Only Women in Hell

by A. R. Braun

  <^^>

  Marie couldn’t stop laughing between bites of a carry-out pizza and wings. She’d known all along what Dick had been building next door, and the joke was on Stacey now. The brat’s little rant no longer carried much weight.

  Fat old bitch, huh? At least this fat old bitch is free.

  Marie planned how she’d help Dick cover up Stacey’s disappearance, careful not to write down the evidence.

  Goodbye, Stacey. I won’t miss you ONE RED BIT.

  <^^>

  Stacey sat on the bed with her arms wrapped around her legs when a key fumbled in the lock and the door opened. Dick came through with a bag of groceries. He sported casual wear, a rarity.

  “You perverted, daughter-beating piece of shit!” Stacey said.

  The pinnacle of her hatred rose, and she sprang off the bed and rushed toward him. She was going to kill Dick, right there in this dungeon.

  He dropped the groceries as she came upon him, and she tried to punch him in the face and kick him in the groin. Dick stuck his knee up to guard his crotch and grabbed her skinny arms with his powerful ones. He pushed her back to the bed, throwing her onto the mattress. Her head knocked on the small headboard and, god, it stung. Hot tears rushed out of her eyes as she sobbed.

  Dick turned around, stomped to the door, and shut it. He walked over to the foot of her bed. “YOU LISTEN HERE, YOU LITTLE CUNT, THIS IS YOUR NEW HOME NOW!”

  Stacey shook her head, not believing this nightmare. “No… no,” she whimpered.

  Dick pointed to the groceries leaking milk and egg yolks all over the floor. “You pick those goddamned groceries up and put them away yourself! And mop up that fuckin mess.”

  She put her pinky in her mouth, sucking on it while trembling. “You… you can’t do this to me.”

  Dick gave her the evil eye. “Don’t tell me what I can do. I’ve already done it. And I’ll do this, too!”

  He actually jumped onto the bed, and it hurt her thin frame when he landed on her. He unbuttoned her shirt.

  Stacey shrieked for all she was worth.

  Dick contorted his face. “You’ll love it, bitch.”

  “Somebody help me! Rape!” She tried to fight him but he was too strong. Stacey could feel his sickening hard on beneath his jeans. She gagged at the thought of his wrinkled, sagging balls.

  He decided to stop fiddling around and tore her shirt off, buttons flying like demons released into the dungeon. He ripped her bra off and unbuckled her jeans, tearing them down. Then he yanked her panties off.

  “No, no,” Stacey whimpered to the darkness, “please, noooooo!”

  When Dick yanked his pants off, she reached her curled hands forward and tried to gouge his eyes out, but he swatted her arms back and smacked her in the face so hard she saw stars. She touched her hand to her cheek. Then his pants and underwear were down and he crammed himself into her, rupturing her with his huge dick, nothing but a goddamn dick himself, and he pounded on her while tears poured out of her eyes. He stuck his lips—reeking of booze—on hers, the wrinkly face smothering her as he pumped. He squeezed her breasts like ripe melons. She was sure they’d bruise when he yanked on them.

  “You whore,” he said. “You young, rapper slut!”

  I never liked rap, she insanely thought.

  The bedsprings creaked like crazy.

  “No,” Stacey cried. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no.”

  She recoiled from the warm, dank sweat that poured off the old man. It wasn’t long until he ejaculated into her sex with a sickening squish. He rose from her, glowering; his ugly, troll-like flesh sagged. Stacey leaned over the side of the bed and threw up onto the floor. When she rose to a sitting position, he back-handed her, and she flew onto the floor into her own puke, which caused her to vomit even more. She retched until she dry heaved.

  Dick walked over and kicked her in the side.

  “Uh! Oh,” Stacey groaned.

  He bent over her. “You’ll clean up that goddamn puke, too, you fucking whore.”

  She looked up at him, scared so badly a nervous breakdown loomed seconds away. “No Dick, please don’t do this to me! I love Kevin. No, please, nooooooo!”

