The Butcher Box Set

by Sian B. Claven

  James waited until her footsteps receded down the hall before he threw his blanket off. He pulled his pyjama top off and pulled on a black t-shirt. He quietly slid his window open. Pulling his backpack onto his back, he edged his way out the window, stretching to reach the large drain pipe on the side of the house.

  He froze as his katana got caught in the window. He shifted his weight and moved his shoulders until it eventually came through the opening and he was able to move further out.

  Once he grabbed the drainage pipe, he pulled himself out and shimmied down it, doing his best to be as silent as possible.

  He touched the ground and crouched, waiting patiently to see if any lights came on or if anything moved inside the house. Once he was sure no one had noticed him leaving, he took off towards the forest. He had planned this carefully.

  James made his way through the trees and towards the end of the forest where it met the road. A little away from the road he hid his backpack, his katana easily accessible. He then walked out of the forest and stood on the edge, facing the trees.

  He waited until he could see the old woman in the distance and started to call softly, “Here, Rover. Come here, Rover.” He patted his legs for effect and even smacked his lips.

  “What’s wrong, dear?” the elderly lady asked.

  “Oh, I’ve lost my dog, and my parents are going to be so mad,” he said, his voice choking slightly.

  “Now, now, don’t worry. We’ll find the little thing,” she said. “What’s your dog’s name?”

  “Rover,” James replied. “He’s as little as your dog and ran into the forest there. I’m too scared to go in alone. Would you go with me?”

  “Of course, dear,” she smiled, and held her hand out for him to take.

  He took her hand and together, with her little dog, they made their way into the forest, James continuing to call for his imaginary pet.

  Once they were far enough into the forest, he let go of her hand. “I need to tie my laces,” he explained and knelt.

  She waited patiently as he pretended to fiddle with his shoes. Once she looked away, he struck.

  Unsheathing his katana, which was in the tree next to him, he stabbed her, watching the horror on her face as she looked down at him, blood slowly leaking out of her mouth. She coughed, and blood sprayed on James’s face. He smiled and twisted his katana, before ripping it out and swinging it at her neck. She collapsed to the ground and, with a few more careful swings, he managed to sever her head from her body.

  He set it on her lap and looked around. Her small dog was also there, and he wondered what he should do with it. He considered taking its head as well but decided he didn’t have enough time.

  Finding his pocket knife, he opened the old woman’s mouth and carefully cut her tongue out. He put it in his pocket and grabbed his things, taking off into the forest before anyone noticed he was there.

  He got back to the house and shimmied up the pipe. After a few tries, he managed to get to his window and swung himself in, careful to not let his katana get caught again.

  _____

  Robyn

  He was home. He had done it. She couldn’t believe that this little boy was such a deadly killer. Of course, under Bart’s instruction, anyone could be deadly, but this boy seemed to muster up enough darkness without Bart’s influence.

  She had watched, helplessly, as he stalked the old woman, lured her into the forest and proceeded to kill her. Now she watched as he came home, climbed through his window and cleaned himself up and hid the evidence.

  The careful cleaning he administered to his blade, the way he treated it like a mother would her firstborn baby, just creeped her out. Robyn didn’t know how she was going to stop him. All she could do now was pray that Sylvana would come home sooner rather than later, preferably before someone else died.

  _____

  Chapter Twelve

  Sylvana

  It started to rain long before she reached Lakesfield. Sylvana rolled her window up as big drops hit her windshield. She turned the radio down so she could enjoy the sound the rain made against the car. She didn’t mind the rain; it was nature’s tears, and everyone knew once you had a good cry you felt loads better. For Sylvana, the rain was just nature’s way of feeling better.

  As she drove into the town, she realized it hadn’t changed at all, not since she was a child and not since she was here to bury Kalli. Everything was the same, as though time did not touch this place.

  People were hurrying to and fro, trying to get out of the rain as quickly as they could. Well, except for some children who came running out in their bathing suits to enjoy the cold drops after the hot summer’s day. Their parents watched from the porch, laughing at them as they splashed about. Sylvana would have done that as a child; in fact, she often did.

  Deciding not to go directly to the house, Sylvana drove around for a short while before stopping at the cemetery. It had been far too long since she had last been here and she felt a pang of guilt as she got out her car. Rain splattered her as she walked up the road and took a sharp left.

  There it was. Right in front of her.

  Her father. Her mother. Tatum. Kallista.

  A space was reserved next to Kalli’s grave just for her, for whenever that would be. She had meant to buy additional land when she met her fiancé and probably would buy even more once they had their own children. She liked the idea that they would all be together, even in the afterlife.

  She sighed and touched Kalli’s tombstone. “Oh, Kalli,” she said softly.

  “Sylvana.”

  She looked up sharply, sure she had heard her name. There was no one there. She glanced around and nearby she saw a woman standing in the rain. She had ghostly makeup on and wore a black leotard. Sylvana recognized her, but at the same time hoping she was wrong.

