Randy made the drive to John's place, parking out front. He adjusted his mirror to look over his reflection. A faint smirk touched his lips before he opened the door and stepped out in black dress slacks and a silver grey dress shirt. He grabbed a gym bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He licked his lips before heading for the front door, ringing the bell. The door was opened a moment later by Nikki Bella. "Hey, Randy." She smiled, giving him a big hug that he tried not to scowl over her shoulder at.
She let go, taking a step back. "See you're prepared for tonight."
"That I am, Nichole." He replied with a purse of his lips.
"God, Randy how many times do I have to tell you...I only get called that when I get in trouble. Call me Nikki….please. Now come on in...John is still cooking." She turned, heading in letting Randy follow her. John whistled to himself in the kitchen as he cooked, music playing on his iPod. He was dressed in tan slacks and a blue button down shirt with the first two buttons undone. A white apron covered his clean clothes as he stirred mixed vegetables in the skillet. His best friend Randy was coming over for dinner so the older man was making some of Randy's favorites. Chicken baked in the oven and the savory smell filled the air.
"Hey, Babe. Look what I dragged in." Nikki joked as she walked over to John, planting a kiss on his cheek.
John graced his girlfriend with a smile, bending to kiss her quickly on the lips before turning his attention to Randy. "Hey, Man. How was your flight?"
"Oh, you know the norm. Thank God for business class seats." He sighed. "My normal room?"
"Yeah...you know the drill. Hope you brought your board shorts. We might hang in the pool later." John winked at his girlfriend. "Gotta love my girl in a bikini."
"I brought a speedo actually." Randy replied, without batting an eye.
"Oh, basically your trunks." Nikki replied.
"Smaller." Randy smirked. "Be right back." He turned, leaving the room.
Niki waited a moment before exhaling a breath. "Is it me or is he even stranger than normal?"
John laughed as he went back to his work. The table was already set for three. "Nah, Randy's being Randy. I'm used to it by now."
"If you say so, Babe...chicken so a dry white wine tonight?" Nikki asked as she straightened the royal blue cocktail dress she was in.
"Sounds good." John pulled a bowl from the cabinet to spoon the vegetables in. "You look amazing by the way. Well, you always do."
She gave a coy smile. "Thanks, Babe. So do you." She commented as she went to check the wine selection they had up in the kitchen.
John carried the vegetables to the table before walking back to the oven, bending to open the door to check the chicken. "Look's good. I think it's done." He commented. Randy came back in as John was still looking in the over. He gave a whistle at the view. He didn't see Nikki quickly standing up as she was looking at the lower shelves of wine and thought the whistle was aimed at her.
John heard the whistle and turned to grin at Randy. "You whistling at my girl, Ran?" They had been friends for so many years the guys joked with each other regularly.
"Just admiring a sight." Randy replied with a gleam in his eyes.
"Are all men pigs?" Nikki commented as she came over with the bottle, setting it down.
"Are all women bitches?" Randy replied.
"Hey, truce you two." John chuckled as he pulled out the chicken and rice, sitting the hot dish on the stove. He was used to his best friend and his girl not getting along but he refused to push either from his life. He loved Nikki and well, he had been through too much shit with Randy to throw away what they shared.
"She started it." Randy replied.
"God, you sound like a five year old." Niki commented as she tried to get the wine open. "Damn."
Randy rolled his lips. "Here. Allow me." He walked over, taking the bottle and corkscrew from her.
"I know how to open a bottle, Randy."
"I'm sure you do, Nichole." Randy replied. He got the cork out smiling. "I'll grab the glasses." He headed for the cupboard where they were hanging under.
John shook his head as he carried the heavy chicken dish to the table. He never could figure out why Randy seemed to hate Nikki so much. "Hope you're hungry, Ran. I made that chocolate mousse with fresh berries you like."
"You know I always enjoy what you have to offer, John." Randy replied as he sat the glasses down and began to pour.
