by Jeff O'Brien
“No,” gasped Candy as she took a good look at each faceless man, wincing at one in particular. She’d paid almost no attention to these men when she’d arrived, assuming they were nothing more than a party favor – willing participants. But the fourth one was massively fat. Looking closely at his meaty hands, she found familiar knuckle tattoos under the sheet of blood that covered them. “How… It can’t be.”
“Relax, Candy my dear,” the shadow said calmly. “He can never hurt you, ever again.”
Olivia stepped up onto the stage and yanked the hoods off of each man one by one, making a dramatic unveiling.
The first man was revealed to be Curtis, the motel night manager. The second and third, the tow truck drivers who had taken Kendall’s car.
“No wonder my car still isn’t fixed,” laughed Kendall, surprising himself with how calm he felt about all of this.
And, as Candy dreaded, the fourth man was revealed to be none other than Rhino.
“How?” cried Candy.
“Forget the how,” said Olivia, approaching Candy and placing a warm hand upon her shoulder. “Let’s talk about the why. Let’s start with Sarah. Tell us why you’re here, Sarah.”
“About…a little over a year ago, I was in a pretty bad relationship with this piece of shit right here,” said Sarah, walking over to the skinnier of the two tow truckers. She smacked him hard across the face, then once again twice as hard. “It started with the possessiveness, then the beatings. Then came the rapes. Then he’d invite his friend over…” Sarah gave the fatter of the two men a solid punch to his already bruised and beaten face. “And they’d share me. Keep me tied up all day and night while they towed cars and did who knows what else. So I escaped. And I ran. But my dear ex here just happens to have a brother on the lovely police force here in town. So, you know the story. Nothing was done, and I was vulnerable again. I had to find my own means of protection. I’ve been safe here for a while now.”
“But last night…” began Candy.
“Last night, I killed my ex’s cop brother and his equally heinous colleague. Sorry you didn’t get to see that part.” Sarah turned to her helpless ex-boyfriend. “That’s right, Cal. Your big brother is dead. Don’t worry, you’ll be joining him soon.”
“I’m so confused,” muttered Candy, her emotions a raging mix of conflict. “Did that happen last night or last year?”
“Hollows Point is a strange kind of place, Candy,” said the shadow in a deep almost-whisper that now sounded vaguely feminine. “What you see and what is actually happening in the here and now aren’t always the same. What you actually saw, oh, it happened. Just not at that moment. Don’t fuss over the details, my dear friend. You’ll understand soon enough. Let’s just say that a certain amount of spilled witch’s blood can cause the soil to bring forth a rather strange harvest. You saw precisely what I wanted you to see. And tonight is just the night that some great fun is to be had in the corporeal world, and some great things are to come to fruition.
Candy gripped Kendall tight, fighting the urge to look at Rhino. When she finally gave in and looked, she was relieved to see his eyes closed in terror. Under the blood, scars, and bruises that littered his face, he was far too scared to make eye contact with the tiny woman he’d been the master of until only two days ago.
The other three men seemed to have taken quite a beating before ending up here as well.
Olivia turned to Laura. “Now, you tell us why you’re here, Laura.”
“Curtis here,” began Laura, the blonde woman from the motel, “is…was a coworker of mine. A few months ago, however, when we were both working the overnight shift, something awful happened. Didn’t it, Curtis? Something you warned me to never talk about or it would happen again, only much, much worse. I believe those were your exact words, weren’t they?”
Curtis said nothing, just whimpered and cried tears that mixed with the winding avenues of blood on his cheeks.
“Answer me!” cried Laura. “Tell us what you did to me! Tell us all how you cornered me in the bathroom that night.”
“I’m sorry!” yelped Curtis. “Please, I’m so, so sorry.”
“You’re man enough to rape a helpless women half your size, but you’re too ashamed to even brag about it here in front of your friends. The four of you…pathetic. Your turn, Autumn.”
Autumn looked at Candy before speaking. “I was a stripper on the run, just like you, Candy. I had a piece of shit boyfriend just like your Rhino here.” She turned and pointed to the blubbering mass of lard that was bent into the pillory that barely fit around his giant wrists. “My piece of shit ex-boyfriend has already been taken care of, though. However, several nights after I ditched him and hit the road, I ended up here in Hollows Point, right at the same motel you two are staying at. I, too, had an unpleasant run-in with Mister Curtis over there. Now, here I am. Five years and counting.”
