One of the first things you learn when you run the shadows is that there is no such thing as a milk run.
That's the thought that was going through my head as bullets whizzed by it, followed shortly by the sound of flaming, magical napalm slamming into the heavy wooden desk that my partner Drex and I were, up to that point, using as cover. I cursed out loud and attempted to roll away from the hunk of kindling that had once been the only thing standing between me and certain death, and tried desperately to find another place to cower.
Mr. Johnson was an elf this time, which should have been a sure sign that things were fragged from the start, but I didn't pay much mind to that. Besides, it was Drex who did all the talking, as usual.
"We want half up front," she had said, leaning in close so that her pink and blue dreadlocked hair dangled in front of her face, a cocky smile crossing her face, her cybereyes lighting up just a bit in the gloom of the nearly abandoned bar, "You say it's a milk run, so our success is damn near guaranteed. You lose nothing."
The elf in the sharp business suit and fashionable shades glowered at her from across the table, and huffed, "It's just the two of you, then?" he asked, "Don't 'runners usually come in bigger teams?"
Silently, I returned his glower. Mine was more impressive, the bulk of my seven foot frame and the heavy horns on my head adding to my intimidation factor. Johnson gulped and sat back about an inch. Some days it was good to be an troll.
Drex chuckled, pushing her hair out of her eyes and leaning back casually, crossing her arms over her chest, "Yeah, it's just the two of us," she said, "What you gotta understand, chummer, is that Gavin and I have more skill between us than most 'runner teams. We've got this."
I rolled my massive shoulders, flexing a bit and crossing my chromed arms over my barrel chest to emphasize her point.
She continued, "I've got the magic, he's got the tech. I've got guns, he's got those," she pointed to my arms, "And those say half up front or no deal."
Johnson curled his lip, and I could tell that beneath his tinted shades his eyes were bouncing between the two of us, "Fine," he spat after a moment, "I don't really have the time to be picky, anyway. Give me your credstick."
I slammed my hand, palm down onto the table, and grinned as I slid it across to Johnson, "No credstick," I said, trying to sound as stereo-typically trollish as possible, "Account number. Deposit now."
It was hard to keep up the act, but I'd had a lot of practice pretending to be dumb muscle. It helped lure Johnsons into a sense of superiority that often caused them to reveal more information than they intended to, as well as intimidating them into keeping up their end of any bargains we might make.
Drex tapped her ear, turning on her AR readout so she could keep an eye on our bank account, even as Johnson began to tap the numbers into the air, using his own Augmented Reality device. Within a few seconds, Drex smiled, "Good. Thanks Mr. J," she said, and hopped off of the barstool, "We'll see you here tomorrow evening with the data. Don't be late."
PART 2 TOMORROW...
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Second Chances
It was late, almost three in the morning, and in the dark a large black Hummer sat idling in front of a middle-sized apartment building. Sitting in the truck, nervously tapping on the steering wheel, Kim Howard leaned forward to look out the windshield at the window of one of the 4th floor apartments.
"Hurry the hell up, guy," he muttered, moving his hands to fiddle with the radio while in the back seat the reporter, Alex, jotted something down onto a sheet of yellow notebook paper.
"He'll be out shortly," Alex said, trying to reassure the tense professional killer in the driver's seat, "Just give it a couple more minutes."
It had been a long night up to that point, and in lieu of snapping at his friend he instead chose to remain silent, leaning back in the seat and closing his eyes. There were here to gather some of Ethan's crap before hitting the road. They were on the run, each of them having had encounters with things that were beyond possibility, and they had apparently attracted some attention as a result.
Kim growled impatiently, pushing his long black hair out of his face, "I can't take this anymore," he said, "I'm going to get him." He checked to make sure the gun in his lap was loaded for the fifteenth time since they had parked, and made to open the door when Alex tapped him on the shoulder and pointed.
"Look," he said, as Ethan made his way towards the car, waving one hand. The other had a large satchel in it, probably filled with a bunch of his personal effects. Kim set the gun back down and gripped the steering wheel as Ethan got back into he passenger seat.
"Sorry," Ethan said, straightening the gear on his lap while Kim started the car back up, "I really didn't want to leave any of this behind."
Before either Kim or Alex could say a word, the windows of the fourth floor shattered and blossomed with flames as a massive explosion ripped through the building. The three men could feel the concussion of the blast in their chests as debris began to fall around them.
The hitman's thoughts moved quickly, going over everything that had happened that night in an instant. Ethan's apartment was just blown to pieces, each of them had been attacked that night in places where only the three of them frequented, and Kim's only worldly possession was the Hummer that they now sat in.
"Fuck," he said, quickly opening the door to the Hummer and rolling out. Alex and Ethan looked around, still surprised by the explosion, but didn't move.
"What?" Alex managed to mutter right before the truck exploded in a ball of flame. Kim rolled onto his back, his eyes wide with horror as he looked at the conflagration that had, until a moment ago, been his only home and his only two friends.
"FUCK!" he shouted, and slammed his fists against the concrete until they began to bleed.
* * * *
Across the street, hidden in an alley, James Garrett shook his head. This wasn't how this was supposed to go down. They weren't ready yet, they didn't know the full extent of the evil that surrounded them. He dropped his cigarette, grinding it into the pavement with the tip of his cowboy boot, and then cracked his knuckles. This was going to hurt.
A lot.
