The Hurtful Promise
Chapter 4 – Blood Moon I
Men have called me mad;
But the question is not yet settled,
Whether madness is or is not
The loftiest of intelligence.
-Edgar Allan Poe-
As the sun faded into the sunset, the moon took its place as the darkness began to cloth the whole city. It is the same darkness that robbed people with their best senses and replaced it with paralyzing fear. This city is subdued with loud noises, sparkling lights and bombarded with visual stimulation of idle advertisements. This person abhorred with this dynamic life and needed to impart some zeal of terror.
The underworld is a strange substance, like ice, it has three states of solid, liquid and gas, but with a twist. It doesn't fall under the laws of science since it is the mystical place. In solid form, it is almost completely black aside from the darker shades of crimson in the ground, like burning hot coals, when touched it felt like a thousand newly sharp knives ready to cut any thickness of flesh. As a liquid, it is misty, bubbly, and has a pungent sulfur scent, ready to be burned and burn again. As a gas, its quite peculiar as it was able to pass through any solid material with ease, suffocate and consume away like acids. As a whole, an underworld is an odd place.
This person traveled to the spiritual tunnel that led him from the physical world to the underworld at his leisure, with the powers of the double-headed snake wrapped around his entire body. The absorption of potentiality is simply addictive with numerous human beings were captivated as being spiritually weak and he required those energies to feed his powers. What a wonderful world he is living! The feasting of human vices was beyond words to describe how it empowers the underworld. Negative entities prowl this earth endlessly in search of poorly defensive souls in order to experience the malevolent rush.
A mortal made an agreement with the damned on how he would use his plans in order to fulfill the empty wailing cells. It was measured as three square feet of space and multiple rows of vacant spaces. However, he was required to fulfill only three but important souls. It is his vile obligation to provide the necessary conditions in order to satisfy him. The damned designed the wailing cells as part of his collection of "choir of condemnation".
The damned handed him the rolled darken parchment sealed with the ruby red melted wax. The mortal broke off the seal and unfurl it in a straighten manner. It was written in a language that no ordinary human beings could understand it even if they are gifted with psychic powers. The double-headed snake peeked behind from his shoulder and began to read for him.
This body and soul of yours,
Are created to gratify.
The snakes of deceit,
Its fangs of lies,
Its false security,
Of nonetheless of the damned.
Deliver our tasks,
With careful orders,
Bounded no more,
You shall break free.
The creature ended his decree and the mortal agreed with the terms. The damned handed him a strange pen. It was a black feather pen with human blood kept in the ink bottle. He picked it up, dipped the tip in the bottle and signed with his given name without hesitation.
The Unspeakable Impaler
Fumiko Kaya placed her hand on the scanner as the clock read 9:30 p.m. She was officially out from her first job and getting ready for her second. Being a waitress in a small but intimate bar met only its minimum wage and tips are just a saving grace for her. Of course, free lunch for the staff can also save her some money in order to maximize her take home savings.
Being at work for ten to twelve hours a day and six days a week is something that she never dreamed of but a jet setter with all the perks paid with an unlimited budget is something delusional either. The only way she could find that dream is to search for a wealthy man. No commitments…just work relationship.
However, it was pitiful to say that her second-night job is something that no woman would do unless it is necessary to do.
She hurried home, which is not far away from her work, as rental apartments are getting higher but not their salaries. Juggling two jobs and with a roommate to divide the bills was not enough to cover the monthly expenses. Maybe she should find another roommate but it is unthinkable is she is living in a space of no more than seven hundred square feet. In addition to saving money, taking public transportation and at the very least, riding a bike is another option.
Her apartment was located on the fourth floor and without elevators. The building itself was tight as elevators are expensive to install especially if a person is living in a low-rise apartment. Stairs were slightly wide enough to accommodate at least three people together, maybe for some people.
Fumiko's roommate wasn't there so is the perfect time to lock the door, close the windows and remove all of her work clothes. All that remains is the top and bottom underwear as she opened her closet. At the end of the closet, she pulled out a leather red mini skirt and thought about matching it with scarlet red plunging blouse. These outfits will grab more attention from the men, once she's out at the streets.
She pulled the above-knee boots and its heels were thin sky high. This fetish boots would even add kinky interest and elicit men's fantasies. She sat at the make up table and donned her fake blonde hair. She doesn't want her friends to be recognized as a prostitute by night. I don't want this job but this is the only way to make money a thousand or more per hour.
She put her foundation lighter than her normal skin tone although she doesn't want to look like a kabuki theater actress. She put on blush in her cheeks and swiped her eyeshades with the smoky eye palettes with a little bit of silver glitter. Lastly, she put her lipstick on with volcanic red in color as if she looked like a gothic doll.
