A Brothers Bond

I awoke to the sound of a click in my ear.

A body odor filled my nostrils, I slowly opened my eyes to a dark figure lying at my side. I could only see dark eyes staring at me, his leather mask covered his features. He was a large muscled man his hands holding what looked like a Luger so close I could feel the steel on my cheek.

Then he spoke, his voice garbled and deep telling me if I yelled he would pull the trigger. Finding my voice, I asked what he wanted from me. Pulling off his mask, which was not a good thing as now I saw whom he was and knew he planned to kill me.

I had shot his brother when he had broken into my home well over a year ago and remembered this face from the court hearing that found me not guilty for protecting, my friend and me, from this sadistic animal. My girlfriend that was staying with me at the time had been raped as he made me watch tied to my bed. I had managed to reach my gun from under my mattress after struggling to get to it before he came at me. His brother was doing ten years in the state prison, with no chance of parole due to the horrendous crime he had committed.

I knew if I did not move quickly I would be dead from this insane man. Slowly moving my body towards him, he moved just an inch to his right side and I sprang upwards and smashed him hard to the face catching him off guard enough to roll and kick the gun from his hand. His wild scream erupted the quiet night as I ran towards the bedroom door slamming it as I descended the stairs of my home I was out the back door as I heard him charging down the stairs.

I did not have time to get my pistol, looking around for a place to hide, I headed towards the lane beside my place. Trashcans surrounding the dark houses, my neighbors on both sides I knew were away for the summer.  Older people in the other houses that would not even hear me scream if I chose to yell. A new house under construction.

I could see his outline with his gun standing at my door deciding which way I had gone. The night was warm luckily only a half moon to light the sky, heading towards the far end of the lane staying in the shadows I made my way with no shoes, I tried to watch where my feet landed with each step that I took.

He must have heard the direction that I was going, I could hear his heavy feet not that far behind me. I was so glad that my nightgown was black as not to stand out in the darkness. I could hear him so he was gaining on me. An animal scurried from the full dumpster as I neared.

Crouching down behind the bin full of old wood, I held my breath, but could smell him as he passed inches from my huddled body. He stopped just as a cat meow from near a garbage can. He moved on towards the end of the lane, I let out a slow breath, stayed motionless. He kept on going I could hear his feet crunching on the pavement. Should I head back to my house, would he hear my movements in this clear silent night?

If I stayed here, he was bound to come back this way when he did not find me. I listened, his footsteps sounding farther away, so making my move I headed towards my house as fast as I could, as my feet were bleeding and sore. I reached my door, it was locked climbing onto my patio, I broke the side window climbed through my hand was cut as I dialed 911 the phone fell from my grasp as my blood seeped to the rug. Taking the steps two at a time, I reached my bedroom as I heard the door crash in. He was in my house again.

Running to get my gun, from under my mattress I could not find it, then remembering that I had cleaned it and put it in my side drawer, frantically reaching for it, the gun slipped to the floor as I turn just in time to see him enter the room as I retrieved it.

I aimed for his heart, he was down just inside my doorway and I could hear the sirens in the distance. I removed his gun shooting two shots into my wall, wiping my fingerprints and blood off his gun, I placed it back into his hand.

Once the police arrived I would soak my feet and bandage my hand .

Unsettling

This last week I have had an unsettling feeling that will not leave my earthly world. 

At night, I toss and rotate in my mind bizarre scenarios even though my whole being is exhausted, needing sleep that will not come. I wait patiently for my astrophysical body to take control and send me out into the skies and further beyond to give me strength to travel to outer freedom with independence for my soul.

When the moon dips and disappears and the bright sun starts to rise, I finally drift into a troubled fitful slumber only to be awakened by children’s carefree chatter heading off to school. My day starts with another swirling feeling that something ominous will happen.

I busy myself with everyday nonsense, hoping this feeling would lighten from the love that surrounds my body and spirit. Wandering out to my private yard, an area of grass that I let grow longer than the trimmed part of my garden, I sink into the cool blades of grass, the sweet aroma filling my nostrils.

