by Barb Shuler
I grabbed the gasoline from the back room and spread it throughout the store. I could hear the sirens, but I didn't care. They would not stop me. I grabbed a few matches and dropped them and watched the place go up in flames. The smile on my face was truly disturbing, but the voice was happy. She had stopped screaming at me.
I felt a pull and then I was on the ground in handcuffs. The store went up in flames too fast, too strong for them to stop it. I watched as they ran in and back out, yelling that they couldn't get into the building seeing as how it had started to collapse in places. I didn't know there were apartments upstairs, nor did I know there were people occupying them. I didn't learn that until I was at the police station. I felt sorry for the innocent ones, but if they were there, they deserved it. Or so the voice said.
Everything after that point is a blur; it's like I've taken a backseat to myself. I let her do everything and now I am just here. She keeps me safe and protected. She saved me from Martin and from Andy. The voice will keep me safe; she is the bitch we all need to be…
~*~
I jumped when the door burst open, slamming back against the wall. I jumped what felt like a mile, startled out of the world I had been immersed in. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to take in a deep breath. For fuck’s sake. What now? I stared at Nicole, who looked even crazier today. Fuck. Dude, was that possible? I snorted to myself and bit my cheek to keep from smiling. Dude was a word I used to hate. Drew and Jackson used it so much it made me want to puke. I swear. It was like living inside a damn Bill and Ted movie for a few years.
When I felt a sting across my already sore jaw I glared and spun fully to look at the devil bitch before me. I was so tired of this shit. “What, goddammit. Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“Laney, why do you make me do these things?”
I jerked back as she reached for me. No. Not again. I don’t know who this Laney person was, but she obviously wanted nothing to do with this crazy bitch. Why did I have to be her, for fuck’s sake? I stood up and put the desk between us. Enough was enough.
“Nicole, I’m not Laney. I’m Dani Lynn. You know, the girl you kidnapped from a fucking book signing? Remember? I was the one trying to get away from you!”
She went to the right, which I was prepared for. I ran to the left, and out the door she left open. There had to be someplace in this godforsaken house I could get away from her. I dashed down the hall and the moment I saw a door I went through it. Thank fuck it wasn’t locked, or I’d have killed myself. But it was then, in that moment that I wished to all the Gods I could think of that I had stayed in that damn prison of mine. Lying before me on a bed, or a shrine, what the fuck.. I don’t even have words for this shit. Before me were the bodies of a man and woman. Then the smell hit me. Bending over I lost every bit of sustenance that was in me. There was no way to know how long they had been there, but it was an image I would never be able to unsee.
They lay there, a knife through their chests. Mouths agape and... “Holy....” I moved a little closer and pulled the sheet back only to wish I hadn’t. There was a fucking skeleton. What the fuck?
“Ah, you really shouldn’t have come in here. Cover her back up. Laney is sleeping. She has been since she made me gut her for leaving me….”
“What?” Her words hit me hard. My body was in shutdown mode as I fell to my knees and heaved, my body jerking as the tears ran down my cheeks. It was one thing to write about... But to do it... No way.
How could someone do such a vile thing?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Laney Returns
Nicole
IT’S NOT EVERY day that the one person you were meant to be with walks back into your life. Well, unless you are me. Dani Lynn had always been there, but it wasn’t until Laney was really and truly gone that I noticed she was just like her. She had come back to me. My Laney was back. They kept her from me. They wouldn’t let her be alone so I could talk to her. This is all her fault. She’s made me do all of this. It’s why I am back here in this wretched town. The moment Greta and Stanley Jordan saw me at their door the fun began.
It was here, five years ago, that Laney left me. It took so much to find her. I even signed up to go to summer camp to be with her. She acted like she didn’t know me. As if. She was mine and she knew it. But in the end she got what she wanted. Smirking to myself I let that night replay in my head. It was a picture worthy performance, that was for sure. Too bad I didn’t fall for that bullshit. I knew better.
