Music City Macabre: The Low Lying Lands Saga: Vol. 1

by Bob Williams

  Kade and Ortiz walked through the front door, which finally, and laughably, came off the hinges when Kade pulled it, and walked in. It was tough to see but for minimal lighting that still worked thanks mostly to Ortiz. There was a massive bar to the left of the entrance that had been long since raped of all its joy and the several large mirrors that had hung behind the bar had been smashed. While Kade loved to enjoy his beautiful face, most Freaks did not appreciate their reflections. They always saw one of two things in a mirror. A hideous face or self-loathing, and neither was a welcome sight.

  Ortiz led the way through the main bar room and up a short staircase that led to a room with pool tables and a second, smaller stage. The pool tables were long gone, maybe a bonfire or some shit, Kade couldn’t recall, but what remained was the stage and a crudely constructed steel cell that encompassed it.

  As far as they knew, David Haberman and Brian Hellwig were the last remaining survivors of the Murfreesboro Safe Zone. They had no idea whether Shields and Cole had located Prescott, as Malcolm had advised them, or not, but they feared the worst. They had discussed several topics while in captivity: the tragedy of the MSZ massacre; Lou Bixby’s betrayal; and even the unknown fate of Malcolm. None of the topics they spoke of in any way involved hope. Or even a shred of optimism. Malcolm had told them of the brutal, and horrifying, ways Kendrick Kade had made a show out of executing Regulars in his custody. There was no hope of escape, nor hope in any form for these two men.

  “Good afternoon, prisoners,” said Kade. “I hope you are finding your accommodations acceptable?”

  “Actually,” said Haberman, “They are atrocious.”

  “Oh, my….Ortiz! What ever are you doing to these poor prisoners? Are you feeding them properly? Are they getting restroom visits?”

  “Sure enough, Boss! I brought their meals with us.” He reached into a knapsack and pulled out two feet that had been severed at about mid-shin, and tossed them into the cell. “Eat up, fellas! We got big plans tonight and y’all have to be ready.”

  “My God, man!” yelled Hellwig. “We are not going to eat human flesh! We are not savages! And we are most certainly NOT Freaks like you! We’ll starve to death first!”

  “Well, shit. Chaos will most assuredly not be pleased by this.” Kade turned and walked a few steps away, feigning irritation, before turning around and walking back to the cell.

  “All right. Look here, fellas. I wasn’t going to tell you this but...one of you is actually getting out of this mess. Yeah. True story. So, who wants out?”

  “My name is Brian Hellwig. I am of The Three, and I am one of four possible surviving members of the Murfreesboro Safe Zone. I will never betray the trust of my fallen comrades by giving you the satisfaction of an…” Kade drew his sidearm and shot Hellwig center mass, right between the eyes. He was dead before he hit the ground.

  “Ortiz, your blade.” Ortiz drew a fourteen inch hunting knife that would essentially penetrate a rhinoceros and tossed it into the cell. “You have just about an hour to cut out his heart and eat it, or I, or someone very close to me, will make you. We have plans for tonight.” Suddenly an enormous explosion rocked the foundation of the jail. Everyone in the room was showered in dust and grime.

  “What the fuck was that?” screamed Kade

  SHOWTIME

  The Drive to Nashville from Murfreesboro was again a very short three hours. I’ll never understand how the Post-Descent entities in the middle of the state of Tennessee were able to clear the highways and the majority of well-travelled roads of all the detritus. They really must have an amazing Department of Transportation, or there were organized “Clear the Road” days where Freaks and Regulars put aside their differences for the sake of safe and cost effective transportation. I didn’t have nearly enough time to back out of this utterly stupid plan. I can’t even begin to think what Emily would say if she knew what I was about to do.

  “Just the two of us? Huh-Uh. Not with that plan. You’re on you’re own, little brother.” I have to smile. It feels like I haven’t smiled in decades. If things don’t go sideways tonight, I could get used to smiling.

