The Bone Architect

by Ian Woodhead

  He cried out in shock and pain as he was violently thrown across the floor, his back crashing into a hard surface. A loud sigh followed by the sound of the door slamming shut pushed into his dazed mind. Bryan blinked, dropping the pole and slamming his hands against his eyes when blinding light speared into the back of his head.

  “Relax, it can’t open doors. We’re safe in here, Bryan.”

  Through opened fingers, Bryan moved his eyes from the panelled door across the light green wall until he found the source of that deep serene voice. He pulled his hands away and raised his head. A smiling mid-twenties man of medium height with short-cropped red hair matched his curious gaze.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Finding they weren’t alone put another hole in his theory. Bryan didn’t want that at all. He got to his feet, sighing when he found he no longer possessed the wooden pole. It had rolled under a table close to where the stranger stood. Not that it mattered. Bryan outweighed the stranger by at least fifty pounds. He believed he’d be able to take the guy. The others wouldn’t have to know about this. Hell, they’d all suffered from a whole range of mind-fuck episodes. He pushed his racing mind into neutral. Hell, this could even be another one, meaning that the unseen thing beyond that door didn’t exist either. Fuck, there was nothing stopping him from walking right out of here.

  “Are you real?” He remembered seeing some old movie as a kid about a road made from yellow bricks. The young lass in that went through a total drug trip as well. She got out by clicking her shoes together or something. Bryan massaged his forehead, watching this mirage seeming to ponder Bryan’s last question. He slammed his heels together three times.

  “I’m Conner’s friend and colleague,” he replied. “Although I’m not sure the former label applies any more, not after the crimes that he’s committed tonight.” His smile widened and he extended his arm. “I’m Arnold, by the way.

  Bryan shrank back from the hand. “No, you fucking can’t be. I saw your body. We all did. He gazed down at his own hand, seeing the rope held tight. He thought he’d dropped that on the stairs. What the fuck is going on here? His brain saw that precipice on the horizon; beyond that line lay insanity. The more this mirage spoke, the shorter that journey became.

  “There’s no place like home,” he mumbled.

  “You saw what he wanted you to see. Your friend wanted to take you to an abandoned house cast out in the middle of nowhere.” Arnold moved away from the door and climbed onto a bar stool. He placed his elbows onto the counter and sighed heavily. “Conner has this unique gift of sliding into people’s minds and moving stuff around. He can make you see exactly what you want to see. Me, well I’m immune to his mental distortions, Bryan.”

  “So nothing has been real ever since we got in this house? So Barbra is not dead and we could leave at any time?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, Bryan, but no. That pretty girl really is brown bread, and there’s no way you lot will be able to leave this house, not alive anyway.” The man leaned closer. “You see, Conner has found himself another colleague, one that will do his bidding for him, including killing.”

  “So I was right all along?”

  “What’s in your hand?”

  “A rope.” Bryan looked down, seeing a long, thick bladed sword. “Where did this come from?”

  “It was lying on the top, just behind you. Don’t you remember picking it up, Bryan?”

  A calmness flowed through him, smoothing off the jagged edges, pushing away any doubt. His screaming mind telling him that this was yet another trick, that he never saw any sword in here, that this man really was dead (if he even existed at all) found no voices left, willing to listen to the protests.

  Arnold climbed off the stool and walked over to him. “Look at you, Bryan. The weapon completes the look. You really are a warrior now. It’s time to slay the dragon, my friend. Kill the dragon and its pet to claim your prize.” He wrapped his hand around Bryan’s wrist, lifting the sword up into the air. “Clarice is already yours. You know that don’t you?”

  Bryan closed his eyes, imagining the woman wrapping her arms around his waist, leaning forward, her warm lips pressed against his. Yes, he wanted that more than anything else. When he opened his eyes, the man had gone. The open kitchen door displayed an empty hallway. The only evidence that he’d had company at all was the evil looking weapon clasped in his hand.

  His original intention to kill the other one and keep Joshua alive would need amending. Not to worry. From what he’d just learned, Clarice and Tommy would understand. He left the kitchen, his fingers lovingly stoking his new toy, knowing that right now nothing stood in his way, not even the strange inhabitants of this house.

