ANGIE
“I’m just going to pull through the drive thru okay, Mark?” Jeff asks as he pulls up to their favorite fast food destination.
“Yeah, that’s fine, but I’m not hungry. You go ahead though,” Mark says.
“Are you sure? I worked up an appetite. You didn’t?” Jeff asks.
“No, bro. I’m good,” Mark says. Jeff orders, pulls around to the window, pays, gets his food, and pulls away.
“We’re going to meet Angie at the park,” Jeff says to Mark as they begin to drive down the road.
“Why are you still dating her anyway?” Mark asks Jeff. “You just went out last night with someone else.”
“Honestly? Because what we have is real, and she can fuck really fucking good,” Jeff responds with a smile as he takes a bite from his burger. Ketchup drips onto the side of his mouth and he takes a napkin to wipe it away.
“Wow, okay then. A good reason I reckon,” Mark says sarcastically, “She’s crazy as hell though, man. But so are you, so I guess it evens itself out.”
“Well, don’t let her hear you say that. She’ll cut your throat whether you’re my friend or not,” Jeff says. “I’m not fucking joking about that either.”
“Yeah, I’m very aware of her psychotic nature. As well as her brothers,” Mark says. As they pull into the parking lot of the park, they see Angie has already arrived and is sitting on the bench of a picnic table under a shelter. The two of them get out of the vehicle and walk over to her. Jeff throws his trash in a bin as he reaches the shelter. He kisses Angie on arrival.
“Hey babe,” Jeff says to Angie.
“Hey, fuck face,” she says.
“I’ll fuck your face,” he responds.
“Jesus,” Mark says.
“What, Mark? I’ll let you fuck me too if you want?” Angie says to Mark.
“She will, Mark,” Jeff says. “I might let her too if you’re really nice,” he laughs.
“That’s alright, Jeff. You can keep her to yourself,” Mark says.
“What, I ain’t good enough for your little pecker?” Angie asks. Mark sits down on the bench but doesn’t respond. “Whatever, Mark. So what’s up, guys?” She asks.
“What do you say we go to my place and fuck for a while?” Jeff asks her.
“I would, but I have this thing to do,” she says.
“What thing?” Jeff asks with a frown on his face.
“It’s Brandon’s birthday, and we’re going out. Maybe find some trouble to get into, you know?” Angie says. “We like to do it big on our birthdays. It’s kind of a sibling thing we have.”
“Alright then, whatever,” Jeff says. He kisses her on the lips. “Well, I guess we’ll leave you be then.”
“Okay, I’d better get going anyway,” Angie says. “We’ve got a little place out in the country picked out for the party. We’ve been watching it for a few days. They seem to be a nice couple.”
“Y’all have fun, and be safe,” Jeff says.
“We’re always safe darlin’” Angie says. “I’ll see you tomorrow okay?”
“Okay, I love you,” Jeff says.
“I love you, too,” she says to Jeff and kisses him again. “I even love you, Mark, just a little though,” Angie says as she lightly punches Mark in the shoulder. Mark smiles. “By the way Jeff, if you see mama, tell her we’ll get together tomorrow for Brandon’s birthday as a family. I’ve been trying to get her on the phone all day and she’s not answering.”
“I will. Not a problem,” Jeff responds as he and Mark stand to leave. Angie does the same.
“See you guys. Kisses. Muah.” She blows them both a kiss goodbye and they part ways.
HIT
“Shit man, she’s got a nice fucking ass doesn’t she?” Jeff asks Mark as they drive down a dark country dirt road.
“Yeah, I guess. She’s your girl,” Mark responds.
“I bet you want a piece of that pussy, don’t you?”
“Nah,” Mark says.
“I’ll trade you a piece of her for a piece of your mama’s,” Jeff says.
“Fuck you, man,” Mark shoves Jeff in the shoulder. “That’s my mama.”