  He reached down and yanked her off the floor with his powerful arms, shoving her onto the bed. Again, the springs creaked. “SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

  Stacey screamed as loudly as she could, shrieked, and screamed some more. She kept at it until she was hoarse.

  Dick threw his head back and cackled. “Go ahead and scream. This place is soundproof. What do you think I’ve had my construction buddy working on so much lately? Why, this apartment complex, that’s what. And I was right by his side, my Martin Bormann to his Hitler.”

  More like he was your Vichy France, Stacey crazily thought.

  “I got bored of pencil-pushing and thought of your eighteen-year-old sexy ass walking around all sassy, your goodies a torn cloth away. You thought you could outsmart me and escape, but you were fucking wrong, weren’t ya?”

  Stacey smacked herself on the head over and over, trying to make this hell go away.

  Dick reached into his pocket and brought out a piece of paper and a pen. He threw it onto the bed in front of her and pointed at it. “You write down that you ran away because you couldn’t take this small city anymore. Make it sound like you’re not coming back.”

  Trembling so bad she couldn’t pick up the pen, she shook her head.

  Dick made like he would punch her. “DO IT NOW, OR I’LL KNOCK YOUR ASS OUT!”

  Scared to death, Stacey picked up the pen and paper, but her assumption was correct. She shook so badly she couldn’t hold the pen. “I… I… can’t.”

  He pointed his strong arm at her. “You’ll get it done before I come back, or I’ll kill your skinny ass and throw you in a dumpster!” He grinned like a jackal. “Heh. Maybe I’ll flush you down the toilet.” With a look of satisfaction on his face, he straightened his jacket and walked toward the door.

  Stacey bawled. “Please, Dick, please, please, please.”

  Dick turned around and violently shook his head like a demon. “You fucking write that shit! I can do whatever I want to you now. You’re mine.” He took a deep breath while looking over his craftsmanship. “I’ll be back to rape your cunt every three days. I’ll bring you groceries periodically. If you get bored, watch TV.”

  Bending down, she grabbed the mattress, then looked up at him as she rocked back and forth. “Dick? How long are you going to keep me here?”

  He gave her the evil eye.

  “Forever.”

  Then he opened the door and slammed it behind him so loudly it made a wham sound. The key turned in the lock.

  Her nerves shattered. Fear like being in hell took her, and it mentally hurt, to be frightened out of her wits with no hope. She had to get up and pace because she could no longer sit still. She rushed back and forth, her mind feeling as if bugs squirmed all over it.

  She breathed deeply over and over. “No… god… please… don’t… let… this… happen… NO!”

  Stacey paced until she was physically exhausted. Trembling, she lay down, her brain still on fire.

  She got only three hours of sleep that night.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Kevin was flabbergasted. He’d been by the house at 9:15 and no one had answered the door. Now he blew up Stacey’s cell phone as he sat in his room at his parent’s house at 9:30. Still, nobody answered. He left message after message, but no one called him back.

  Frustrated beyond belief, he called the Alley’s house phone. He and Stacey were supposed to move into that apartment tonight. What the fuck was going on?

  After five rings, someone picked up.

  “Hello?” Marie answered.

  “Oh, thank god. This is Kevin. I’ve been trying to reach Stacey. Is she there? Nobody answered the door when I came by.”

  There was a hesitation on the line. “Stacey doesn’t want to talk to you anymore.”

  “What?!”

/>   “You heard me. You’re not to call here anymore. That’s it.”

  “But Mrs. Alley, we’re in love.”

  The phone clicked. She’d actually done it. She’d hung up.

  “Hello? HELLO? HELLO?”

  Kevin’s mind lurched.

  <^^>

  Dick was in Stacey’s old room packing her clothes in a few suitcases. Marie had already gone to bed. He looked at his watch. It was 10:00.

  I showed that little bitch. Thought she was getting out of here. Well, she thought wrong. Call my wife and fat old bitch, will ya? Dick snickered. Even though it’s true. Why else would I fuck Stacey? God, that’s a fine, tight little pussy Stacey has, and it’s mine. Mine all mine.

  He came down the stairs, struggling with the three packed suitcases.

  Someone pounded on the door and Butler Jones moved toward it.

