Mason's Television

by Jon Athan

  The room became silent after Mason's passionate speech. Mason breathed heavily as he stared at his television, eagerly waiting for a response. His television remained quiet, as if it were an awed audience member.

  The TV said, “Big people do big things. You get me, kiddo? Killing a kid on the train tracks... That's scary. Killing the girl who liked you, then fucking her corpse... That's downright disgusting. But, it's not headline news. These dumb-shit reporters spend more time talking about the President's tweets than the real horrors of humanity. Thirty seconds on the wars overseas, thirty seconds for the tragedies in this country, fifteen minutes on youngsters rioting, and another fifteen for an orange man's Twitter... If you want to be big, you have to beat their headlines with something huge. That's why you have to work on the plan. You have to stay focused.”

  “I know, I know. I swear, I'm getting closer to doing it. Now that I'm not a virgin, I think I'm ready. There's just one more thing I have to do before I go all the way.”

  “And what's that?”

  Mason glanced back at his window and peered through the blinds. He could see the trees in his backyard rustling with the wind. The water rippled in the pool, too. He thought about the house party, which led him to thoughts about school. Specifically, he thought about his last day at school before he got suspended.

  Mason said, “When my plans are finished, I won't have another chance to get my vengeance.”

  In an uncertain tone, the TV repeated, “Vengeance?” Huffing and puffing emerged from the speakers. The TV asked, “Vengeance against whom?”

  “Vengeance against Mr. Hicks. He tried to embarrass my friend in school and he gave me detention. I saw him in the office when I was getting suspended, too. I'm sure he told them I should get suspended. I need to get him back for that. You know I won't have another chance later.”

  “Okay, okay. Listen, here's what we'll do: shove that play-thing back under the bed, then sit in front of me. We'll make a plan that will help you do everything in the next two days. Come on, let's talk.”

  Mason nodded in agreement. He pushed Terri's body under the bed, then he sat towards the center of the room. Together, Mason and his television spent the night devising a plot of vengeance.

  Chapter Twelve

  Vengeance

  Mason sat on his bike in front of the school, the blazing sun beating down on his back. He wiped the beads of sweat from his brow, then he glanced around the area. The foyer of the school was empty. Parents didn't stand and wait to embrace their kids in front of the school – they were too old for that. Instead, the parents waiting to pick-up their kids sat in the cool comfort of their vehicles.

  Most of the parents tinkered with their phones, but a few of the adults stared at Mason from afar. A security guard standing near the front of the school also watched him. The audience did not bother the young man, though. He was already suspended from school, so the adults couldn't do anything else to him.

  The bell rang and echoed through the parking lot. Teenagers poured out of the gate, some rushing to their cars and others straggling behind.

  Upon spotting his friends, Mason stood on his bike and shouted, “Hurry up!”

  Andrew, Zachary, and Dominick approached their suspended friend, surprised. They did not expect to see Mason after school. Andrew and Dominick approached on-foot while Zachary pushed his red bike behind the pair.

  Andrew, visibly upset, asked, “What are you doing here, man? Shouldn't you be spending time with Terri?”

  Mason smirked and said, “I don't think it's going to work out between us. Besides, she likes you.”

  “Re–Really?”

  “Yeah, really. I was being petty yesterday. We didn't fool around or anything.”

  “Oh... Well, where is she? Everyone thought you guys ditched again.”

  Mason shrugged and said, “I have no idea. She might be at her pad. She wasn't feeling good when she left my house. She said she had a headache or something like that.”

  Andrew nodded as he absorbed the information. He was worried about his classmate. Thoughts of love dominated his mind, though. He imagined himself dating his first high school crush.

  Mason played him like a video game. He apologized to him and he rekindled his hope with the sole purpose of manipulating him more. The killer glanced around and searched the foyer of the school. He watched as the younger students ran to their cars and rushed to the bus stop. He didn't want them to overhear his conversation, so he patiently waited until the crowd thinned.

