The Fire Within (Part 4) (211 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 2 on 1 review (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Rillins (View user info) at 2006-09-26 16:39:07 EDT
Part 1: http://www.ubersite.com/m/93428
Part 2: http://www.ubersite.com/m/93487
part 3: http://www.ubersite.com/m/93522
"Look Michael, they're home!"
Veronica sat in the backseat of the Lincoln with tinted windows, watching Michael get lost in Suburbia. They had finally found the place; nestled between two other houses that looked just the same, and a third across the street. The only differences were the numbers pinned above the garage or by the front door.
Michael parked the car so that it blocked both sides of the driveway and helped Veronica out of the backseat. Veronica petted the new pug they had just gotten that morning. Princess was tucked into a bag under Veronica's arm, already asleep.
They walked up the cute little path from the driveway to the front door and stood looking into the Johnson's living room. The front door had been left open.
"Looks like they're expecting us Michael let's not be rude."
Veronica touched the door bell, which rang charmingly under her finger. A woman in her fifties appeared at the door, smiling curiously at the strangers on the other side.
Michael opened the door for Veronica who grandly entered into the foyer, speaking to, but never looking at, Mrs. Johnson.
"Hello dear, we are interested in purchasing this adorable little house. Michael, make sure Mrs. Johnson is comfortable on the couch."
Veronica flicked a finger towards Michael who promptly guided a bemused Mrs. Johnson to the sofa. Veronica shut the front door behind her.
"Now, where is Mr. Johnson."
With impeccable timing, Mr. Johnson stuck his head through the kitchen door, curious as to who could be coming over.
"Who is it honey? Oh, hello. Uh, would you like something to drink?" Mr. Johnson threw a dishrag over his shoulder, having just finished drying his hands on it.
"No Mr. Johnson, I would like you to have a seat next to your wife."
Veronica raised an eyebrow as Mr. Johnson hesitated.
"Do not be rude Mr. Johnson, we are guests after all."
Mr. Johnson frowned and walked in front of the couch, standing defiantly until a look into Michael's eyes changed his mind.
"Now, I'm interested in this house, yadda, yadda, yadda. Wher's Wayne?"
The Johnson's looked at each other, not quite understanding the question. Mr. Johnson started to stand, demanding answers to questions of his own. Michael, sensing the defiant streak struck him across the face with the back of his hand. Mr. Johnson fell over the coffee table, his neck cracked from the force of the blow. Mrs. Johnson screamed at the sight of her dead husband. Michael picked her up by the front of her shirt and shook her until she was silent, her head hanging at an odd angle.
"MICHAEL!"
Veronica was beyond angry.
"What are you doing? This is just what Robert did with the others. He never listened; never paid attention!"
Veronica threw princess to the ground, whose squeak of surprise was cut short as Veronica slammed her foot into the dog's neck. Michael backed away from the Johnsons and raised his hands in a defensive posture.
"Just LOOK what you made me do to Princess."
Veronica whined, then glared at Michael.
"I was just..." Michael never got to finish that sentence.
Wayne pulled onto his parent's street. Red and blue lights hovered on the houses all along the block. He drove slowly, unsure as to what was going on. Sandra had woken up a little before reaching town and sat next to him in the front seat.
"There's nothing for us here Wayne, she got them. We need to keep going."
Sandra's deadpan voice slid nonchalantly into his ears. Before he could respond the backseat door popped open and Mary ran towards the nearest policeman.
"Mary, no! Shit!" Wayne's cry of warning was just too late.
Mary ran to the closest officer, tears in her eyes demanding answers.
"What happened, this is my parent's house!"
Sandra and Wayne watched as the officer pulled something from his jacket and tasered Mary. Sparks flew from the buttons of her jacket as she jerked and fell to the ground
"NO!"
Rage poured through Wayne like nothing before. He removed his foot from the gas, ready to get out of the car and get the bastard who tasered his sister. His blood pulsed in his ears, blocking out any reasoned response Sandra was trying to give. He brushed off the hand that tried to hold him back, the blind rage building in him like nothing before.
The steering wheel began to smoke, his hand covered in melted rubber. The shock of this gave him enough pause for Sandra to reach over and push the gas pedal with her hands. Motion, and the fear of getting into a wreck, snapped him back into reality.
The acrid smoke burned her eyes as she sat up; Wayne seemed stable enough to drive. She unrolled all the windows, the smoke billowing out of the car and into the heavens. Wayne gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, the rage bubbling just beneath the surface.
At the next town the rage had slipped back inside of him, sorrow welling up to take its place. He pulled the car over into the parking lot of a Wallsmart and cried uncontrollably. His parents were dead. His sister had been taken captive, was dead, or would soon be. He had no plan, no idea of where to go or what to do, so he cried. He howled with the sorrow that seemed to be a never ending tide. When he began hyperventilating Sandra began to talk soothingly to him.
"All right Wayne. I know. Please, we really do need to keep going. Why don't I help you out?"
Sandra got out of the car and opened Wayne's door for him. He fumbled with the seat belt and fell out onto the asphalt. She helped him into the passenger seat and gave him some water to drink.
"Here Wayne, this should help. Just calm down and breathe."
Sandra sat in the driver's seat and placed her hands on the bare metal steering wheel.
"OUCH!"
Sandra quickly put her hand to her lips, cooling the blistering skin.
"Why is this seat so hot?"
She grabbed some water from the 24 pack they had bought earlier in the day and doused the whole driver's area until the thick plumes of smoke abated.
"We're going to need to get some more water, that was the last one. How did we go through that much water so fast?"
Wayne had fifteen empty water bottles sitting at his feet, and was working on another. Sandra remained silent, her brain working out the problem.
"We'll keep driving, heading towards your city. We'll stop at a motel once it begins to get dark."
Sandra headed west, into the evening sun. They drove up to a dank motel, paying for a room for one night. The man at the desk gave a sickening grin and nodded to the direction of their room.
The room was small, very small. The bed had a machine next to it that would make it vibrate for a quarter and the bathroom smelled like a cocktail of urine and beer. Sandra put her bag onto the floor next to the bed. Wayne walked into the room like a zombie, too tired or sad to speak he just sat on the only chair in the room and fell asleep.
User Reviews
Submitted by goferforhire (user info) at 2006-09-27 00:11:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Rating