by J. L. Hickey
Gary foolishly grabbed the steel blade. Aaron pulled the knife from his grasp, slicing the attacker’s hand deep, blood spilled from the wound. Gary yelled in pain, his eyes wild with rage. He shoved his bloody hand, palm first into Aaron’s face, smearing the blood all over his mouth and nose. It blinded, choked him. Gary, struggling, saw an opening. He kneed Aaron as hard as he could in the groin.
Aaron yelped, his stomach convulsing from the blow. The throbbing pains shot through his back, causing him to double over. Aaron, trying to protect himself from the prone position, slammed his shoulder into Gary’s sternum. Gary was much lighter than the heftiness of Arron. So, he lifted Gary up like a linebacker delivering a shoulder tackle. He was going to power slam him into the far wall.
Gary fought back, pulling Aaron’s hair, biting his forehead. Aaron ignored the pail, lifting Gary’s body high in a bear hug. He ran towards the living room, carrying Gary with ease. Gary was able to free his left arm from the hold, he wrapped it around the back of Aaron’s head, around his neck into a headlock. Gary squeezed hard to try and block off the airflow. Luckily for Aaron, Gary couldn’t interlock his other hand. He couldn’t gather enough pressure to cut off his air completely. Instead, Aaron, with all his weight, slammed Gary into the front of the house, near the door. Gary’s body hit the wall with a hard THUD! The force was strong; it knocked the air from Gary’s diaphragm.
Aaron, his head being held in the headlock, had not expected the blow himself. The top of his skull hit the wall just as hard as Gary’s body. It sounded like a car crash in his head, a bright white light flashed before he went black.
. . .
Gerald sat in his rental, a black Ford Escape two houses down from his daughter’s Duplex. He couldn’t stake out his daughter’s place with his own vehicle; she would notice it immediately. So, he played it smart. Plus, the rental was a step (or two) up from the beater he drove. He’d love a new car, but paying for his daughters’ vehicle, her insurance, her rent, it was too much for him. He was close to broke—no more expenses.
At least she lived in a quiet neighborhood. He’d been scoping out the area for the last two nights. He even had a straight man-to-man conversation with her friend Aaron. Despite breaking into the kids’ home, scaring him half to death, he was happy with the way the conversation went. He got his point across. They shared some drinks, it was unpleasant at first, but in the end, it worked out. Aaron was terrible for his daughter’s mental health. Good kid, he just met the wrong girl at the wrong time. He’d get over it. To make sure his conversation with Aaron really sank in, he decided to keep an eye out for the next few days.
Gerald had been scoping out the duplex most of the day. He’d grown hungry, though, left for a bit to drive across town to a local Pub and Grill. He grabbed a greasy burger, fries, and a strawberry milkshake to go. Gerald lived his life, usually through a strict regimen. He ate healthily, worked out daily. He missed going out on stakeouts like this. It was also the only time he allowed himself some unhealthy yet delicious food. He couldn’t quite make himself a proper nutritional dinner in a rental car, after all.
Gerald unwrapped the greasy burger and bit into it. The hot juices of the burger patty filled his mouth, perfectly cooked bar food, and it was delicious. He plopped a few fries in his mouth, a bit bland, nothing fancy. He’d put his binoculars down to enjoy the meal. It had been quiet at the duplex. His daughter didn’t leave, that he expected, she never left. Her lights went on and off a few times throughout the day. A little movement through the window, nothing bothersome. He was worried as to why the local Police, a detective, and a street cop knocked on her door earlier that morning and had hung around inside for almost an hour before leaving.
He thought she would call him when they left. She hadn’t. He hadn’t heard from her since the voicemail about not seeing her doctor. She didn’t answer when he called, no texts back, nothing. This all bothered Gerald. Yes, their relationship was fragile, but she always reached out to him with trouble. He was her protector. He made things right.