She glimpsed at her electronic watch as it read 10:30 p.m. It's time to hit the red light districts, she thought as she desired to aim a take-home pay of more than one hundred thousand yen in one night.
A lot of people took notice of Fumiko's look. Some of them mistook her as one of anime cosplay players while others inaccurately described her as a movie villain.
However, few men would immediately recognize her as a prostitute judging the way she hunted for rich men. She doesn't care about their age, marital status or occupation of her clients. Just give me the money and I will give you pleasure, she imagined herself. The red light district is full of invasive lights of pornographic pictures, words and male gigolos on display.
Women roamed around fishing out some potential clients, as people would avoid this place at all cost. Some tourists tried out of their services out of curiosity while others are seeking pleasurable forms of entertainment.
Fumiko's pimp approached a man in one corner wearing a fedora hat and sunglasses at night. He was wearing casual clothes and doesn't look like he's wealthy. It was indeed a bizarre moment since who in this world would wear sunglasses at this point in time. It was perhaps because of the glaring lights that made this person donned his shades. He was pointing at Fumiko and asked him if she was available.
"Of course, sir! You can talk to her to negotiate."
She wasted no time as she advanced towards him to start hustling.
"How much do you offer?" She demanded.
"It depends on how much can you perform the services." He replied calmly.
"I performed all kinds of services. I insist on the high fee due to my experience." Fumiko boasted.
"Oh! What if I'm not satisfied, will I get a refund?" The client asked.
"You will not get a refund until I satisfy you even if it would take me the whole night to do it."
"Very well. Twenty thousand…"
"Twenty thousand is cheap. I want…."
"I'm not done with my offer. Twenty thousand in US dollars." He interrupted and ended his sentence.
Fumiko's eyes were shocked, as she was never offered by any of her clients more than ten thousand, in a foreign currency, too. Most of the time it was below that amount in local currency and she has to seek another client to attain her quota for the night. At the very least, once she gets it done with this client, she will be finished for tonight. It was easy peasy. She told him that she knew a hotel nearby but he has better ideas.
"I agree with your terms. Shall we go?"
He offered her his arm as she took it and strutted along the red light streets. He led her to his shiny gunmetal colored Bentley car. She raised her eyebrows in delight to see what was to come.
"Perhaps I could make love to you in this car." She told him her fantasy.
"Now, don't get too excited. There's more to come and more than this car has to offer."
Fumiko couldn't believe that she had hit the jackpot client that would give her all the money that she needs. At last, maybe this far-fetched dream of her as a jet setter will be within reach after all. He opened the door for her as she stooped down to enter. As she sat on the passenger seat of the car, she felt the fine leather pressed against her skin. This is amazing! Bentley is surely the best and the most expensive car in the world! And I am sitting on it, she thought eagerly.
He opened his own door, got in the car and closed it smoothly. He put in the keys and turned on the ignition. The engine roared but not much since it was muffled to hear from the inside as it purrs like a kitten.
He drove away from the red light district and turned on some jazz music inside, just to get in the mood. Fumiko sensed that this man is highly cultured and well mannered.
"Do you enjoy this ride?" He inquired.
"Pretty much, especially when I am riding a Bentley." She answered proudly.
"This ride will give you the time of your life." He assured.
Fumiko seemed to be confident that once they get into his place and make some arrangements, she would give him the high ride as well.
After an hour of driving, Fumiko realized that they're not in the city anymore but in the abandoned park. There were few light posts around and the grass was as tall as three feet. She started to get suspicious that this man on why he didn't drive her to the nearest hotel as he was supposed to as it was agreed on in the first place.
"Where are we?"
"We are in an abandoned park. I assumed you already knew since you've been observing it from the window."
"This is not part of our conversation."
"Of course, it wasn't. When I told you I got better ideas, you immediately consent with it." He informed her.
Fumiko was getting uncomfortable as she got out of the car as fast as she can. She pulled her mobile phone and start dialing the police number. However, it was so far from the city that she was having a hard time getting the signal.
"It's time." He murmured.
She didn't understand what he said until he removed his hat and sunglasses. She froze in fear as he identified himself as the Unspeakable Impaler. His casual clothes were gone and were replaced by black cloak with a double-headed snake wrapped around his body. He doesn't seem to be constricted with the creature. As a matter of fact, he and the creature were moving towards her position in unison and ease.