~ Five Years Earlier ~
The day was finally here. Dad and Carole had taken me to the bus station to catch the bus for summer camp. Right, me in summer camp. It was a necessity. The worst of two evils, I guess you could say. They were so excited I was going out with my “friends” and having a great summer at camp. As if I would let them think anything else. I was going to find my Laney. God knows why, I hated the outdoors. Bugs were gross, and who sleeps outside? That being said, that bus ride had been the longest trip of my life. The anticipation was all but swallowing me whole. My nerves were shot as I waited outside of the building I had been assigned to for this camp. Trick was, my camp was across the lake.. But until I saw Laney I would be here. I had called my camp, well I should say Carole called them, to say I had been held back due to a family commitment and that I wouldn’t be there until two days from now. That was plenty of time to get to see Laney and get her back.
I waited. Waited to see the only person I had ever loved step out. The moment I saw her my world brightened. “LANEY!!” My heart almost stopped at the sight of her. Long brownish blonde hair, full pouty lips; her style was a lot less dark goth than before, but it was her. “Oh my God, Laney. It really is you.” I ran to her, throwing my arms around her as I hugged her tight. She felt so good in my arms. I had missed her so much. However, it was not the reunion I thought it would be. All the time I put into finding her was a waste. My heart broke when she pushed me back and looked at me with disgust written clearly over her features.
“What are you doing?” I moved to take her hand and a guy, a big jock type came up behind her, his arm slipping around her waist.
“Hello, beautiful. Making friends already?” His grin made me want to punch him in the face. But what happened next made the voice scream in rage.
“Nope. This was a past mistake I thought I was rid of. Let’s go get our campers settled in. My campers will revolt if I’m not in there quickly.” Laney cut her eyes at me as she walked off with that brute wrapped around her.
With my anger at a point where I was shaking, I stalked away, vowing to make her pay for that. Pay for him touching what was mine. The plans started to play in my mind as I slammed the cabin door. One way or another she would be mine. And Mine Alone.
A week had passed since coming to this God forsaken hell and I was still no closer to Laney. She avoided me and kept that brute wrapped around her at all times. Were they attached or what? Sighing I stalked over to the cabin I had seen them slip into. Peeking over the sill of the window I saw them. Their bodies were wrapped around each other. I could hear faint moans from here. He was taking her body and making it his. Not on my watch. She was mine. I hit myself in the head as the voice yelled. “Get her, get her now.”
I looked around. This dilapidated cabin was far enough away from camp that no one would hear them… which meant no one would hear them scream either. I ran back to my cabin, pulled a box from under my bed and shoved it into my backpack. The minute I hit the woods I ran as fast and as hard as I could. I didn’t know how much time I had, after all.
When I got back to the cabin I stalked around and smirked. One way in, one way out. I dropped my pack at my feet and pulled out the hunting knife. I’d taken this from Dad’s stash in the back of his closet. The stash he thought no one knew about. I grabbed my bag up and slipped it over one arm. I needed to slip in before they were done. My only option was to eliminate the threat. As I slipped into the cabin the smell of dust, sweat and s
ex filled my nostrils. Ugh. Dropping my backpack loudly I smirked as they both jumped, Laney shrieked as she caught sight of the knife in my hand.
“W-what are you d-doing?” she stammered as she tried to get up from the floor.
“Oh, my sweet Laney, how fast you forget your first love.”
“First... First love? Have you lost your mind? I never loved you... You... crazy bitch.”
I moved forward, but the brute moved to stand between us. The brute thought he would be manly and stand for her. To protect her from me. His naked body exposed, for all to see. Too bad he had to die. He was kinda pretty. I moved closer, the hilt of the knife tight in my hand but steady. The tip of the blade slowly slid down his right pec as I met his gaze. He was trying to seem macho, like he wasn’t scared, but he must have seen the look on my face. I wasn’t playing around.
“So you mean the times we slept together never meant anything to you? Hmm? I remember your screams… and how your tits bounced as your body jerked and twisted when my face was buried between your thighs. You mean you-”
“NO!” She pushed back from the brute and charged towards me. “That...”