* * * *
Time stopped, congealing around the building, the burning hunks of steel, and the distraught assassin in the middle of the street. Without knowing why, Kim found himself standing up, watched as the blood on the pavement ran in rivers back onto, and then into, his hands. He watched as the skin closed back up, even as he went through the motions of slamming them to the ground again, this time in reverse. He hardly noticed when his mind began to rewind similarly.
* * * *
The hitman's thoughts moved quickly, going over everything that had happened that night in an instant. Ethan's apartment was just blown to pieces, each of them had been attacked that night in places where only the three of them frequented, and Kim's only worldly possession was the Hummer that they now sat in.
"Fuck," he said, quickly opening the door to the Hummer, but he stopped for a fraction of a second to turn back to the others. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like it was the right thing to do.
"Get out!," he shouted, diving out of the truck quickly, "Bomb!"
The others registered the imperative, and moved their asses, rolling out of the Hummer just in time for it to go up in a massive blast of flame. Ethan was thrown a few feet, his shirt catching on fire, and Alex slammed his head on the pavement in his attempt to dive out of the way, but in the end the three of them were alive.
Kim moved over quickly to put out Ethan's shirt, and for reasons he couldn't quite grasp, he looked up towards the alleyway. Slowly, clapping his hands like a comic book super villain, a man dressed head to toe like something from an old Western movie approached them from the darkness. Kim noticed immediately that he had twin trails of blood running from his nostrils.
"Good evening, boys," he said, his voice not even remotely matching his outfit, "I think it's time I finally introduced myself."
"Hurry the hell up, guy," he muttered, moving his hands to fiddle with the radio while in the back seat the reporter, Alex, jotted something down onto a sheet of yellow notebook paper.
"He'll be out shortly," Alex said, trying to reassure the tense professional killer in the driver's seat, "Just give it a couple more minutes."
It had been a long night up to that point, and in lieu of snapping at his friend he instead chose to remain silent, leaning back in the seat and closing his eyes. There were here to gather some of Ethan's crap before hitting the road. They were on the run, each of them having had encounters with things that were beyond possibility, and they had apparently attracted some attention as a result.
Kim growled impatiently, pushing his long black hair out of his face, "I can't take this anymore," he said, "I'm going to get him." He checked to make sure the gun in his lap was loaded for the fifteenth time since they had parked, and made to open the door when Alex tapped him on the shoulder and pointed.
"Look," he said, as Ethan made his way towards the car, waving one hand. The other had a large satchel in it, probably filled with a bunch of his personal effects. Kim set the gun back down and gripped the steering wheel as Ethan got back into he passenger seat.
"Sorry," Ethan said, straightening the gear on his lap while Kim started the car back up, "I really didn't want to leave any of this behind."
Before either Kim or Alex could say a word, the windows of the fourth floor shattered and blossomed with flames as a massive explosion ripped through the building. The three men could feel the concussion of the blast in their chests as debris began to fall around them.
The hitman's thoughts moved quickly, going over everything that had happened that night in an instant. Ethan's apartment was just blown to pieces, each of them had been attacked that night in places where only the three of them frequented, and Kim's only worldly possession was the Hummer that they now sat in.
"Fuck," he said, quickly opening the door to the Hummer and rolling out. Alex and Ethan looked around, still surprised by the explosion, but didn't move.
"What?" Alex managed to mutter right before the truck exploded in a ball of flame. Kim rolled onto his back, his eyes wide with horror as he looked at the conflagration that had, until a moment ago, been his only home and his only two friends.
"FUCK!" he shouted, and slammed his fists against the concrete until they began to bleed.
* * * *
Across the street, hidden in an alley, James Garrett shook his head. This wasn't how this was supposed to go down. They weren't ready yet, they didn't know the full extent of the evil that surrounded them. He dropped his cigarette, grinding it into the pavement with the tip of his cowboy boot, and then cracked his knuckles. This was going to hurt.
A lot.
* * * *
Time stopped, congealing around the building, the burning hunks of steel, and the distraught assassin in the middle of the street. Without knowing why, Kim found himself standing up, watched as the blood on the pavement ran in rivers back onto, and then into, his hands. He watched as the skin closed back up, even as he went through the motions of slamming them to the ground again, this time in reverse. He hardly noticed when his mind began to rewind similarly.
* * * *
The hitman's thoughts moved quickly, going over everything that had happened that night in an instant. Ethan's apartment was just blown to pieces, each of them had been attacked that night in places where only the three of them frequented, and Kim's only worldly possession was the Hummer that they now sat in.
"Fuck," he said, quickly opening the door to the Hummer, but he stopped for a fraction of a second to turn back to the others. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like it was the right thing to do.
"Get out!," he shouted, diving out of the truck quickly, "Bomb!"
The others registered the imperative, and moved their asses, rolling out of the Hummer just in time for it to go up in a massive blast of flame. Ethan was thrown a few feet, his shirt catching on fire, and Alex slammed his head on the pavement in his attempt to dive out of the way, but in the end the three of them were alive.
Kim moved over quickly to put out Ethan's shirt, and for reasons he couldn't quite grasp, he looked up towards the alleyway. Slowly, clapping his hands like a comic book super villain, a man dressed head to toe like something from an old Western movie approached them from the darkness. Kim noticed immediately that he had twin trails of blood running from his nostrils.
"Good evening, boys," he said, his voice not even remotely matching his outfit, "I think it's time I finally introduced myself."