He took out the knife and she saw it sparkling when hit with the starlight above. However, she knew that the knife he had is no ordinary earthly knife. She inspected from afar that it looked like it was forged by some strange beings. The knife was a foot long, well-crafted obsidian blade and well-designed black skulls as if they were screaming. It was a knife from the damned.
Fumiko wasn't stopping in any distance that she can cover. However, her heels impeded her running ability as she instantly broke off her heels with her bare hands. Now, she can sprint away to where her legs can take her.
A mad man wasn't so surprised with her reaction upon witnessing the obsidian blade in his hand. You can run away from me, scream and fight me, but I will rip you apart, he said to himself cruelly.
He leaped and cast a spell unto her and whispered…
Be gone myself,
Appear again.
With the length she covered,
Without effort in me.
In a split second, the Unspeakable Impaler vanished into the thin air.
Fumiko hid behind the bushes and tried hard enough to make her breathing as silent as possible. She knew that he was around nearby and hunting for her blood. She reached for her bag, thinking a charm would work against him. Her hand felt something solid as she pulled it out; it was a clay amulet to ward off evil.
"That amulet is a waste to throw it out." He warned with a murderous tone.
She shrieked in horror as he was standing right behind her and quickly grab her neck. She choked and tried to gasp some air but this night betrayed her being. She reached her arms to scratch his face, grasped his neck or anything that would stop him from killing her but to no avail.
The Unspeakable Impaler raised his arm in the air and punctured the knife at her neck. Blood spewed all over his cloak but it didn't bother him as it faded away instantly. It penetrated half of its length as he pierced it deep down until the knife is no longer visible outside except the tip of the blade that came out to the other side of her neck. She struggled and struggled until her arms and legs ceased flailing helplessly.
The trail of blood grew thicker, as it continuously escaped from her wounded neck. Her skin is paling to a translucent white. With each second passing by, the Unspeakable Impaler wanted her heart to stop, as her eyes became glossy and white. He stared at the lifeless body lying down to the muddy ground, stained with dirt, cut grass, and blood. The blood of his first victim had begun to dry, more brownish than crimson. He was no longer human. Every choice had led him to the side of the damned.
The screaming skulls from the blade were roaring with laughter.
An early morning sunrise brightens up the whole land as a woman was doing her daily physical exercise along with her dog. Her dog is a beautiful German shepherd with healthy fur colored with dark brown and black. The canine happily ran along with her but suddenly halted in caution.
Its snout went up in the air to pick up an unusual scent.
The dog barked louder as its tail was wagging wildly and tried to find the source of that scent. "Calm down, Chad. What is wrong with you? Do you want to chase the fox again?" The owner said.
It pulled her forward and it was so strong as the leash stretch tightly to where the dog wanted to go. She had no choice but to follow him and he instantly sniffed the ground and followed the trail. It brought her into the deep tall grasses and thought that it led her to an abandoned park. Why would Chad bring me to this place? I don't want to jog here, she mused.
The canine encircled the area repetitively and walked a few more feet away from her. She has to let go off the leash as it inspected the area thoroughly.
Finally, it stopped and barked loudly as it can.
The owner went closer to where her dog was standing and she was disturbed to what she had witnessed. A corpse lied down to the grassy ground with her clothes on. She's a prostitute by the way she clothed herself but her flesh was partially dried, eyes were closed and sunken at its sockets and a dried brown substance were all over her. The scent was overwhelming with a rotten carcass. She wanted to yell for help but no sound came out from her throat. She tried to grab a leash from her dog to run away.
"Chad, come with me. We are going to the nearest police station."
However, the dog stood firmly in his position, as it doesn't want to leave.
"Chad, don't worry. Stay here and I'll get help as soon as possible."
The owner ran frantically and tried to find her way to the main road to where she usually jogged. It took less time to find some assistance as she spotted a police car parked with two officers inside. She hurriedly went to that car and started knocking at its window. One of the officers slid it down and asked why. She explained that her dog found a corpse at the abandoned park and she can lead the way to where it was.
The police picked up its handheld transceiver and requested for more assistance, specifically from the homicide division. The dog owner and the police officer went ahead right away to the reported area. She ran hurriedly and whipped the tall grasses aside to clearly see what lies in front of them. The dog's barks were getting louder and louder as she knew they were getting closer.
Upon their arrival, she noticed something abnormal.
The dog approached its owner and came at her side but the corpse became skeletal in a shortest time ever since she left it. It was the most extraordinary and paranormal happening that she ever witnessed in her life. It was far fetched from what she had seen in less than an hour ago.
"How did that happened?" The officer questioned her earlier description.
"I don't know, sir. I swear I really don't know." She said in disbelief.
-To be continued-
