastard lifted his leg and pissed all over Jesse’s jeans soaking them clean through. Jesse grimaced at the feeling of the hot piss against his legs. It dripped down his jeans, soaked his socks and got trapped in his shoes.
“Why are you doing this?” Jesse screamed, a salty river of tears flowed from his eyes and snot dripped from his nose into his mouth.
“Punishment.” Madam Theodora’s eyes glared into slits. Jesse could see the very fires of Hell crackle in her pupils.
“Punishment for what?” he asked, voice squeaking like a mouse.
“We had a deal. You reneged. For that you must be taught a lesson.”
“I didn’t break my promise,” Jesse’s voice cracked with fear, scared about what she would do to him. “I’ll fulfill my promise. I’ll kill Chase and his bastard. Angie will be yours forever.”
“You had the chance to do it on your own. You’re weak. All talk. A scared little baby whose balls haven’t dropped yet.”
At hearing this The Fool fell to the ground in a silent fit of hysterics. Reaching into his baggy red pants he pulled out a pair of cantaloupes. He cynically sneered at Jesse, seeming to say this is what’s between my legs.
Tossing the cantaloupes carelessly over his shoulder, he reached back into his pants and pulled out a set of dried, shriveled kiwis. Walking over to Jesse, he jammed the kiwis between his legs, making him scream out in pain. This made the hateful clown point, laugh and dance around the room.
“Amusing isn’t he?” Madam Theodora questioned. “But tha
t voice. Like nails on a chalkboard. Yes, my little Fool is much more pleasant company when he’s silent.”
Reaching into her pocket she pulled out The Fool’s vocal cords dripping with ruby red blood. Jesse’s stomach somersaulted several times but mercifully there wasn’t anything left to throw up.
At spotting the useless vocal cords, the little black dog’s tail began to wag furiously. Whimpering it balanced on its hind legs and made itself look as pathetic as possible, even adding a few intermittent high pitched whines for effect.
“Bon appétit,” Madam Theodora said throwing the vocal cords to the dog.
The mutt greedily slurped down the treat and contentedly licked the blood from its mouth. From the way the dog burped after it was done, the vocal cords satisfied its hunger tremendously.
Jesse’s own vocal cords shrunk in fear. Good God, was she going to do that to him? Or did she have an even worse fate in store?
Dear God, what have I gotten myself into? Who are these people?
“Please don’t kill me,” he begged feeling frightened, tears glistening in his eyes like fresh cut diamonds.
“Foolish boy,” Madam Theodora degraded. “I’m not going to kill you. You’re much more use to me alive.”
Jesse let out a breath of relief. “Thank you. I promise Chase and the baby will be dead before morning.”
“Yes, they will,” Madam Theodora affirmed looking down her long beak like nose. “I promise.” Her voice was icy and seemed to hiss like a cobra.
Jesse didn’t know what she meant by that but it filled him with dread. Sweat dripped from his body, swirled and mixed with the vomit making it soupy.
Madam Theodora smiled at seeing the fear she was able to invoke in the boy.
“You like to watch movies?” the old gypsy asked sweetly. Too sweetly. Jesse gulped, nearly choking on the watermelon sized lump that was lodged in his throat. “Of course you do,” Madam Theodora answered her own question. “All little boys like to watch movies.”
In the Tarot Page 7