  Dominick asked, “So, what are you doing here?”

  “Yeah, man. Aren't you suspended for another day?” Zachary asked. “Or did you get expelled already?”

  With a grin plastered on his face, Mason glanced towards his left, then towards his right. The coast was clear. He rolled forward on his bike and beckoned to his friends – come closer.

  With a soft voice, just above a whisper, Mason said, “I'll tell you why I'm here: I want vengeance.”

  Andrew furrowed his brow and asked, “What? 'Vengeance' for what, Mason?”

  “Hicks. I want Hicks to pay for all of the shit he's done to us. For all of the shit he's been talking and throwing for no damn reason. You all saw the way he treated Dom. Since we got to this fucking school, he's been giving me detention every week. And, I saw him in the office when I got suspended. He talked to the principal, he talked to my mom. He's part of the reason I got kicked out. I know it. He has to pay for this.”

  His friends glanced at each other, anxious. Mason's intentions were malicious. They could sense the evil behind his words.

  Andrew said, “I don't think we can help you, man. If you have a problem with him, solve it yourself. Don't drag us into this.”

  Mason sneered and said, “Stop acting like a bunch of pussies. This is exactly why no one talks to you in school. This is why Jessica and Terri don't come up to you unless I'm around. You don't have balls. You're not down.” He shook his head and muttered, “You wouldn't have even gotten invited to that party if it wasn't for me. You get the rewards, I get the punishment. That's how it is, huh?”

  The boys simultaneously stared down at the sidewalk, ashamed. Although Mason's morals were questionable, he spoke the truth about the group. They visited the party without calling Mason about it. They reaped the benefits of Mason's actions.

  Breaking the silence, Dominick said, “I'll help.”

  Mason responded, “Thanks. I knew you were a real friend, Dom.” He glanced at his other classmates and asked, “So, what are you going to do?”

  The pair glanced at each other, reluctant. Andrew would have to make the final choice, though. Zachary always followed Andrew's lead.

  Andrew nodded and said, “Fine. We'll help you, too. But, we're not going to get suspended over this.”

  “You won't, I promise.”

  The teenagers nodded, agreeing to exact their revenge on Hicks.

  Dominick asked, “What are we going to do to him?”

  Mason explained, “I'm going to handle all of the dirty work, guys. Okay? None of you are going to get in trouble, so just get that out of your heads. I'm just going to need you to distract him.”

  “Distract him? Why? What are you going to do?”

  “We're going to wait in the faculty parking lot until he comes out, then we're going to follow him home. When we're there, you guys are going to knock on his door while I sneak into his house from the back.”

  Confused, Andrew said, “Okay... What are you going to do when you're inside? Are you going to steal something or what?”

  Mason smirked and said, “I'm going to give him a little 'scare.' I'm going to record it and post it online, too. We're going to make that bastard go viral. Let's see how he likes being embarrassed.”

  Mason pulled a Halloween costume mask out of his back pocket. The werewolf mask was used during the previous year for his costume. It was childish, it wouldn't scare a grown man, but it would effectively veil his face.

  Mason
said, “I'm going to wear this when I do it. It's perfect.”

  Dominick glanced at Zachary, Zachary stared at Andrew, and Andrew gazed into Mason's eyes. The boys simultaneously shrugged. On the surface, the plan was simple but effective. Except for Mason, who had his own plans, the students shared the same thought: what could go wrong? They headed towards the faculty parking lot, ready to spend the afternoon waiting for Hicks.

  ***

  Mason and Zachary sat on their bikes while Andrew and Dominick stood behind them. The boys stood under a tree at the edge of the parking lot, hidden by the shadows. The bell rang fifteen minutes ago, but cars still filled the parking lot. The neighboring streets were also burdened with bumper-to-bumper traffic.

  “There he is,” Mason said upon spotting Hicks.

  The boys watched as the algebra teacher hopped into a generic black sedan. Judging from his vehicle, the teacher was not living a lavish life like Mason or George.

