Challenge #: October 2006 - A Scary Story
Author: Elissa
Title: Fear Thy Self
Rating: R
Spoilers/Warning: All of the JE's Books. Disturbing content, read at your own risk.
At times I am tittering on the edge of sanity and one false move would have me plunging into the dark oblivion below. Faint voices, a constant whispering that seemed to follow my every day routine, and the ones I knew in my mind as 'The Others'. My mind was invaded by a constant stream of horrors as 'The Others' wanted to be heard. It was damning, what the voices wanted me to do, but I had to listen, 'The Others' demanded it. So I would close my eyes and listen, and I would sway to their song, it was time.
I let my fingers caress the black silk scarf in my pocket, a reminder of what my duty to 'The Others' entailed. I walked from out of the shadows and followed the lone woman, she was simple, a house wife of five children. She needed my deliverance as 'The Others' required.
So I had grabbed and dragged her into the alley and I had relieved her of the burden of life. I had wrapped the black silk scarf around her neck and soon the struggling stopped. And 'The Others' quieted their voices and I knew peace for another night.
-8888-
I bolted upright in bed, my heart pounding. All of the little hairs were standing on end and I felt the fear skitter along my skin. I blindly groped along my nightstand until my hand made contact with the Sig Sauer that Ranger had given me. I felt the familiar cold handle in my hand and for a brief moment I felt safe.
I strained my ears trying to hear what made me awaken in such a sudden panic. I couldn't make anything out over my harsh breathing. I stood up cautiously and walked into the rest of my apartment. I went from room, to room and turned on the lights, looking for the source of my disquiet. I found nothing. I finally came to the spot I started my search and slumped against my bedroom door and berated myself for being spooked. I had only been back into my apartment for three weeks, and I still haven't felt comfortable being her alone.
It was a little over two months ago that Eddie Scrog had held me and Ranger's daughter Julie hostage in my apartment. It was here that Scrog had shot Ranger in a bid to take over Ranger's identity and I almost lost a person who was very important to me. I managed to come to terms with what had happened, but there were still nights that I had to deal with the aftershocks of that old fear.
I headed back into my bedroom and on an off chance looked out my window to the parking lot below. I noticed some odd movement by the garbage dump and I felt the hair rise up on my arms again. I absently rubbed my hand across my skin to sooth away, what ever unbidden fear that wanted to creep up on me. I let the curtain fall and took a step back from my window and shook my head, "Get a grip Stephanie." I mumbled to myself. I put my gun away and turned off my bedroom light and crawled back into bed.
-8888-
I was walking back to my home when a light caught my eye, I looked up at the second floor window. I saw a shadow walk by, I stood rooted the spot instead of continuing on. After a few minutes the curtain was pulled back and my breath caught in my throat.
Hallowed in the soft light of the room, was a woman. I could feel myself drawn to her, and I knew she should be mine. I felt the 'The Others' waken and murmur in my mind. "This one," they whispered and I had to agree. Out of all the ones who had been mine before, she was one that called to me and not them.
"Yes," I said, "Yes, this one." And I slunk back into the shadows and slowly continued my journey home.
-8888-
I breezed into to the Bonds office and plunked my box of donuts on Connie's desk. Lula and Connie were both absorbed into reading the news paper and neither one paid me any attention. "What's up?" I asked.
Lula looked up at me sharply and said, "You mean you didn't hear?"
"Hear what?" I looked at Connie than at Lula.
"Marcy Benderson was murdered last night," Connie said, "She was on her way home from Church choir practice when someone dragged her into an alleyway and strangled her to death."
I felt a chill run down my spine as I looked from Connie to Lula, "My God, that's horrible."
Lula bobbed her blond corn rolled head up and down, "You got that right, says here that the murderer used a black silk scarf. I don't know why anyone would walk the streets alone at night. It's just not safe, no matter what neighborhood you live in."
I'm not sure if I agreed with Lula or not, but I wasn't about to go out alone looking for my skips if there was some murdering psycho on the loose. I shook my head out of my dark thoughts and asked Connie, "Do you have any new files for me?"
Connie was sorting through the folders on her desk when my cell phone rang, "Hello?"
All I heard was empty air and when I was about to turn off my cell a dark breathy voice said, "I can see you."