John looked up from the table and caught Randy's eyes a moment. He gave his friend a wink then a dimpled grin. He knew Randy was bisexual and they had played the flirting game for years. John had never been with a guy sexually, it was just harmless flirting that never went anywhere. Randy returned the smile but there was a slight hunger to his eyes. He moved a glass to a spot for John and Nikki before sitting with his own.
The three sat and enjoyed their dinner, John and Randy catching up. "Did you notice my latest improvements to the house?" John asked. "Nikki has me putting up more pictures now so the place doesn't look so clinical." He was proud of his beautiful house and girlfriend.
"I been saying that for years, John." Randy told him. "The place needed to look more lived in."
"I guess he just needed a woman's touch." Nikki told Randy before sipping her wine. Randy fought not to glare at the woman.
"You have." John admitted as he ate. After the meal Nikki excused herself to go upstairs for a change of clothes. John insisted on doing the clean up and was rinsing the dishes while Randy still ate his mousse.
"How can you stand her?" Randy asked John causally, it wasn't the first time Randy has questioned John's relationships over the years.
"What are you talking about? She's great." John answered as he worked. Randy was one of those guys who thought no one was good enough for his buddy. "She's sexy and good hearted...really cares about me. And come on, have you seen those tits and that ass? You just whistled at her."
"Yeah. I saw." Randy rolled his eyes. "Come on, Johnny...you never think of anything else though?" Randy finished the last spoonful standing up. He walked over to place the dish in the wash water letting his free hand to brace on John's lower back. "Anything at all?" He asked as his hand seemed to rest longer than needed.
"Like what? I said she's good hearted...it's not all about looks." John turned to look Randy in the eye. "You just think no one is good enough for your best friend."
Randy looked John back in the eyes. "I wouldn't say no one...and you know that. John. You just won't open up though." Randy finally moved his hands returning to the table to sip the rest of his current glass of wine.
John sighed. He hated it when they had these conversations. "Ran, I'm flattered. I really am. You could have your pick of pretty much anyone into guys...but I'm not. Let's just enjoy the evening. Okay?"
"I am trying John, even with the distractions." Randy told him finishing the glass to bring it over to him.
John took the glass from Randy. "Nikki went to go change into her bikini. Why don't you go change and we'll hang by the pool awhile? I'll finish the clean up here."
"Okay, Johnny...I won't be long." Randy told him before taking off for his room. As he headed for the stairs he could hear rumbling in the distance. A storm he thought. He wondered how bad. He didn't remember hearing hurricane warnings before he arrived. He smiled at the thought of the weather.
John worked on finishing the clean up. He hoped Randy would finally relax about Nikki and just enjoy the rest of the evening. Nikki was waiting for John to come up to the bedroom to get changed himself. She kept checking things out in the full mirror she had. She wanted to make sure everything was tucked in the right places. John heard the rumbling thunder as he emptied the sink and frowned. He had hoped for a nice, quiet evening. "Shit." He did a scan over the kitchen to make sure all was in order before turning on the dishwasher.
After Randy changed he headed for the pool area. He saw he was alone still and stretched on one of the lounge chairs wearing a pair of red speedos that hugged his bulge some and what little bit of a round ass he had when he stood. He tucked his hands behind his head, hearing as the rain came down on the roof of the poolroom. John headed upstairs to the master bedroom seeing Nikki waiting. "Sorry I took so long, Babe. You look beyond hot." The thunder sounded again and he grimaced. "Guess we don't have the best weather tonight."
Niki looked toward the french door. "Yeah we don't...good thing the pool is indoors." She commented.
John nodded his agreement. "I won't be long." He stripped down out of his clothes and then walked to his dresser, pulling out a pair of board shorts to pull on.
"Damn Babe. Maybe you should take an example from Randy." Nikki laughed. "I'm sure you would be hot in the tight little number too." She laughed.
"Not with this ass...those skimpy ass things couldn't contain all this." John laughed as he finished up. The two then headed downstairs to the pool room, seeing Randy waiting for them. A rumble of thunder was heard again followed by heavy rainfall on the ceiling.
