fiX - A ParaBnormal Fairy Tale

by Michael Golvach

  Cadence looked at David and her face immediately turned down in shame. “I don’t wish to speak of it,” she said. “It wouldn’t be proper. It would make me appear unfit.”

  “Unfit for what?” Juno asked. “Quit brooding and tell me. Speak, you fuckin’ retard.”

  “I couldn’t.” Cadence looked at David. “Do you swear you won’t judge me? For what I did? It was truly horrible, David. It was... It was unmentionable. And... This isn’t the explanation you’re due. It’s...”

  Juno giggled again. “Bitch, I have got you down. I’m going to be doing an impression of you for the rest of my life. Every time I start feeling upset. You really are a trip, like Brent said about you every time we got together and you went running away to hide in your room. But seriously. What was it?”

  “I promise I won’t judge you,” David said.

  Cadence smiled again. The light returning to her eyes.

  “Jesus, Cadence.” Juno looked at David. Questioning him with her eyes. “Try not to mop the furniture with your sloppy snatch when my man shows you a little common courtesy. Let’s hear it.”

  “Well,” Cadence began, placing her hands on top of each other, covering her stomach. “There was a time.” She paused as Juno stifled a laugh and motioned for her to continue. “When I first moved here. Some young ladies I met. They set me up with a gentleman friend of theirs, and he was... Well, he was much less than gentlemanly.”

  “I can’t wait to hear how this ends up having anything to do with that steak making me ill,” Juno said. Still forcing out laughter.

  David put his hand on Cadence’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring rub. Juno tried to smack it away, looking slightly pained through her tears of laughter, but David’s hand didn’t move.

  I know what you’re doing, David said. I don’t know why, but go ahead, Melody.

  “Well, he...” Cadence began, looking uncertain of David’s meaning. “We shared a meal together and then... He tried to coerce me into... Into doing something no woman should do with a man she isn’t in a proper relationship with.”

  “Oh my God,” Juno said. “Did you—?”

  Cadence continued to stare downward. “No. I did not lay with him. Though he insisted quite violently. And my unwillingness to enter into sexual congress with him. It...”

  “Jesus, Cadence.” Juno rolled her eyes. “There’s this thing normal people do. It’s called ‘completing sentences’. It’s all the rage. You should try it sometime.” David looked at Juno and his own eyes rolled. “Now, come on. Finish your fuckin’ story. We don’t have all day to wait for you to get to the God damned point.”

  “It enraged him,” Cadence continued, still looking down. “He threatened to tell everyone how I shamed myself with him, no matter the truth. And then I’d be labelled a... Well... A slut. And I most certainly was not. And I am not.”

  “Don’t go all weepy,” Juno said. “Boo hoo, you didn’t get laid. What happened next?”

  “I added him to my collection,” Cadence said. “It was either that or change forms again, and I didn’t want to have to—”

  “What?” Juno asked. “Come again, my dear, sweet confused little Cadence.”

  David also looked a bit lost. Is this part of the—?

  Cadence shook her head at David, opened one of her suitcases and pulled out a set of seven pictures. The black and white photographs they’d noticed hanging on the walls of the Strange household. She found the one she was looking for and pointed to a man in the middle of the photograph. “Him. He was the one.”

  “Okay, so?” Juno asked. “What the fuck? Congratulations. You have a picture of the first man who almost went where no man has ever wanted to go before. Tell me that wasn’t the climax. What happened next? Did you change your mind? Did you cut off his cock and lock it away in your hope chest?”

  “No.” Cadence began to shake. “I did much worse. I admit, I meant to fix his waggon. To make him pay for his mistreatment of me. I wanted to hurt him. But no more. I swear it. I only meant for him to suffer a bit for a short while. That’s all the energy I wished to focus, but I wasn’t aware of how powerful my gifts were back then. And he died that evening. Of food poisoning. But I can control my gifts much better now. That would never have happened if I hadn’t been so ignorant of the power I possess.”