Looking up I see dark clouds swirling,with faces etched in each one. They are trying to draw me into their darkness. My body tightens as I clutch the grass to keep from floating towards these appalling cruel and disfigured faces, their mouths wide open beckoning me to be engulfed inside them. Willing my body to stay on the ground, the darkness creeps slowly towards me.

Hiding my face in the grass I squeeze my eyes tightly shut, tears start to flow down my cheek, a slight wind scurries across the sky,  a breeze touching my face. 

I fall into a trance like sleep, waking to find a slit of sunshine has appeared with puffy white clouds surrounding the yellow glow.

I feel my body starting to lighten, a weighty pressure lifting from my spirit, drifting upward. Visions of white clouds float past me, my strength responds, lifting my astral spirits to a new level.

Gliding, weightless my psyche has once again, become centered and my soul is at peace.

Decisions

I had not had a date in six months. To make matters worse the last few had been duds.

Some of my girlfriends had tried dating services and a few had connected. I filled out the questionnaire as honestly as I could. I refused to say I enjoyed long romantic walks and candlelight dinners.

I said I like sports, windsurfing and long hikes in rough terrain. When I did exercise, I like to make it worthwhile and to sweat for a few hours in the workout. I did not add that to my bio though. Or that I came first in my class at the shooting range. After reading it over changing a few things, I pressed send and went to bed.

My Sundays are usually sitting out on my patio reading the newspaper drinking coffee and having a leisurely breakfast. As I finished my second cup my computer chirped and viola there were three messages. Opening the first one was a picture of a grey haired man who must have been over seventy with a paunch and double chin. He told me he would love to meet for a drink and discuss where to go from here. I just could not picture him hiking or windsurfing, but he did say he had season tickets for hockey and football.

Hmm.

Next came a skinny balding man, I could picture him holding on for dear life as the wind swept him and his surfboard away into the sunset. As I went to click on the next one three more chirps sounded. So cautiously opening the third, a pair of handsome dark eyes stared back with the sexiest grin I had witnessed in a long time. I left the other three without opening them, those piercing slate dark grey eyes intrigued me.

His bio read like a self-confident man, he had a boat, loved to water ski, had a summer place in the mountains on a lake with challenging trails to explore and was an ex basketball player. Sounding too good to be true but I answered back and suggested we meet for a coffee in the local village. He answered quickly, suggesting later on that afternoon. I did not want to seem to have no plans on a Sunday so suggested next Saturday afternoon. He answered yes that would be just fine.

My week was hectic with work so the time flew past. As I dressed to meet him, my stomach felt like I was a teenager going out on my first date. I wore a casual summer dress that I had bought for the occasion. Simple but did show my well-tanned skin and figure off. I applied little makeup and let my hair flow down my back.

When I arrived, he was sitting with his coffee talking to the server, when he saw me he smiled and got up to meet me. He was as handsome as his picture and his eyes bore right through me. We talked what seemed like hours when he looked down at his watch and suggested we walk over to the pub and have a drink, as he had to leave in an hour.

I was disappointed as I thought we might spend some more time as we seemed to be hitting it off. He apologized saying he had a previous engagement that he could not get out of but could we meet tomorrow and drive up to the mountains for a hike by his cabin? And he would bring a picnic to have after our hike. I hesitated. 
Did I want to go with this stranger before I had gotten to know more about him? He laughed at my hesitation and promised he was a trustworthy person. I could even phone his mother and ask her. So I said yes and he told me he would pick me up at nine in the morning and he was gone without our drink at the pub.

Looking around for the waitress to fill my cup she must have gone off duty as a young man came towards me with a refill. I enjoyed the late sun and then headed home.

I was awake at six sitting enjoying the Sunday Times with my second cup reading about a women found dead less than twenty miles away. She was raped, strangled with her blouse, her body slashed with knife wounds. Police had not identified her yet. As I looked at her picture, my first reaction was to think I had seen her before.