Nikki jumped, seeing lightning through the skylight. "Is swimming safe with this weather?"
John shook his head. "It sucks but maybe we'd better not. There's always tomorrow." He looked at his friend. "Sorry, Ran."
"That sucks." Randy replied as he moved to stand up.
"Okay...I thought there was very little smaller then your trunks Randy...but I am corrected." Nikki commented.
"What, checking me out now?" Randy commented before giving a small turn. "Take it all in, Baby."
Nikki made a face like she couldn't believe the audacity of him.
John shook his head, laughing. "Ran's never been ashamed to show off..." The lights flickered as a loud crash was heard. "Fuck...hope we don't lose power."
"I'm sure we can manage." Randy commented wondering how luck may become in his favor. "Okay so then what?"
"Get changed and watch a movie?" Nikki suggested.
"That works as long as the power stays on." John agreed. "Go on up and change, Nikki. I'll set up the big TV in the den and we can all chill awhile. Sound good, Ran?"
"Yeah sure." Randy made his way out of the poolroom and out of sight.
John had to agree with Nikki that Randy was acting off. His friend could be moody at times so he chalked it up to stress or boredom. He leaned in to Nikki, giving her a soft kiss. "See you in a bit, Hun. I was looking forward to seeing you wet in that sexy new number too."
"I would look better out of it if Randy wasn't around." Nikki smiled at John before turning to head for the bedroom. As she headed for the door the lights flickered again. "Damn this is bad, Babe."
John sighed. "Yeah, tonight of all nights. Fun, we get to all sit in the dark bored as hell if the electric goes out." He walked behind her to turn off the lights so they could leave the room. "Guess I'll set up for movies anyway and we can just keep our fingers crossed. Bring me down a pair of my gym shorts?"
"Yeah, sure thing. Should I grab your phone too?" Nikki asked.
"Yeah just in case. It's on the nightstand by the bed. Thanks, Hun." John told her as they went their separate ways. As the man walked he could hear the rolling of thunder still overhead. Nikki took off heading upstairs for the bedroom. As she was thinking of something comfortable to put on the lights flickered again. She looked around, wondering what was going on. She knew the house was sound, but guessed something must have been messing with the wires outside. She wa stripping from her suit when the lights went out and seemed to stay out.
"Damn it." She went to feel for the phones in the dark to try to give her some light.
John was standing beside the TV with a remote when the lights went off for good. The room was immediately thrown into darkness. "Fuck, this never happens." He complained out loud with a sigh. So much for their relaxing evening. He felt his way to the couch and sat down, waiting on Nikki to bring him his phone and clothes. He hoped Randy wouldn't get lost in the huge house.
Nikki was feeling around when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. She jumped before speaking. "When did you come up, Babe?" A hand covered her mouth the same time she tried to scream as she realized the arms holding her were not as built as John's. Her eyes widened before stomping down on the attacker's foot. The attacker grunted from the unexpected pain. Nikki dove in the direction of the bed to try to get to their phones before she could be grabbed. "JOHN!" She tried to scream at the same time even if she feared it would not be heard because of the closed door and the storm. As her hand reached the phone she felt a heavy weight on her, grabbing her arm to pull it away. She started to lose breath from the weight and the attacker pressing her into the soft bedding, cutting off her air.
John was oblivious to his girlfriend's trouble as he sat waiting, the heavy rain and thunder all he could hear. He was not too worried about Nikki or Randy's absence, figuring they would be walking slowly in the dark house. Sometime later footsteps could be heard heading John's way. A faint light leading the way. "Hey, there you are." Randy addressed John.
"Hey." John greeted as he saw his buddy. "Fucking storm. Did you happen to pass Nikki?"
"Nope." Randy replied. The darkness only allowed John to see Randy's shadow and a little of his face from the light of his phone.
"Maybe she decided not to move through the house? Those steps are tricky." Randy told him.