Monday, August 10, 2015
Mugging the Monster
The alley is dark, mostly, illuminated only by a bare bulb on the side of one of the buildings just above a service access door. It's perfect for the predator's needs, out of the way and isolated just enough that any potential screams will be unheard by passersby.
He grins, pulling the girl he's with tighter to him. She's drunk, this little black-haired beauty, but that's fine by him. He prefers them more alert, usually, but a certain amount of booze adds to the flavor of the kill, adds spice to the blood. She mutters something, but he doesn't hear it. He's not really paying attention to her, after all. Too busy trying to make sure the alley is really empty.
When they finally reach the end of the alleyway, he moves in to kiss her. She returns his false affection with fervor, reaching down to fumble at his pants. He pulls away, laughing, and uses one arm to pin her against the wall. She looks offended, and says something to that effect, but he still isn't listening. He's caught up in the blood lust now.
The predator smiles at her, and her eyes go wide as his four inch fangs slide into view. Something about her demeanor changes then, but he's too far gone to notice. He moves in for the kill, snapping her head to one side and lunging for her neck, and that's when he finally hears her. He hears her chuckle right before he's thrown across the alley.
Slamming against the opposite wall, the predator feels the bones of his ribs snap and break with the force of impact, and blood spurts from his mouth. He licks it away with a growl, calling on something inside him to knit the bones back together as he stands. He looks up at her, and it's finally time for his eyes to widen.
The girl is floating now, a foot and a half above the ground, and a blue aura of pure power surrounds her. Here eyes are gone, replaced by twin orbs of shining blue fire, and a smile crosses her face. The vampire hisses and lunges at her, determined now to kill this witch before she can embarrass him further. His limbs move, and he calls on unholy speed, but he can't reach her. The alley seems...wider than he remembers it being.
Panic blossoms in his breast as the girl just laughs at his efforts. An amused look crosses her face, and finally he's able to clear the gap between them. His hands extend into vicious claws, and he laughs out loud as they dive towards her belly. The beast's laughter ends abruptly as pain explodes from his back again, and he coughs up blood as something rips it's way out of his chest cavity.
He has just enough time to register his own blackened heart in front of him, in the grip of his own gore soaked claw as it erupts out of his chest. Then there is darkness as he turns to ash before the small, once-again innocent looking girl.
She chuckles and pulls a cell phone out of her pocket, flipping it open and hitting the speed dial, "Bagged another vampire," she says, "They're going to notice soon. I'll see you at home."
He grins, pulling the girl he's with tighter to him. She's drunk, this little black-haired beauty, but that's fine by him. He prefers them more alert, usually, but a certain amount of booze adds to the flavor of the kill, adds spice to the blood. She mutters something, but he doesn't hear it. He's not really paying attention to her, after all. Too busy trying to make sure the alley is really empty.
When they finally reach the end of the alleyway, he moves in to kiss her. She returns his false affection with fervor, reaching down to fumble at his pants. He pulls away, laughing, and uses one arm to pin her against the wall. She looks offended, and says something to that effect, but he still isn't listening. He's caught up in the blood lust now.
The predator smiles at her, and her eyes go wide as his four inch fangs slide into view. Something about her demeanor changes then, but he's too far gone to notice. He moves in for the kill, snapping her head to one side and lunging for her neck, and that's when he finally hears her. He hears her chuckle right before he's thrown across the alley.
Slamming against the opposite wall, the predator feels the bones of his ribs snap and break with the force of impact, and blood spurts from his mouth. He licks it away with a growl, calling on something inside him to knit the bones back together as he stands. He looks up at her, and it's finally time for his eyes to widen.
The girl is floating now, a foot and a half above the ground, and a blue aura of pure power surrounds her. Here eyes are gone, replaced by twin orbs of shining blue fire, and a smile crosses her face. The vampire hisses and lunges at her, determined now to kill this witch before she can embarrass him further. His limbs move, and he calls on unholy speed, but he can't reach her. The alley seems...wider than he remembers it being.
Panic blossoms in his breast as the girl just laughs at his efforts. An amused look crosses her face, and finally he's able to clear the gap between them. His hands extend into vicious claws, and he laughs out loud as they dive towards her belly. The beast's laughter ends abruptly as pain explodes from his back again, and he coughs up blood as something rips it's way out of his chest cavity.
He has just enough time to register his own blackened heart in front of him, in the grip of his own gore soaked claw as it erupts out of his chest. Then there is darkness as he turns to ash before the small, once-again innocent looking girl.
She chuckles and pulls a cell phone out of her pocket, flipping it open and hitting the speed dial, "Bagged another vampire," she says, "They're going to notice soon. I'll see you at home."
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Doors.
Doors. Doors lead to everywhere, and to nowhere.
Don't look at me like that, you know what I'm talking about, you've seen it!
It doesn't matter anyway. They know that I know, and it won't be long now before they come for me. What do you mean you don't know what I'm talking about!? You were there!? You saw what happened to Erika!
Fine, fine, I'll explain it again. The Shadow People, they've been hunting. You don't remember? Well, THINK, you piece of shit! It can't be just me!
They probably made you forget. Again. It's okay, I suppose. No, I don't know why I remember. It doesn't matter, they'll make you forget again anyway.
They live in the City, y'see. You know, the Empty City? This is basic stuff, guy, get it together. The Empty City is where the Shadow People live and that's where they take people. It's the center of it all. The...the Nexus of it all. It's where They gather, the players. The ones in charge of this whole thing.