Mike was right on time. I had my hiking backpack ready and put it in his back seat. He had the top down and two coffees sitting between us. As we headed out on to the highway, I noticed he had a bandage on his right wrist that had not been there yesterday. He saw me look at it and laughing he told me he had been cooking for his Mom last night and had cut it slicing the roast.

The breeze was cooling some as we came closer to the mountains. He parked beside a cabin nestled between pine trees and I could see a beautiful blue, green lake with a wharf and a small speedboat swaying in the gentle wind. It was so serene and tranquil, I was glad I had accepted his invitation.

  

We headed off after he had taken the ice chest inside. Mike thought of everything as he helped me with my backpack, offering to carry them both. I adjusted mine and headed off at a fast pace, him close behind. We had walked chatting for over an hour until we started to climb a steep grade for the next half hour or so. As we reached the top of a peak the vista was surreal, so many shades of green yellow and orange. 
I had to take some pictures. I clicked away and went to take one of him as he turned away just as I clicked. Saying we, should head back before we starved to death! The climb down was much easier and as we came towards the cabin, I thought I saw an animal on the porch diving under the brush, as we got closer. Mike said the raccoons were many in these parts.

As we ate our lunch, he mentioned that he had never been so taken by anyone as much as he was with me. He asked many questions about my life and my friends. He wanted to know everything about me. When I asked about him he just said he lead a boring life.

I was clearing up the last of lunch when he went to fill my glass with more wine, I went to put my hand over saying I had enough. It was suddenly as if he was a different person, telling me he would say when I had enough and told me to drink up. His eyes seemed to go darker and fill with rage. I was shocked at his instant change. I picked up my bag and asked where the bathroom was, trying not to show any fear even though it had started to seethe through my being. When I locked the door, I was shaking wondering how I was going to get out of here.

Mike was sitting on the couch when I opened the door, he told me to come sit beside him, I was looking at a different man. I suggested we head for home as it was getting late. He grabbed me, throwing me on the couch and told me to shut up and listen. Holding me down with strong arms. He told me he had been taken by my beauty from the first time he saw my picture. It usually took him longer to pick women and to want them as badly as he wanted me so soon after his last conquest. Making it clear I was his next prey.

Then it hit me, the girl in the paper was the waitress who had served us coffee. Had he done this to her? I slowly squirmed around to face him on the couch, wriggling my fingers into my bag and positioning myself  to spring backward as I sunk my knife deep into his leg. He let out a scream as blood flowed down his bare leg. He tried to grab me as I jumped up, yelling and ranting. Following me out the door. My backpack swinging with the door as I ran. No keys in his car.

I sprinted into the bush and kept running. I stopped to grab something out of my bag then threw it into the bush as not to hold me back. I could hear branches being broken and zigzagged to throw him off from the direction that I was going.

He was swearing at me, yelling that when he caught me, I would regret using a knife on him as he had a larger one to use on me. Nobody even my family would recognize me after he was finished. And no one heard anything in these woods! He seemed to be gaining, looking around to see how close he was I tripped and fell, jumped up and dived into a maze of fallen branches near a dead tree that was covered by hanging mosses. I shrunk into a ball.

Waiting for his footsteps. I held my breath and to my surprise, none came. He was listening for me. Then the sound of a branch breaking, he was very near moving slowly as if he knew I was hiding. Should I out wait him? Would he pass without finding me or should I run like hell hoping he could not keep up. His leg must be bleeding and hurting as I had plunged the knife deep hoping I had hit a vital spot.

I heard him as he pounced missing my head with his knife by inches. It was a huge hunting knife. I rolled kicking at his face splitting his eye open then he was on top of me as I let out a scream and my gun went off. His face contorted with surprise and he rolled into the undergrowth. I had hit him dead center in his heart.

I went through his pockets finding his car keys and headed back towards the cabin picking up my backpack on the way. There was no phone reception so I climbed into his car and heading home, trying to calm myself as I drove. I phoned the police and told them where they could find the man that had killed the girl and what had happened to me.

