The Last Moments Of Katy (822 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Fiction
Rating: 2 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kaos-king (antius777) (View user info) at 2006-08-25 12:48:12 EDT
This short story is based on a dream had by Inion_De_Trua, the details told to me...
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"Jesus fuck!" screamed Katy as she awoke just in time to see the semi truck come barreling straight towards her.
She pulled a hard right on the steering wheel to escape the path of the oncoming vehicle, missing it by a scant few feet. Overcompensating, the blue Honda slid into the ditch on the side of the road as the semi blew past. There was an immense racket from underneath her car as it ground against dirt and gravel. Katy tried to turn out, but it was no use. Her car suddenly came to a halt, it's headlights mostly illuminating the dense trees.
Katy laid her head down on the wheel and released a series of small yet potent curses. Pushing the door open, she climbed out to inspect the damage. A trail marked her slide into the ditch, the edge of the road torn away by the bottom of her car. She could only imagine what the undercarriage looked like now. The back tire that rested on grass was blown out completely and the other rested in thick brown water.
Struggling to get the door open again at the angle the car was at, she reached in and retrieved her purse and her cell phone off the charger. Katy flipped open the phone, hoping to at least have one bar out here and - nothing. The cell wouldn't even switch on. Obviously damaged in the wreck somehow, she muttered a few more sailor-like swears and shoved the small useless machine in her purse.
She contemplated the flashlight in her trunk for a moment, then eyed the stagnant water. There had been nothing for miles the way she had came, so she slung the purse over her shoulder and started walking in the direction she had been heading. At least she had on sensible shoes.
As Katy walked she formulated deadly thoughts about all the participants that had lead her to this situation. Since her regular job at the magazine didn't pay her quite enough, she had taken on various freelance assignments in different fields. She had been contracted to design a number of costumes for a theater production in Philadelphia. Not only was the pay good, but it would really be a great way to get her name out. Granted, she had to make the trek down from Connecticut, but that wasn't such a big deal. She had shown up with sketches and material for the producers to approve, only to have them tell her that they had decided to go "In House" with a designer. Didn't she get their message?
So she was already quite irritated, when on her way back, the highway that had just been operational shortly ago was now shut down for repair. The detour had swept her miles away, hours off schedule, and seemingly to the middle of no where. She had seen few cars since getting off the highway, and as night crept up, Katy had started to doze off. Hooray to the semi for waking her.
What a clusterfuck. She wasn't even entirely sure what state she was in at this point. Once she managed to find a house or a gas station, it would probably be hours until Triple A was able to get out here to her. This weekend had turned into one big...
Katy froze. "What the hell was that?" she mumbled.
She turned her head and listened. Before and behind her the road stretched on. To her right was the woods and to her left was an empty field that once may have been farmed. Various wild noises floated to her ears, but there was something else. Something that sounded like... whispers? Katy looked all around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. It took a lot to shake her, but regardless, she reached into her purse and got out the small can of mace that she had never used.
Nothing was appearing on the horizon. Katy kept walking, her eyes set straight ahead. For some reason now she didn't want to peer into the woods. Even stranger, the empty field held no comfort either. No, Katy told herself, she would just keep walking until she came upon a farmhouse or another random victim of the detour rolled up.
And then the whispers returned.
Katy shut her eyes and continued her march. There was nothing here, it was just a trick of her mind. She couldn't make out what these quiet words were. Threats or promises, perhaps secrets? The whispers grew louder, like flies buzzing around her head. Finally, Katy spun around to confront her followers.
"Al'right you assholes, what the fuck do you..." and the rest died on her lips.
Behind her in the woods, amongst the trees, there was color. Shimmering hues dulled in the fading light of the dusk. They floated and swirled, ungulated and mixed. As the colors crept towards her, Katy could make out faces in the dead rainbow twilight. And these faces began to all whisper the same thing - her name.
Without screaming, without even thinking, she ran. She ran across the road and almost fell into the ditch on the opposing side. In her terror, Katy scaled the embankment and made it up onto the field. She risked a glance behind her, only to see the colors slowly start to seep out of the tree line. Katy turned back and ran as fast as she could through the barren field.
The land was uneven, full of rocks and holes. She lost her footing a number of times but managed not to fall. The frantic pace she was going at was already starting to tire her out, but she knew she couldn't stop. Then, like a beacon of hope, she saw a light in the distance, a lone farmhouse. She increased her speed, ignoring the burn in her sides...
... Only to trip and land hard on her shoulder moments later. Katy scrambled around, expecting to see the rainbow apparition swooping down on her, but the field was empty. Either she had outrun it or it had let her go. She brought a trembling hand up to clutch her face in, only to realize her whole arm was cover in filth.
That was when the stench hit her. The sickening sweet smell of decay was all around her. At her feet lay the exploded carcass of a giant hog, it's organs spread out all about the ground and taking to mold. In fact, she was sitting in a pile of dead animals. Pigs, chickens, cows, and the like - all in various states of rot. When she had fell, her arm had punctured the swollen, vulnerable belly of a horse.