"Fuck." John gave a sigh. "She was going to bring my phone down and my clothes. I'm still wearing my board shorts." He moved to walk toward the door. "I know the house better than she does. Be right back."
"Sure thing, Buddy. Sure you don't want me to come along with you?" Randy asked.
John debated a moment then shook his head. "Nah. She may not be fully dressed. Be right back." He began to carefully make his way through the dark hallway, thankful at least the storm seemed to be calming down a little.
Randy had a cold look as John walked away. He then took off another way, knowing the layout of John's house almost as well as the older man slowly made his way up the winding staircase that led to the master bedroom. Once he reached the doorway he called out in the darkness. "Nikki? Hun? Where are you?" He hoped his girl was not too scared. She hated storms. There was no sound in the room, it was quiet except for the sound of the storm outside. A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the room. The bed was in a state of disarray,
"What the fuck?" John exclaimed as he moved toward the bed. He knew it had been neatly made after dinner before they went to the pool room. "Nikki? Nicole?" He called loudly, in case she had moved to the bathroom. As he headed for the bed his foot felt something tacky on the floor. John stooped to run a finger across the floor. He kept a clean house so he wondered what it was. Bringing the finger to his face the coppery smell of blood hit his nose. "What the...Nikki?" John's heart began to pound as he moved around the room, feeling frantically in the dark for sign of his girl. He feared she had fallen after the lights went out and knocked herself unconscious.
As he felt around he came across more and more splotched of blood when he headed towards the closet area. John began to panic, not knowing how badly Nikki had been injured. He moved faster in the darkness, following the trail of blood. He wondered if he should go get Randy to bring up his phone for light since he had no idea if Nikki had moved his. The splotches of blood seemed the grow thicker the more he moved along toward the closet. Reaching the door it was still partly open. John's breath came in hard pants as he opened the closet fully. He prayed Nikki had fallen and was in the closet needing his help so he could find her. "Nikki? Sweetheart?" His voice broke slightly from dread and fear.
No sound greeted him. Nothing but the occasional crack of thunder. As John went to move slowly there was a heaviness in the air, like he was being watched. His heart began to pound more as he looked around, his panicked eyes scanning the darkness. "Ran? Is that you?" He said hopefully.
"Find my gift yet, John?" Randy asked from the darkness. His voice sounded deep and cold.
"W-What are you talking about?" John's head spun at a sick realization began to hit him. "Randy, where is Nikki? Did you hurt her?"
"Oh, she isn't feeling anything, Johnny." Randy told him. The sick smile could be pictured on his face in the darkness.
John's face paled in shock although it couldn't be seen. "Y-You killed her? Why would you do that? Are you fucking crazy?" He knew his best friend had a bad temper but never would have dreamed this could happen.
"I wanted so little from you, John." Randy could be heard walking closer. "She didn't deserve you! NONE OF THOSE BITCHES DESERVED YOU!" His voice raising the closer he got. A flash of lightning showed the twisted face the viper had. A blade was clenched in his hand.
John backed away from the sight of his crazed friend. "Ran, what are you doing? I loved Nikki...I love you...but as a friend. I'm not into men. You know that. I can't help it if I'm not gay!" As always the older man tried to reason his way out of trouble. "Put the knife down."
"You never even gave me a chance..you never opened yourself up to it." Randy told him with a cock of his head. "I asked for so little...but it was all a big joke to you!" Randy told him as he inched closer. "Do you love her so much you would want to join her then join me?"
"You would kill me...your best friend for years because I don't want to have sex with you?" John asked incredulously as he inched closer to the bed away from Randy.
"I am just asking which you would prefer, Johnny. Giving you one last chance."
"Randy, you need help. You just took away the woman I love..." John suddenly made a run for it, jumping on the bed to roll over it as the adrenaline kicked in. Luckily Randy had moved away from the door as they talked so John managed to hurry out the doorway and into the dark hall before Randy could stop him. His heart pounded as he knew he had to somehow make it to the garage and drive a car the hell out of there. He wasn't going to fight the crazed man. He headed quickly for the stairs, not caring if he fell. This was pure survival.
