Bloody Twine #5: Twisted Tales with Twisted Endings

Preface

These stories were originally published on my own personal site, bloodytwine.com. It’s a little site that has received an equal amount of little attention, but it’s mine, and I’m proud of it. I use this site to perfect my stories, and thanks to it, you have these bundles of fine short horror tales you can now peruse and enjoy at your leisure.

Imagine walking into an abandoned storage room filled with old newspapers and magazines, all articles stacked in bundles neatly tied with twine, but then you discover other bundles, bundles not so neatly tied, ragged bundles of yellowed and partially-charred paper tied in bloodstained twine.

You see, some stories are meant to educate, and some stories are meant to entertain, but some stories…some stories are simply looking for a victim.

Enjoy.

Bloody Twine #5

#1…Becca’s Night Out

Definitely not uneventful.

He’d cased her for a week already, and now it was finally time to act. She was a pretty little thing, a sorority girl, short, about 5’2", pixie-cut dyed-blonde hair, hourglass body, button nose, round lips, decent boobs, cute face and smile…He hoped she wouldn’t put up too much of a fight…

Average Read Time: 33m 19s

#2…The Wolves of the End

The call of the wild.

Pyotr followed the others into the abandoned house. Everything was abandoned now, or the owners were dead, like many others, but this was the new normal. There was nothing now but snow, just a blanket of it everywhere, and this was also the new normal…

Average Read Time: 26m 41s

#3…Shadow in the Moonlight

Do you believe in the Man in the Moon?

There was a shadow in the moonlight, a shadow of a man, or maybe a woman; he couldn’t tell. It was tall and gangly, an amorphous shape in rough-humanoid form with extra-long arms, long hands, and long, long fingers. He did not know why, but the primal fear inside him told him not to go near it, and definitely, definitely, not let his own shadow touch it. That was a no, no…

Average Read Time: 14m 22s

#4…Zenobia

If it’s too good to be true, then you’ve probably been had.

She was pale, so pale in her skin, but this accented the pinkish-red of her sultry lips. She had on a tight, burgundy, sleeveless one-piece with a miniskirt, the sections separated by a thick black belt with a gold buckle, and this really showed off her beautiful hips and legs…She was truly to die for. Dear God, was she something to drool over…

Average Read Time: 32m 55s

#5…Sleepover

Girls just wanna have fun, right?

The beautiful, otherworldly shape in the center of the pentagram stopped and turned to stare directly into Cindy’s dark eyes. There were two pinpoints of vermillion light in that smoke where its eyes should have been, and those two pinpoints of light burrowed into Cindy, burrowing into the very depths of her mind right down to her innocent soul…

Average Read Time: 39m 51s

#6…Ark Light

No crisis is too big for the superior man.

Two burly security guards in grey shirts burst through the office door, guns drawn, ready to blast away, but they didn’t make it five feet in before two beams of light speared through the roof to strike them both through the tops of their heads. They were babies in mere seconds, and then they were gone, mere infants drawn up through the roof to pass through solid ceiling as if they were ghosts…

Average Read Time: 31m 10s

#7…And to All a Good Night

Ah, spreading Christmas cheer.

He’d come across an old red fire axe, so he’d stolen a Santa suit right away, smashing through a department store window to get it, and that stupid holiday suit fit him more or less. Now, with his suit and his axe, he was ready to start the bloodshed all over again…

Average Read Time: 22m 54s

#8…Jupiter Is Severed

Being unattached has its risks.

He continued his walk toward Alex’s meeting place, but he did not have to walk for long. He saw Alex shivering in the cold, dressed in his dark-blue parka, standing right next to that Jupiter Cola machine the boy so loved…

Average Read Time: 45m 27s

#9…Verdant and Verdigris

Some things should remain forgotten.

In the middle of the room was a huge stone head, that head settled directly center within the winding stone slabs, a carving of a bearded, bald white man, that huge head resting upon its left cheek, the eyes closed, the skin bedecked with more concentric, circling swirls like strange, carved tattoos…

Average Read Time: 1h 11m 2s

#10…Nameless

Sometimes there’s a reason the unexplored remains unexplored.