The older paunchy man with the season’s tickets was a safer bet for now.  Hockey and hot dogs with a septuagenarian didn't seem threatening at all.

Unfinished Business.

I had waited five years for this day.

I had been stalking this rapist for three weeks, since I had arrived back home after losing myself in a large city because of the day I lost my soul.

He had gotten away with it. And me being so young after his brutal attack, had gone home to soak in a bath for hours and cry until the water was cold, removing any DNA of him from my body. Then his Mother testified that he was with her that night, and the rest of the case fell apart.

I changed my last name to my mother’s maiden name because of all the coverage in the papers and tried to start a new life in a new city. I enrolled in karate, attaining a black belt over the five years, and became an expert shot with different types of pistols. I worked, practicing my crafts daily and took lessons on shooting three times a week. Both skills were like second nature to me when I arrived back home.

In those years, he was rarely out of mind as I pictured him smiling at me in court as his mother lied. I had to go back, it was unfinished business.

I knew now where he and his mother had moved to after the trial. I had watched them both coming and going from home to work. Her schedule never varied, only going grocery shopping on her way home a few times a week for her precious baby boy. She would be easy to track when I needed to.

I watched him from my car, he was playing basketball with a group of men at a local park. His calendar consisted of work and heading to a local bar through the week and playing basketball with his friends on weekends. His career in sports never went any further after high school. He had gained weight, and still had those evil looking eyes. I remember vividly the arrogant smirk as he left the courtroom.

I followed at a distance until he headed down the alley towards his home. I considered the empty lane as the perfect situation. No one else was ever nearby. I closed in on him and aimed for his right shoulder, no more basketball. He spun around as he realized he had been shot but I was gone. I could hear his screams as I drove off.

The next day I waited for his mom to leave work and as she was heading down the stairs to the subway, I put my leg out and she tripped and bounced head over heels to the concrete bottom. A man called for an ambulance.  I could see her leg at an odd angle. Smiling, I walked calmly out of the station.

I looked through the newspaper and found five lines telling about the shooting and the horrid accident his mom had. Things were going as planned.

The next weekend I went to the park and there was my rapist, standing watching his friends play. He had a sling on, talking to a women. I had not seen her in the three weeks that I had been following him. Then another man joined them who looked like a cop to me. Lots of policemen frequent gun ranges and they become obvious to someone with a new keen sense of observation.

I followed him from his home every morning. His shoulder was healing. It was time to put the next part of my plan into place.

I waited at the bar for him in the evening, wearing training shoes, jogging pants and a loose hoodie. Perfect to conceal a weapon. He only had one drink and headed out the door. I followed and ran to catch up and as I jogged past him, I bumped him on the shoulder hard. He swirled with a shout to watch where the fuck I was going. I turned the corner where I knew he would come and faded into the shadow.

As he rounded the corner and before he had time to register surprise, I shot him in the knee. He lay face down on the pavement. I whispered, next time it may go through your heart, and to tell his mom to be careful on stairs. His look of shock and pain became fear.  As I walked past the river, I threw the blond wig into the rushing water.

A week passed. My mother’s intercom beeped. It was the police downstairs wanting to come up. I let them in after they had shown me their identification. The same women and man that had been at the park stood asking if they could come inside. The woman played bad cop, the man good cop. Right away she asked me if I owned a gun, I replied, yes and that I knew she knew that already. Did I know a man named Richard White? Answering back looking her straight in the eye I told her she knew I knew him, and if she had done her home work she would know that he raped me five years ago even though he was acquitted.

The male cop tried to interrupt the conversation but she just talked over him, asking when was the last time I had seen Richard. No hesitation on my part, over five years ago I answered. She wanted to know why I had changed my name. I looked right into her eyes and asked her would she not do the same after having her name plastered all over the papers for months for being raped. She was over aggressive but I had anticipated the challenge and was up to it. Why had I returned here was her next question?  

I asked her why they were here.