  She looked at David, who rubbed her shoulder to soothe her. I’m going to let this slide, David said. Since you’re telling it for Junie’s benefit. Even if this tale is true, you’re lying about the ‘why’ and ‘how’. At the very least. And you were full aware of what you are. I’m calling this story ninety percent bullshit. And, this is very important. When you give me my explanation, it has to be a hundred percent true. If it’s not, I’ll know and... If you still can’t be honest with me after all this time... As much as it will hurt... If you can’t do that, there will be no more ‘us’. Nod if you understand me.

  Juno looked on, exasperated, as Cadence nodded, trembled, stiffened up and continued. “From that day on. For a good while, no one would come anywhere near me. They called me many names. I felt like an outcast. I almost left town. That was just before I met Brent. He was kind enough to keep company with me, in the polite sense, in public so everyone would see I wasn’t... Poison. Like they said.”

  “That’s how you two got together? After you—say again?—hated some guy to death with your super mind powers? Your gifts?” Juno slapped her knees. Loving it. “And you twisted that around in your little head and it came out the other side as, what, ‘he loves me'?”

  “I suppose,” Cadence said. “It sounds silly to you, I know. It was stupid, I suppose. But he was kind to me, and I had no one. I was so abysmally lonely. Will you forgive me, David? I was more impetuous then, and I acted irrationally.”

  “It’s okay, Cadence. I forgive you,” David said. But I don’t understand why you don’t just—

  Juno slapped at him, feeling her hand throb, and he shoved her aside.

  I can’t confess to her what I’m going to confess to you, David. She’ll think I’m—

  She already does. The real story can’t be much more bizarre.

  David. My beautiful, sweet... David. You have no idea. And it scares me terribly. It’s what stands between us and you may not understand. Or you may not be able to live with it. You may—

  “So? When I got sick eating over at your place? You did that on purpose?” Juno looked at David. Confusion in her eyes. No longer laughing. Looking hurt that he’d pushed her. “Is that what you’re saying?” Juno smacked Cadence in the face again, causing her head to snap upright, her eyes still staring straight ahead into nothing. Juno gritted her teeth, wondering if her hands were getting weaker over time or everyone else’s faces were getting stronger. “Answer me, you bitch. Did you give me food poisoning? Try to kill me? Answer me or I’ll—”

  Cadence grabbed hold of Juno’s wrist, nearly crushing it in her grip as Juno let out a howl of pain. “What? Are you going to teach me that lesson now, you miserable trollop? If I’d have wanted you dead...” She looked directly into her eyes as she squirmed. “You’d be in one of those pictures. Like every other living soul who ever gave their life to nourish the insane hunger of the craven and bloodthirsty people of this town.” Cadence let go of Juno’s wrist and Juno dropped to the floor, rubbing at the bruised bone ferociously.

  “Aren’t you going to do anything, Davey?” Juno asked. Starting to cry but trying not to. “Your little Miss ‘Prim And Proper’ just threatened my life. Looks like you picked a real peach. Well?”

  “I’m sure she’s kidding,” David said, though Cadence assured him she wasn’t, and he had no reason to doubt her. “You may not realise it, Junie, but your mouth can make people a little more than angry.”

  “Fuck both of you.” She picked herself up and pulled at David’s hand. “Come on, Davey. You need to hook me up before I do the exchange.”

  David shrugged off her hand as both he and Cadence stood on their tiptoes and sni
ffed at the air.

  “Oh boy,” they said. “They’re coming. Wait. Who do you mean?” They both laughed as they realised they were speaking in stereo.

  Juno’s eyes widened. “What... the... fuck?”

  “I’m talking about Ricky,” David said. “One of the drug bosses I rolled on. Just him and more Guatemalan muscle. He didn’t bring everyone, like he promised, so he’s not getting his tape. Who did you mean?”

  “The townsfolk,” Cadence said. “Well, a good deal of them. Twenty-six or twenty-seven households. Brent told them I told him I wasn’t going to provide any longer and they’re coming to make me.”

  “Wait, what?” Juno asked, rushing to put clothes on. “Davey? Ricky’s coming now?”

  “Give them twenty-six, twenty-seven minutes, tops,” David said.

  “And why would the entire town be coming here? Cadence?” Juno asked.

  “Oh,” Cadence said. “Dear me. I feel awful. I’m terribly embarrassed. I forgot you’re the only person who lives here who doesn’t know.”