See, it's all a big Game to them, right? And us, normal people, that is...we're the pieces. We're pawns, no, we're worse than pawns...chess metaphors are old hat anyway. We're like checkers. They move us around and add and subtract from the board, and every once in awhile one of us gets to get a nice fancy crown but it doesn't matter because they control it all and we don't even know the rules and goddamn it they are LAUGHING at us, don't you GET IT!?
DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN, YOU CALM THE FUCK DOWN!!
Fine, fine...so, the Shadow People. They hide in the cracks and crevices of the world, in the shadows and the dark. They come through Doors, any door can be a Door, and they come to our world from the Empty City, a place of eternal twilight where everything is just...off. It's like a...a shadowy reflection of our world.
They take people. They took Erika, and They're gonna take me, next. I know. Because I remember Them.
What do you mean, I'm babbling! You asked me what happened, and I TOLD YOU! Stop writing things down, it's not helping!
No, I don't think there are monsters in my closet. I'm not stupid, and I'm not insane, I'm...fuck you. Fuck you.
No, sit the fuck down. I'm not done yet. I saw Them take a man off of the street a few weeks ago. I saw Them take him in the middle of a busy street and I'm the only one that saw it happen. A week after that, I watched them following a little boy home from school. That one was worse.
See, as soon as I realized They were hunting this kid I decided to follow them. I followed them all the way to this kid's front yard. I saw his parents come out of the house and wave to him. I saw Them envelop him, cover him head to toe like some immense black sheet. I heard him SCREAM for them, and I watched them look confused for moment before going back into the house.
They don't remember. I asked them. They don't remember him. He's gone. Like he never existed. And I'm next.
What are you doing, I said SIT DOWN! No, no I don't want you to check the closet for monsters, the fuck is wrong with you!?
Anyway, that wasn't the end of it. You and I, we went to Erika's house last week. We went to hang out, maybe have a few drinks. Well, I wanted a few drinks. They were already there. You saw Them. You pointed to Them. You shouted for us to run. We didn't get far, did we. No, They ate her all up, took her to the City, probably to make her one of Them.
Sit. Down. You asked, and now I'm telling. I'm here to save your ass, even though by all rights I should have just run. I saw Them coming here. They are after you, too, now. Get away from the goddamned closet! What are...
Why the fuck do you keep...oh, I get it. Yeah, sure. Open the Door. That's the deal, right? Give Them people to leave you alone? Huh, I should have thought of it first. I'm coming Erika.
Don't look at me like that, you know what I'm talking about, you've seen it!
It doesn't matter anyway. They know that I know, and it won't be long now before they come for me. What do you mean you don't know what I'm talking about!? You were there!? You saw what happened to Erika!
Fine, fine, I'll explain it again. The Shadow People, they've been hunting. You don't remember? Well, THINK, you piece of shit! It can't be just me!
They probably made you forget. Again. It's okay, I suppose. No, I don't know why I remember. It doesn't matter, they'll make you forget again anyway.
They live in the City, y'see. You know, the Empty City? This is basic stuff, guy, get it together. The Empty City is where the Shadow People live and that's where they take people. It's the center of it all. The...the Nexus of it all. It's where They gather, the players. The ones in charge of this whole thing.
See, it's all a big Game to them, right? And us, normal people, that is...we're the pieces. We're pawns, no, we're worse than pawns...chess metaphors are old hat anyway. We're like checkers. They move us around and add and subtract from the board, and every once in awhile one of us gets to get a nice fancy crown but it doesn't matter because they control it all and we don't even know the rules and goddamn it they are LAUGHING at us, don't you GET IT!?
DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN, YOU CALM THE FUCK DOWN!!
Fine, fine...so, the Shadow People. They hide in the cracks and crevices of the world, in the shadows and the dark. They come through Doors, any door can be a Door, and they come to our world from the Empty City, a place of eternal twilight where everything is just...off. It's like a...a shadowy reflection of our world.
They take people. They took Erika, and They're gonna take me, next. I know. Because I remember Them.
What do you mean, I'm babbling! You asked me what happened, and I TOLD YOU! Stop writing things down, it's not helping!
No, I don't think there are monsters in my closet. I'm not stupid, and I'm not insane, I'm...fuck you. Fuck you.
No, sit the fuck down. I'm not done yet. I saw Them take a man off of the street a few weeks ago. I saw Them take him in the middle of a busy street and I'm the only one that saw it happen. A week after that, I watched them following a little boy home from school. That one was worse.
See, as soon as I realized They were hunting this kid I decided to follow them. I followed them all the way to this kid's front yard. I saw his parents come out of the house and wave to him. I saw Them envelop him, cover him head to toe like some immense black sheet. I heard him SCREAM for them, and I watched them look confused for moment before going back into the house.
They don't remember. I asked them. They don't remember him. He's gone. Like he never existed. And I'm next.
What are you doing, I said SIT DOWN! No, no I don't want you to check the closet for monsters, the fuck is wrong with you!?
Anyway, that wasn't the end of it. You and I, we went to Erika's house last week. We went to hang out, maybe have a few drinks. Well, I wanted a few drinks. They were already there. You saw Them. You pointed to Them. You shouted for us to run. We didn't get far, did we. No, They ate her all up, took her to the City, probably to make her one of Them.
Sit. Down. You asked, and now I'm telling. I'm here to save your ass, even though by all rights I should have just run. I saw Them coming here. They are after you, too, now. Get away from the goddamned closet! What are...
