The Monster Under the Bed
The young woman, just turned 18, had no idea what was about to happen. She had grown up knowing that there were monsters under the bed, monsters outside of the house, and sometimes monsters inside of the house. She had often wished for the strength to defeat those monsters, to walk around outside without fear. She was a victim of that fear, of the terror of the unknown. Would the strangers outside attack her? Would her father find another reason to be unreasonably angry at her? She did not know the answers to these questions, and that gave her more reason to fear. It was dark outside now, and she knew that most people would be falling asleep, feeling safe in their beds. But she did not have that luxury tonight. Soon, after the surroundings grew quiet, she would need to take care of the monster under her bed.
It hadn’t taken much effort, which had suprised her. For her entire life, her monster had seemed to be unbeatable, something so strong that she had thought she would never be able to win. But she had done it, and in a little while she would finish her mission. She knew that no one would find what remained of her monster, and that no one would ever know that she defeated it. But that was fine with her. If it let her sleep in peace at last, she wouldn’t mind being unknown.
Her neighbor’s body was starting to smell, and she knew she would need to dump it soon. She still needed to clean up the throw up that he had produced when he ate the posioned dinner she had served. He deserved to die, and she knew that no other little girl would have to suffer his degrading touch again.
The Victim
The old detective was unperturbed when he saw the bloody body parts scattered cavalierly on the ground. His partner stepped carefully so as not to disturb the crime scene. Because this was his first day on the job, he kept asking questions excitedly, disturbing the train of thought of his older partner, who seemed to be in a reverie as he contemplated the murder site. “For someone who has been on the force for so long, you sure don’t talk much,” the younger man chattered.
Rolling his eyes in consternation, the old detective realized reluctantly that his young colleague was asking way too many questions and, unfortunately, would have to be his next victim.
my paint brushes
♤
I stare at the painting hanging now on the wall and step closer, admiring the details. Something about the picture freezes me in place, almost gripping me with some invisible force. The colors, the shapes… the impressive dynamic. Almost as watching a living organism and not just splashes of paint on a regular canvas.
I look at colors that I used and bend my head slightly, thinking about what I feel.
The colors that fill this canvas are green, purple and blue. I blink a couple of times, something stinging my eyes. My love is bruised, just like me. Yet despite it all,
I wouldn't have changed it, not one bit. Bruised and battered as it is, it's still beautiful and makes me sigh. This love wasn't easy, but it was mine... and the thought of never loving this way... I just wouldn't be the person that I am now. I wouldn't be me.
The Industry
The night is young and the air hovers with cheap whiskey and the stagnant breath of the nocturnal alcoholic, however, there is more to be said for those who roam through the vacuous sheet that is the night.
Possibly an unsatisfied career choice which led to a financially stable middle-class family.
Maybe a beaten down marriage cradled by the innocence of their offspring who keep them civil. Or just the young college dropout loathing a painful childhood that led to the maxed out credit cards and desolate bottles of Crown Russe. Nevertheless, I am here to fulfill the fantasy of a drunken one night stand and to give companionship to the splintered crowd that I now call my customers.
LP
Lizzie Potts, let's make this quick
Lizzie Potts, you make me sick.
Lizzie Potts, your heart is black
Lizzie Potts, this is a fact.
Lizzie Potts, think you're the queen?
Lizzie Potts, you are too mean.
Lizzie Potts, you think you're smart?
Lizzie Potts, you have no heart
Lizzie Potts, you were the one.
Lizzie Potts, now I'm done
Lizzie Potts, I hope I'm clear.
Lizzie Potts, get out of here.
How To Find a Monster
08.23.89
Hello?
03.16.95
…
07.04.10
Hello? Hello! Who's there!
06.17.20
... Wait! Listen I don't know if I'm crazy and you are just in my head or you are actually some kind of observer but I know you are there. I have been aware of you since I was four. You never stayed for long always popping up now and then through my life. Toying with my sanity and I would rather cut the bullshit and have you stay. If I'm fucked up in the head I might as well embrace it.