  “Hold on,” Dick said, plopping the suitcases down at the bottom of the stairs. “Look through the keyhole. If it’s Kevin, don’t answer it.”

  The butler furrowed his brow, then bent and looked through the peephole. “It is indeed Mr. Browning, sir.”

  “Then ignore it.” Dick made sure he gave the butler the evil eye.

  I know how to keep him in line.

  The butler’s eyes roved to the suitcases. “What’s going on, sir? Did Stacey leave?”

  “She ran away with some cult. She was seeing some gothic religious guy on the side. I found a note in her room.”

  “Is that so, sir?”

  “Yes.” Dick sighed. “It’s unfortunate. I don’t want to break that kid’s heart by letting him know she chose another man. Just let Kevin think she doesn’t want to see him anymore. That young stud will find another girlfriend in no time.”

  “Pardon me, sir, but I never saw her date a goth on the sly.”

  “She saw him in secret.” Dick waved him away. “Just do what I say. Remember who signs your checks.”

  The butler blanched. “Very—ahem—good, sir.” He walked away with sad eyes.

  Dick kept ignoring the pounding, though it grated at his nerves, and decided to go out the back door to walk next door to the dungeon he’d had built to look like a an apartment building. He knew nobody would think anything of it. His friend had busted his ass making that apartment soundproof. His buddy had reservations at first, but money talked.

  Later, I’ll rent out those three apartments upstairs. They’ll never even hear her. I’m a goddamned genius! I think I’m about due for a vacation. I’ll buy whores a-plenty, just like on all my other business trips. I can buy anything I want! I’m invincible!

  Dick walked to the back door.

  The pounding at the front door continued.

  <^^>

  Exhausted, Kevin walked away from the house at 10:30. His hands hurt from pounding on that door. He barely registered the night chill for his mind and heart’s ache at how he’d lost his high school sweetheart.

  Something’s wrong. I knew something was up with that old man when he followed us to that concert. I should break the goddamn door down. Stacey loves me. I know she wouldn’t do that, say she didn’t want to talk to me anymore. Go back there and kick that door in!

  He shook his head as he stood in front of his car. Kevin wanted so badly to break in, but he didn’t want to go to jail. He didn’t think that would help Stacey, and he’d never been in trouble before. He could always call the cops.

  I’ll see her at graduation. Then I’ll find out what’s up.

  Reluctantly, regretfully, MISERABLY, he opened his car door, climbed in, and drove away from the house.

  <^^>

  When Dick got to the steel door, he found Stacey had written the note and slid it underneath. Good thing. Kevin would be sending the police over before long. He set her suitcases down and looked it over.

  Dad,

  I’ve run away with Moonbeam, the leader of a religious cult called The Order of the New Dawn. Tell Kevin I’m sorry I broke his heart, but he’s just a naïve, high school boy, and Moonbeam’s a man. He really gets me, Dad, right down to the bone. He fills my heart with enlightenment, preaching that we can have peace with each other without being part of the hypocritical Christian church. He says the lord of the sky will be back for us in a few years to reclaim us for a tripped-out heaven. You’d never understand him, Dad. Moonbeam’s so deep and philosophical. He loves us all like his brothers and sisters, without the sexual restrictions of the church you took me to.

  I won’t be back, Dad. I love you and Mom, really I do, but I love Moonbeam with every ounce of my being. So tell Mom not to mourn, because I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and I’m finally fulfilled.

  Love,

  Stacey

  Dick smiled greedily.

  Pretty damn good, if I say so myself; I underestimated that girl. She could’ve been an author. This letter makes me want to let her out… almost.

  He chuckled and walked away, holding the letter out in front of him as if it was a map leading to buried treasure. He’d bring the bags in tomorrow. There was no hurry. He could lock the building from the outside with a padlock.

  <^^>

  When Dick stepped into the cool winter air, he noticed the lights of a police cruiser flashing in his front yard. He walked over, ducking into the backyard, and came around the side of the house to find two police officers speaking with the butler at the front door.

  A huge young man with very short hair and a plump brunette woman turned to meet his eyes.

