The Beast In the Basement: Part 16 (896 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesLabels: the_beast_in_the_basement
Rating: 1.92 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Anansie (View user info) at 2004-08-04 20:36:27 EDT
The last part for anyone who missed it: http://www.ubersite.com/m/40545
Dakingisdead made the comment that this was starting to sound like a romance novel. Don't worry, guys. It's definitely not going to turn into that. But I wanted to give the characters a bit more depth than they've had. Anyway, anyone who's worried about the story veering away from the murders has nothing to fear. Remember the calm before the storm.
Also, from here on out this will be referred to as "BIB Part ___" because it's easier to type. I'm lazy, ok.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annie and Micah drunkenly stumbled the last few blocks to her house. Annie had grabbed the bottle of Crown and now swigged from it occasionally. Micah seemed preoccupied with their surroundings. She supposed he was trying to appear to be keeping a lookout for their mystery killer. But she believed he was trying to avoid looking at her. Which was fine. She didn't want to talk about the killings. She didn't want to talk about their relationship. She wanted to drink herself into a stupor and pass out in her old bed, to fall into a dreamless sleep.
"So tell me about Cauley." Apparently silently patrolling their surroundings with his eyes was not enough to occupy him.
"He's great. Amazing. Every time I think I can't love him more, he proves me wrong."
"Wow. Sounds like he treats you pretty good."
"Yep. Better than you ever did."
"Are you taking more shots at me now? Because honestly, I'm not in the mood. Besides, I treated you good sometimes."
Annie laughed. "You couldn't treat me good if you tried. It's just not in you. You know, I used to think that I brought out the sadist in you.
"
Micah looked at her and clicked his teeth in a biting gesture, smirking. "Yeah, you kinda did."
"Not like that. Well, like that, but not just that. Fuck it, nevermind."
"No, seriously, what do you mean?"
"Well, you were just such an asshole a lot of the time. And there always seemed to be a bit of violence, swimming just under the surface."
"Well, it wasn't just me, I'll tell you that. It was the same way with you. That's why we got along so well, isn't it?"
"I suppose."
"So how bout Cauley, eh? Does he satisfy that little sadomasochistic part of you? Or is that something you have to suppress around him?"
Annie turned on him. "Let me clue you in on reality. My life now is none of your business. If you gave a shit about what goes on in my life now, you'd call once in a while. So don't act like you care."
"Jesus, Annie. I'm just trying to make conversation."
"Well, can it. I'm not in the mood."
"What the hell? I thought we were ok. Maybe not on the best of terms, but decent. Why are you so hostile?"
"Gee, let's think. My best friend is dead, and the guy who ripped my heart out is asking questions about my sex life. Why am I hostile?"
"Look, I can't change the past..."
"It's always been like this you know. You acting like you care one minute, the next minute, you're a stranger. After you and Mary broke up it was worse. I saw how you were with her, a person that used you and brushed you off like dirt on her dress. You treated her like a queen, then took it out on me when she didn't return the favor. Had to spread the misery around, eh? Pour a little acid on the same shoulder you cried on? I guess I deserved it, because I was the idiot who kept coming back, no matter how bad it was. So determined to be there for you. To show you that I cared. That I wasn't going to abandon you."
Micah sighed. "You don't understand what it was like for me."
"You're right, I don't understand. I never could, because you never bothered to tell me. You just kept feeding me your mixed messages. One minute you acted like I was shit on the bottom of your shoe, something distasteful that you needed to scrape off. The next minute you were all over me. What the fuck did you want? How exactly did you expect me to react?"
"I-"
"Look, I was never angry at you for not falling in love with me. You couldn't control that any more than I could control how I felt. But goddammit, you knew how I felt about you. Fucking knew it. And that didn't stop you. It didn't stop you from being a cruel bastard. The cruelty wasn't even so much in all the nasty things you said and did. Oh no. It was in every look, every kiss, every touch, every ... every screw."
Annie sat down on the curb and stared at a defiant blade of grass sprouting from a crack in the cement. It wavered in the wind, a testament to the resilience and determination of life. She picked it wrapped it around her finger. Micah sat down next to her and stared at the stars.
"You really hate me, don't you?"
Annie laughed. "Quite the opposite. Look, everything we had, everything we did together, it was right. I know that." She reached out, and her fingertips brushed his cheek.
"I regret nothing. But don't act like you were some sort of saint, please. It's an insult. As hard as it may be to believe, I've put most of the anger behind me. It's just that... seeing you brings it all back, the same way being here brings back everything else."
"Getting the heebie-jeebies again, eh?"
Annie thought about her vision of Jason Curry, and shivered. "Yeah."
"So how do you feel now?"
"About you or about being back?"
"Both."
"Bittersweet." She rose to her feet and resumed the walk.
"I do love you Annie. I did before, too. Just not the way you wanted me to."
"I know."
Annie's house rose in the distance, the windows gaping at the two of them like black eyes. Hungry eyes. Annie's bed called out its siren song, luring her up the steps and to the front door. She was reaching for her keys when her father opened the door. Without a word he drew her into a hug. They stood like that for a moment before he backed off and let Annie and Micah in.