"Damn...he didn't even unwrap his gift." Randy laughed before trying to take off after him in the darkness. He had a feeling John would be heading one of two ways, but which one to try to head to first. John reached the bottom of the stairs and tried to quietly but quickly make his way to the kitchen so he could grab a key and head to the garage. In his frantic state he never even thought about the automatic garage door not working due to power outage. Randy reached the bottom of the steps, seeing the door still closed. His head snapped to one side before heading in the direction he believed John had headed. His feet were bare, keeping his steps quiet. He could hear the sound of things being moved in the kitchen. Randy sat the knife down to retrieve a handgun he hand tucked in his waist.
"Stop right there, Johnny...or I won't give you another chance." He stated as he stepped into the doorway. His other hand pulled something from his pocket. A cracking sound filled the air before something glowing was tossed in the air roughly in John's direction. John almost passed out seeing the gun in Randy's hand. He knew he was beat. Randy was a gun collector and a damn good shot. Going to the gun range was the younger man's idea of a fun day out. He would not miss.
John took a breath and then paused, raising his hands in defeat. "Okay. I stopped. Don't do anything you'll regret, Man."
"Don't you think it's a little past that point….Buddy?" Randy told him. "Now.. follow me."
John's mind raced as he lowered his hands and slowly walked to follow Randy. In a way he feared he was walking to his own grave. "So all those years as my best friend was all a lie?" He asked quietly.
"No...I love you, John...more than you seem to realize." Randy told him as John got closer. "Up to my room...once the weather clears we are going for a ride."
"Where are we going?" John asked as he walked slowly through the house and up to Randy's bedroom. He knew better than to debate love with a man clearly out of his head.
"Don't you worry about that, Johnny." Randy told him as they made their way through the dark house until they reached the room. "Sit on the bed." John slowly sat down on the bed, his body trembling as shock began to set in. He couldn't believe Nikki was dead. He wanted to scream in rage and pain.
Randy removed a second glow stick cracking it to place it on the nightstand for some light. "The rain sounds like it is slowing already….won't be too long." He commented as he moved for a pair of metal handcuffs. He slipped the gun back in his pants. "Hands behind your back." John paused, debating making a move but he knew how fast Randy was with a gun so he reluctantly obeyed. He had to stay strong and hope he could somehow reach his friend.
Randy secured John's hands checking them over. "Now stay put." He told him. "I am going to prepare a few things for the trip."
John sat quietly while debating how and when to make a move if Randy left. If he could get Randy out of the room maybe he could run to the front door and open it by turning backward. "I'm not dressed. I'm still in my board shorts."
"We can deal with that in a little bit." Randy told him. He smiled before heading for the door. John watched Randy closely as he left, knowing this may be his chance. All the bedroom doors in his house only locked from the inside. Randy made his way to the kitchen using the dropped glow stick he began gathering a few items for the trip. He then went to check a few things in the garage. He grabbed his phone since it could shed more thing was to check if the garage door had a manual release.
John knew it was now or never. If he failed Randy may very well kill him. But if he went with Randy who knows what his fate would be. Quietly he stood from the bed and walked to the door, turning to open it from the side. With the darkness he had no way of knowing where Randy was so he kept quiet as he made his way downstairs, listening for any sounds. Randy found the release he was looking for making note of it for when the time came. He then went in search of the vehicle he knew should be there for his use. It was a SUV John used on rare occasions.
John felt a rush of hope when he reached the first level with no sign of Randy. His house was huge...he knew he could hide from his friend for hours until the lights came on or morning brought light but he just wanted out of there. He walked through the house quietly toward the front door, knowing he would have to turn the lock. If he could get through the yard to the neighbors he would be safe. Randy headed back through the house to check on John. He heard the movement of John trying to work the lock backwards. He quickened his pace "John!" He yelled, keeping the phone in one hand and pulling the gun with the other.