  As Hicks reversed, Mason beckoned to the group and said, “Let's go. We can't lose him.” Dominick hopped onto the pegs of the killer's bike. As he pedaled away, Mason shouted, “We can't lose him!”

  Andrew stood on the pegs of Zachary's bike. He patted Zach's shoulder and said, Go.” He leaned to his side and shouted, “We'll follow you, Mason! Don't blame us if you lose him!”

  Mason disregarded Andrew's statement. He pedaled out of the parking lot and followed Hicks to the neighboring intersection. He slowed his bike to a roll, trying to keep his distance from the sedan. He couldn't wear his mask in public, so he couldn't risk alarming his teacher before they arrived at his house.

  At the same time, he couldn't afford to lose the car. He only had one chance – one afternoon – to exact his vengeance before he pursued his bigger plans.

  With the green light, the teenagers pedaled faster to catch up to the sedan. They took their first right and headed east – away from the school. The students swerved out of the bike lane for a better view of the car. The driver behind them honked and stomped on his brakes, barely avoiding a potentially fatal collision.

  Despite his careless actions, Mason turned in his seat and raised his middle finger at the driver – irked by his ruckus.

  Dominick said, “Forget about him. We can't get into any trouble now.” He leaned towards his left and stared over the cars. He said, “Speed up. He's taking a right on Patricia.”

  The students pedaled faster, zooming past a busy intersection. They took a right on Patricia and followed the sedan into a quiet neighborhood two blocks away from the school.

  Dominick glanced over his shoulder – Andrew and Zachary followed closely behind. The traffic was not as severe in the residential area, either. He leaned towards his left and stared at the sedan over Mason's shoulder. The car was parked at a stop sign, the left-turn signal blinking.

  Dominick said, “He's going to take a left on Cabrillo. Go, go, go.”

  Mason could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he pedaled. Sweat dripped from his brow and streamed across his cheeks and neck. His legs were warm, weak from the trek. The young man did not stop, though. Vengeance was on his mind, fueling his determination.

  Upon turning at the intersection, he squeezed the brakes and swerved onto the sidewalk. Zachary cruised past him. He did a u-turn and rolled back to the corner.

  Zachary asked, “What are you doing?”

  Without taking his eyes off of the car, Mason said, “He's home.”

  The boys watched as Hicks pulled into the driveway of a green two-story house, four houses down from the corner. The teacher checked his mailbox, grabbed a handful of letters, then he strolled up the walkway. He was blissfully unaware of his pursuers.

  As Hicks entered the house, Mason hopped off his bike and said, “Dom, take care of my bike. I'm going to run down the alley and hop the wall into his backyard. I'll text you when I'm ready.”

  Dominick asked, “What do you want us to do?”

  “Knock and distract him while I sneak in. Tell him you forgot your homework or ask him about a test. I don't know, just tell him something. I just need three minutes. Okay? When I'm finished with him, I'm going to run out. I'll get my bike and give you a ride home, then I'll go to my pad and upload the video. It's that easy.”

  The boys glanced at each other, reluctant. They didn't have masks to hide their identities, so they would be suspected of anything Mason did inside of the house. They didn't have the opportunity to respond, though. Without saying a word, Mason darted away from his friends. He sprinted across the street and ran down the alleyway, setting off his plot for vengeance.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Dirty Work

  Mason grunted as he landed on the freshly-mowed grass. He glanced around the backyard, curious. There was a large tree to his right. Patio furniture – benches, chairs, a table, and a grill – was situated close to the back door. A small garden resided under the kitchen window. No pool, no hot tub, the youngster thought, poor bastard.

  He pulled out his cell phone as he approached the back door. He tapped the touchscreen and quickly typed a text message. The text message read: Do it now.

  Mason crouched and peeked through the window. Through the blinds, he could see the kitchen – the small room was empty. Through the archway in the kitchen, he could see Hicks moving about in the living room. He removed his tie as he browsed through the letters. He still appeared oblivious about the plan.