Technically, none of them were supposed to be out here, not out here in the Forbidden Zone, an arm of space few travelers ever returned from, but the scientific discoveries just waiting to be…discovered…were far too tempting to pass up…

Average Read Time: 22m 39s

#1…BECCA’S NIGHT OUT

Definitely not uneventful.

Lester pulled into the lot and parked his red F-150 in an empty space. The bar across the street, the Tin Bird, had its usual crowd of college kids for a Saturday night, the same pack of vapid, barely-out-of-their-teens meat sacks that normally caroused such places.

He was a little out of place here, he being in his early thirties while dressed like a cowboy, but he knew what he was doing. He had a target in mind, and she was here…He knew it.

He’d cased her for a week already, and now it was finally time to act. She was a pretty little thing, a sorority girl, short, about 5’2", pixie-cut dyed-blonde hair, hourglass body, button nose, round lips, decent boobs, cute face and smile…He hoped she wouldn’t put up too much of a fight.

He crossed the street and walked toward the bar entrance, the shaded double doors that led to this pit of hormones and booze.

This was a Midwest college town, so it wasn’t like there were bouncers out front to pick and choose who got in. Nah, those dinks were actually in the bar, and their job was just to toss out the drunken toddlers that caused too much trouble for the night.

But all of that was irrelevant. He had something more important on his mind right now…He had to find his target.

He walked into the bar and gave a quick scan of his surroundings. There were a lot of college kids, just like he’d thought, so it was tough to pick out one individual, but he spied her, nonetheless.

She was dressed in a green college sweater with the Greek symbols of her sorority on it, blue jeans wrapped tightly around her heart-shaped butt, something attractive, true, but he could tell she was dressing down. She wasn’t even wearing makeup.

She was laying her own bait. She was at the bar sitting on a stool, and she was laying her own bait.

She was selling that cute face, an innocence in her blue eyes that was an outright lie, but he was well aware of these tricks…It didn’t matter…He’d make short work of her. After all, he had his own tricks.

The music was a little loud in this boozy arena of vapid speech and drunken hormones, but this wasn’t a nightclub. No, the Tin Bird was just a bar, but that was about the best you got in a Midwest college town.

He made a beeline for her and sat right next to her, not even trying to put on a discreet show. No, he needed to look like a predator, to raise her alarms, her red flags, because he’d had her pegged the moment he’d laid eyes upon her. She was the kind of girl who wanted some kind of social justice, but she’d veered far from the normal blogging and vlogging diatribes that your average SJWs preached from their pulpits…Oh, she’d gone way dark.

This was the way Lester liked them, though. He didn’t have to strain to come up with a reason to do what he liked to do to them, and what he liked to do wasn’t very nice.

He really hoped he wasn’t going to have to torture her to get what he wanted. He was good at breaking fingers, but sometimes, this wasn’t enough. Often, it took direct but small cuts to the nipples and other erogenous zones—the ones with the most nerve endings—to get them to squeal…He kind of enjoyed that, especially the look of absolute terror in their eyes just before the razorblade touched their sensitive parts, but breaking fingers was usually enough.

His last had been a young Latina in the city. She’d been twenty-one, just old enough to drink, but she’d been a spitfire. He had broken all eight of her fingers and both of her thumbs, and she still hadn’t talked. No, it had been the razorblade to her junk that had made her squeal. That had gotten her squawking.

He really didn’t want to do that again. He kind of enjoyed the torture, but that last one had worn on him, so hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that this time. True, there was a part of him that liked listening to their screams, but that got old, you know? He wanted to be on hiatus from that for a while.

