Jun 7

Jun 7 [Pride 2021 Short Story] Danny #1

It is a very dark and soaking night. I am Danilo and I slowly walk to the demon’s house. I must do this slowly since I don’t want to fall on the muddy grass, alerting anyone. My leather jacket and hoodie probably will not last tonight, but I don’t have any choice. I see the lights turned on inside the house as I approach. I hear loud noises from inside.

“Why the fuck did you do all this?” the demon’s father berates.

“And what would happen if you got caught? Huh?” the demon’s mother argues.

Looks like the demon has been caught. I’m really outside in the back of the house. I see everything from the kitchen’s window near the back door.

“Jesus Johnny! This is so much. We have to burn them!” the demon’s mother cries as she carries a cardboard box. Tom’s VCR Collection is written in red ink on the sides of the box.

There it is. I need to get my tape.

“We will do Carol. Tom go to your fucking room! Don’t you dare to run!” John grabs the box and puts it on the table. He and his wife begin taking out many tapes.

I’m still surprised that fucking Tom, that little demon, stood in silence. Tom and I just graduated from high school but I was still his victim like so many others. Tom loved to film his victims. Asking them for money; otherwise, he would send the film to the public. I heard rumors of adults also being targeted by Tom. But that was never confirmed.

“John. I have twenty tapes on my side. You?”

“I think I have like thirty or more.”

“Jesus Christ!” Carol cries again. John stops and walks to her to calm her.

Knock! Knock!

Two loud knocks on the front door interrupt the intense mood. Gasp, John and Carol are terrified.

“Oh my god, the tapes!?” Carol fears what they would do to cover the mess.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get the door. You hide the tapes. I’ll keep distracted whoever is outside.”

John walks towards the door. Rapidly, Carol hides the tapes again in the box.

Knock! Knock!

“I’m coming!”

Slowly, John opens the door. Bang!

John’s white polo shirt is suddenly red. His blood sprays the entrance while John falls to the floor.

“John!!!” Carol screams and rushes to get him but is immediately stopped.

A large and tall man, face covered with a white skull mask and armed with a shotgun, walks slowly inside. My eyes cannot close. This is fucking insane. At least I am covering my mouth. I cannot be seen. I should have brought my smartphone, but I left it at home. Did not wanted to get caught or be spired but now is different. Still, I cannot leave. I must get that tape.

“Please don’t shoot me. I’ll give you anything.” Carol pleads with the skull man. Death came for John and now he is pointing his shotgun to Carol.

“Mom!” Tom shouts as he shockingly sees his other being cornered by death. Immediately, the skull man turns at Tom.

“Please no! Not my son!” Carol begs.

Tom walks down the stairs towards his mother. He doesn’t respond as he watches his father’s corpse. That was cold but for some reason, understandable.

The skull man sees the labeled cardboard box. With the shotgun, he signals both Tom and Carol to the couch, to sit there. Obeying, Tom and Carol walk slowly and shed tears till they sit on the couch. The skull man searches inside the box. Anger begins to fuel death as the skull man knocks down the box. That man seems to be a victim as well as me, but he is more dangerous.

“I have more tapes in my bedroom. I can show it to you. Just please, let my mom go.” Tom stands up and slowly walks to the stairs.

“Be careful.”, Carol replies with caution.

Smack!

The skull man hits Carol in the head with the shotgun. She falls to the floor, now unconscious.

“Mom!” The skull man points to Tom.

Tom continues moving to the stairs while being signaled by the skull man from behind. Slowly, the men leave the bloody coast clear.

I slowly move the back door doorknob, opening it. Crouching, I slowly walk to the living room where the tapes were knocked down. I just need to get my tape. I cannot and will not see the horror that is surrounding me. Need to focus what is in front of me.

Tape after tape, I search till… Bang! Too late. I look the ceiling with no sound afterwards. Is Tom dead? Or is it the skull man? I didn’t hear any sounds of struggle. So far, the only sounds are the rain that has been descending since the skull man entered the house.

Tap! Tap! He is coming but I found my tape, Danny #1. I hide it inside my jacket in the left pocket. I slowly walk to the back door.

Bang!

Stop walking. In split seconds I saw a bullet rose my head and shatter the backdoor’s window. I cannot contain my tears since I didn’t do anything. I let the skull man murder an entire family and now, death has come for me. Slowly, I turn my back to him but holding my tape this time. I see the skull man pointing his shotgun against me while I show my tape. He stands still for several seconds and then, he lowers his gun and nods.

I did not respond. I just run after paying death to give me a free pass. I did not stop running all night. I just escaped death and shame. My tape confirms that terror of being exposed if anyone ever dared to see me having sex with my boyfriend. However, my fears and angers were used by another person who exacted my revenge fantasy. The skull man was another victim of Tom who then became Tom’s executioner. I am safe but I don’t know how long my free pass will last. Might as well burn this tape before I get a visit.