John heard Randy coming and ran from the door through the house, looking for a place to hide. He ducked inside one of the downstairs bedrooms, crouching in the darkness inside the coat closet. Randy stopped in the foyer looking. He knew what he heard."John, come on out! I know you're down here...you are only making things harder on yourself!" John wanted to laugh from the closet, hearing the shout. If Randy thought he was going to give up without a fight he didn't know him at all. There were so many rooms in the house he could hide all night.
"You're bringing this on yourself!" Randy yelled before he started his search.
John kept his ears peeled as he listened for Randy. He knew the younger man could run faster and had a gun so he would have to be one step ahead. All he heard was his own heart pounding as he stayed crouched down. Randy reached a door that was cracked open. He peered in shining the light from the phone around for any sign of John. John saw the light sweep the room and backed further inside the closet, giving a cry as he toppled on his ass because his hands were cuffed.
Randy stalked toward the door. He kicked the space of the door to open it looking down at John. "Tell me why I shouldn't end this right now?"
John drew a shaky breath as he waited on the bullet he knew was coming. "You of all people should know I had to try."
"As did I, John...I just wanted you to see what I would do for you...but you can never see it can you?"
"What you would do for me?" John almost roared, pain in his voice as he looked up at Randy. "I trusted you! I loved you like a brother and you killed my girlfriend! Did you know I had a ring upstairs in my dresser? All she wanted was to get married and I was going to give that to her! I loved her! Now you have me cuffed with a fucking gun on me! Look at yourself! You're bat shit crazy!" John closed his eyes. "I'm not begging. If you can shoot me and live with yourself...go ahead."
"Who said anything about me living?" Randy replied, with no emotion in his voice.
John opened his eyes, seeing the dark coldness in Randy. "You really are crazy aren't you?" He gave a humorless laugh as he tried to get to his feet.
"You drove me this way. My heart broke with every new person to warm your bed...it would then heal harder and colder bit by bit...stitched with shards of ice until there was nothing left." He slipped the gun in his waist before using his free hand to pull John to his feet.
John knew there was no point in trying to reason further. "So what now?" He asked as he was pulled to his feet to stand. "What are you going to do with me if not murder me?"
"Get you to see how it can be. I can't trust you to behave though."
John shook his head with a sigh. "You just don't get it, Ran. But you have the gun so tell me what to do."
"No you don't." Randy told him. "Head for the garage."
John looked at Randy in shock. "But I'm barefoot and not even dressed."
"I gave you a fucking chance before to behave and listen to me! All you had to do was listen! Now move!" John walked slowly out of the room and toward the garage, not seeing any way to escape now. His eyes took in his beautiful home, wondering if he would ever see it again.
Reaching the garage Randy directed John to the SUV. He opened the back. "Hop up." John slowly climbed into the back as best he could with the cuffs on. Randy got John sitting on the floor of the vehicle. He pulled a length of rope, quickly grabbing John's ankles to secure them. "Since I can't guarantee you to stay put."
"Fuck you." John spat with fire in his eyes. He never talked to Randy like that but this was a man he didn't know.
Randy wiped where the spit landed. "Dumb...dumb, Johnny..." Randy took his phone to move to another area of the garage. He came back a moment later with a roll of silver duct tape. He pulled a piece off and move to pin John, clamping it over his mouth. John glared at Randy with seething outrage as he cursed him through the tape.
Randy hopped back out, pushing John's legs in before slamming the back door. He then headed inside to grab his bag and clothing for John. John struggled a few minutes but knew it was hopeless. He was restrained hand and foot with no way to get free. He finally stopped and resigned himself to Randy's mercy, panting through his nose from his efforts. Randy returned a few moments later. He threw the bags in the back seat then went to open the garage door. He got back in the vehicle and started it up. John grumbled behind the tape, shifting on the floor as the rope was already cutting into his bare ankles.