  “What?” Juno stormed straight up to Cadence and shoved her with all her strength. Failing to move her an inch. Cadence slapped her lightly, but swiftly, across the cheek in response, causing Juno’s head to snap violently to the left as she lost her footing and slammed to the floor.

  “This entire town,” Cadence said. “They’re all cannibals. They’re going to want a sacrifice. At the very least. For my insensitivity. But that’s good.” Cadence smiled and looked at David. “It’s good because your drug friends will be coming and they mean to kill you, so we can give them over.” Cadence stood and beamed. “I know this will all work out perfectly.” She looked at Juno and whispered. “That’s why you got so ill, dear. Your body reacted to the provision.”

  “The what?” Juno asked.

  “The steak you ate. It was human meat. Guatemalan, I believe.”

  “I can’t believe you did that.” Juno gagged, actually shocked.

  “Be thankful your drug friends are coming,” Cadence said. “If it weren’t for them, your behaviour this morning would have made it exceedingly easy for me to offer you up as the sacrifice instead.” She paused, grinning. “You mouthy little fucking cunt.”

  “You’re going to let her talk to me like that?” Juno looked at David. “What happened to your big promise? The promise you made that you wouldn’t tolerate anyone talking to me like that again?”

  My foul language really is rubbing off on you, David said, smirking. Then he turned back around and replied. “Yes. Yes, I am going to let her talk to you like that. I’ve thought a lot about how unhappy my keeping that promise has made you in the past, and I’ve decided you were correct. I have no right to dictate how other people talk to, or about, you or anyone else. I only have the right to demand people talk to, or about, me with respect. I do, however, reserve the right to become violently disagreeable with others who disrespect people I love and care for. You’ve been running out from under that umbrella as fast as you can for a good while now. You can hardly blame me for letting this pass. The way I see it, you had it coming. You’ve had it coming for a long time.”

  David hugged Cadence and they danced slowly around in a little circle as Juno looked on. Horrified, confused and feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of having eaten another human being.

  Quick question? David asked.

  Yes, my love?

  What was the sacrifice going to be originally?

  Oh, Cadence said. I thought you understood. When I changed you, so you could provide. So you would be more like me. That. That was the sacrifice I spoke of when we first met.

  So everyone who’s ever provided? They’re like us?

  Technically, most people who provided. They were the provision, you see? But no. No one I’ve met in this town, before you, had the capacity to change. But you. When you arrived, you were already changing. Quitting the heroin. Dealing with the immediate loss of what you thought was love. Seeing me, remembering another me, missing that other me desperately and doubting your own sanity. All that conflicting activity was tearing your soul to ribbons. It made your mind, your body, your spirit highly vulnerable to imprinting. When I said it had been so very long, I meant forever. Forever, on this earth, since I’ve felt the closeness you were able to provide me by changing. And part of the reason why I can’t bear to lose you. Do you think less of me now? I thought I had your consent when we completed the ritual. I truly did.

  You did, Melody. You had my consent the moment I met you.

  “Thank you, David.” Cadence collected the black and white photographs as Juno continued to fight the urge to vomit. “Be a dear and hold on to these. I have some people I want to show them to.”

  David took the photographs and tucked them under his arm. “Of course,” he said. “But we don’t have much time left and, as much as you’ve tried to push this whole thing off, you really should give me that explanation now.”

  “But—”

  “If you’re concerned about things working out perfectly. If you’re concerned about us making it through the day alive, you’d better start talking. Because, with me being weakened and your desire not to wipe Brent from the face of the earth... Things are going to be sketchy, at best, if we go into this with me wondering and you worrying. Because all I know at this point is... I don’t know how to express it correctly... but you’re standing right in front of me... And I miss you more than ever before. We’re not going to make it in this condition. I have to know now, Melody.”

  “Jesus fuck. Why must you, all your life—? I just—” Cadence placed her hands over her mouth and removed them immediately. “I mean, okay. You deserve your explanation.”