Choking back bile, Katy rose to her feet. She stumbled through the dumping ground, retching, making her way towards the house. At a small make shift gate, she leaned against it and emptied her stomach, vomiting onto what looked like used to be a sheep. Wiping her mouth with her clean arm, she glanced back in disbelief. The spread of decaying animals was enormous. 'Why would anyone leave these creatures out like this,' she thought.
"Hello!" came a tiny voice from behind her.
Katy almost screamed when she heard the sound, and when she turned to face its source, she almost did again. A little girl stood about five feet away from her, barefoot and in a torn plaid dress. What hair the child had was blond and pulled to the far side of her head in a large ponytail. The other side of her head was covered in a massive bulbous tumor that hung down, obscuring one of the child's eyes.
"What the fuck," said Katy weakly.
"Are you my new mommy?" the girl asked, smiling wide and showing multiple teeth missing.
As Katy tried to stammer out a reply, another voice shot out from the darkness, "Priscilla May!"
Katy stared as five older boys, teenagers, strolled out from behind the house. While none of them had the obvious deformities like the girl, they where all hideous and covered in dirt. The child skipped over to the tallest of the boys and wrapped her arms around his leg. Just as Katy was about to speak it died on her lips. The little girl had reached up and was massaging the teenager's groin on the outside of his worn overalls.
"Well lookee here, we done found ourselves a visitor," said the tall boy.
"She right purty, she is," commented another who seemed to be pinching his nipples through his flannel shirt.
"So what's yer name girly?" asked the tall boy.
"Listen," tried Katy, "My car broke down a ways back and I'm just trying to find a phone and..."
"He asked yer name, hole!" screeched one of the younger boys.
Katy started backing up, realizing that she had lost lost her purse along with her mace somewhere in the field of dead animals. The boys were all laughing among themselves now, one kept spitting on his hand and smoothing his hair back. She looked around for an escape route.
"Don't matter much what her name is, she done got titties," the smallest boy commented.
"Gonna stick it in ya and wiggle!" cackled the one pinching his nipples.
Katy turned and bolted.
Whooping and cheering like it was a game, the boys gave chase. Katy rounded the side of the house and came to a dirt path. It lead past a series of empty animal pens. Running, she happened to glance over and see the human remains in the last one. Her growing terror helped increase her speed.
There was little else out here, mostly untended farm land. Up ahead sat an old barn. Perhaps there she could hide for a time or maybe even find a weapon. Katy took off up the slight incline towards it, the catcalls and threats growing louder behind her. As she got closer to the barn, she saw that there was a light on inside, the door slightly ajar. Just as she made it to the barn, she spun back to see how close her pursuers were.
That was when the hands shot out around her mouth and waist, grappling her and dragging her into the barn. Katy fought as hard as she could, refusing to go down easily. It was a few moments into her fury until she realized a voice was calling to her to 'calm down,' and that she was safe.
The hands released her and she immediately turned to attack, but the figure had already moved to the barn doors to secure them shut. The light could not reach the mysterious individual there, but Katy could make out that it was a young man. He checked the doors a second time and stared out the window.
"Are you all right? Did they hurt you?" he asked.
"Who the fuck are you?" question Katy looking around frantically for something to defend herself with.
"Don't worry, you're safe in here. They won't come in here," he replied as an answer.
"Yeah? And why is that?"
"Because I'm in here," he stated simply.
Katy had had enough. She collapsed to the dirt floor of the barn, allowing the tears to finally be released from her eyes. It was all too much. She wept for all the horrors she had witnessed and the knowledge that she would probably not survive the night. Although she had been raised Catholic, she hadn't prayed in a long time, but she had to ask now that she didn't suffer too long at the hands of those monsters outside.
She was startled when she felt arms enfold her, hands gently wiping the tears from her face. Katy looked up to see to young man who had saved her cradling her, and suddenly something else struck her. She knew this person.
"I... know you!" she stuttered.
He smiled.
"But who, who... are you? I don't...." she tried.
"You can call me 'Jon.' I suppose that will work," he said.
"What's going on?" sighed Katy.
"It's complicated," said Jon with a sad smile, cupping her face with his hands.
He leaned in and kissed her, causing her to relax, allowing him to embrace her.
"We have to go Katy. I have to get you out of here," he said.
"I know, but how are we going to..." Katy stopped and looked at him. "Jon, I never told you my name was Katy."
"I know you didn't," he smiled sadly again.
She started backing away from him. "I want to know what's going on here!" she demanded.
"You have to have an idea, Katy. Deep down, you have to know."
Katy grabbed one of the lanterns off the wooden barn poles and held it out in front of her. She flashed it around, searching for a pitchfork or a shovel or something. Her and the person who called himself 'Jon' paced circles around each other.
"Katy, we have to leave," he said. "We don't have time for..."
"Stay back!" said Katy, and without really thinking, threw the lantern at him.