  We got off Interstate Twenty-four at Briley Parkway, drove a short couple of miles, and connected with the Murfreesboro road. Guy must’ve been important, I can’t escape him. We followed Murfreesboro until it turned into Lafayette. Then we went around a roundabout thingy, and hooked up with Broadway. And that is where we wanted to be. I know I’ve said this before, that street names really don’t mean anything anymore, but us Regulars still try to use them, when possible, to keep at least a semblance of humanity. Who knows, we might actually need them again one day.

  At Eighth Avenue and Broadway, Cole, Shields, Lexi, and I sat in the Comanche and didn’t say a word for a several minutes. I finally spoke up. “If anyone wants to jump ship, right now is the only shot you have. I will not hold a grudge...hell I probably won’t be alive to hold a grudge, so just walk away.” More silence. Then Cole. “We have your back, Prescott. Let’s do it.”

  “OK, here goes everything,” I said. I’m pretty sure my voice cracked. I hoped they didn’t hear it.

  I turned over the ignition, left the lights off, and we slowly drove the three blocks down to where Fifth Avenue crossed Broadway. We weren’t naive; we knew spotters were watching us. When the Jeep finally came to a stop at a large barricade made of crushed vehicles and other random construction materials, we collectively took what could possibly be our last free breaths.

  This was not like the driving up to the Normal Safe Zone. These were not regimented soldiers watching the gate. These were Freaks. Freaks can’t follow directions with too much detail. At least they shouldn’t be able to. Right away, I knew I was dealing with the new breed of Freak. These were the trained Freaks. The ones that were broken in every physical sense of the term. But they were not the savage half-breeds that were first taken by BH-2014. I had to say it. Chaos was involved. Which meant he was either here or he could be summoned. Thank Go...well...thank the powers that be for small favors. A favor, you ask? As crazy as it sounds, so far with one foot over the starting line, this was a big plus. Now I just had to hope Kade didn’t have an itchy trigger finger.

  I didn’t notice any form of walkie-talkie or anything on the guards that were posted on the gate. I suppose they weren’t really used to someone just randomly pulling up. What else we didn’t see, which again was working for us, was anyone run off to announce a visitor. I think they were all too intrigued. My guess is, as far as inter-commune communication went, these idiots just wandered around waiting for stimulation or direction. Don’t get me wrong, they’re a different kind of Freak, but they’re still Freaks.

  In the Jeep I said, “Cole, you ready?”

  “Check!”

  “Shields, are you a go?”

  “Yes.”

  “Lexi. Stay here and stay low.”

  I flicked on the fog lights and doused them with a whole lotta bright. Cole climbed over the back passenger seat and into the rear. As Shields and I simultaneously opened our doors and stepped out of the Jeep, Cole slipped out the back and scooted under the vehicle and lay flat. Shields and I took up our position behind the reinforced front doors and enacted the plan.

  My hands weren’t straight up in the air but then again, they sort of were. “Hey guys and gals! Don’t want to forget the ladies. My name is Prescott, and this here is my friend Shields! You guys killed all of her friends yesterday, so forgive her if she’s not immediately cozy. Anyway, Shields here is really just eye candy for you psychos. I’m here for Kade’s, oh what time is it…8:23 pm appointment. So, could one of you dipshits go let him know I’m here, or do you have to wait for him to tell you to chew and spit?”

  “Kade sees no one!” retched one of the Freak brigade.

  “Hmm. Ok, do you mind if I go ahead and ask him myself?

  I dove back into the Comanche, hit the preset button for the rocket launcher, and fired a big ass rocket right at a place called th
e Big River Bar and Grill, reducing half of the structure to rubble.

  “Get out here! Get out in front of the car!” screamed the lead Freak.

  “OK, OK!” I said. “Just be cool and let’s wait. Your boss should be here any minute.”

  Just as the words left my mouth, all six Freaks on the front barricade post went down. Clean headshots from my buddy Cole, and the three of us took up a comfortable resting posture on the front of the Comanche and waited for Kade. So far, so good.

  I had to admit that one little rocket was pretty sweet. Thanks, Jay. My cohorts and I were really enjoying the destruction when a crazy looking man with long black hair and an equally black Fu-Manchu mustache—and his friends—came running up, guns drawn.

  “Freeze!” screamed Fu-Manchu.