Of course, he’d gone all the way before—six times, in fact—but it was a sick, sick thing to do. It was the fact that he enjoyed it that got to him, but to be honest, there were other ways to get the information he needed. That’s what he should have done with the Latina, but…

Lester pulled himself inward and pitched out the memory of that last botched job. This time was going to be different. This time was going to run more smoothly. He wasn’t going to collect that this time. He wanted to; he wanted to take it from this new mark and listen to her scream in pain and horror, but the truth was, he had enough of those already. He didn’t need any more.

But back to the task at hand.

He turned toward his mark and flashed her a cocky grin. She had noticed him, of course, but he knew she was waiting for him to make the first move, so he did.

He pushed up slightly on his black cowboy hat and gave her a quick nod in recognition. He laid both hands on the bar in front of him and adjusted his black duster. He was a redneck this time, a good ol’ country boy, someone that normally made sorority girls like this little thing nervous just to be around.

Hey, what you drinkin’? he asked.

Oh…I’m…uhhh… stammered the blonde. I…

Her cheeks flushed red as she turned slightly from his obtrusive gaze, but he did not take his eyes off her.

Either she was really good at this, or she was a straight-up newb. Either way, she was leaving in his truck tonight. He was going to make sure of that.

I’m Red, lied Lester. Let’s start off with some beers…Hey, barkeep! I need a couple of beers over here!

He did not give her time to object. This was always a mistake when dealing with new marks. You had to keep them flustered, on the defensive, or you’d back yourself into a corner, one marked with the word rejection.

He paid the bartender and tipped the guy, and then he handed her one of the sixteen-ounce glasses of beer. She took it out of courtesy, a mistake on her part, so things were already going smoothly.

Thank you, she said shyly.

It was time to pour on some aggressive obnoxiousness. How he’d caught her alone without some college dweeb on her was nothing short of a miracle, so he’d have to act quickly to get her in his truck.

You’re pretty, you know that? he grinned.

He took a sip of his beer, and she took a sip of hers due to nervousness; he could tell. All he needed to do was lighten her up, get her talking, and then he had her.

Th…Thanks, she said uncertainly.

Yeah, she was a newb. This was going to be easier than he’d originally thought.

I like pretty girls, lied Lester. I’m a purebred American country boy, though. I don’t meet too many college girls.

How do you know I’m a college girl? asked the blonde.

Maybe she thought she was being coy, but the answer was pretty obvious. Either she was a serious pro, which he highly doubted, or she was just straight up new, like first-time new, a virgin at this kind of thing.

You’re wearing one of them college shirts, he smirked.

She looked down at her own green sorority sweater, and he immediately took advantage of that. He flicked up on her button nose with his right index finger, and her gaze popped back up to stare into his dark eyes, her own blue eyes wide with sudden alarm.

He laughed and then shook his head.

Sorry, he chuckled. Couldn’t help myself.

She gave him a nervous chuckle in return and took another sip from her beer. This kind of drink wasn’t nearly stiff enough for his tastes, but he could tell she was a lightweight, so it wouldn’t take much to get her to loosen up.

Whatchyou studying at the college? he asked.

Oh…uhhh…nursing, she nodded. I want to be a nurse.

I getchya, he replied. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

Yeah, she said with a slight smile.

I’m working as a mechanic, said Lester. I mostly work on agricultural vehicles, tractors and the like, but it pays good money.

Really? asked the blonde. That’s interesting.

But he was on the clock, so this small talk wasn’t doing him any favors…It was time to step up his game.

What’s your name anyway? asked Lester. I mean, you don’t have to tell me your name if you don’t want to. I can just call you, ‘Sugar.’

It’s Sherry, said the blonde politely.

That was a lie, of course. Her real name was Rebecca Roms, Becca, for short. Her birthday was March 4th, her parents were Debra and Osmo Roms, she secretly liked horror movies, and her browsing history had some interesting tells in it…She had a penchant for monster-porn stories, some really hardcore stuff at that. He especially liked the one with the werewolf that ravished a young woman who was alone in a cabin in the woods.