I’ve done research on you. At first I thought you were a guardian angel but that didn’t fit the bill as you would have been a crappy one. Ghosts, spirits, or gods none really made sense. You are not necessarily here with me, almost here almost there. Wherever there is. You are somehow aware of me and solely me. It’s weird. I just know you're there. This the first time I have gotten your attention long enough to grab your attention.
A lot has changed since you last appeared. I have a wife and a beautiful daughter. I’m not hunting I’m in my office writing. I had a couple the best sellers, enough to buy us a cottage in Alaska. Holy shit, what if...no. you’re a reader aren’t you. That would what that’s it! Well I hope I’ve been interesting for you.
06.18.20
Hey, I was beginning to think you were going to take years again before you’d come back. Right now I'm going on one of my walks with my daughter Sophia. She is my world. Her hair braided in a knot done by her mother. Her boots splash the mushy snow beneath us. My hand is clenched by hers so tight I think she might break it. Heh. She reminds me so much of her mother. She’s only three and is leading me through the Forest.
We are headed down one of the old hiking trails that scatter across this land. The trees are swaying left to right. The brisk wind flows between them creating a soft melody. Sophia doesn’t even look back for me. This makes me laugh a bit, she's so little but walks with confidence of a king-
“Excuse me.” A jogger stands in front of me. He rushed into me. He’s... Wait what is this. I’m boiling with this hate. So much it fucking hurts!
“Agh!”
“You OK sir?”
The agony this thing in the back of my head it's like a migraine pulsating It's like if a ant lodged in my skull biting me over and over and over.
"Stop!" My senses begin to overflow with everything around me. The birds screaming, the trees radically thrashing back and forth. The wind stabs my pores. My arms are wrapped around the joggers' throat his face is turned blue. I instantly drop him. He starts gagging for air.
I look down at Sophia she is screaming daddy. I grab her and run home contemplating what that was. I must have stood frozen for minutes. I was unaware of reaching out at him. And how did I even have the strength to do that!
When we get there I place my palm on her face. It's cold as the snow falling on us. I can barely hear her breath creep out her lips.
“Please forgive me for scaring you like that. Let's keep this between us and not have your mom worrying. I just need a good sleep. I must have been overworking myself hunting these past few days.”
She grabs my hand holding her face and smiles
“Thanks babe.”
I need you to contact me reader. Please anyway you can this is crazy. What story is this! Listen I need to take a few days for myself alone to figure this out.
06.29.20
Reader! I’m out with some friends of mine Michael and Kenny we met through mutual hunting. It's around two am we are at the only bar for miles, The Iceberg.
"Cheers to the governor!” Michael shouts in his best British accent. The floor shakes from the people's rejoice.
“How about a drinking game, Wolf?” Kenny asks rubbing his peppered beard. Wolf is the nickname they gave me for my hunting abilities.
“Chances?” I ask giving a confident smile.
“ No you always win, you're a cheat!” He replies.
The game is quite simple. We take three coasters from the bottoms of our drinks. We slip a penny underneath one and one gets to switch and mix them trying to get the other two confused on where the penny ends up. If the one guessing gets it right then the other two must take a drink. If the one guesses wrong he takes a drink. My excel trigger fingers makes slipping the penny easy. My sharp senses make following it easy as well. As you can guess I never had to take a drink.
“I got it Kenny.” Michael takes out a penny and puts it under the coaster. He switches side to side up and down as fast as he could.
“One, two, or three?” He demands.
“Two.”
“Dammit” He switches them again speeding it up this time.
“One, two, or three!”
“Three.”
“See you a demon.” He laughs.
“How about we make this a little harder? Add two more coasters and if I lose I'll buy a beer for the whole bar but if I win you two splits it. Hell I'll do you one more. I'll leave the bar. Come back in one minute.” Kenny thinks about it for a bit
“Deal!”
He takes two more coasters and begins switching all of them. As I wait outside Mike's pungent smell is like a bright beacon through all the clutter of the bar. I focus on the faint sound the metal screeching against the red wood table, left and right, up and down.The vibrations tickled my finger tips. I can get a whiff of the scent of the zinc, a unique scent similar to the blood that pours from the animals I've slain. I can almost tell you how old it is by the way it's scent is damaged by the intrusions of life on it, been passed around and circulated many times before it ended up in Mike's pockets
“Wolf... Wolf!” They call me back in.