  I frowned, but raised my hands all the same. I nodded at Cole and Shields to do the same. “‘Freeze’? I have to admit...Kade, right? Yeah I’m a little disappointed with ‘freeze’. You do realize you’re the arch villain of the story, right? And I suppose, although I’m not super excited about the title of Hero, but for lack of a better term, that’s me. We are meeting face to face for the first time, I just blew up some of your shit, and you brought ‘freeze’ to the table.” Kade shot Shields in the shoulder and she went down.

  Shut your mouth Prescott. Don’t do this.

  “Let’s start over again then, shall we? Formal introductions out here in the open, a nice cozy fire in the background. I’m Kendrick Kade. This here is my associate, Ortiz.” He spread his arms and waved them around. “These are my children. Welcome to my home. Now, before I kill you and eat your face, who the fuck are you?”

  “My name is Prescott. These are my friends, Shields and Cole. We’re waiting for one more. We came to kill you.”

  I’m begging you. Please! Stop.

  No!

  The next thirty seconds felt like that scene in every movie you’ve ever seen where somebody says something crazy, then its dead quiet for a minute, then the entire bar, or whatever, erupts in laughter. That’s exactly what happened. Except it was moderately terrifying and this wasn’t a movie.

  “You, and your…two friends...came here to kill me?” Kade laughed more of the insane laughter that was starting to piss me off. I get overconfidence, I get psycho, but now I’m just insulted.

  “So, do you want me to kill you right here, or is there somewhere else you’d rather die?” I said smugly.

  “That will be enough from you, comedian. I can honestly say I am surprised, Mr. Prescott.”

  Cole and Shields simultaneously interrupted, “Don’t call him that!” I had to smile.

  Feels almost like a team. Where are you?

  NO! You will not do this to me. I will not participate!

  “As I was saying. You recently came across my radar, Mr. Prescott. I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with you, though. It is you who will die. You see, I may rule this roost, but I take orders just the same.”

  “Yeah. I met your boss. He’s a real douchebag. He killed my sister. I’m actually going to kill him, too. Can you go ahead and call him up? You know, do the eye thing. I have a few choice words before I take his ass out.” I was feeling good, things were moving according to plan so far. However, we were creeping into the phase of the plan in which one little element hadn’t quite fallen into place yet. I might be feeling a few sweat drops here, shortly.

  You do know your thoughts are my thoughts, Prescott! You are well past the point of no return. You have killed yourself and your friends. Your arrogance is unlike anything I’ve seen in two thousand years. Shame on you!

  “Ortiz. Take Mr. Prescott’s associates to holding and let them stew with their remaining friend. They can join on us on the stage in one hour for our gift to Chaos. And Ortiz, fire up the PA, I want everyone in attendance.”

  As Ortiz started to take Shields and Cole to whatever holding was I decided I couldn’t take the chance of letting them out of my sight. I sprang off the Jeep and sucker punched Kade as hard as I could, straight to the temple. Suffice it to say he went down hard, and the next thing I knew, I was getting tuned up by a horde of freaks for the second time in only three days. Getting captured was actually part of the plan, but getting separated was not.

  I was on the ground, getting punched, kicked and jabbed when I suddenly heard a noise unlike anything I’ve ever heard nor do I expect to ever hear again. It was sort of like a shriek at the top and a simultaneous guttural vomiting sound. I was basically pretending to be a damn piñata right then, but I briefly entertain the idea of asking him if he needs me to hold his hair.

  “NO! STOP!” Dammit, it was Kade and he was in a full tilt break. I figured this would happen, in fact I had hoped it would, but this...is not what I expected. Kade had nearly doubled in size and his pulsating muscles ripped his shirt nearly clean off. His eyes clouded the familiar crimson and blood leaked from his ears. What I mean is that I had hoped to trigger the break on the stage, which is where I knew this would end up. If he totally loses it now before we get to the showstopper, I’m deader than Chuck Norris that time he fought Bruce Lee.

  Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Especially the Freak brigade hauling off my friends to this asshole’s kitchen. Kade approached me and stopped about twelve inches shy of my face. His breath was warm and noxious. And my stomach...Jesus I swear Michael Flatley was in there doing the Riverdance. I could feel his eyes. They were like fifty pound dumbbells in my brain, and the weight of his stare made my knees buckle like Forrest Gump without the leg braces.

  “Stand him up! Stand him up now!” I was grabbed by no fewer than four cronies who jerked me to my feet. Kade walked up to me. He stared at me again with those eyes, and willed himself back into his normal body. I blinked several times. I’m sure my mouth was hanging open a mile. He just willed himself down from a break. Seriously. Who in the world is this guy?

  Someone who will crush you. Someone who will murder your spirit, and laugh while doing it. Someone you cannot defeat.

  OK! Guess we’ll have to see how it goes.

  “Pardon me, Mr. Prescott…”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “I lost my...cool...there for a moment. Nice punch. It will of course, be your last. I hope it was worth the trip. You and your friends are all about to die a very long, bloody, and excruciatingly painful death. Congratulations. Seize them!”

  “Oh for God’s sake, man! ‘Seize them’. You are really fucking this supervillain thing up something fierce,” I said.

  I simply do not understand what you are doing, Prescott! You are going to die! So are the people you care about.

  Maybe.

  “Ortiz, I’m going put on some more fitting attire. The show will begin in ten minutes. Take Mr. Prescott, Mr. Cole, and Ms. Shields directly to the stage. Oh, and go fetch Mr. Haberman. He should also die tonight, just to complete the act. Call the kids and let them know to come out from shadows and join us.”

  Kade stalked off and disappeared into a small crowd while Ortiz conducted affairs in the interim.

  “You and you! Go fetch the prisoner from holding and bring him to the stage,” he demanded.

  “We obey!” They shouted in unison, and off they went.

  “Prescott! Let’s go. Bring the others.” We marched through a sea of Freaks as we made our way away from the entrance to ‘Kade Land’ and into the lion’s den. I’m worried about Lexi. I don’t know why I’m choosing this moment do it but, I am. At least if I die tonight she’s not going to be locked in the bathroom with a dead guy. What can I say? I love her. I’ve been conditioned to expect that my love is a death sentence to anyone I care about. Not this time, Lexi. We’re gonna have a nice long run together.

  Not hardly, Prescott. You arrogant bastard.

  Bastard? I didn’t think angels could say bad words.

  Shut your mouth. You have gambled with your life and lost. I’m sorry.

  We’ll see.

  Ortiz wasn’t messing aroun
d with how quickly he bound our hands behind our backs and rustled us up on to the stage. First he grabbed Cole by the neck, walked him across the stage and positioned him under a bank of lights that had been turned on before the dog and pony show arrived. I was momentarily shoved out of the way and Shield was lassoed by Ortiz’s power grip. Shields, of course, had been shot and looked like it. Her face was sweaty despite the cooler temp, and her skin had gone ashen. Ortiz helped Laura up the stairs by kicking her with a very large boot right in the back. With her hands tied she couldn’t brace herself, but she was able to turn just enough that her opposite side, ear, neck and shoulder took the brunt of the damage. Not her gunshot side. But she cried out in agony. Cole screamed, “No! No! Laura!”

  “Aaah! Hoh! Dammit, you son of a bitch! You and me are gonna meet again, and it’s gonna play out right differently than this. Believe it asshole!” she spat. Ortiz merely smiled, yoked her by the collar of her shirt, and dragged her up the steps and to her feet. She was a warrior. “I’m OK, Michael. I’m OK,” she said to him. She was most certainly not OK. Something in my gut told me Ortiz was totally screwed.

  I was still down on ground level when a ruckus broke out behind me. The crowd, which had been steadily growing, I guess by ass to mouth communication, parted when two Freaks appeared, dragging a man I’d never seen before by his ankles. I don’t know which one this is but it’s either Hellwig or Haberman. The larger of the two Freaks that delivered him bent over at the waist, grabbed the man by his shirt and snatched him violently to his feet. Then gave him a headbutt for good measure. He probably assumed it didn’t matter what he did, since the Regular was just going to die anyway.