Why the fuck do you keep...oh, I get it. Yeah, sure. Open the Door. That's the deal, right? Give Them people to leave you alone? Huh, I should have thought of it first. I'm coming Erika.
Friday, August 7, 2015
Hitman
It was too hot for a suit, but that didn't deter him. A well dressed man is a happy man, he thought, and in his line of work it paid to look professional, even in the damp heat of a South American micro-nation. He sighed, and looked around the small hotel room, wincing at the accomodations his employer had set him up with, and turned to look out the window, making sure he had a good line of sight. He straightened his tie and made sure that his long black hair was securely tied back behind his head, and with that done Kim popped open the briefcase he had brought with him and smiled.
Carefully he removed the pieces of the Remington 700 rifle and laid them on the bed, making sure that every piece was in its proper place. Satisfied, he began to put it together, like a giant LEGO construction, each piece sliding into place with a click. When he was done, he grinned again, the massive weapon filling him with joy. It wasn't that he was a psychopath, though he had been accused of that more than once, he just took pride in his work.
He sighed again, checking his watch. The time was near. He moved across the room and set up the gun on the windowsill, taking care to extend the bipod legs so he could rest it comfortably, and slid open the window just enough to allow the barrel to poke out. He shifted, getting himself comfortable as well, and looked down the scope, waiting for his target to come into sight.
While he waited, the assassin let his mind drift back a bit, to the day he'd been hired for this job. He'd met his contact, a thin, bespectacled bastard with a sweating issue, at the baggage claim at LaGuardia. They sat down on a set of plastic chairs, and the weasel had insisted on trying to look everywhere at once while they spoke.
"He will be coming in a grand parade, for his birthday," the weasel had said, his thick accent making him irritating to listen to, "You will perform your job when he reaches the high point of this hill." Weasel pointed to a photograph taken from the window of the motel, "You'll be staying in this room, and we've already determined that this will be the best place to take your shot."
Kim chuckled to himself, not bothering to ask why they needed him if they already had the job planned out. It wasn't in his nature to turn down a milk run. Still, he had his own plans on how to perform the job. Professional pride and all.
"This is El Presidente," Weasel had said, handing him a picture of what looked like an anthropomorphic pig wearing a general's uniform, "He is your target. One shot, to the head, quick and clean."
Kim flashed back to reality, gritting his teeth and looking through the scope. The sun was high in the sky, and he had to adjust a bit to compensate for glare from the hood of the car that was coming over the hill, but he was soon able to line up his shot. Sure as told, there was El Presidente, waving from the back of the car that Weasel was driving for everyone to see. Kim grinned and checked the wind, just to make sure.
There was a loud crack, and then the screaming started, as Weasel's head snapped back and bits of rotten brain and blood showed El Presidente. The car veered off to the side, slamming into a fire hydrant and causing a ruckus. Kim laughed and started packing up his things.
Weasel had handed him the picture, and for the first time Kim noticed something off about the little bastard. His hands, or at least the hand that had gripped the photo, were black. Not dark, not brown, but black. The assassin normally made a point to respect the wishes of employers who didn't want to be looked at, but he couldn't help it this time. He looked the weaselly bastard right in the eye and saw him for what he really was.
"I really, really, fucking hate zombies," he muttered to himself as he walked out of the hotel, pulling his satellite phone out and dialing quickly. When the voice on the other side answered, he grinned, "Got him," he said,
"Fuckin' rot bastard paid in advance, can you believe that?" he chuckled again, "Fine, fine, just get me home."
Carefully he removed the pieces of the Remington 700 rifle and laid them on the bed, making sure that every piece was in its proper place. Satisfied, he began to put it together, like a giant LEGO construction, each piece sliding into place with a click. When he was done, he grinned again, the massive weapon filling him with joy. It wasn't that he was a psychopath, though he had been accused of that more than once, he just took pride in his work.
He sighed again, checking his watch. The time was near. He moved across the room and set up the gun on the windowsill, taking care to extend the bipod legs so he could rest it comfortably, and slid open the window just enough to allow the barrel to poke out. He shifted, getting himself comfortable as well, and looked down the scope, waiting for his target to come into sight.
While he waited, the assassin let his mind drift back a bit, to the day he'd been hired for this job. He'd met his contact, a thin, bespectacled bastard with a sweating issue, at the baggage claim at LaGuardia. They sat down on a set of plastic chairs, and the weasel had insisted on trying to look everywhere at once while they spoke.
"He will be coming in a grand parade, for his birthday," the weasel had said, his thick accent making him irritating to listen to, "You will perform your job when he reaches the high point of this hill." Weasel pointed to a photograph taken from the window of the motel, "You'll be staying in this room, and we've already determined that this will be the best place to take your shot."
Kim chuckled to himself, not bothering to ask why they needed him if they already had the job planned out. It wasn't in his nature to turn down a milk run. Still, he had his own plans on how to perform the job. Professional pride and all.
"This is El Presidente," Weasel had said, handing him a picture of what looked like an anthropomorphic pig wearing a general's uniform, "He is your target. One shot, to the head, quick and clean."
Kim flashed back to reality, gritting his teeth and looking through the scope. The sun was high in the sky, and he had to adjust a bit to compensate for glare from the hood of the car that was coming over the hill, but he was soon able to line up his shot. Sure as told, there was El Presidente, waving from the back of the car that Weasel was driving for everyone to see. Kim grinned and checked the wind, just to make sure.