“We all have similar stories,” said Olivia, walking toward Candy and Kendall, flaunting her naked beauty with no trace of shame whatsoever. The rest of the women nodded their agreement. “And tonight, by the grace of her majesty, we shed a little blood. We can protect you, Candy. All you have to do is join us. Hell, you do that, we can even protect your new lover boy, too.”
“You want me to shed blood?” asked Candy. “I don’t know if I…”
“You can’t honestly tell me you don’t want to,” said Olivia. “After all you’ve been through. And especially now, standing in the very same room with him bound, beaten, and helpless.”
Candy looked up at Kendall.
“Don’t look at me,” laughed Kendall, still calm as ever. “You sure as fuck don’t need my approval, but I definitely support you all the way on this one. Cut that fucker up to shreds.”
For a moment, Kendall feared Rhino would try to intimidate him somehow. Cast him a snarl and a deep stare. But, alas, the bound coward kept his teary eyes closed.
“It seems like too much a coincidence that I ended up here,” said Candy.
“It’s no coincidence, dear,” laughed Olivia.
“This was supposed to happen?”
“Spilt witch’s blood,” said the dark, red-eyed form on the throne, its voice now unmistakably female.
“That’s right,” said Olivia. “That’s what Hollows Point is known for, after all. The blood of the witch just has what I guess you could call a magnetic pull to those deserving of its power.”
“Then how did I end up here?” asked Kendall.
“Who’s to say you weren’t deserving as well?” laughed Olivia. “Maybe Candy has a little magnetic pull all her own. Don’t worry, Kendall. You’ve got a purpose to serve in all of this too. I can assure you of that.”
Candy smiled up at Kendall, squeezed his hand, and turned to face Olivia. “What happens after I join you?”
“It’s a pretty simple life,” said Olivia. “You live here with us, unseen to the corporeal world, and we all grow stronger because of it. We watch over Hollows Point, and we provide a great service to those who are like we once were. And eventually, you gain enough power to exist in both worlds, like myself and Autumn and a couple of the other girls who have found themselves in this place. You, Sarah, and Laura are the new blood, so you’ll have to spend a little time on the inside before you can do that.”
“But…what about Kendall?” begged Candy. “Does he get to stay too?”
“Kendall,” the shadow woman cut in, “unfortunately cannot live here, just as I cannot either. He must exist in his world. I must exist in mine. But he is free to visit often, especially on nights such as tonight, much like I do. Besides,” her red eyes shined on Kendall, “I do have work for you elsewhere, outside in your world, my friend.”
“Sounds fair,” said Kendall. “I’m certainly dying to know what that entails.” He then turned to Candy and said with a laugh, “Besides, as much as I already know I’m in love with you, it’s not like I was looking to move in with you right away.”
“Dork.” C
andy returned his laughter, mixed with sudden tears. “I love you, too.”
“So shall we let the festivities begin then?” asked Olivia.
“I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” said Candy.
“Well, undress yourself and let’s go. You too, Kendall. Strip.”
“When in Rome,” laughed Kendall, and began undressing.
“Now, Candy,” began Olivia, “let me tell you that I think you’ve inspired me.”
“Oh?”
“I’m thinking now that maybe corpse paint will become part of the dress code for this ritual.”
“Happy to help!” Candy smiled and finished disrobing, joining her sisterhood before the stage.
The shadow woman stood from her seat and approached. She was now visible as was the macabre throne she had been seated upon. Elegance smothered her. From her dainty black dress to her stiletto shoes to her cigarette and her glass of blood-red wine. Her throne, however, was every bit as ghastly as she was gorgeous. Hideous human skulls lined the arm rests, while the legs and supports were made of the legs and claws of unidentifiable demonic beasts.
While Kendall scanned his eyes back and forth between the woman and her throne, his purpose for being here struck him, jarring him temporarily from his calm contentedness. Whether it was intended or not, he now knew.
As the strange woman emerged fully from the shadows, she handed Candy, Laura, and Sarah each a worn and ancient looking dagger. Where she had been keeping them, neither Candy nor Kendall knew. The point of asking questions was far behind them.
Laura struck first, slicing a clean slit across Curtis’s throat and dousing herself in his blood.
Sarah went next, forcefully poking holes into the throats of her ex-boyfriend and his friend. Their blood sprayed out like water through a strainer, splashing her and the other women.