“I know, but she’d fuck the dick of a dead man if you offered her a hit of meth, and you know it’s true don’t you?” Jeff asks with a laugh.
“Shut the fuck up and drive,” Mark says angrily. They sit in silence for a moment. “Where are we going anyway?” Mark asks.
“Just driving, so nowhere in particular. We’ll just see what happens, I guess,” Jeff says.
The truck stops suddenly with a loud thud as they hit something from the front.
“What the hell was that?” Jeff asks. “Did you catch a look at what it was?”
“Probably a deer,” Mark says.
“Dammit man, and I just washed this bastard. Shit!” Jeff pulls his ball cap off his head and wipes his brow with his right hand. He places his cap back on. “I’ll go see what it was.” He opens the driver’s door and steps out of the vehicle and walks around the front of the truck and into the headlights. “FUCK!”
“What is it?” Mark asks.
“Some fucking old nigger! Dead as fuck too!” Jeff says.
“What was an old guy doing walking in the dark? You didn’t see him?” Mark asks.
“Hell no,” Jeff says.
“Why not? You were looking right at the road Jeff!”
“He’s as black as smut, man. I can’t see these fuckers at night,” Jeff responds.
“Racist fuck,” Mark says under his breath.
“They should have to wear reflectors or something, you know?” Jeff says with frustration at the situation.
“So what do you want to do about it? Call the cops?” Mark asks ignoring Jeff’s last remark.
“Hell no! Come help me put him in the back of the truck.”
“Fuck that!” Mark says.
“Fuck that, my ass! Come help me now!” Jeff says. Mark stares through the window at Jeff for a moment but quickly realizes there’s no need to try and resist him.
“Dammit,” says Mark as he gets out of the vehicle. He walks to the front of the truck and helps Jeff load the old man in the back bed. “So what are we going to do with him?”
“I guess we’ll take him back to my garage and put him with the rest. The girl’s still there. Probably smelling pretty ripe by now, wouldn’t you think,” Jeff says with a smile.
“Whatever,” Mark says.
“Get excited for once,” Jeff says. He pats Mark on the back and they both get in their separate sides of the vehicle and drive away.
DECEPTION
“Why don’t we just call the cops Jeff?” Mark asks. “It was an accident.”
“He was a germ me and you needed to eventually eradicate anyway. This just made it easier on us,” Jeff responds.
“My God, you’re a racist piece of shit,” Mark says in anger.
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever, and Jesus was a liberal. Believe whatever you want. It doesn’t mean it’s true,” Jeff says.
“Jesus was more liberal than conservative,” Mark says.
“For the sake of argument as we drive home, just how then was he?” Jeff asks hoping to be amused.
“Well for one, he healed the poor, and free healthcare is definitely something liberals would offer. He also hung out with prostitutes and that’s fairly liberal for a guy like him. He took from the rich tax collectors and gave to the poor which is kind of like the redistribution of wealth. So yeah, Jesus was pretty much a liberal,” Mark smiles. Jeff looks over at him and thinks for a minute.
“Fuck you, man,” he says unable to argue a rebuttal.
“Well, you asked,” Mark says with a laugh. Jeff reaches over and hits Mark in the face with his fist. Mark places his hands over his face. “What the hell?” he asks.
“Don’t ever make fun of me again,” Jeff says.
“I wasn’t making fun of you,” Mark says.
“Yes you were,” Jeff says as he pulls t
he truck over on the side of the road. “Get the fuck out,” he says.
“What?” Mark asks.
“Get out now!” Jeff says as he places the truck in park and turns the ignition off.
“What?”
“Say what again, mother fucker!” Jeff says.
“You’re quoting Pulp Fiction now?” Mark asks. Jeff hits him in the face again. “Fuck! What was that one for?”
“You made fun of me again!” Jeff says.
“Goddammit, what has gotten into you tonight? I know you’re crazy as dogshit, but Jesus Christ, Jeff,” Mark says as blood pours from his nose.