“... One.”
“... For fucks sake Kenny!”
“What your hollering at me it's that damn demon sitting across you.”
“Cheers to the governor.” I smile.
“Yea cheers.” Kenny mutters.
“So has any of you heard what happened a week ago?” Michael asks.
“No.”
“Another one of them terrorist groups attacked and killed at least sixty people.”
“We should just round them all up and bomb them to hell!” Kenny proudly spoke.
“And then what? Just pretend we didn't just commit genocide?”
“But tell me how many times have you seen a Christian guy blow up a building?”
“Tell me how the KKK killed African men, women, and children as if they were subhuman? Different religion same evil. I’d be more concern on the men who are committing these acts than the religion itself.”
“That was different times though Wolf. We learned from our mistakes.”
“Yea because the KKK weren't that bad.” I sarcastically remark.
“Excuse me?” A giant man stops in his track.
“Sorry you misunderstood sir. I was just”.
“Mhm.” He says with a grunt as he walks away. We continued The night it was filled with joy and laughter.
Heading out to the guy's car I'm stopped by a young olive skinned woman. She hiccups and coughs and leans on the wall as she tries to walk. Her black jacket hangs off one arm.
“You alright miss?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“If you need a ride I'm leaving with some friends they're good people. I’ll be more than happy to ask them to give you a ride. It isn't safe driving home in your state.”
“I said I’ll be fine...creep.”
“Creep... You ungrateful bitch I’m just trying to save you from driving off the road! From slamming your pretty little head against the windshield so hard you skull snaps in half and allows the alcohol filled blood to splatter over your dashboard! Ain't nobody gonna start looking for you at least a day. So if the loss of blood doesn't kill you or the freezing cold. The wolves will surely smell your flesh. The last thing you’ll hear is the bones in your body snapping as they feast on it like the pig you are.” Her eyes are watery I can smell the salty solution begin to build up. Her heart rate is pounding its causing her to sweat I can hear the skin on the palm of her hand squish like a sponge as she clenches her fists. She is terrified.
“I’m sorry I don't know what came over me.” I reach out to her as she wipes her tears and stumbles away.
“Everything alright here?” the giant man from earlier asks as she runs past him.
“Fuck...yea just lost a bit of my temper.”
“Really because she seemed a bit more than shucked up.” The white snow blows against his side like a mountain.
“Listen sir I don't want any problems.”
“Well when you harm a little lady you are practically asking for one.”
“I said I don't want to fight. I just want to go home.”
“You know I seen you and your wife before. I think it's a shame she has to live with a man like you. I bet she's dying for a real man.” His arm clamps down on my shoulder like a bench vice. “One who can-
“I'm gonna give you one chance t-t-to let me go.” My fingers begin to tremble with rage.
“Or wh!”
My fist cracks his knee dropping him down like a rock slide.
“Ragh!” He wildly swings his fist smashing my teeth together. I winced in pain as I snapped my jaw back in place.
“I'm gonna fucking enjoy this gu-agh!” I whipped my leg into him. He catches it and lifts me up for a mere second before I come crashing down. The bitter cold and adrenaline mask the pain. I spin away just before his elephant like leg stomps the earth.
His heart is beating and sounds heavier than most. I jab at it hard knocking it out of rhythm for a moment. He chokes and drops clenching his chest. Before he hits the ground I pound his face over and over. His skin swells up red. The teeth begin to loosen up with each blow. He begins to twitch. Each breath he takes is slower than the last.
“Stop you'll kill him!” Michael tackles me to the side. We grapple in the snow before I get the upper hand and pin him to the ground. I lift my fist and I white flash puts me into darkness.
“Wake up!” A rugged old man in a police uniform smacks metal bars.
Fuck I have a nasty headache. Laying on a cold bench in a gated room.
“Your lucky you scared the hell out of that man. He’s too afraid to press charges.”
“What the hell were you thinking!” My wife comes in using all the air in her lungs.
“I'm so sorry. It was a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? You nearly killed that man for a simple misunderstanding! You know his skull was cracked. Babe they had to smack you with a bat to put you down.”