Gerald wasn’t just scoping out his daughters’ duplex. He kept a watch on Aaron as well. He’d gotten Aaron to swear to break things off with his daughter. It took some bargaining, maybe a little blackmail, but he was able to articulate how damaged Haylee was. He was confident he got his point across and that Aaron would make the right decision. Gerald watched Aaron leave in the afternoon, come back just a few minutes after Gerald himself got back and parked a few houses down after grabbing his meal.
Gerald finished off his meal, washing it down with the sweetness of the strawberry milkshake. His stomach wasn’t going to like him much later tonight, that much was a given. He crumbled up the trash from the food into a ball, tossed it in the grease-stained brown baggy the meal came with. He had just sat back to get comfy after the meal when he saw it. His daughter’s door swung open. Haylee darted out frantically, knocking on Aarons door, her arms flailing wildly. Gerald was parked down the road, sitting at a bad angle. He grabbed the binoculars, tried to get a better look. He only caught a glimpse of his daughter’s face. Frantic, he could hear her screaming Aarons name loudly from a few houses down.
“Shit,” Gerald frowned. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he had to help. His cover would be blown, his daughter would know he’d been spying on her, but he’s been in the force long enough, something terrible was happening.
Gerald turned the ignition, and his car roared to life. He shifted into drive and floored the rental down the road. He parked awkwardly, cutting off the driveway, half the vehicle on the snow-covered front lawn of the duplex. He exited the car quickly, leaving the car running.
Haylee turned at the commotion. “Dad?”
“What’s going on?” Gerald was yelling now.
“Something happened in there,” Haylee panicked. Her voice wavered. “I heard a loud crash, and it sounded like fighting.” She didn’t question her dad’s sudden appearance. She was thankful at that moment. Her dad, for as shitty as he was, was always there. Even if he screwed everything up, he never abandoned her.
“Move,” Gerald ordered.
“It’s locked,” Haylee sidestepped out her dad’s way.
Gerald’s fingers wrapped around the door handle.
Locked.
Shit, he thought.
His shoulder came next, hitting the middle of the door hard. It didn’t budge. He’d broken in the night prior through a back window left unlocked. He was sure Aaron wouldn’t have made the same mistake. Worse, he heard moaning through the door. Someone had been hurt. Gerald ran to the side of the duplex where a small slit in the living room curtains allowed him to peer inside. There he saw two men on the floor—both looking dazed. Aaron was on his back, his head bleeding. A skinner man was on his hands and knees, crawling over to him.
“Call the police!” Gerald yelled.
“My phone died!” Haylee shot back, following her dad around lost.
Gerald tossed his flip phone to her. “Call now. I’m going to try and get in from the back. Tell them there has been a break-in, we’ll need an ambulance as well.”
“Oh my god, what?” Haylee processed her dad’s words.
“Just do it!” Gerald ran around the side of the house near the back door. He tried the door; it was locked. He noticed the window broken and found his access inside. He reached through, unlocked the backdoor entering through the kitchen. He heard the commotion from the living room. There he saw the skinny man sitting atop of Aaron. They struggled with one another. The man had both his hands wrapped around Aaron’s throat, all his weight pushing down. Aaron going a shade of dark purple.
“Get off!” Gerald yelled. His hulking frame, like a human tank, pushed forward. With a mighty kick to the ribs, the madman fell over. He curled into pai
n, yelling from the pain.
“Are you okay?” Gerald asked. Aaron choked on the air flooding his lungs.
“Get up, you son of a bitch,” Gerald lifted Gary to his feet, but Gary jabbed his thumb into his eye, clawed at his face.
“Fuck!” Gerald lost his grip.
Gary grabbed the nearby lamp from the end table. Frantically, he smashed it over Gerald’s head. It made a sickening thud, shattering into sharp pieces. Gerald hit the floor, tripping over Aaron.
Gary, looking to retreat, unlocked the front door to make his escape. He’d failed the urge to kill the fat one. Now, his instincts told him to flee. If he died, then he would never get to be with mother again. Never get to suck from her sweet teats. Never get to lay within her warmth.