“Get out of the fucking truck now!”
“Alright, alright,” Mark says as he opens the passengers door and steps out. Jeff steps out of the drivers side and meets Mark around on the passengers side. He holds his gun down by his side. “What’s the gun for?” Mark asks.
“Walk into the woods,” Jeff says.
“Are you seriously doing this right now? After everything I’ve been through with you?” Mark asks. “Why now?”
“Have you thought that maybe this was my plan all along, but you pissing me off just sped it up?” Jeff asks.
“Shit, man, whatever,” Mark says, “Just get it over with quick.” The two begin to walk into the woods. Mark is in the lead as Jeff follows closely behind. It’s dark now, and making out where to place their feet on the ground is hard at this time of night. Mark does his best not to fall down. Jeff’s phone rings.
“Hello?” Jeff says as he answers his phone. “Oh hey, Scott,” he pauses for a moment listening to the other end of the conversation. “I don’t know, Scott. Spoons are usually in the drawer by the sink. What the hell does Angie have you looking for spoons for anyway?” he listens again. “Oh shit,” he responds. “Well have fun with that,” he laughs. “Alright, I won’t tell her you called. Talk to you later.” He hangs up the phone. “That’s far enough,” Jeff says to Mark. “Now turn around.” He can barely make out the shape of Mark’s head in the dark, nor Mark his. “I’d say that I’m sorry, Mark, but I’m not. I have no heart. I feel nothing. Goodbye, old friend.” He pulls the trigger and Mark falls to the ground with a loud thud. Jeff turns and walks back to his truck. He gets in, starts the ignition, and drives away.
FREE
“Hey, Mister. Are you alright? You’re bleeding pretty bad there,” a voice asks. Mark cracks his eyes open, and can barely make out the shape of a teenage boy through the bright sun light shining into them.
“Am I alive?” Mark asks the boy.
“I reckon so,” the boy says. “You look like you’ve got a pretty bad cut on the side of your head there.”
“The bullet must have grazed me,” Mark says.
“Yeah, I guess so,” the boy says unfazed at what has just been said. “Do you need me to help you get to a doctor?” he asks.
“Nah, I think I’ll be alright now,” Mark says as he stands to his feet and wipes his eyes. “What’s your name?”
“Sean, but everyone calls me Junior,” the boy says.
“And you were just out here walking?” Mark asks.
“Yeah, just taking a morning walk,” Junior says with a smile. “Not going anywhere in particular, I reckon. How about you? Where are you going to go now?” he asks Mark.
“I’ve got a friend I’ve got to go and see,” Mark says.
“Is he expecting you?” Junior asks.
“No, he won’t be expecting me,” Mark says.
“Well have fun,” Junior says. “I know I would,” he smiles at Mark.
“I will kid. I will,” the two part ways and Mark begins his walk out of the woods.
Junior looks back over his shoulder as he continues his walk and Mark leaves his view, “Carpe diem Mark. Carpe diem.”
EMPTY
Mark begins his walk down the dirt road he’d been on the night before, with the morning sun shining brightly onto his face. It’d be a ten mile walk until he reached Jeff’s house. He needed to get the blood off his head, so he looks around for a puddle of water and notices a small amount in the ditch adjoining him. Mark kneels down and takes the water into his hands, places it to his wound, and gently cleans away any remaining blood. It wasn’t a deep cut, and this surely wasn’t the most sanitary thing to do, but he wasn’t concerned with the details at this particular moment. He stands and begins his walk again.
He’s walked at least a mile, as a car pulls up beside him, and stops. The driver, a woman, lets down the window.
“Do you need a ride, son?” she asks. Mark kneels down enough to notice the woman was Angie’s Mother Amanda. Amanda didn’t personally know Mark, and he figured this wasn’t the best time to make small talk. He could use a ride however.
“Yes mam, I could use one,” Mark says.
“Get in then. I don’t mind,” she says. “How far ya goin’?” she asks.