Jon put his arm up, but the lantern broke on his forearm. Kerosene exploded, alighting him ablaze. Katy screamed and rushed to the barn doors. She fumbled with the lock and fled out into the night...
... right into the arms of the awaiting boys.
"Whoo-hoo!" shouted one. "Knew ya wanted it!"
"Hold her down!" commanded the tall one. "We gonna take her right here."
Katy fought off the hands that came at her, biting and scratching. A fist fired out and struck her in the chin. Her shirt started to rip and she felt her belt being undone. She was down on the ground, one of them with a fistful of her hair.
Then they stopped and she heard one of them mumble, "Shee-yit."
Rolling over, she saw Jon marching out of the barn still engulfed in flame. He flung his arms out to the sides and the fire dissipated. Charred and blistered, with each step his flesh healed, his clothing repaired itself. By the time he stood before her and the boys, he appeared as he did when she first saw him.
"Naw, naw! This ain't fair!" screamed one of the boys, who dove at Jon.
Jon scowled at the teenager, and the youth's head exploded, showering the others in a spray of gore.
"Gawd be damned, Billy Ray," swore the tall boy.
Katy watched trembling as the remaining four boys sulked off back down towards the house. The little girl turned to stick her tongue out at Katy before they all disappeared in the darkness. Finally, she was left with just Jon and a corpse.
Jon sat down cross-legged in the grass beside Katy who was still lying there. He regarded her for a moment, sighed, then pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. Lighting one up with his fingertip, he just looked at her questioningly.
"So... I'm dead, right?" asked Katy without emotion, starring up at the sky.
"Yeah, I'm afraid so," replied Jon.
"What the fuck happened?" she asked.
"The semi truck. You didn't wake up. You plowed right into it."
"Cute."
"You wandered off course into this place. It's called The Narrows. It's a realm that exists perpendicular to Earth, cast aside from Heaven or Hell," Jon tried to explain. "My job is to help find the lost before they're too tainted by this place to make it to their proper destination."
"And the colors I saw in the woods?" Katy asked with a bitter smile.
"A transportation gate that would have taken you straight to your new home," said Jon. "You found it terrifying because you didn't realize you were dead yet, but on a primal level you knew it marked your passage."
"So now what?"
"So now I personally escort you to eternity," said Jon with a grin.
"I'm scared Jon," said Katy, still lying on the grass and staring at the sky. "What if... what if I'm going somewhere I don't want to go?"
"It that had been the case, I wouldn't have appeared in this form," said Jon cryptically.
"Who are you suppose to be? I can't quite... I can't quite figure that out."
Jon smiled sadly for the final time and tossed his cigarette into the blown out head of Billy Ray.
"It's complicated," he said.
User Reviews
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-08-26 15:23:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-08-26 15:05:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Will read this when not hungover
Submitted by awesome_face (user info) at 2006-08-26 10:42:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2006-08-25 17:04:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I enjoyed it much much.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-08-25 15:24:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-08-25 14:58:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well done again, Kaos.
Submitted by alwayspeach1 (user info) at 2006-08-25 14:30:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I too thought of "The Hills Have Eyes." I've never seen it though. I have a hard time watching scary movies. I don't know that I liked this, but it was at least interesting to me and as usual it was well written.
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2006-08-25 14:29:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
excellent!
Submitted by silent1 (user info) at 2006-08-25 14:05:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent, I was able to vividly "see" the story while I was reading it.
TBC?
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-08-25 13:33:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
hmmm i guess attempted rape is a good enough stand in for sex.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2006-08-25 13:28:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2006-08-25 13:18:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2006-08-25 13:15:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
what a strange little faggot you are
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-08-25 13:10:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah, as much as I wanted to include depraved carnal relations between "Katy" & "Jon" in this, it just didn't work for the actual story. This is why it took me so long to finish this piece. I know in your dream we had sex, but I couldn't figure out out to make that transition work in the tale. I also couldn't deduce how to write myself directly in - hence the character of "Jon."
Submitted by Coleslaw_Murphy (user info) at 2006-08-25 13:09:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The first parts of this were uninteresting to me. But it got more interesting as it went.
I had a terrible dream about the afterlife a couple weeks ago.
I was on the wrong side of the "arena" so to speak, sitting with nazis and terrorists literally, and this big guy is walking up the aisle challenging me. And I get the gripping feeling that I'm going to be fighting for eternity. Oh, and I could call loved ones who were on the right side and hear their voice (and the joy in it) but they couldn't hear me. Aweful.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-08-25 13:03:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
except at some point in my dream i fucked you.
i still loved this though.
Submitted by icarus1987 (user info) at 2006-08-25 12:57:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Ever read "Where are you Going, Where have you been?"
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-08-25 12:57:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i fucking loved this. how could i not?
"Don't matter much what her name is, she done got titties," - especiallly that.
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2006-08-25 12:57:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fags Below
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-08-25 12:55:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
fag below.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-08-25 12:52:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The Hills Have Eyes III - Wastelands of New Jersey