“Babe, what is she talking about? You a muff diver?”
The way his lip curled up made me smile. Oh, he had no idea. My brow arched as I looked her over. Still as beautiful as ever, but that look of hatred made me want to slap the taste out of her mouth.
“You didn’t mind that night. You let me tie you up. Let me explore your body.” As I spoke she started to shake. This was a good sign, she was remembering that night as I was.
“You... you raped me.” Her words were low enough I wasn’t sure the brute heard her until he moved to pull her back. I felt his fist before I could react. That was his mistake. As I went down I swung the blade, slicing off his dick in one clean swipe. The shriek of pain he let out as I hit the floor made me laugh. Hard. He thought he was so tough. I got back up, rubbing my jaw and shaking my head. I moved to Laney who was trying to cup her hands over his to stop the bleeding. Yeah, let’s not have that.
I grabbed a fistful of Laney’s hair, pulling her back away from the sobbing mess of a man before us. Leaning down to her, my face was mere inches from hers as I spoke. “How you forget things so easily.”
“S-s-stop.. Please. He needs...he needs help.”
“Don’t worry. He won’t make it much longer. You should worry about yourself, love.” I pulled her by the hair until she was standing. Thankfully she was shorter than I was. I liked looking down at her. It made me feel powerful. As she shed tears for that useless dick on the floor I slammed her back against the wall. “Stop. Looking. At. Him.”
“I-I love him!”
“You mean loved,” I snarled as I hurled the knife. It struck his heart with perfect precision. The gasp he let out before he crumpled over made me smile. Nothing beat the light leaving someone. I turned back to Laney as she screamed. My hands went around her throat and I squeezed. I had to use all of my strength as she fought against me. The moment her eyes rolled back I pulled my grip from her neck. I let her body hit the floor and went to retrieve the things from my bag. It was time to remind her of that night. The night we shared before I was taken away. All because of her parents.
They’d pay too. I wrapped the ropes around her hands, tied them together above her head and smirked down at her. My fingers trailed down her soft skin before I pulled the smaller blade I brought with me out and nicked her breast. The bead of blood formed just as my mouth moved closer, my tongue flicking her bloody nipple. Her body shook under mine. Just the way I remembered. She tasted so good. Her fun was just beginning.
Hours later it was dark. I had reminded her of why she was mine, but Laney was still sobbing about ‘him’ so I had no choice. I took the knife I had used to carve up the brute and ended her miserable life. The knife went through her neck like butter. The blood covered my hands, and I lavished myself in the glow of her light until it was gone too. She left me no choice. I slipped away from the cabin and waited for the boom. The old bags of fertilizer and the gas I had in place would make a good explosion once the sparks started. After all, I couldn’t leave the evidence in plain sight.
I slipped back into camp, showered and changed my clothes. When the explosion happened the camp came to life. I slipped out of the cabin and headed back up the trail.
~ Present Day ~
I was snapped out of my memories when Laney shoved by me. I grabbed at her, but missed. Moving fast I caught her as she got to the bathroom but before I could do anything she shoved me aside and proceeded to puke. Great. She wasn’t back in her room, but it didn’t matter. Every window had been nailed shut, the doors reinforced with locks that had to have a key, which I had hanging around my neck. “Laney, hurry up, we don’t have all day.”
“Go. Away!” She shrieked before heaving again. I snarled and stalked off. I grabbed the keys off the counter in the kitchen to the old man’s truck and moved to unlock the door. She could just stay in there while I went out. I needed a break from her. From the memories flooding my head again. Laney. It was as if she just didn’t get that I loved her. I was doing this for her.