There was a loud crack, and then the screaming started, as Weasel's head snapped back and bits of rotten brain and blood showed El Presidente. The car veered off to the side, slamming into a fire hydrant and causing a ruckus. Kim laughed and started packing up his things.
Weasel had handed him the picture, and for the first time Kim noticed something off about the little bastard. His hands, or at least the hand that had gripped the photo, were black. Not dark, not brown, but black. The assassin normally made a point to respect the wishes of employers who didn't want to be looked at, but he couldn't help it this time. He looked the weaselly bastard right in the eye and saw him for what he really was.
"I really, really, fucking hate zombies," he muttered to himself as he walked out of the hotel, pulling his satellite phone out and dialing quickly. When the voice on the other side answered, he grinned, "Got him," he said,
"Fuckin' rot bastard paid in advance, can you believe that?" he chuckled again, "Fine, fine, just get me home."
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Journal
8/5/**
They told me that I need to write while I'm in here. Okay, fine. I'll write. They said that it would be cathartic, that after such a traumatic incident it would help to get my feelings out on paper. They just think I'm crazy, and they want written proof. Doesn't matter. I know what happened. I know what I saw.
8/6/**
This place is like Hell. They say it's not a prison, that I'm safe here, but that's bullshit. I see the way the orderlies look at me. I'm not crazy goddamn it.
8/12/**
So today was therapy day. Dr. Stinson wasn't very happy that I haven't been journaling every day. I don't give a fuck, but he said they might think I'm a 'problem' if I don't do as I'm told. So here I am, writing some more. Fuck this place. Fuck the orderlies, and fuck you, too, Doctor. I know you read this.
8/13/**
I watched it rip her open. They think I did it, that I'm either making up the story or that I'm crazy and that's why I'm in here, but damn it I know what happened and I'm not crazy. Sheila...fuck.
8/14/**
We were on the road, on the way to visit her mother in the old folks home. That's when we saw it, on the side of the road. I know we both saw it, because she pointed it out to me. That's how I know it was real, see? She. Showed. Me.
The Faceless Man.
Everyone thinks I'm making him up, or that I got it from the Internet and it's all part of some complicated, guilt-based delusion, but I saw it tear her open and pull out her guts I saw it pick her apart rip her open tear them out I saw it I saw it I saw it
8/15/**
They tell me when to eat, they tell me when to sleep, they tell me when to shit. I hate this place. I wish I could burn this place to the ground and piss on the ashes. I want to go home. I want to see my wife.
But I can't do either of those things. Not anymore.
8/16/**
We drove past him. We didn't think for a moment to stop for him. We were smart, see? Everyone knows that you don't stop and pick up hitchhikers, that's how so many goddamned horror movies start. You especially don't stop for suit-wearing, literally faceless ones. Didn't matter.
He caught up to us, and he tore her apart and played inside her skin while I watched. When they found me I was a gibbering wreck, covered in piss and shit and vomit and blood and not all of it was mine, not even most of it was mine.
And now I'm in here and he's still out there.
8/17/**
Therapy again. Dr. Stinson said he thinks my delusions are just getting worse, so he upped my medication. He also tried to take my journal away. I told him to go to Hell. He wanted me to have it now he wants to take it away? What kind of shit is that? Fuck him. At least he won't be reading it any more.
Which means he won't know that I spit the medication into the toilet. Fuck them and their drugs. They just want me to be a zombie so I won't fight them so much when they try and make me do things. Fuck them.
8/18/**
I don't know why he picked us. It couldn't have been random. It...it just couldn't have been random.
8/19/**
I think he's coming back for me. I think he wants to finish what he started. I don't know how I know that, but I do. I feel it. I see him in my dreams. He doesn't speak, he can't speak, he doesn't have a mouth. But I feel him. I feel him and it hurts.
8/20/**
One of the orderlies found my journal today. He was making fun of me, reading it out loud and laughing. He stopped laughing though, when he got to the Faceless Man. His face went white as a sheet and he shoved the book back into my hands, then he toddled right the fuck off like his pants were on fire.
He knows something.
8/21/**
That orderly came to me today. His name is Donald. He told me he's seen him, too, and that he doesn't think I'm totally crazy. Then he wandered off again. I tried to find him later, but the nurse told me that he went home early today.
I wish I could go home early.
8/22/**
They searched my room today, trying to find the journal, but they didn't find it. They looked right at it but they didn't find it. I wasn't even hiding it. They shook me down and tried to find it on me. They yelled in my face and told me they were gonna find it and when they screamed at me they didn't have faces anymore and what the fuck is happening?
8/28/**
I wasn't going to write anymore. I told myself that. But I couldn't put it off forever. I'll never get to tell a soul, not one who would believe me anyway, so I need to get this on paper.
He's here. In the hospital. I know he is, because he's staring at me with his eyeless face. And he killed Donald. I can feel it. I don't know what he's going to do to me, but at least I'll be with her again.
*/*/**
BLOOD SO MUCH BLOOD I FEEL HIS BLOOD IN ME
RED SO MUCH RED I LOVE THE RED I LOVE IT
WE'LL DANCE AND WE'LL LAUGH AND NO ONE KNOWS
I CAN'T STOP CRYING AND I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING AND THEY WON'T STOP BLEEDING
They told me that I need to write while I'm in here. Okay, fine. I'll write. They said that it would be cathartic, that after such a traumatic incident it would help to get my feelings out on paper. They just think I'm crazy, and they want written proof. Doesn't matter. I know what happened. I know what I saw.