"I was worried about you. You didn't answer your phone."
"I got... sidetracked."
"I see." Eric Denning's eyes lighted on Micah disapprovingly before turning back to Annie. "Do you want to talk?"
"Not right now. I'm a little...uuhhh..."
"Mmmhmmm." He noted the bottle with his eyes. "I see. Well. You're bed is ready. I put fresh sheets and blankets on it."
He turned to Micah. "You aren't in any condition to leave, son. I can smell it from here."
"I'm fine."
"Nonsense, you can barely stand. It's not as if you haven't slept over before. This time however, you're sleeping on the couch."
Eric Denning set his hand on the banister and surveyed the two of them. "Don't let him leave, Annie. Goodnight." He headed up the stairs.
Micah looked at Annie. "I didn't think he knew about all the times I stayed the night here."
"Me neither. I'm surprised he didn't kick your ass."
The two of them laughed, the grisly murders and the mystery surrounding them momentarily forgotten. Annie smiled.
"Well, uh. I'm going to bed now."
"Can I get that bottle back, then?"
"Oh." She looked down at the near empty bottle. "Shit. I forgot I was holding it."
"Suuuuree. I believe that."
"Honestly, take it."
"I'm kidding, Annie. You were always so gullible when you were drunk." He grinned. "It is nice to see you again."
"Ditto. Goodnight, Micah."
"Goodnight."
Annie stumbled up the stairs, and threw herself down onto the bed. A few minutes later, she was asleep. Later that night, her body shook with nightmares that, without fail, had accosted her every night spent in this house since she was a child.
User Reviews
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-06-02 15:20:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-06-02 13:03:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm sorry. I want to finish. I've been thinking about picking it back up over the summer. I hadn't planned on posting it when I finished, just because the core audience is gone as far as I know. I guess if people would bother to rate it, I'd go ahead and post. There are so many problems with the writing of it, though. I'm not even the same person I was back then. I don't know. But I will finish it. I don't like having it hanging over my head.
------------
well if the next one is as phenominal as the last 17, i'm sure people will read it...even if it means going back and reading 17 other posts.
back then...wow...aug of 2004. ironically enough, that is the same month that i signed up.
well, it was entertaining. i'd enjoy reading it if you ever get around to finishing it...so let me know if you do.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-02 12:50:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-06-02 12:43:51 (#)
Ranking: 2
you son of a bitch...are you serious? i guess so...
i sure hope this isn't the last one...
when do you plan on finishing?
this is phenominal by the way
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry. I want to finish. I've been thinking about picking it back up over the summer. I hadn't planned on posting it when I finished, just because the core audience is gone as far as I know. I guess if people would bother to rate it, I'd go ahead and post. There are so many problems with the writing of it, though. I'm not even the same person I was back then. I don't know. But I will finish it. I don't like having it hanging over my head.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-06-02 12:43:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you son of a bitch...are you serious? i guess so...
i sure hope this isn't the last one...
when do you plan on finishing?
this is phenominal by the way
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-02 12:39:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I had to stop because rl stuff got in the way, and by the time began to think about picking it up again, few people still cared.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-02 12:34:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Tim, I know you are reading this right now, and I thank you, but you should know that this series is unfinished.
Submitted by Rads_wife (user info) at 2005-06-13 23:06:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/68315
WINNER!!! WINNER!!!!
Submitted by lordofthepost (user info) at 2005-01-12 21:51:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Glad to see you're still here, I've got to go back and get my BIB fix again...
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-01-03 19:36:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by houseman (user info) at 2004-11-17 17:47:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Please please don't stop!
You are my first and I think I am in love. ;)
Submitted by Avals (user info) at 2004-08-10 15:43:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Damnit, when are someone's guts going to get ripped out again? I want gore damnit, GORE!
Submitted by Malificent (user info) at 2004-08-09 06:02:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whatever you decide in progressing, don't sell yourself short to meet demands. This should make a wonderful short novel some day.
Submitted by comicbookguy (user info) at 2004-08-06 11:14:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2004-08-05 19:13:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I would Lucky, but it's a work in progress. I couldn't possibly finish it in one part unless I took another long gap in posting it like before. Unless that's what the readers want. Anyone else want me to post it in one long part, regardless of how long they have to wait?
Submitted by Luckystar (user info) at 2004-08-05 19:04:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't care if it ends up taking 65 hours to read at once, finish it in pt 17
i can't wait!!
Submitted by shark25 (user info) at 2004-08-05 13:19:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2004-08-05 09:00:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like the back and forth. It gives us a lot more context on their relationship. I thought the dialoge was well written and I can't wait for someone else to DIE! hint hint.
Submitted by engine13 (user info) at 2004-08-04 20:44:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm so happy to see this going again.
Submitted by JohnGalt (user info) at 2004-08-04 20:44:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
This was good, but there's too much dialogue and not enough happening. Also, everything after her dad tell's Micah not to leave just sounds like you were tired of writing and wanted to get to a stopping point.