Making sure the door was shut and locked behind me I made my way to the truck hidden in the barn. Maybe some time alone would get her mind back in the game. We had plans for tonight, whether she was ready for them or not. I had given her a time to rest after our last time together. No more. Tonight Laney would once again be mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY
It’s Now or Never
Dani Lynn
I DON’T KNOW how long I spent lying on the floor of that bathroom before I knew I had to get up. The place was too damn quiet. And let’s face it, quiet with a psycho around was never good. For all I knew I would walk out to find the house overrun by zombies and me being without my knife. Damn, I wish that I had it. Dad had gotten it for me as a young kid. Ha. A teenager with a knife the size of my arm at the time. It was fun to learn to use. I used to tease Drew and Jackson with the, “mine’s bigger than yours” all the time. I was tired of being the underdog here. Standing up, I took a deep breath and opened the door. No sound permeated the room as the door slid open more. I held my breath as I walked out into the hall. I shivered as I walked by that door again. My stomach flipped at what I knew was behind it.
My search found the house locked up and empty. That was good, but... What if she just left me here? I’d wither away and look like the bodies in the other room. “Oh, God… don’t, Dani Lynn! Fucking stop it!” I rubbed my hands across my face and let out a frustrated breath. This was fucking ridiculous. I had to find a way out of here. I searched the kitchen, but the bitch had taken out anything sharp. “Bitch!” I slammed the last drawer and cursed as I stalked off towards the dining room. There had to be something, maybe the house had a fireplace. A fire poker would be good. Not likely I’d find an axe inside. Or a fucking sword on the wall. Oh no, that would make my life much easier.
I pounded my hands on the windows and tried to shift them open, but one after the other stayed shut. It was on the living room window I realized there were nails in them. Just like the ones in the room I was being held in. “Son of a bitch!” I screamed as I picked up a picture off the end table and tossed it against the wall. As I watched the shattering glass spread over the floor I heard another noise. A vehicle coming up that gravel road. If it was Nicole I was going to be ready for her. I ran to the kitchen and peeked out the window. It wasn’t the truck she had been in, but a smaller SUV. I tilted my head to be able to see better and felt my heart stop when a man got out of the truck a small box in his hand and came towards the door.
My heart raced as I banged my hand on the glass in the door. “Help! Please!” Finally I gave up and grabbed the empty knife block from the kitchen counter and smashed the small rectangle of glass and screamed at the top of my lungs to get his attention. My shout had him turning from the porch, where he was headed undoubtedly to leave the package for the
people in that room. His gaze met mine and he raised a brow as he moved to the door. “Please! Help me!” I gasped as the tears fell down my cheeks in waves. I couldn’t control them as I shook the handle of the door.
“Are you alright hun? Where are Greta and Stanley?”
“Please, there’s no time! Get me out of here before she comes back!” I screamed as he started to ram the door with his shoulder. I stepped back and tried to stay focused on him. As the door gave way I slumped to the floor. Thank God. I was pulled up by my shoulders and I met the man’s gaze. As his mouth opened to speak his eyes went wide and his body jerked. The blue shirt he had on immediately started to color with red as he fell on top of me. I fell to the floor with a thud. My head slammed into the floor as the breath left me. With a grunt I tried to tug him off of me as he seemed to be trying to move. It was then that his head was snatched back and my gaze darted up to see Nicole standing over him with a knife in her other hand.
“This is your fault too, Laney!” She screamed at me as she slit his throat.
I screamed as the warm rush of his blood covered me. I pushed back from his now limp body when she released him. She kicked his dead body to the side and stalked towards me. I crawled under the kitchen table, trying to get space between us. My heart hammered as I got to my feet on the opposite side. My eyes roamed the room quickly. The door was my only chance. As she went right, she thought I’d go left so when she switched and grabbed at me I vaulted myself over the table. How in the hell I made it in one move I will never know, but the important thing was I was free. Until I wasn’t. She tackled me to the floor and this time I was ready. I slammed my fist back into her nose, causing her to shriek in pain as the satisfying crunch filled the air. The knife in her hand sliced down my arm when she jerked, which sent a shrill pain through me, but I didn’t care. It would heal. I fought for the knife. Two could play this fucking game.