My body stiffened immediately and both Connie and Lula gave me sharp looks, "Who is this?" I demanded trying to keep the unease out of my voice.
"I wonder if you smell as good as the bottle of Dolce Vita in your bathroom." I felt my knees give out and I sat heavily on the old couch in the office. "Will you wear the black dress for me when I come to deliver you from life?" Then the connection ended. My whole body started to quake as I let the phone drop into my lap.
"Stephanie? Shit you look like you saw a ghost, who was that on the phone?" Lula sat next to me.
I couldn't get the words out of my mouth, and all that I could think about was that somewhere someone was watching me and they had been in my apartment and gone through my things. Lula looked at Connie, "Call Super Cop, and tell him get over here."
-8888-
I watched as a SUV pulled in front of the office and a man jumped out and quickly entered the building. I watched as the man brought out what was mine, and I felt 'The Others' get agitated.
"Shhhh," I whispered, "She will be ours."
I pulled out the black laced nightie that had been in 'Mines' drawer and closed my eyes as I rubbed the delicate material against my face. Then I felt a shiver run through my body as I opened my eyes again. Soon, it would have to be soon, and I dropped the garment on the ground and walked away.
-8888-
I sat in Joe's living room sipping a bottle of beer trying to keep myself together. I have been stalked more times than I could count and I just wish at least once that I didn't attract every psycho in the State of New Jersey. I wonder if there was a listing out there that advertised my apartment as a stomping ground for all the head cases in the area. Just the thought that someone had gone through my things made me feel violated.
Joe sat down next to me and I curled myself against him. He put a comforting arm around my shoulders, "Are you doing better now, Cupcake?"
I sighed against his neck, "Do you think I'm over reacting?"
"I was on the job when I got the call for Marcy Benderson's murder." He paused and squeezed me a little tighter, "I'm just glad that your taking this threat seriously, whether its comes to anything or not I just want you safe."
"If it's all the same to you I'd prefer to sit this one out. I'm more than willing to lay low for a while and just see if this was just some sick prank or not." Joe started to nozzle my neck and I started to relax totally in what he was doing to me. We were starting to get hot and heavy when Joe's pager went off.
"Shit," he growled as he pulled away form me and grabbed his pager. He read the readout and swore under his breath. He looked at me with regret, "I need to get this there's been a shooting. Are you okay being here by yourself? Do you want me to take you to your parents' house?"
I didn't like the idea of being here alone and that Joe had to work, but I thought I was safe enough here, "I'm okay. You got work to do."
He looked at me seriously, "If or any reason that you feel threatened call me or Ranger."
I smiled at Joe's concern, "Don't worry," I gave him a lingering kiss, "I hope you don't have to be gone too long." I said throatily.
I heard Joe groan as he stepped back from me and retrieved his service revolver from the kitchen counter and clipped it on his belt, "Lock up after me," then he smiled at me, "I love you, Cupcake."
"I love you too," I walked him to the door and after another goodbye kiss I locked up behind him. I went back into the living room and sat on Joe's couch and grabbed the remote. I looked at Bob laying on the floor by my feet and said, "I guess its just you and me."
-8888-
I had found her again. It was almost too easy to get into the house. I noticed the MINE was sleeping so peacefully on the couch. There are always so beautiful when they look like they are in there eternal slumbering. It was so easy to feed the dog the sleeping pills I had prepared before coming over; I didn't want the animal to wake MINE up.
She was so pretty, so much prettier than all the ones I had before her. I ached to touch her, but 'The Others' didn't think it was time just quite yet.
I contented myself by wandering the MAN's house, and noticed that this place spoke of only a bachelor's space. The simple subtle statements of them being single made me smile; maybe I should enjoy her before I deliver her from life.
'The Others', seemed to be angry by that idea, but I didn't care. I walked back into the living room and took the black silk scarf out of my pocket. I closed my eyes and tantalized myself with the feel and imagining wrapping the fine cloth around her neck. I started to breathe heavily as I thought about watching the light of life slip from her eyes.
"Soon," I whispered almost inaudibly, "Very soon." I then bent down and loosely wrapped the black cloth around the animal's neck and I made my way out of the house.
TBC . . .
A/N: Okay, so I started this to answer the challenge and I am not sure how long this one will be. Let me know what you think.