8/6/**
This place is like Hell. They say it's not a prison, that I'm safe here, but that's bullshit. I see the way the orderlies look at me. I'm not crazy goddamn it.
8/12/**
So today was therapy day. Dr. Stinson wasn't very happy that I haven't been journaling every day. I don't give a fuck, but he said they might think I'm a 'problem' if I don't do as I'm told. So here I am, writing some more. Fuck this place. Fuck the orderlies, and fuck you, too, Doctor. I know you read this.
8/13/**
I watched it rip her open. They think I did it, that I'm either making up the story or that I'm crazy and that's why I'm in here, but damn it I know what happened and I'm not crazy. Sheila...fuck.
8/14/**
We were on the road, on the way to visit her mother in the old folks home. That's when we saw it, on the side of the road. I know we both saw it, because she pointed it out to me. That's how I know it was real, see? She. Showed. Me.
The Faceless Man.
Everyone thinks I'm making him up, or that I got it from the Internet and it's all part of some complicated, guilt-based delusion, but I saw it tear her open and pull out her guts I saw it pick her apart rip her open tear them out I saw it I saw it I saw it
8/15/**
They tell me when to eat, they tell me when to sleep, they tell me when to shit. I hate this place. I wish I could burn this place to the ground and piss on the ashes. I want to go home. I want to see my wife.
But I can't do either of those things. Not anymore.
8/16/**
We drove past him. We didn't think for a moment to stop for him. We were smart, see? Everyone knows that you don't stop and pick up hitchhikers, that's how so many goddamned horror movies start. You especially don't stop for suit-wearing, literally faceless ones. Didn't matter.
He caught up to us, and he tore her apart and played inside her skin while I watched. When they found me I was a gibbering wreck, covered in piss and shit and vomit and blood and not all of it was mine, not even most of it was mine.
And now I'm in here and he's still out there.
8/17/**
Therapy again. Dr. Stinson said he thinks my delusions are just getting worse, so he upped my medication. He also tried to take my journal away. I told him to go to Hell. He wanted me to have it now he wants to take it away? What kind of shit is that? Fuck him. At least he won't be reading it any more.
Which means he won't know that I spit the medication into the toilet. Fuck them and their drugs. They just want me to be a zombie so I won't fight them so much when they try and make me do things. Fuck them.
8/18/**
I don't know why he picked us. It couldn't have been random. It...it just couldn't have been random.
8/19/**
I think he's coming back for me. I think he wants to finish what he started. I don't know how I know that, but I do. I feel it. I see him in my dreams. He doesn't speak, he can't speak, he doesn't have a mouth. But I feel him. I feel him and it hurts.
8/20/**
One of the orderlies found my journal today. He was making fun of me, reading it out loud and laughing. He stopped laughing though, when he got to the Faceless Man. His face went white as a sheet and he shoved the book back into my hands, then he toddled right the fuck off like his pants were on fire.
He knows something.
8/21/**
That orderly came to me today. His name is Donald. He told me he's seen him, too, and that he doesn't think I'm totally crazy. Then he wandered off again. I tried to find him later, but the nurse told me that he went home early today.
I wish I could go home early.
8/22/**
They searched my room today, trying to find the journal, but they didn't find it. They looked right at it but they didn't find it. I wasn't even hiding it. They shook me down and tried to find it on me. They yelled in my face and told me they were gonna find it and when they screamed at me they didn't have faces anymore and what the fuck is happening?
8/28/**
I wasn't going to write anymore. I told myself that. But I couldn't put it off forever. I'll never get to tell a soul, not one who would believe me anyway, so I need to get this on paper.
He's here. In the hospital. I know he is, because he's staring at me with his eyeless face. And he killed Donald. I can feel it. I don't know what he's going to do to me, but at least I'll be with her again.
*/*/**
BLOOD SO MUCH BLOOD I FEEL HIS BLOOD IN ME
RED SO MUCH RED I LOVE THE RED I LOVE IT
WE'LL DANCE AND WE'LL LAUGH AND NO ONE KNOWS
I CAN'T STOP CRYING AND I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING AND THEY WON'T STOP BLEEDING
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
The Back Room
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've never written fan fiction before. I thought I'd take a crack at it with this story. Hopefully you find it enjoyable, and hopefully you get it. If it's lost on you, I'm sorry, but to tell you what it's based on would kind of ruin it.
There's a faint squishing noise as you peek around the corner, just in time to see the man finish adjusting the head of one of the animatronic suits. He starts, and turns to face you.
"Oh, hello, hello!" he says, smiling wide as you step further into the room. It's dark, and it's hard to see exactly what it is he's wiping off of his hands, "I wasn't expecting you! You really should knock before you come in!"
Quickly, well...as quickly as he can considering the weight of the thing, he grabs the man-sized stuffed bear under the arms and tries to lift it. He grunts and struggles, then looks up at you with an embarrassed expression, "Uh, little help here?" he pleads. You roll your eyes but move to assist him.
The bear is heavy, heavier than it ought to be even considering the thick metal endoskeleton and all of the wiring inside, but together to two of you manage to lift it and set it back on the rack next to the others. It sits there, slumped over, the whole band looking dejected and unloved, "They smell bad," you say, idly, "Like mildew or something."
The man puts his purple cap back on and grins, a little too wide you think, "Uh, yeah, I was just trying to clean that one," he says, giving a nervous chuckle, "Darn things get so filthy, covered in kid-spit and having pizza jammed into their mouths. They're a heck of a job to clean."