  The murderer returned to the back door. He placed his ear on the door and listened. He could hear the muffled footsteps in the living room. His eyes widened upon hearing the loud and persistent knocking. His friends were moving forward with the plan. Fortunately, the group was acting naturally obnoxious, too.

  Mason took a step in reverse and stared at the door knob. He pictured himself kicking the door open with one powerful punt – a real badass. He stopped himself, though. He remembered an old saying: a closed door is not always a locked door. He took a deep breath, then he turned the knob. To his surprise, the door was unlocked.

  He opened the door and slinked into the home. He found himself in a hallway. From the end of the hall, he could see the front door. Hicks' muffled voice could be heard throughout the entire first floor. He could also hear Andrew's voice. The intruder crouched and crept through the kitchen archway to his left. He tiptoed towards the archway leading into the living room, hoping to get a better vantage point.

  As he glared at the teenagers on his porch, Hicks asked, “What are you doing here? Did... Did you really follow me home? This is unacceptable. You have to leave.”

  Andrew said, “I'm sorry. We followed you home because we had some questions. That's all.”

  “What is it?”

  “We were... We were just wondering about the homework. Is all of that going to be on the test on Friday?”

  Hicks sighed and shook his head, then he said, “It doesn't matter if it's on the test. Do your homework and study the chapter. If you do that, everything will be fine. You understand?”

  As his peers thanked their teacher, Mason pulled out his cell phone and typed another message. The message read: I'm in. Wait for me at the corner. I'll be out in five. He leaned on the archway and listened to the conversation.

  Hicks said, “Now, I want you all to go home. It's not appropriate for teachers and students to be meeting like this. If you need help, talk to me at school. We can schedule an appointment. Don't come back here unless there's an emergency. Okay?” As he closed the door, he said, “Have a good day.”

  Hicks peeked through the peephole and waited for his students to depart – all while being watched by Mason from the kitchen. As the students left his porch, the teacher shook his head and muttered to himself. He walked up the stairs. The sound of floorboards groaning on the second floor could be heard from the kitchen.

  As planned, Mason pulled the generic werewolf mask out of his pocket. He tossed the mask over his head, then he adjusted it so he could see through the holes. Deviating from the plan, he p
ulled a neatly folded bandana out of his other back pocket. He unwrapped the red bandana, revealing a large boning knife. He marveled at the knife, as if he had just discovered an ancient artifact.

  He held the knife in his right hand and shoved the bandana into his back pocket. He inhaled deeply, mentally preparing himself for the vengeance. He had hurt kids in the past, but he never grappled with an adult. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Excitement glimmered in his zany eyes.

  Shoulders and heels raised, Mason tiptoed up the stairs. He found himself in a hallway. He held the knife behind the small of his back as he walked down the hall. He peeked into the first room to his right – a bathroom. There was nothing out of the ordinary. He stopped at the second door to his right – a bedroom. He stood in the doorway and watched as Hicks loosened the buttons on his shirt.

  Upon spotting the intruder on the reflection of his mirror, Hicks hopped and gasped. He said, “You scared the shit out of me. Pardon my French.” He held his hand to his chest – the boy's presence caused his heart to race. He asked, “What are you doing in my house?”

  Mason did not respond. He glanced around the room, as if he were searching for something. Two nightstands, pictures of a couple, a woman's garment protruding from a drawer – the math added up: Hicks had a wife. The youngster was not pleased by his discovery. He figured his teacher was a forty-year-old virgin. Who would fuck an asshole like Hicks?–he thought.

  Unnerved by the intruder's silence, Hicks sternly said, “This is a sick joke. I want you to get out of my house. Now.” The boy remained quiet and defiant. Hicks furrowed his brow and asked, “What do you want? What are you doing here? Andrew? Zachary? Is that you? I know it's one of you. Please, get out before I have to call the police. I don't want to have to ruin your records like this. Okay? Now, leave.”