“Do you know Jeff Tompkins?” Mark asks knowing that she did.
“Oh sure. He dates my daughter Angie,” Amanda replies.
“I just need to go to his house,” he says.
“Well come on then. That isn’t that far.” Mark gets in the vehicle and they drive away.
SAVIOR
“You and Jeff are friends then I assume?” Amanda asks.
“Yes ma’am. We’ve been friends for years. As a matter of fact, we met in High School, and if it’d wouldn’t have been for him, I might not have made it through those four years,” Mark says.
“How do you mean?” Amanda asks.
“My Mother and I had just moved to town the start of my freshman year. I didn’t know anyone. I had no friends, was an awkward teen, and he befriended me when no one else would,” he replies.
“Well that was nice of him,” she says. “He does seem like such a nice guy.” Mark doesn’t reply, instead just smiles and nods his head in agreement.
The two of them continue to make small talk until they near the drive of Jeff’s home.
“You can drop me off at the drive,” Mark says.
“Are you sure?” Amanda asks.
“Yeah, that’ll be fine.” She pulls up to the end of the drive and stops.
“Well, here we are. Have a great rest of the day I guess then,” she says.
“It’s already started out crazy. I’m not sure the rest will be so great either,” Mark says.
“Well maybe it will be,” she says as she smiles.
“Thank you for the ride,” he says as he smiles and steps out of the passengers side of the car, and closes the door. Amanda drives away.
Mark begins his walk down the driveway. He knew Jeff wouldn’t see him, as he was more than likely in the garage carving up his new prize. Sneaking up on his wasn’t even necessary. Even if he did see him, Mark didn’t care at this point. He felt Jeff had to be stopped one way or another. His wrath of madness has continued to help bring the unsolved murder rate in Jefferson City up to one of the highest in the State. The productive member of society everyone in town believed he was? He was the fucking disease. Mark felt he was the cure. This ended today.
RESOLUTION
Jeff never kept his front door locked, so Mark walks right in, and as he assumed, Jeff seemed to be in his garage. Mark walks into the kitchen and looks through the drawers until he finds an acceptable tool to dispatch of the piece of shit he once called a friend, but at others a tormentor. He opens the drawer to the left of the stove, noticing an ice pick and a meat cleaver, he removes both. He leaves the drawer open. He didn’t want to risk making too much of a noise until he reaches the garage itself. Mark walks out of the kitchen and toward the garage door.
As he reaches the garage door, which was down the hall to the right of the kitchen, he notices Jeff has left his handgun on the table next to the door. Mark picks it up, and places it in his right hand. He opens the garage door, and Jeff jumps in surprise.
“What the fuck?” Jeff asks in shock. “I killed your ass!”
“You missed,” Mark says as he points
the gun toward Jeff. “Sit the fuck down!”
“Alright man. Just be cool,” Jeff says. “You understand though, right?”
“Understand what Jeff? That you tried to kill me? What’s there to understand about that?” Mark asks.
“I was doing what I had to do bro. You know too much, and you really pissed me off,” Jeff says with a chuckle.
“What did you do with the man we hit with the truck?” Mark asks as he looks around the garage.
“I cut him up and placed the parts in a barrel like I do all of them,” Jeff says. “You know the drill.”
“Get on the table,” Mark says.
“Wait a minute now,” Jeff begins as he stands. “Let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Now get on the table!” Mark yells. Jeff does as Mark instructs. Even Jeff wasn’t a fan of dieing. Mark straps him down, as Jeff continues to try and bargain with him to no avail.
Mark places the gun down and removes Jeff’s pants. He takes the ice pick from the kitchen and places it in his hand.
“What in the hell are you going to do with that?” Jeff asks in fear. Mark doesn’t answer him. “You’re not going to get away with it you know. What are you going to do with my body?” Jeff laughs.
The SICK Chronicles: An Anthology of Extreme Violence and Gore Page 7