“I'm sorry.” What did I do. I've never lost control like this. Ever since you showed up my grasp on sanity has loosened. I'm becoming more and more livid.
07.30.20
Reader... I have been fighting the urge to contact you but today there is this woman about ten yards away from me. She must be in her late nineties. I can hear her heart beat slower than the rest. Her circulatory system moves slow as well as it was getting her exhausted just pushing the blood around. She reminds me of a old engine hiccuping when trying to be used, barely working. She takes close steps almost stuttering as she walks down the aisle. Her teeth shiver click tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick. The aromatic scent of death flourishes my nostrils tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick.
I just wanna Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick. I want to slide my goddamn fingers between her dentures feel her shake and jolt back with the little strength her body is left with Tick-Tick-Tick. I’ll keep going down further and further. Feeling all the saliva ooze up my arm as her throat tightens around it, throbbing. I will force my hand through what ever tight hole might lie in her throat ripping it as I go deeper. She will begin to gag and cough. Throw up will begin to shout up and will be forced to pour out through her nose. Mucus and stomach fluid would cover her face. By then I should surely reach her quivering stomach. It would not take much of a pull. A simple one, two, and three and it will rip out of place. I could pull it up and out.
I will watch her eyes roll back and pull out more of her intestines like a farmer would do when a cow is giving birth and when she drops I will feast on the tender muscles of the intestines feel them twist and pop in my mouth. Swish washing around till I slurp them down. Her fat pig of a body would finally be worth something. Oh that would be good.
“Honey?” My wives sweet voice snaps me out this sickening trance.
“I'm sorry I was daydreaming.”
“I’ve been meaning to tell you Sophia told me what happened at the trail. Was that daydreaming to?”
"Yea I’ve been off lately. I think I need some sleep maybe for a few days, or weeks. I'm sorry for putting you guys through this.” She smiles and grabs my hand.
“Well maybe when we go fishing. You will be able to enjoy the silence as Sophia and I catch fish.
“Yea hopefully.” Hopefully this itch goes as well. It continues to torment me. Urging me to do these heinous acts.
07.6.20
I have been so drained from the incident. I'm in constant fear of acting out of these images. I don't want to harm anyone. Luckily my family and I are fishing. The world before is washed away. My wife and daughter chat amongst themselves. The waves gently push against the side of the boat. Water droplets brush my face as the wind and waves hitting the boat perfectly composing a serene orchestra.
“Daddy! Help I caught one!” Sophia tugs back as hard as she could.
“You sure you need my help?” I jokingly ask.
“Daddy!”
“Ok” I grab the line and real up a hefty salmon. Its silver scales sparkle in the dim light. The itch comes again. This time I might be able to release some tension. I grab it by its back fin and whack it against the metal boat. My wife and daughter gasp in shock. This only gives me a taste of a unimaginable high. One I've never felt before. “There, quick and easy. Ready for supper.” Clouds begin to roll in. “Looks like a snow storm is going to be hitting us. We better head out.”
The snow is now ten inches higher than it was earlier. My wife and daughter are sleeping. It is well into the night. I can’t fall asleep. The burning itch to cause chaos is overwhelming. I can only focus on the sound of the wind hollering between the trees. Wait! Do you hear that? It's the neighbors dog. He's sniffing and galloping through the back yard. He must be looking for a place to piss. I don't see his owner. He must still be inside…
It would only take a minute. I can go out and wipe that rat from the universe. I would get some needed peace. It would be very quick plus the nearest buck is at least a mile out. I can do this and sleep the rest of the night with my wife.
I’m at the edge of my back door now. I can see him. A large husky. A layer of snow collecting on his gray and white busy fur. His piercing blue eyes reflect the porch light. I step out and he begins to jump my way. An old friend of his. We meet halfway out into the yard. I take him to the dense woods. He's licking the salt of my hands. Now! My blade shouts up his jaw. Popping out his snout. Before he can whine I rip it down the middle of his neck all the way to his stomach. All he was able to get out was a short whimper. His warm blood covers the trunk of the tree. Smoke emerges up from the blood. Finally, it's done. I can. I can get some rest in this blissful high.