  Bryan stopped by the foot of the stairs; he had decided to start from the top and work his way down. Now though, he wasn’t too sure. He frowned, gazing in confusion at the serrated blade held in his hands. Where did he pick this up from? Bryan felt a little strange. What was he supposed to be doing?

  ***

  He laid the black shoe next to the other one on the top of the window shelf and stood back, dropping his eyes to the floor.

  “Are you sure they belonged to her?”

  Joshua nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure. Barbra loved those shoes.” He waited for the inevitable platitudes to spring forth, something along the lines that she might be still alive, even that the insides sticky with drying blood didn’t mean anything. Joshua turned around to discover she wasn’t even close by. She’d wandered over to another freaky painting and was running her fingers all the way around the frame.

  From the little that she’d told him, he guessed that her optimism had taken a turn for the worst when her friend lost his life. She hadn’t really spoken much at all since her dramatic rescue. Not that he minded, the silence gave Joshua room to collect his own thoughts.

  She had moved on to the next picture. Could she be just another illusion? After his last encounter, Joshua wasn’t going to rule anything out. Although her friend’s name did ring a bell; he was sure the guy used to go to the gym with both Tommy and Bryan. He dropped his jacket over the shoes and stepped back. With the absence of a body, this was the only way he thought of showing his respects to the girl that he’d known for over ten years.

  “Poor Tommy must be beside himself with grief,” he muttered.

  “I’m really sorry for your loss, Joshua.” Mavis rested her hand on his shoulder. “Look, we need to keep moving. The quicker we can find your friends, the better.”

  His reflection gave him his first real look of the woman’s delicate features. Those soft curves betrayed a hardness that he had never seen in either Barbra or Clarice. This girl was a born survivor yet her fighting spirit obviously showed a degree of subtlety, evident from her statement. Joshua had already envisaged walking around the next corner and finding Clarice’s bloodied shoes lying on the carpet. He had no idea if any of them were still alive. The chances were that any of them could have met the same fate as Barbra or Mavis’s friend.

  The lights in the room flickered. The woman gasped and grabbed his hand. “Oh hell, not again.” She pulled him out into the hallway, keeping her fingers tight over his as she raced up the stairs onto the top floor. Long shadows cast from the overhead fittings danced with their fleeing shapes that ran across the deep red carpet.

  His heart was already in his mouth when an alien noise filtered through his harsh breathing. It wasn’t like the last time when he’d been unable to move, but since when was that a comfort? This house or whatever lived in here only seemed to have one goal, one purpose. It wasn’t going to stop torturing them until they’d all perished.

  Mavis screeched, slammed on the brakes, and jumped to the side when a huge figure jumped out from behind an open door. He dropped to the floor and rolled towards her when something heavy crashed into the floor where his head used to be.

  “There you are, chicken legs,” laughed Bryan, working his sword out of the floorboards. He jumped in front of them, hefting his
weapon above his head. He glared at Mavis. “You really are a piece of work. Is this Clarice’s replacement?”

  Joshua shuffled back but wasn’t quick enough to avoid the savage kick directed at his stomach. The blow forced the air out of his guts. He clutched his stomach, folding up like a broken deckchair, expecting that sword to strike him any moment.

  “Were you going to kill her next or were you going to take me or Tommy out next? Good job I found you first.”

  “For God’s sake, Bryan,” he said, every word feeling like he was ejecting barbed wire. “I don’t know what you mean. Put that thing down and stop…”

  He booted him again. “Stop fucking talking!”

  An inhuman scream took away every other sound. Through a cascade of intense agony, Joshua managed to force his eyes open, expecting to see that fusion of the two men slithering towards them, it’s two jaws open like set bear traps. The woman had jumped over his coiled body and dived on Bryan’s head, keeping her fingers curled in his hair as he over balanced, his heavy body smashing into the carpet.