Candy, the last of the new initiates approached Rhino. “Open your eyes,” she said. “Now!” she added when he voiced no reply.
“Please, I can’t,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry, Candy.”
“Open your fucking eyes, Rhino. Fuck it, I don’t have call you that stupid nickname anymore. Open up, Tim!”
Not a moment after Rhino opened his eyes, Candy sent the dagger plunging directly into one and then the other. She ceased stabbing only long enough to enjoy the sound of him belting out a mangled cry, then punched the tip of the blade directly into his throat, twisting and gouging.
The blood of all four men gushed and sprayed like geysers. Every woman bathed in it, slathering themselves and feeling the power surge within them.
Kendall, completely dumbfounded, watched on in awe and fascination, making no attempt to hide the solid erection protruding from his crotch.
“I trust you can keep that at bay for a next few minutes,” said the elegant mystery woman, as she suddenly appeared before Kendall. “At least until I tell you what I need to tell you, and am on my way.”
“Sure,” Kendall said, stupefied.
“I’m sorry you can’t stay here.”
“The fun just started and you’re kicking me out?”
“No, no,” she whispered. “You’re more than welcome to stay the night. I mean seriously, look at that.” She pointed to the all female blood orgy. “You’d be stupid not to. What I mean is that when morning comes, this house won’t be here. And neither will Candy.”
“That kinda sucks.”
“Does it though? It won’t always be that way. You see Autumn over there. She’s just about at the highest level of this order. She can exist in both worlds. And…she’s taken a quite a liking to you.”
“Okay. I guess I like where this is going. But…Candy.”
“Oh, but there’s more good news. Candy will surely ascend to that level eventually too. The world, my friend, is your fucking oyster. Clearly the sisterhood doesn’t take to jealous types.”
“Okay, then,” said Kendall. “I guess this isn’t so bad.”
“Oh, and that’s not all, my friend.” She leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear. “Now go enjoy the party, my friend.”
12
Kendall awoke the next morning knowing he’d attended the greatest party of his life the night before, but not feeling any worse for the wear. There was no hangover. No exhaustion. There was, instead, an energy the likes of which he’d never felt before.
Squinting under the bright morning sun, and shivering in the early November cold, he looked around himself. His clothes were back on, but the house was gone, much like he’d been told it would be. Around him was nothing but forestry dying for the season, stretching on and on for miles. But he knew he’d find his way out rather easily.
First, he’d just have to find the motivation to get up off the cold grass and stand on his own two feet. Somehow, lying the middle of a forest in the freezing cold was feeling quite comfortable.
“Come on, silly,” came a sweet voice from the distance.
Kendall sat up and saw Autumn decked out in her waitressing uniform.
“And here I was thinking I just had the greatest yet most disappointing dream.”
“Yeah, yeah, emo boy,” laughed Autumn. “Let me take you to work with me. There’s breakfast in it for you.”
Kendall was up on his feet in no time, walking slowly with Autumn.
“Say, uhh, Autumn?”
“Yeah?”
“You got a car? I just remembered that the guys who were gonna fix mine are kind of dead now.”
“Yeah, my Caddy is right over there.” She pointed off to her car in the distance where the fancy black Cadillac was still parked. “I’ll take care of the transportation. You just keep working those songs out in your head. We’ll sort the rest of everything out after breakfast.”
Kendall could hardly even respond. For he knew he had been dreaming after all. The party and the slaughter, that was real. The dozen or so songs that were already flooding out of his brain, those had been the dream.
“It’s pretty early now,” said Autumn. “But you should probably give your old band mates a call later on today.”
“So wait, a sec,” said Kendall, stopping to let the million realizations running through his head set in. “Do you actually work at that diner or not?”
“Just worry about the songs, Kendall.”
About the Author
Jeff O’Brien writes shit when he isn’t at work. Sometimes when he’s at work too. He aspires to be a big name in writing but will probably just keep working and dreaming.
Other Books by Jeff O’Brien
BigBoobenstein
BigBoobenstein Saga: OminBUST Edition
Goth Queen
The Night Manager
I Am Doyle: The Night Manager 2
Doyle Rising: The Night Manager 3
The Halloween Orgy Massacre
Heart-Shaved Box
Harper and the Haunted Cape
Oberyl the Hammer
The Byron the Barbarian Series
The Splatter House Rules