  It had been a long time since Sylvana first saw Robyn. In fact, it had been so many years that Sylvana nearly didn’t recognize her childhood friend. She had to remind herself it was her imaginary friend, one no one else could see. Robyn had told her it was because she was special, and only special little girls could see her.

  Sylvana didn’t hesitate. Robyn obviously had something to show Sylvana, and Sylvana wasn’t one to ignore signs. She wasn’t her sisters.

  She walked over to where Robyn was and, as she got there, Robyn disappeared and then reappeared elsewhere. She looked at the tombstone Robyn now stood in front of, and goosebumps immediately sprang up along her arms.

  “Oh, god,” she whispered, “what could this mean?”

  Sylvana was staring at the gravesite of the killer. THE killer. The one who took so many people away from her.

  Bart Wild.

  Sylvana stumbled backwards and turned around only to bump into a little boy.

  “Oh, hello there,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was just visiting someone I love,” he said, looking up at her.

  Sylvana felt her heartstrings pull slightly and said, “Well, if you’re done I can give you a lift. Where do you live?”

  The address he gave her made her incline her head. “Oh, I’m actually heading right there. Your family rents from me. What’s your name, little boy?”

  “James,” he said.

  _____

  James

  The Dark God said there was something foul happening and that he had to intervene. He had to do something to stop it, or the game would be over. He didn’t want the game to be over; he never wanted the game to end.

  He whispered the plan in James’ ear, and he wrote it down, word for word, and started to work on it immediately. He didn’t have much time. The intruder would be here soon, and she would be the reason the game ended.

  He had to make sure she was done for before then.

  James waited until the Dark God gave him the date and then he sneaked out of the house to be at the cemetery waiting. While there he decided to explore and came upon the Dark God’s final resting place. He knelt and
kissed the tombstone. It was cold against his lips. James would have to read up on Bart Wild when he got home; the Internet would have all the information he needed.

  He heard something, felt something. It felt cold, and he quickly moved away from the grave before anyone saw him.

  When he noticed her coming from a distance, he knew she was the one. The description matched and he was ready for this. He waited until she was at the gravesite, mumbling something to herself that James couldn’t hear. He came out from behind her and approached her. She bumped into him.

  They exchanged a few words, and then they decided she would drive him back home since she was headed to their house anyway. He followed her to her car and climbed into the backseat.

  Oh, he would have loved to have killed her now, but the Dark God had bigger plans for her, and he needed to follow them. She buckled him in, like some little child, and then climbed into the driver’s seat. She adjusted her rearview mirror and looked at him, her eyes going wide with fear, and he knew she knew. And it appeased him so much.

  _____

  Sylvana

  It couldn’t possibly be. She had just finished buckling in this kid who couldn’t be older than ten years and was sitting in her seat, adjusting her rearview mirror when she caught sight of him. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did know.

  Bart was in her car, with this little boy. It was like seeing double for a moment. She could see James’ face, but when she focused on it, it was as though it switched to Bart Wild.

  Her hands shook as she started to drive. “So why are you out here alone?” she asked.

  “I had to sneak out,” James said, staring at her in the rear view mirror. “My mom doesn’t let me out a lot.”

  “How come?”

  “Because the killings started again and she’s worried that he’ll get me next.”

  Sylvana shivered over the cold hard way James said that. She presumed he was possessed, and could sense Bart’s presence in her car. Hatred emanated off James.

  She drove them home and, as they reached the house, James’ mother came out, “Oh, James!” She ran to hug her son. “Thank you, where did you find him?”

  “He was visiting someone he loved at the cemetery,” Sylvana explained.

  The woman appeared confused and somehow that didn’t surprise Sylvana.

  “I’m Sylvana,” she said, holding her hand out. “You rent this house from me.”

  “Diana, and you’ve met James.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Sylvana said, shaking Diana’s hand. “You wrote me a letter asking for my help.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Diana said, once again confused. “Why don’t you come inside and we can talk?”

  “Okay.” Sylvana locked her car before following her inside.

  She hesitated slightly at the front door, but stepped over the threshold back into her childhood home. It was weird being back after so many years. Although the family had decorated with their things, Sylvana could still see it as it was all those years ago. Her mother’s trinkets; Kalli’s bags left lying around haphazardly; and Tatum, walking down the stairs going to that carnival the night Roger died.

  “Sorry?” she heard, and looked up to see Diana standing in the doorway.

  “I’m sorry,” Sylvana said quickly. “It’s just so strange being back here; I haven’t been here in years.”

  “That’s okay,” Diana smiled. “I was offering you something to drink?”

  “Oh, thank you. Yes, please.”

  “You look like you could use a glass of wine.” Diana led Sylvana into the kitchen.

  “If you have,” Sylvana joked, and the next thing she knew Diana had whipped out a bottle of red and poured two large glasses.

  “So, you said I wrote you a letter?” Diana asked, sipping her wine.

  Sylvana rummaged in her handbag and pulled out the letter, handing it over to Diana.

  “Hmm, it’s definitely my handwriting, but I honestly don’t remember writing this, let alone posting it to you. I don’t even think I have your address.”