The male cop then told me Richard had been shot twice. They were just following up leads of who knew him and why he had been targeted.

They thought his mother falling down the stairs was not an accident, and they did not believe in coincidences. I started to laugh asking them both this time, did they now think he had raped me and I was here seeking revenge. They asked to see my gun, I knew that they knew it was not the right caliber. I was sure they had checked my license.

So unlocking a cabinet, I handed them my Luger. Was that not a larger caliber gun than I needed, bad cop asked? I smiled saying no one would ever rape me again. They left shortly after with one last question why had I returned home after five years. I told them my mother was ailing and I wanted to be closer to her. As I said this, my Mom came out of her bedroom telling them to get out of her home.

A month passed before I went close to Richards’ house. As I passed, he and his mother sat out on the porch, not even noticing my car as I slowly drove by. I waited outside her work the next day as she came out the door with a cane, she slowly made her way towards the subway. Time for another accident.  As she moved towards the stairs I was right behind her it only took a slight push and she was tumbling down the same flight of hard edges.

Richard went to the hospital to pick up his mom the next evening after work. She had broken an arm and re-fractured her leg. He had a surly looking man with him that must have weighed over two hundred pounds. My rapist was scared to be alone. I felt exhilarated watching him looking nervously around wondering if I was near.

As they entered the hospital, I followed them into the elevator. Pushing the basement level button first, and then the stop.  Before they could choose their floor or had a chance to move I kicked his friend in the groin, as he snapped forward I slammed a knee into his head. He dropped, out like a light. Richard just stood looking at me with the realization of who I was. As he grabbed for me I hit him below his chin into his throat. He clutched his neck and dropped to his bad leg choking.

He started to plead as I sent a hard kick to his head to break his jaw. Moving to his bad shoulder, I twisted until I heard the cracking of his arm. It hung dangling at his side. His friend started to stir and moan and I kicked him hard. He lay still.

I had my Beretta out holding it against Richa

rd’s groin. His eyes bulged and he coughed out a plea. I pulled the trigger, twice. He was dead as he hit the floor. The second shot was through his heart.

I stepped out of the elevator at the basement and was away from the hospital before anyone would find him or his friend. I did not want to get rid of my unlicensed Beretta or black wig, but knew they would come and search my mom’s place. So on my way home I threw my wig and brown contact lenses into separate dumpster bins, dismantled the gun, placing the parts into my gloves and tossed them in the river. I liked those soft leather gloves.

I was making dinner when the buzzer sounded, there stood the two cops with a piece of paper saying it was a search warrant to search the house. Good cop told me Richard White had been shot. Dead, I asked bad cop. She might have seen the smile in my eyes as she nodded, but I didn’t care. I told them fine to look for what they wanted but to leave the place how they found it or I would go to the newspapers and tell them of their harassment of a sick women’s home, and that they were re-victimizing me on behalf of a sick rapist.

They wanted to know my whereabouts yesterday. Before I had a chance to answer, my mom spoke up telling them I had been home with her all day and night and never left the house. Mom and I never made eye contact.

They police never took anything away with them and left quickly after my mom told them our dinner was ready to eat.

Mom never asked or spoke of the police again, but did leave the newspaper with the article of the killing and the description of the woman who had black hair, brown eyes about fifty pounds heavier than me. The warm extra clothing lay inside a homeless shelter collection bin.

My soul was returning.

Orgasmic

As I put my hand on the warm hardness, I could feel the acceleration mount inside my mortal self. I felt a surge rush through my veins that I had never felt before. I clasped my fingers around this magnificent piece and felt a rush of juices ignite my spirit.

I stood holding tightly, trying to calm my heartbeat, looking around bracing myself for the warmth of this member to explode, anticipating the excited heat that it would discharge. A squeeze and my pulse quickened as a hot flash flew across the room.

Feeling very satisfied, I continued to squeeze harder and more rapidly until I had spent all its ammunition.

Looking at my target, I had hit the bull’s eye.

There is nothing like a Glock in your hand.