3
Previously on… Father Death (3)
Stu drummed his spindly fingers on Billyโs 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.
โStu,โ Billy called.
Stu continued to drum and rock with his eyes locked out in the night. He added a bounce to his movements.
โStu!โ Billy whipped his arm to slap Stu in the shoulder.
โOw! What? What?โ Stu rubbed the impact and gave Billy a wounded look.
โCalm down,โ Billy commanded.
โI am calm, man. Iโm just excited.โ Stuโs eyes gleamed, and he wriggled his fingers under his chin. โTonightโs the night. Weโre finally going to do it, make our own scary movie.โ
โLetโs go over everything again.โ
โI got it.โ
โLetโs go over everything again,โ Billy said slower.
โFine.โ
Stu rolled his eyes, and Billy slapped at him again.
โFine!โ Stu whined, raising his hand. โCotton Weary is in there right now fucking Sidneyโs mom.โ
โRight. I saw him leaving when I dropped Sid off the other night, and his car is down the street. Sid is at Tatumโs until 11.โ
โWhen he leaves, we go in and kill Maureen.โ
โThen I leave wearing the coat we lifted from Cottonโs car.โ
โBecause you look scarily the same as Cotton from the back,โ Stu finished. โNice haircut, man.โ
Billyโs eyes narrowed, and Stu threw up his arms defensively.
โI make sure to get all our stuff out of there,โ Stu continued.
โThen we get the coat back into Cottonโs car.โ
โAnd burn our clothes,โ Stu finished.
Billy nodded, and Stu smiled at the approval. At hearing the plan laid out again, Billyโs nerves twitched. His heart hitched with impatience. He pressed back against the door and stroked his chin as he stared at the front of Sidneyโs house.
โOh! Oh! There he is!โ Stu hissed, shooting a lanky digit toward the windshield.
Cottonโs figure emerged at the end of Stuโs fingertip. Just as Billy had previously witnessed, he bounced cavalier across the yard and jogged toward his waiting car.
โTen oโclock,โ Billy scoffed. โEven faster this time.โ
โGive us a whole hour,โ 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. Stuโs 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.
โStop skipping, you jackass!โ 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. Stuโs 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. Maureenโs 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.
โAre you sure about this Billy?โ Stu whispered.
Billy lost his focus and whirled to Stu, glaring through him. The color had drained from Stuโs face to pool in his neck, and a thin layer of sweat appeared along his forehead.
โAre you not?โ Billy hissed.
โNo, Iโm sure. I just wanted to make sure you were sure because youโre just standing there.โ
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.
Stuโs 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.
Maureenโs voice grew louder as they approached her bedroom door, mumbling a song off-key. Billy hesitated at the last step and met Stuโs eyes. Stuโs 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 womenโs 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
[…] Father Death (4) […]
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Oh, the suspense…! ๐
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Building… and building… ๐
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[…] Father Death (4) […]
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