You know you shouldn't look closer. You know you aren't going to like what you see. But you do it anyway, "I don't think that's pizza," you say, leaning closer to the bear, sniffing and trying to get a better look. You can almost see something...leaking out of it's opened mouth. Something red, that stains the fur.
"Oh, yeah," the man with the purple cap says hurriedly, ushering you away from the thing, "Ole Freddie here's had so much pizza, ha ha, I wouldn't be surprised if it's rotten pepperoni and sauce you're smelling!"
There's a faint squishing noise as you peek around the corner, just in time to see the man finish adjusting the head of one of the animatronic suits. He starts, and turns to face you.
"Oh, hello, hello!" he says, smiling wide as you step further into the room. It's dark, and it's hard to see exactly what it is he's wiping off of his hands, "I wasn't expecting you! You really should knock before you come in!"
Quickly, well...as quickly as he can considering the weight of the thing, he grabs the man-sized stuffed bear under the arms and tries to lift it. He grunts and struggles, then looks up at you with an embarrassed expression, "Uh, little help here?" he pleads. You roll your eyes but move to assist him.
The bear is heavy, heavier than it ought to be even considering the thick metal endoskeleton and all of the wiring inside, but together to two of you manage to lift it and set it back on the rack next to the others. It sits there, slumped over, the whole band looking dejected and unloved, "They smell bad," you say, idly, "Like mildew or something."
The man puts his purple cap back on and grins, a little too wide you think, "Uh, yeah, I was just trying to clean that one," he says, giving a nervous chuckle, "Darn things get so filthy, covered in kid-spit and having pizza jammed into their mouths. They're a heck of a job to clean."
You know you shouldn't look closer. You know you aren't going to like what you see. But you do it anyway, "I don't think that's pizza," you say, leaning closer to the bear, sniffing and trying to get a better look. You can almost see something...leaking out of it's opened mouth. Something red, that stains the fur.
"Oh, yeah," the man with the purple cap says hurriedly, ushering you away from the thing, "Ole Freddie here's had so much pizza, ha ha, I wouldn't be surprised if it's rotten pepperoni and sauce you're smelling!"
You let him push you backward. The man doesn't take his hand off of you at first, and looks back at Freddie, letting out another nervous chuckle. At this point you're certain he's hiding something, but you really aren't sure how much you want to know. Finally his hands drop, and he turns back to face you.
"So, uh, what did you need?" he asks you.
You cock your thumb behind you, "Fred sent me back here," you say, referring to the owner/manager, "He said one of the moms is freaking out, thought she saw her kid come this way."
The man's eyes widen, and then quickly narrow, darting around, "She did, did she?" he asks, looking behind you suddenly, "Yeah, I think I saw a kid come this way. He might have found his way into the Safety Room. Why don't we check in there?"
You nod, just ready to be done, to find the little snot-nose and get him back to his mother so you can get back to making pizzas and maybe finish your shift, "Sure," you say, "Lead the way."
The weasel with the purple hat nods and makes his way towards the Safety Room, right past the racks of animatronics. You shrug and follow, but not before stopping to look at Freddie and the gang again. That's when you spot it.
It isn't on Freddie, like you thought at first, but on Chica the Chicken. You would have noticed it earlier if you had been paying more attention. Dark red sticks out like a sore thumb against the bright yellow of the chicken costume. It sure as hell doesn't look like old pizza sauce, but you lean in closer just to be sure, and that's when you hear it.
"Help...me..." it says, a faint voice from...inside the chicken suit, "I want...my...mommy..."
Your eyes widen and your mouth opens to say something, to call for help, but you aren't faster than the Purple Man. The knife slides neatly between your ribs and stops just short of your heart, "Just had to be curious, didn't you?" he hisses from behind you as your vision starts to blur, "That's fine, I know just what to do with curious kids. Wanna help me put on a puppet show?"
"So, uh, what did you need?" he asks you.
You cock your thumb behind you, "Fred sent me back here," you say, referring to the owner/manager, "He said one of the moms is freaking out, thought she saw her kid come this way."
The man's eyes widen, and then quickly narrow, darting around, "She did, did she?" he asks, looking behind you suddenly, "Yeah, I think I saw a kid come this way. He might have found his way into the Safety Room. Why don't we check in there?"
You nod, just ready to be done, to find the little snot-nose and get him back to his mother so you can get back to making pizzas and maybe finish your shift, "Sure," you say, "Lead the way."
The weasel with the purple hat nods and makes his way towards the Safety Room, right past the racks of animatronics. You shrug and follow, but not before stopping to look at Freddie and the gang again. That's when you spot it.
It isn't on Freddie, like you thought at first, but on Chica the Chicken. You would have noticed it earlier if you had been paying more attention. Dark red sticks out like a sore thumb against the bright yellow of the chicken costume. It sure as hell doesn't look like old pizza sauce, but you lean in closer just to be sure, and that's when you hear it.
"Help...me..." it says, a faint voice from...inside the chicken suit, "I want...my...mommy..."
Your eyes widen and your mouth opens to say something, to call for help, but you aren't faster than the Purple Man. The knife slides neatly between your ribs and stops just short of your heart, "Just had to be curious, didn't you?" he hisses from behind you as your vision starts to blur, "That's fine, I know just what to do with curious kids. Wanna help me put on a puppet show?"
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