Fiery Pen

3

Previously on… Father Death (3)

Stu drummed his spindly fingers on Billy’s dash, leaning forward until the streetlights cut grave shadows in his features. He moved forward then back in his seat over and over as his finger twitching increased. Billy slouched against his door with one arm slung over the steering wheel, glaring at Stu and chewing on the edge of his lip.

“Stu,” Billy called.

Stu continued to drum and rock with his eyes locked out in the night. He added a bounce to his movements.

“Stu!” Billy whipped his arm to slap Stu in the shoulder.

“Ow! What? What?” Stu rubbed the impact and gave Billy a wounded look.

“Calm down,” Billy commanded.

“I am calm, man. I’m just excited.” Stu’s eyes gleamed, and he wriggled his fingers under his chin. “Tonight’s the night. We’re finally going to do it, make our own scary movie.”

“Let’s go over everything again.”

“I got it.”

“Let’s go over everything again,” Billy said slower.

“Fine.”

Stu rolled his eyes, and Billy slapped at him again.

“Fine!” Stu whined, raising his hand. “Cotton Weary is in there right now fucking Sidney’s mom.”

“Right. I saw him leaving when I dropped Sid off the other night, and his car is down the street. Sid is at Tatum’s until 11.”

“When he leaves, we go in and kill Maureen.”

“Then I leave wearing the coat we lifted from Cotton’s car.”

“Because you look scarily the same as Cotton from the back,” Stu finished. “Nice haircut, man.”

Billy’s eyes narrowed, and Stu threw up his arms defensively.

“I make sure to get all our stuff out of there,” Stu continued.

“Then we get the coat back into Cotton’s car.”

“And burn our clothes,” Stu finished.

Billy nodded, and Stu smiled at the approval. At hearing the plan laid out again, Billy’s nerves twitched. His heart hitched with impatience. He pressed back against the door and stroked his chin as he stared at the front of Sidney’s house.

“Oh! Oh! There he is!” Stu hissed, shooting a lanky digit toward the windshield.

Cotton’s figure emerged at the end of Stu’s fingertip. Just as Billy had previously witnessed, he bounced cavalier across the yard and jogged toward his waiting car.

“Ten o’clock,” Billy scoffed. “Even faster this time.”

“Give us a whole hour,” Stu exclaimed, patting his hands together.

The moment swelled around them. Billy and Stu each slipped on their gloves. Billy took a slow, measured breath and reached for the door handle. He lowered his head when he looked over at Stu and signaled him to exit the car. Stu’s eyes could not be wider or brighter in excitement. Billy flipped his hood up then reached into the backseat to grab his bag. He clutched the bag tight to his side. He hugged the shadows on the street as they approached the side of the house and moved around the back. Stu bounced beside him.

“Stop skipping, you jackass!” Billy hissed.

Stu dropped heavy on the street beside Billy and tucked himself into his hoodie. He slunk behind Billy to trace his shadow.

Billy moved along the decking behind the house and hoisted himself over the railing. Stu did the same, and the two crept along the boards to the house. They approached the lighted windows with slow and cautious steps. Billy glanced back at Stu as he reached out for the handle of the sliding glass door. Stu gaped a dumb and anticipant look and waited.

The door slid along its track silently. Stu’s stupor broke into glee, and Billy raised a warning hand to temper him. They each side stepped into the house, and Stu closed the door behind them.

They were in. They were past witnesses outside. They were alone with Maureen Prescott.

The rage and the hatred vibrated through Billy, embodied him. Maureen’s gentle voice hummed from above them, carefree spilling from someone who thought they were home alone. The treacherous sound of her infused him with purpose. He could finally make her pay. The possibility nearly made him quiver as much as Stu beside him.

“Are you sure about this Billy?” Stu whispered.

Billy lost his focus and whirled to Stu, glaring through him. The color had drained from Stu’s face to pool in his neck, and a thin layer of sweat appeared along his forehead.

“Are you not?” Billy hissed.

“No, I’m sure. I just wanted to make sure you were sure because you’re just standing there.”

Billy thrust his hand into the bag, still staring at Stu, and extracted the knives. He grabbed one blade and stabbed the handle at Stu. He burned his eyes into Stu until Stu took the weapon from his hand. Billy gripped his own knife tightly and moved toward the stairs.

Stu’s panting irritated Billy as Billy climbed the stairs. Or it was his own heart hammering in his ears. He wanted to be alone, just him and Maureen, in this moment, but he needed Stu here for the plan. The execution was critical. The details were crucial. Despite how unmitigated the rage was writhing beneath his surface, he tamed it below the purpose.

Maureen’s voice grew louder as they approached her bedroom door, mumbling a song off-key. Billy hesitated at the last step and met Stu’s eyes. Stu’s chin drooped as he nibbled at his lip, yet his eyes shone. His head twitched in a nod. Billy unleashed a sinister smirk and pressed his palm into the door.

Continued on… Father Death (5)

Christina Bergling

https://linktr.ee/chrstnabergling

Like my writing? Check out my books!

• Followers – You never know who is on the other side of the screen. Followers is a mystery and thriller that blends women’s fiction with horror.
• The Rest Will Come – Online dating would drive anyone to murder, especially Emma.
• Savages – Two survivors search the ruins for the last strain of humanity. Until the discovery of a baby changes everything.
• The Waning – Locked in a cage, Beatrix must survive to escape or be broken completely.
• Screechers – Mutant monsters and humans collide in the apocalyptic fallout of a burned world. Co-authored with Kevin J. Kennedy.
• Horror Anthologies