  “So you don’t need my help?” Sylvana asked, thinking of what she saw in the car, with James.

  “No, the house is great and the kids are settling in. The only thing that does worry me is these murders that are happening in the area. It feels like no one is safe.”

  “Yeah, I know that feeling,” Sylvana said, sipping from her glass.

  Diana bit her lip. “Of course you do. I’m so sorry, I didn’t think.” She set her wine down and looked at the letter again. “I really don’t know where this came from. I wish I could help you figure it out.”

  “And you say the kids are settling in nicely?” Sylvana sipped some more. The wine warmed her from the inside and she could feel herself relaxing.

  “Oh, yes. I can’t wait for them to start school. They’re going to love it even more here once they’ve made some friends.”

  “James seems sweet,” Sylvana said, swirling her wine around.

  “He’s shy and keeps to himself a lot.” Diana took a deep sip.

  Just then James came in and both women looked at him.

  “Sorry, I just wanted a soda,” he said.

  “Help yourself, baby,” Diana said, and Sylvana smiled.

  There was nothing quite like a mother’s love and she missed it. Suddenly she felt alone in the world and longed to run away from all this and back to Charles, back to where she belonged.

  Just then Charlie came in the other door and they turned to look at her.

  “And who is this gorgeous creature?” Sylvana cooed, getting off her chair and kneeling. “Hi there, beautiful.”

  “Hi, Robyn’s friend,” Charlie said.

  “Oh, Robyn is her imaginary friend,” Diana explained. “A coping mechanism since we moved. This is Charlie.”

  “Charlie!” Sylvana exclaimed. “That’s fantastic. My fiancé’s name is Charlie too.”

  “Really?” Charlie asked.

  “Yeah,” Sylvana said, and stood up. “And he would absolutely love you.”

  Charlie giggled and said, “Robyn loves you so much.”

  The hairs on Sylvana’s neck and arms pricked, but she smiled. “I had an imaginary friend called Robyn, too.” She knelt again. “Does Robyn also protect you?”

  “Yeah, from the bad man.”

  “What bad man, Charlie?” Diana asked, concerned. She looked at Sylvana. “What is she talking about? What are you actually doing here?” She scooped Charlie up and frowned, suddenly feeling as though Sylvana was a danger to them.

  Sylvana straightened and held her hands up in front of her. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. The letter is the reason I’m here.”

  “Well, I think it’s time you leave,” Diana said, downing the last of her wine.

  “Sure,” Sylvana said, reaching for her glass. She downed it as well and set the glass down. “Thanks for the drink. Bye, Charlie.”

  She turned to leave, heading towards the front door, but it felt as if the front door was moving around. Maybe she was moving around.

  “What did you do?” Diana asked, holding her stomach.

  Sylvana turned to look as the woman slumped forward, dropping Charlie, who began to cry. “Don’t cry, Chaaarrrliieee,” Sylvana slurred before everything went black.

  _____

  Chapter Thirteen

  James

  Charlie had been the perfect distraction to aid his little plan. As soon as she entered the kitchen, the two women were side-tracked from his presence, and he quickly emptied the two bottles of eye drops into the glasses. One bottle for each glass of wine.

  It was the Dark God’s suggestion. He said that he had to do it now. He had to get rid of his family, or everything would be done for.

  With the women slumped on the floor, Charlie crying nearby, James had to make quick work of his plan, or it would fail. He started with his sister, who he took to the living room and tied up, telling her it was all just a game they were playing. He th
en stuck a ball of socks in her mouth to shut her up because he couldn’t take her incessant crying anymore.

  He then had to muster up enough strength to drag his mother to the living room. She groaned as he pulled her, but didn’t wake up. He stopped to push the coffee table in the centre of the room out of the way before hauling his mother there and binding her hands and feet.

  He did the same to Sylvana.

  It was time to go hunting for Clinton upstairs. James fetched his katana and went to his brother’s room, where he was playing video games.

  “What?” Clinton said as James opened the door with his left hand, his right hand clenching the katana tightly.

  “It’s time,” he said.

  “Time for what?” Clinton asked, not bothering to look up.

  “Time for you to meet your maker,” James said, entering. As Clinton looked up, James held the katana out, pressing the blade to his throat. “Get up slowly, and I won’t slit your throat.”

  “James, stop it, or I’m telling mom,” Clinton whined, his eyes wide. “That’s really sharp, and you could really hurt me.”

  “That’s the point,” James said, grinning at his own joke. “Now get up and come downstairs before I cut you open.”

  “I’m telling mom.”

  “She’s downstairs; we can show her so she’ll believe you.”

  Clinton got up slowly as he was told to do and, with James continuously pointing the katana at him, he made his way downstairs to where his family were tied up.

  “What are you doing, James?” Clinton was terrified, and it made James feel good to see his brother so helpless.

  “You’re going to get on the ground, on your stomach, with your hands behind your back and if you make one wrong move, Clinton, I’m going to kill you.”

  Clinton started to cry, but he did as he was told, lying on his stomach with his hands behind his back.

  _____