She shared her apartment with three other girls, but all of them went to class during the day, so it hadn’t been a challenge for him to pick the apartment lock and scope out her life’s history, what he could glean anyway. From what he’d learned, she was the only one doing this…None of her roommates were in on it. However, what he did not have was the information he needed, but he’d get that soon enough. He just needed to get her in his truck.

He just needed to work on her a little more.

Sherry…Sugar…Either one’s fine with me, he shrugged.

She took another nervous drink of her beer.

Sherry is fine, she said quietly.

Her blue eyes were suddenly downcast, her look sullen.

She was getting cold feet. He needed to lighten her up, not depress her. Unfortunately, alcohol could work both ways…What he really needed was a commitment from her. He needed to egg her on, get her to see him as the bad guy. Then she’d make her move.

Sherry’s a pretty name, he said matter-of-factly. I knew a church girl by the name of Sherry. She was real nice to me, but she didn’t want anything serious with me. Let me down nice and easy…You know, I liked Sherry. Wish more girls were like her.

I’m sure she had her reasons, said Becca.

He would think of her as Becca. He’d call her Sherry, but he did not want to forget her real name. Real names were a weapon he often used when the timing was right.

It’s because I get a little angry at times, said Lester. "I think she knew that. Just can’t seem to hold back, you know? I forget sometimes that you can’t be rough with a girl. They’re not tough like guys…You’re not supposed to get angry like that with a girl…Next thing you know, there’re a couple of bruises, and then you’re the bad guy…

Oh, I’m sure I’ll meet someone someday that’ll tame that beast, but it would have to be a pretty special girl…I can understand if you don’t like that kinda guy…We can just talk if you’d like. We can talk and drink if you’d like, one-on-one…

Oh… said Becca.

Her blue eyes flitted back and forth as if she were thinking of exactly what to say, which was exactly what she was doing. She was really new at this, and she probably hadn’t received much in the way of instruction, just empty promises, but that was how this game worked.

We can drink and talk, said Becca.

He’d known that would work. He’d seen her Tumblr account. She wasn’t going to pass up an admitted abuser.

But it was time to set the bait.

We can go talk one-on-one somewhere else, grinned Lester. It don’t have to be here…You got a boyfriend? A girlfriend?

Her cheeks flushed red as her eyes widened slightly. She lowered her head, her blue eyes flitting back and forth, and then she made a silent nod to herself, silent but subtle, a tell that Lester still noticed. She downed her beer in quick gulps after that, emptying the glass before setting it back down upon the bar top.

Doggone, little lady, said Lester in slight surprise. Here…You can finish mine.

He slid her his barely tasted beer.

She placed both of her small hands around the glass, and then she downed that one as well. She placed the empty glass back upon the bar top, looked up at him, and grinned.

We can go talk somewhere else, she said in a weirdly-happy voice.

Yep, there was no more cold feet here. She had made a snap judgement about him, a not-so-happy one, and what she was planning really ticked him off, but he was careful not to show it.

Sure thing, he grinned in return. My truck’s just outside…You walk here? You need a ride?

Yeah, smiled Becca. I could use a ride.

Great, said Lester.

And that was that. They left the bar together, crossed the street, and Lester escorted her into his red F-150.

She buckled up and gave him a strange look, but he already knew where she wanted to go, the place he wanted to go as well, though where she wanted to lead him was the information he was missing, so naturally, he had to ask.

Where to? he asked.

Oh…ummm… said Becca as she shook her head for a second.

Yep. Alcohol was kicking in.

I’m going to my sorority house, she nodded. My sorority sisters would definitely like to meet you.

They would, would they? asked Lester. I don’t know about that. I thought we would just talk one-on-one.

Oh, you don’t understand, said Becca as she shook her head no. They love guys like you.

He knew what he was doing, of course. He had to play a little hard to get, or she’d get suspicious.

Are they pretty? asked Lester. I can’t imagine a girl being prettier than you.

Oh, I’m the plain one, smiled Becca. I’m kind of jealous of them. Ravina, for instance, is drop dead gorgeous. She makes me look like trash.