  “What in the fuck are you talking about you crazy fucking bitch?” Juno asked. Then she glared at David. “And who the fuck? Melody? Again? The one that got away when you were still in diapers? Let it go. Your precious teenage crush left your sorry ass decades ago, Davey. Before you could ruin her. I’m sure she has no idea what a good decision that was. If you really want to be with this swizzle stick, accidentally calling her that name, like you used to with me, isn’t going to help. You really are a fuckin’ loser. Get over her, you pussy-ass little—” She squealed with shock as Cadence grabbed her by the hair with one hand and snatched a photo from under David’s arm with the other. “Look. I’m just saying. There’s some shit going down here. Serious shit. Let the fuck go of me. We don’t have time for any more of your make-believe—”

  “This is what in the fuck I’m talking about.” Cadence’s eyes burnt with anger that covered a growing shame and sadness. She mentally apologised to David for her increasing use of vulgarities while being sure to note they came from his half of their union. “You see?” She pointed to the man in the photograph she’d noted when explaining to Juno why she’d gotten sick eating the steak.

  You used to accidentally call her my name in bed? Cadence asked as David blushed with embarrassment. She grinned. It’s okay. I knew it when you denied it before. You really never did forget me. Precious David.

  Juno’s head shook frantically as she tried to loose herself from Cadence’s grip and Cadence continued to yank her head back and forth, making her appear to nod with great enthusiasm. “Yeah,” Juno squeaked. “I see.”

  “The man I pointed out for you before. He used to be a rapist and, as it turns out, a paedophile. The man to his left used to be an unusually violent thief. He disfigured the people he robbed, because stealing their money just wasn’t enough fun. The man to his right used to be a murderer. He especially enjoyed killing the homeless, or junkie prostitutes, or anyone else he figured the world wouldn’t miss. The woman beside him used to be a mother. She watched her baby die after she doused him in lighter fluid and set him on fire because she was feeling depressed. She had six other children. All of whom she valued less than her own emotional comfort. The man next to her—”

  “Okay, whatever you say.” Juno’s face shuddered violently. “Please let me
go.”

  “Every one of the people in these photos tried to pass through this town. Some of them tried to stay. Thinking they could ignore the past and start anew. They all left here the same way. Look out tummy.” Cadence kicked Juno’s feet out from beneath her, patting Juno’s stomach and holding her off the floor by the hair, as Juno’s face turned red and she cried like a newborn. Then Cadence hurled her over the kitchen counter, releasing her grip from Juno’s hair, watching her crash into the high wooden cabinets and drop to the floor with a thud. Possibly muffling a crack.

  “I will explain myself now.” Cadence regained her composure and stared at the floor. Pinching the bridge of her nose and sniffling. Starting to cry. “I don’t suppose it matters what Juno thinks, so long as you accept me, David.” She looked up, bleary eyed. “And I do so hope you will when I’m done. I promise to tell you the whole truth. Complete honesty. Nothing left out. No half measures.”

  Juno’s head peeked over the kitchen counter as she stood herself up and shook herself off, looking at the smashed cabinets and pawing at the blood on her left temple. “You fuckin’ piece of shit,” she yelled at Cadence. “Now I’m going to fuck you up. And you’re never—”

  Juno’s head slammed back into the already-broken kitchen cabinets, causing her to wince with pain and let out a weak cry, as Cadence spun around to face her. Opening wide, exposing thick fangs as the bones around her mouth effortlessly reshaped themselves. Quickly extending a snake-like tongue out from her throat, with her secondary teeth on its tip. Stopping inches from Juno’s face. She opened her secondary set of teeth and inched out the tongue within it, brushing its tip’s teeth against Juno’s bleeding temple. Opening those teeth, as rank-smelling saliva dripped on Juno’s tee shirt and Cadence’s blistered purple third tongue lapped the blood from Juno’s face.

  “Good Lord, I’ve been patient, but you’re really starting to piss me off. You have no concept of anyone else’s suffering but your own. But you really have no concept of that, either. Things can be so much worse. I can guarantee you that. So shut your big fucking mouth and listen,” Cadence said. Or might have said. The words actually sounded like they were being spoken by three different voices at once. And the voices sounded like they were coming from everywhere. “Shut your big fucking mouth and listen, right now, or we’ll be referring to you in the past tense, also. Very soon.”