  The girl lifted Bryan’s head up as far as she could before slamming it hard against the floor. Her efforts only seemed to enrage him. He roared, bucking his thick body. The man raised his arm, intending to skewer her. She saw the movement and dived to the side, her agile body arching as the blade came within a hairs breadth of slicing through Mavis’ side. She stumbled as his fingers caught her ankle. Snarling, the woman kicked out, her other foot slamming into the top of his head.

  Bryan groaned once before going limp. “Boy, you sure do have some pleasant friends, Joshua.” She stamped on Bryan’s hand then kicked the sword to the other side of the hallway. “I hope your other pals are a little more friendly.” Mavis took both of his wrists and dragged his aching form over the top of Bryan.

  The paintings passed his eyes as the girl pulled him across the carpet. He so tried to block out the beatings that his body had suffered through since getting to this Godforsaken place, but the two kicks was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Unable to stop himself, his eyes closed as his body shut down. Her voice asking him if he was all right reverberated through the inside of his skull before the more pleasant sound of a female humming filled his head.

  “Won’t you come and join me, Pelagia?”

  The elusive tone of that sensual voice made the very marrow in his bones shudder with delight. He clambered over the smooth rocks, warm from the baking hot sun. So eager was Joshua to locate the owner of those beautiful words, he missed the dark stains coating the large stones, the surfaces growing wetter the closer he got.

  He lifted his hand, a scream drying in his throat at the sight of the vivid red jelly covering his entire palm. Joshua lifted his head, blinking rapidly, seeing the same colour stretched from here to the horizon. An ocean of blood.

  “Your face suggests confusion, sister.”

  He tore his eyes from the grotesque sight to find the owner of that incredible voice walking towards him, her feet leaving crimson imprints in the golden sand. The vision of pure unadulterated heaven kicked a man’s severed bald head away from her as if it was no more than a forgotten piece of beach trash. She stopped in front of him. Joshua’s head spun as this perfect woman, her naked body, firm and full sending his hormones wild, lowered her head.

  She tossed her shoulder-length ash-blonde hair out of her pale blue eyes and pressed her full lips against his, kissing him deep. The scent of sea, decay and exotic spice filled his nostrils.

  “We have all missed you, Pelagia,” she murmured, pulling away after running the tip of her tongue across his lower lip. “You have missed all the celebrations.” The woman moved to the side, exposing his traumatized mind to utter horror.

  Dozens of corpses lay half buried in the sand. Their bodies ripped open, exposing hearts, livers, intestines and kidneys, the organs glistening and steaming as the sun burned off moisture.

  Kneeling beside every broken body, a young woman, bereft of clothes, tended the corpses. They bowed their heads, as if deep in prayer. Joshua felt the sorrow and the tragedy lifting from every girl. Had he strayed into the aftermath of some battle? That these poor women were all mourning the loss of some loved one?

  “Now that you’re here though, the construction can begin.”

  The woman danced back, keeping her hand gripped around his wrist. She laughed, her musical tones acting as a catalyst. Joshua stumbled, his hands and knees landing on the soft sand. He’d tripped over a cache of weapons: daggers, short swords, mixed with shields and shining helmets; dark blue plumes rose from the top of a helmet next to his knee.

  “Come, my sister. Do not worry, none of these Pergomon dogs lived. We are safe from retribution, for now anyway. Come, do not allow your fleeting reservations to trouble you. We have the masks to protect us now.” The girl smiled, “Let’s join our fellow sisters. See? They start the work without us!”

  His scream followed Joshua from the vision back to the present. He sat bolt upright, wrapping his cold arms around the warm female body straddling his thighs. “Oh fuck, Clarice,” sobbed Joshua. “I think I’m going mad.”

  “Calm down,”

  He yelped, jerking his arms away from Mavis. “Jesus, I’m so sorry, I thought …” Tears welled up, Joshua wiped the wetness away. “Shit.”

  “You don’t have to apologise,” she replied, smiling. Mavis picked up his limp arms and put them back. “If it helps then you don’t have to stop.” She brushed his damp hair away from his forehead. “I know it’s helping me.” She embraced him, pulling Joshua tight against her chest. “You’re been out for ages, Josh. I can’t tell you how scared I’ve been.” Her voice cracked. “I didn’t think you were going to wake up.”