Bingo. Ravina was the name he was looking for. He was definitely on the right track. He had been 99.99% sure beforehand, but there was always that doubt…Now there wasn’t any.

Is that right? asked Lester.

It was time to pour it on thick, make sure she was devoted. This was a little too easy, and the easy ones made him paranoid. He didn’t like it when things were too easy. It didn’t sit right with him.

He hit the lock button, and the doors locked with a loud click.

I’ll tell you what, he nodded. I’ll meet your friends, but I want to know if they’re fun. Are they fun, Sherry?

Yeah, nodded Becca with wide eyes. Oh, yeah. They’re really fun.

Lester pursed his lips, pushed up his black cowboy hat, and leaned his head to one side as he studied her. This was his redneck-audacity pose, something he rarely used, but it was a lot of fun when he did.

Okay, he nodded. I’ll go…but I need to know how fun they really are.

How so? asked Becca, a look of stark confusion upon her cute face.

You show me your rack, he grinned.

What? asked the young blonde in surprise.

Show me your ta-tas, and I’ll meet your friends, he shrugged. The way I figure it, you’re the shy one, so pony up, and I’ll go. I wanna have some fun, not be bored by girly talk.

The young woman looked out of sorts for a moment, the scarlet in her cheeks noticeable even in the dim light of the parking-lot lamps, but it was the swift decision that crawled across her face, that telltale look of commitment that convinced him she was following through with what she had started.

She reached down, pulled up her sweater and bra, and showed him her bare breasts. He grinned like an idiot in return, but this was part of the act. There was no actual surprise here. He’d seen a million of these already.

She lowered her sweater and adjusted her bra from beneath that article of clothing.

Her face was flushed, some slight sweat across her brow, so her adrenaline had kicked in, the thrill of the hunt, and she was probably feeling it between her legs, too. These newbs were all the same as far as he could tell.

Nice, grinned Lester. You got a beautiful rack, Sugar.

Thank you, grinned Becca in return. Now, let’s go to my sorority. You promised.

He hadn’t promised anything, but whatever.

Yepper, said Lester. Can’t wait to meet the girls. I can tell this is gonna be lots of fun.

Oh, it definitely will be, nodded Becca.

Her blue eyes were wide again, crazed. She knew what was going to happen once he got there, and she was following through with it anyway. True, he’d given her the idea that he was an abusive piece of dog doo, but that didn’t justify what she thought was about to happen…Of course, he had actually done some truly terrible things, but she didn’t need to know that…Not yet anyway.

At least he wasn’t going to have to resort to torture this time in order to get directions. No, she was too new and naïve to hide anything from him. A more seasoned girl would have picked up on his BS a mile away, but then he would have had to get creative, and whenever he did that, the pay wasn’t as good.

Still, Becca was a cutie. He definitely wouldn’t have minded adding her sweet piece to his collection.

He started the truck and pulled out of the lot, and she gave him directions to somewhere on the outskirts of town, nowhere near the university, but this was to be expected. They weren’t going to a sorority anyway.

Nevertheless, he had to stay in character, and that meant a little suspicion was in order, especially when they had driven far enough out of town.

This don’t look like no way to a sorority, he said.

They had pulled off of a back highway and onto an equally back gravel road. Out here was nothing but trees, trees on each side of the road, something he was well used to, but still…this was not a good place to be for any normal guy. Luckily, he wasn’t normal in the slightest.

That’s because…uhhh…they…the sorority got a good deal on a house out here, said Becca. It’s a pretty big place. You’ll like it.

She was lying, of course, but he already knew that. They both knew they weren’t going to a sorority, but she didn’t know he knew that.

Okay, shrugged Lester. If you say so.

Oh, yeah, nodded Becca.

They drove up to a large three-story house, something completely out of place amongst the trailers and white-trash homes that normally bedecked this area. He parked on the other side of the road, as there were already a number of cars in the driveway and along the house-side of this backwoods gravel stretch.

We’re here, grinned the