  The man shined his flashlight on him. “Mr. Alley?”

  “Yes,” Dick answered, out of breath.

  “Take your time. Give yourself a chance to catch your breath.”

  Dick nodded and did so. “Officer, my daughter’s ran away. I found this note in her bedroom. I’ve been out looking for her.” He handed the letter over.

  The cop seemed involved in the letter, then looked up at Dick while he handed the note to his partner, who also perused it. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Alley. Kevin Browning called us, saying he’d been by, and no one answered the door. He said your wife told him over the phone that your daughter, Stacey, didn’t want to see him anymore.”

  Dick nodded, wiping his eyes with his fingers after actually conjuring up a few tears. “We didn’t want to hurt the boy’s feelings—you know, make him feel like he wasn’t a man. He didn’t know about this cult-leader weirdo. None of us did. She must’ve met him online.”

  The female officer glared at Dick. “Mr. Browning said he suspected something strange was going on, that you followed them the first time he and Stacey went on a date.”

  Dick panicked inside.

  Keep it together, man. Good god, don’t lose your piece of ass!

  He forced himself to calm down, but let out a few more crocodile tears, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief he’d whipped out of his pocket. “I loved that girl like my own. She’s our foster daughter, you know. When that boy took her out for the first time, I admit I was a bit overprotective. But he took her to a punk rock concert! I wanted to make sure he wasn’t putting her in danger. I saw a fight going down outside the club, too. They were going after each other with broken bottles and switchblades. Kids are such horrible gangsters today, and Stacey is so sweet… was so sweet.” Dick broke down crying then, mostly from fear.

  The female cop furrowed her brow at her partner, then faced Dick. “We’ll have to make sure this is your daughter’s handwriting, of course,” she told him.

  “Of course,” Dick answered.

  “Sorry to hear about your daughter, sir,” the male cop said.

  “But Carl, we don’t know…” The female cop whispered the rest, but Dick could make it out. She felt he might be lying.

  Carl looked her over. “Do you know who this is? It’s Dick Alley. My best friend rents from him. Dick here found his wallet and wouldn’t even take a reward. Not a dollar was missing. Dick’s a realtor and a landlord.” The office looked at him. “Again, I’m sorry for your loss, sir,
but we’ll still have to verify her handwriting.”

  Again, Dick nodded.

  “So, she never told you about this Moonbeam character?” the female officer asked. “You don’t know where they might be?”

  Dick shook his head. “Like I said, she must have met him on the Internet or something. He’s got my little baby, my little pumpkin. You will find her, won’t you?”

  The male officer looked deep in thought. “How old is she?”

  “Eighteen.”

  “Well, let us verify the handwriting first. But since she’s eighteen, if she wants to run off with somebody, she has the legal right.”

  “Are there any writing samples in her room?” the female cop asked.

  Dick said, “Probably in her book bag. Wait right here, I’ll go get them.”

  “All right. We’ll get some writing samples from her teachers, also.”

  “Of course. Would you like to come in and have a seat in the living room?”

  “No, we’ll wait.”

  “All right.”

  Through his tears, Dick noticed the look on the butler’s face.

  He looks like someone jammed an arm up his royally-tight anal canal.

  When out of the living room, Dick ran the race of his life out the back door and over to the warehouse next door to get Stacey’s book bag out of one of the suitcases. Goddamn it to hell! Why do they need a writing sample now? His heart pounded like a triphammer as he ran back into the house from the backdoor. Dick did his best to catch his breath.

  He headed toward the front of the house.

  <^^>

  When Dick opened the steel door the next evening, Stacey paced the floor. He noticed she’d put the groceries away and cleaned up after herself. She gave him a surreptitious look for a few seconds, then resumed her pacing. She’d never been as terrified, apparently. Her face had gone white.

  Dick set the suitcases down. “There’s no reason to go crazy over this, Stacey. You’ll be well cared for.” He sympathized with her as he watched her pace non-stop. “Cook your meals, watch TV, and you’ll be all right.”

  “Do they think I ran away?” she asked in a mousy voice while she tried to wear out the carpet.