“Bailey?” Fuck Joe is out. Fuck! I can't get to my house without him seeing me. What do I do? He's coming this way! He can see that my door it's still open! This is all going to hell.
I have to do it. There's no other choice! He's too close!
“Bailey? Gu-ah!”
“Sorry Joe… He clenches his throat blood spits out on me like sprinklers. He drops to his knees the once white snow is now covered in dark blood. In a haze I stab him over and over and over! His fucking head drops back his neck peeled back holding it like a bag. I push the bodies together within hours they will be completely covered by the snow. They’ll think Joe lost Bailey and they got lost. They won’t be able to really look for them for weeks. By that time the wolves should have smelled his body and take it. The Worst case scenario they’ll find bits and pieces. No one would suspect a murder. I have to get back in and clean up before my wife wakes up.
“Babe.” Oh god no. She’s standing at the door. She's looking at me as if she doesn't know who I am. How much has she seen? I reach out to her but she pulls back. I feel it fuck I feel it itching in my skull again! No! Not her! “ I’m going to have to leave for a while…” she runs back inside calling out to Sophia. I grab my hunting gear and clothes. I can hear her wrestling up stairs, packing clothes to runaway from me. Please reader leave me alone...
07.25.20
It's been a couple weeks. My hunting skills allowed me to survive. But it won't survive forever. It’s too cold. I, I want my family! Ever since you’ve arrived you’ve tortured me. Made me do these unspeakable things. Please leave me alone I want my family. I’m crying please… ha! You fuck asshole. I hear them. A group of people probably twenty year old out having the time of their lives. Heh OK I can get the hint… if I do this I want my family! If I do this I want you to close this. Stop reading, end it, throw it away never ever let anyone ever sees it.
I’m running at top speed I should be there any
“Ragh!” Crashing into the first guy as he’s getting out the car. He screams as he’s pinned between the door. His arm and leg snap. I ram it til the blood starts spraying out in spurts. His friend tackles me. We roll in the snow throwing jabs whenever we get a clearing. I lunge at his face ripping the skin from his cheek.
“You want a monster! I’ll give you a fucking monster!” I chomp and spiting his flesh. He moans as I clench his jugular between my teeth. I pull it out like a animal and head inside.
I can hear heavy muffled cries coming from the closet.
“Ragh!” I swing the door open.
“No no no don’t!” I grab her by her hair. She swings wildly trying to loosen my grip. I tug hard some of the hair is torn as her scalp is starting to bleed. I shove the bitches head into the fireplace. Stepping on her back forcing her not to move out. Her scream fill my head with melodies.
“Get off her!” A guy wraps his arms around me throwing me to the wall.
“I want to see my family.” He’s pulling her out. Stupid move. I pull my blade out and stab him on the top of his head. His eye twitch and he stutters as he tries to live. I lil push and he to joins the fire place. The girl is on the floor. Burnt muscle and bubbled skin remain of her face. I begin stomping on her head.
“I want my family! Sophia! My wife! I want this to be over!” My boot is a dark red. Hair and bits of flesh cover it.
“Their! Are you happy! Are you satisfied! Give me my life!”
A helicopter! You sent a fucking helicopter? I did what you want! I’m headed home! Fuck you! Give me my part of the deal! My family and end this! I’m going home and I’m going now!
...heh did you know… did you know! How many times have you read this how many times have I talked to you! No I know this is your first time! Let me inform you on what I found home. I found my wife and my… my baby girl dead. She left a note. Saying how she could handle the pressure and guilt of living with a psychopath. The date was a week ago! No matter what I did they were still dead! Because of you!
I hate you. You are the monster! Not me. But you lost reader. I haven’t talked to you about everything. I had a backup plan. I’ve been practicing thinking real hard. You opened a doorway into my world and torched it. All for your fucking satisfaction. But a doorway opens both ways and you left it open for the long. At first it was difficult but I was able to enter little by little.
Pay attention to these line's reader. I want you to understand that once this ends shadow you see in the corner of your eye. Every creek you hear late at night. Every vague voice you hear waking you up from sleep. Every time you think that someone is watching you it will be me. I see you and I am with you. This is the end of my horror story but only the beginning of yours…