He wasn’t ready for who stood outside the door. There on the porch between the two duplexes stood the one. She was fumbling with the cellphone, panicking. She spoke frantically to someone on the other end. Gary, for the first-time setting eyes on her, he was completely overtaken by lust, love, admiration. It was her, the true her. The one he dreams of, the one he’s meant to protect.
Haylee gasped at Gary’s slack-jawed stare. She couldn’t talk, words choked in her throat, making it impossible for her to find her voice. The operator on the other end tried to get her attention. She could not reply; instead, she stood transfixed with Gary’s soulless eyes, fear overtook her body. The man looked wild, ravenous. Instead of attacking, he stood there momentarily, smiling at her. Like a child, wide-eyed and lovingly, budding tears on his blood-soaked face.
“Stop that son of a bitch!” Gerald yelled from the living room.
His voice snapped Gary out from his trance. Gary, panicking for a moment, eyed his surroundings. He spotted his escape. The rental car parked on the lawn, still running. Gary jumped into the vehicle. He needed to return to mother, failure or not; he would go back to her, take his punishment. He would not fail in the future. He shifted the car into drive and sped off wildly into the night.
Haylee ran to her father, and to Aaron in the room. The phone in her hand. Her body shuddered.
“Did you call the police?” Gerald barked, his eye swollen from the thumb, his face scratched to hell.
“They–They’re on the phone…” Haylee bent over to see if Aaron was okay.
“Give it here,” Gerald took the phone, holding his head. He, too, was now bleeding from a fresh wound. “Is this dispatch?” Gerald went outside where Gary had exited, phone in hand. “Shit, he took my vehicle...Listen,” he continued. “We have an issue here…”
“Aaron?” Haylee sat beside Aaron. Still bleeding from hitting his head against the wall. His throat burned, his voice hoarse from nearly being choked to death.
“I’m—I’m so sorry,” Aaron’s voice was hoarse, barely audible, he was still dazed, possibly concussed.
“Quiet,” Haylee said, holding him in her arms. “Just, just, shut up for right now,” she held his hand tight. “What the hell just happened? Was that?–Was that that Gary guy?”
TWENTY-SIX
Clent and Vanessa arrived at the scene first. Reports of breaking and entering, and an assault with a deadly weapon at 3248 Westview Apt B, the attached duplex to Haylee Leveille’s residence. They patrolled nearby down Main street when the call came over. They arrived at the scene within ten minutes. The cruiser pulled up to the address.
In front of Haylee’s duplex stood a bulky man holding his head, bloodied. He was still on the phone with dispatch, talking through the events. The front door to Haylee’s neighbor’s apartment was wide open. An ambulance was already on the scene. They had a gentleman sitting up on a stretcher, checking his vitals.
“Let’s go,” Clent pulled up on the side of the road, threw the cruiser into park. “Ambulance beat us. I will stand back, get details; you will clear the area.”
“Copy,” Vanessa swung her door open, exited the vehicle. It was her second time that day she found herself visiting the Hailey Leveille’s residence. She took mental notes of the scene, her feet crunching the cold, wet snow beneath her feet. Two EMT’s were dealing with the large heavier set male on a stretcher. The muscular, middle-aged man had hung up the phone, began walking towards them. Haylee was near the EMT’s. A thick blanket draped across her shoulders, being checked out by the second team member.
“Officers,” Gerald spoke directly. “There was a break into my daughter’s neighbor residence. Assault with a deadly weapon, the perp had a kitchen knife, weapons on the kitchen floor. I entered the backdoor, fought the intruder off. The suspect stole my rental car and fled, driving north down Pine street. I don’t know the license plate number, but it was a 2019 Ford Explorer, black. That was about ten minutes ago. My rental information was on the passenger seat.”
“Vanessa, Go check the residence, let’s get it cleared, careful not to disturb anything until Detective Pike gets here.”
“On it,” Vanessa nodded, making her way to the home.
“What was your name, sir?” Clent asked.