  Joshua lowered his head, resting his face in her hair, filling his nostrils with the faint aroma of her shampoo. She pulled her head back, her lips finding his. He groaned as he kissed her hard, closing his eyes, feeling her soft hands run down the middle of his back, reaching his hips. He grew hard when she let go and pushed him down to the floor. She hastily unfastened his trousers, allowing his rigid cock to spring out. Mavis lowered her head, her open mouth engulfing his shaft. Joshua bucked forward when she pulled away. He looked at her with pleading eyes, wanting her back. She stood up, removed her jeans and panties, then slowly dropped to her knees, straddling him, guiding his cock between her thighs. Her muscles gripped him tight. She grabbed his wrists, pressed Joshua’s hands over her breasts while she rode him, her movements matching his thrusts.

  Joshua cried out, pushing his hips tight against her thighs as his orgasm ripped through his body. As intense pleasure deserted him, Joshua saw her gorgeous face smiling down at him, and he burst into tears. Mavis grabbed his arms tight, pinning them to the floor as she lowered her upper body until the girl’s face was an inch from his.

  “Don’t even think about the guilt, the consequences, betrayal, or any of that fucking bullshit” She kissed him again. “We both needed that more than anything.”

  “Sorry, Mavis. I didn’t mean to start crying.”

  She placed a finger over his lips. “I know you didn’t, blame your body’s chemicals.” Mavis ran her tongue seductively across her lips. You do taste very nice, you know.” She grabbed the base of her top and pulled it over her head, then unclasped her bra, allowing her firm round breasts a little more freedom. “Oh yes, that’s so much better.” She took his head and lifted him, pushing his mouth towards her breasts. “I can feel you hardening, that’s good. Now I want to feel your teeth scraping over my nipples as I fuck you properly. It’s my turn to cum now.”

  Joshua did exactly as she ordered, clamping her nipple between his teeth, flicking the bud as she rode him hard, slamming her body into his. He bit down, unable to help himself as he felt on the edge of another orgasm. Joshua tasted blood, yet his actions had only increased her movements, panting and moaning deep. Joshua licked away her fluid, his fingers digging into her shoulders. She arched her back gripping his thick shaft
tight and shuddered, crying out. Joshua pushed her down, holding her body tight against his when he climaxed.

  Seconds passed, both unwilling to release each other. Mavis pulled her head back, tears drying on her cheeks. “You almost bit off my nipple.” She sighed in contentment. “Do you feel better now? I know I do.”

  Joshua unpeeled his wet arms off her warm skin and lay back down, breathing deep and slow as she gently pulled herself up. When she turned to dress, Joshua pulled his trousers up, fastening the buttons, gazing in complete lust at the sight of her exposed rear. “You are absolutely divine.”

  She giggled. “Thank you.” Fully dressed, the girl sat beside him, cross-legged. “Where did you go? You muttered as you slept, Joshua, most of it was intelligible but I caught the word ‘beach’ a couple of times.”

  After that joyful experience, the last thing he wanted to discuss was his fucked up dream, or whatever it was. Yet those intense eyes dared him to speak of anything else. “You’re right, I found myself on the edge of a beach, behind a bank of huge pebbles. I saw over a dozen beautiful naked women, each one beside a dead man.” He reached out and wrapped his fingers around her hand. “Pretty much as you are now.” He took a deep breath. I think the men used to be soldiers, ancient Greek or probably Roman, I’m not sure. Thing is, these women were reaching inside these broken corpses, ripping out their skeletons.” He shook. “I woke before I found out why.” He turned on his side. “It’s just that I think it’s important to find out why they were performing those vile acts on those poor men. Another thing I remember. They all must have had the strength of bulls. Those bones came out without any resistance. Like us pulling apart a cooked chicken, straight out of the oven.”

  She lifted him off the floor and brushed him down, her hand lingering on Joshua’s thighs. Mavis looked into his eyes. “Are you ready to see if we can find your friends now? It’s possible that they might have some answers to what is happening in here.”