“Gerald Leveille,” He held up his hands, bloody. “Would shake your hand officer, but I need to get cleaned up. Former Detective, Ohio State Police Force, here visiting my daughter.”
“Okay,” Clent nodded. He spotted a visible laceration from the back of his hairline. “You need to get that checked out. Thank you for the help, let’s get the EMT’s to look at you. We will handle the rest. You may need to be stitched up for that.”
“Officer,” Gerald spoke up. “I am certain the man who broke in was Gary Thom. Fit his description, White Male, about one-hundred-sixty pounds, mid to late twenties, he had a few days’ worth of stubble, dirty, looked like he was physically sick, pale, that sort of thing. I have been keeping up with the case. I knew who I was looking for when I was watching my daughter’s home. It was him. He was here.”
“Is that so?” Clent brow wrinkled. “Watching your daughter’s home?”
“I have been watching her residence. Making sure no one has been stalking my daughter, with the odd resemblance of her case and this one. He must have broken in next door when I left for about fifteen minutes to grab a bite to eat. Through the backdoor, smashed a window, reached in unlocked. Aaron said he jumped him, must have hidden somewhere, waited for a chance.”
A second vehicle pulled up along the cruiser. It was Detective Pike’s car. He would be hot on this information. They needed to find the vehicle, apprehend the suspect immediately. There was a lot of work to do tonight.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Still soaked with fresh blood from the kills, Gary’s clothes clung to his body. It had been a busy night. The change came fast, he fought it at first, but soon it consumed him. He allowed the urges in, let the penetrating visions into his conscious. The connection with his monstrous lover, who he knows referred to as mother, his only family. It was many things to him. It/she was everything. Gary understood immediately what it wanted; it’s needs, desires.
Death, brutality, flesh.
He was hungry because she was hungry because they both needed substance. He was its caretaker now, its protector, just as much as it was to him. They became one and the same, a single entity, and their only goal was to survive. To feed. To protect her.
Gary had the hand saw in his grip; his mother consumed the best of the bits, the head, brains, eyes, genitals. The flesh was all his—the nose, cheeks, lips, fatty areas. The breasts and the meaty rump of the torso, he enjoyed the most, tasty delicacies. Once they were dead, he couldn’t help but to gorge on their flesh. Blood still warm, he ate them raw. The wife was even still alive, barely, as he chewed through the flesh on her cheeks. Her soft low breaths, it was glorious, brutally splendid—the feast fit for only he and his new mother.
&nb
sp; The killings were a physical rush. He’d never known the thrill of murderous delight ever before in his past existence. He’d been different since the creature came into his life. The one who was both his lover and his mother, the one who gave him new life, a reason to live. He was nothing before, just a random vessel filled with compulsory reactions to the world around him. He was a wanderer, meaningless, an existence worth nothing more than fleeting stimulated emotions that did nothing but to prevent him from becoming something more.
The head of the man, known to him before the change as Dennis, came off easier than anticipated with the aid of the saw. He would continue to feed on the wife for a few days until Mother grew hungry again. Then Nora’s body would do, her head, whatever else she wanted to consume. Two kills, now that’s a special thing, a rare and beautiful hunt. They could feast long on the two bodies, days, weeks if needed. The winter could keep them frozen, safe from spoiling.
He had done well.
Mother would be proud.
Gary held Dennis’s head by the hair. He grabbed a sandwich baggy from the kitchen, ziplocked for freshness. Inside it was the man’s genitals, removed within minutes of death.
Fresh, mother would be excited.
The hunger was crippling. The connection, the bond between him and the creature was so strong, even after having his fill of the bodily flesh of the victims, the stomach still knotted in pains of hunger. Gary had to feed both him and it to fill the emptiness.
He did not bother to change out of the bloody clothes, not yet. He enjoyed sweet aroma; the irony-metallic smell of the blood kept him hard between the legs. There was an excitement to it all, a sexual pleasure he had only begun to explore. This, too, was one of the new urges, one that was tied to the newfound connection with mother. He left the garage, the playroom, with his mother’s feast in hand.