"I FUCKING TOLD YOU THIS WAS A BAD IDEA!"
"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH AND RUN!" The jock yelled at his girlfriend, or rather escort for the night.
U.S. Cellular Field, you know, the home of the Chicago team that didn't win the World Series? Didn't have a ball game that night. It was the after hours. And while the field itself remained lit, but the building's interior lights were blackened. The couple of the jock and the side chick ran, sprinting with lungs working overtime. Their reasons for being here weren't clear. I mean, to me they aren't but to them they probably are. But, would it really matter in the next five minutes?
They clumsily navigated their way through the empty stadium, on the second floor, trying to find their way back to the parking lot. Soon, they turned a corner. Lighting footing the stairs with one hand on the railing as they avalanched down to the final floor.
Aside from their own terrified fleeing, there was another sound present. Somewhere, above them, on the floor they had just been on, someone or something ran about above them. At the same speed as them, but yet the tempo and pace it ran at was more relaxed and set. There were footsteps, but they sounded as if whoever was making them had their feet tap the ground milliseconds before shooting back up as opposed to clumsily pounding the jock and side chick's respective shoes made as they pounded the concrete floor. Whoever was chasing them, clearly had practice.
Then the side chick screamed as the two looked up at the top of the stair flight. It was like out of a ghost story. A bluish, blinding glare illuminated above them. It wasn't one of the stadium lights or the light of a possible nightguard. High pitched, electrical buzzing stunned the ears of the couple along with what sounded like a cackle. A victorious, shrill cackle of a woman...the echoing walls of the stadium made it hard to tell whether or not it came from the top of the stairs or from the previous floors above them.
"FUCK!" The jock screamed he pushed the side chick roughly to hurry her along. Powered by fear and with the help of her underweighted figure, that's just what she did.
They were close now. The parking lot was just beyond them, right past the box office. From behind them, they could hear that the electric buzzing had evolved into thunder cracking. The unmistakable screaming of a women was louder and more heart wrenching than before.
"C'mon! We're almost out!" the side chick cried.
They had just exited the stadium when a rogue sidewalk crack, caught onto the jock's shoe toe and tripped him flat on his face. He yelled out as his nose most definitely shattered on the pavement. His side chick hadn't paid him any mind. She reached their car, parked stealthy outside the field's property.
She had the keys with her, throwing open the driver's door then the passenger side for her guy friend. The jock had gotten up quickly and covered his bleeding nose. He was just half way across the lot, until that weird blue light, the one that had scared them so much flashed from U.S. Cellular's entrance, mere yards from where he stood.
He screamed and sprinted faster towards the car...but it seemed that the light was giving chase. It followed him, getting closer and closer no matter how much he increased his speed. His side chick watched from the car, leaning over the middle console, hand on the passenger door.
"I'm so sorry…" she whispered, slowly shutting the door she help open.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING-" the jock reached out, the light now inches from his back.
"I'M SORRY!" the side chick cried to him, finally slamming the door shut.
"DON'T LEAVE ME-"
The blue glare suddenly vanished, as if activated by a switch. No slow disappearing, just instantly gone.
Then the jock screamed for the last time. There was barely any light, but something was on him. He sounded as if he was struggling or fighting back against someone. He then let out the loudest and final scream. A hint of the blue glare came back, but only for a moment. When it illuminated the scene unfolding.
Someone or something had its hand around the jock's neck. The rest of the body was hid by the darkness of the parking lot, but there was an arm and hand. At first it seemed like the light was coming from behind or above them...but it was coming from the arm.
The jock spazzed and jolted around wildly. The movements someone would make...if they were being electrocuted. He did this until smoke started to rise off his neck, right from beneath were the hand was wrapped.
Then he was still and the light went out once more.
The side chick hugged her arms around her legs in the driver's seat. Whimpering softly and rocking back and forth. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked out the passenger window.
With the help of the small crescent moon light, she made out figures. The first was obvious, the boy she had came with lying on the pavement. His neck was still emitting smoke.
Standing over him, she was able to see what looked like a woman, about her age. Her physical features were in possible but she was sure that it was a girl. A girl in a hood and bare arms, every now and then flickering with the malice of blue light.
She stood over the body, her hooded head looking around as if she had missed something. And as we all know she did.
The side chick quickly silenced herself, throwing her hands over her mouth, trying not to scream. She shook violently, but that was muffled by the cloth seat. She attempted to slowly lower her feet to the pedals and the key to the ignition. The moment she would start the car would be the same that she would speed away. But, that was when the side chick made a huge mistake.
'BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!'
That took time for her to register. She had not screamed, but the car had. Her knee had briefly come into contact with the steering wheel...right on the horn.
The figure in the parking lot's head suddenly shot up and slowly pointed to the side chick. Not to the car, but to her. She stepped forward, her arm beginning to illuminate. Faint, baby blue to dark azul in seconds. Electricity buzzed once more as the piercing glare returned. And with a crackle of thunder, it shot directly towards the car. The side chick would only sob her last, trapped in the car that would become her tomb.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Osborne?"
The Acolyte was awakened by a series of taps and nudges. He still lay in the spooning position he had fallen asleep in with Shauna the night before in the motel room. I guess the theory about this all being a crazy dream is officially dead.
"I believe you ordered a wake up call to this room."
Ozzy's eyelids couldn't decided if they would rather be closed or open, so he picked somewhere in between. Through his narrow peripheral vision, he could make out the unmistakable small stature of Lottie standing beside him and his sleeping girlfriend.
"Oh," he blinked, "G'morning, Lottie." He gave her a smile that clearly said 'I'm not a morning person'.
"Pleasant dreams?" the littlest Ray asked.
"Well, a small part of me was expecting to wake up in my apartment," Ozzy yawned.
"Unfortunately, your nightmare continues," said Lottie.
"I wouldn't exactly call this a nightmare. Not as long as I got you Saints protecting me."
"Please, if my family were Saints then Freddy Krueger would be the Dalai Lama," Lottie laughed, "Anyway, my dad needs everybody up. We're about to move." Ozzy reached out to the digital clock on the nightstand next to the bed. It was unplugged though.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"About 8:30." Ozzy pulled the blankets over his head.
"Just a couple more minutes...maybe hours," he croaked, "The Shadowmen don't know where we're at just yet...just a couple more hours. C'mon, Lottie, be a friend."
Lottie shrugged and made her way back to the door.
"Ok, Osborne, wish granted," she 'admitted defeat', "I can't force you up...but I don't think I can be bothered to wake you again...maybe, I'll ask Glenda to…"
Ozzy sat up and yanked the comforter off his head, then gently put a hand on his sleeping girlfriend.
"Shauna...it's time to get up."
Lottie led the couple to the room next door. One would think that the motel would look more presentable now that it was daylight, but if anything it just looked a whole lot more appalling. The structures were peeling in some places and the doors were moldy. Some of the rooms were even missing windows. They weren't broken or stolen it just looked like the contractors forgot to put them in...or just didn't. The parking lot was still empty, save for Ozzy's car and the patch of ruffled Earth that Chucky had left behind when he buried the manager's body, or rather pieces of it, earlier.
"Allow me," Lottie stood on her tiptoes as she reached up for the door knob. When she proved to be too short, she jumped up and pulled the handle down. Another example of her doll body working against her. Ozzy stepped within the Rays' residence first.
"Morning all-ooh my gosh, what is going on here?"
What awaited was a rather amusing exhibition (one of many in this fan fic).
Chucky was lying on his gut, head comfortably propped on a pillow. His Good Guy shirt was off, his bare and scarred back exposed. His wife, Tiffany, was walking about on his upper body. She wasn't wearing her heel boots of course, that would've just been messy and uncomfortable for her husband.
Glen, however was doing his own thing at the room's coffee maker. The room was in fact rich with coffee aroma along with a slight hint of earl tea. As he tended to his beverage making, he also tinkered about with his tanto. He ran a rock he had found outside up and down the blade, sparks flickered as he edged out the duller parts. Whether he looked badass or cute was up for debate.
Chucky's head rose as he greeted Ozzy. "Top of the morning, Ozzy. And your lady friend too." he groaned every now and then as Tiffany walked on him.
"Sleep well?" she asked the younger couple, kindly.
"Yeah…" Ozzy nodded, awkwardly, "I take it...you two didn't though?"
"Oh, no," Chucky shook his head, "Best sleep I've ever had in awhile, in fact. When I wake up my back gets stiff and it's kind of a bitch to walk in the morning….agh...Tiff, I'm thinking a little bit lower…"
Tiffany hummed an 'hmmm mmm' and focused on his lower back.
"Yep! That's the ticket." There was an audible 'crack!' after Tiffany lowered her foot a couple inches above her husband's tailbone. Chucky cried out then slowly lowered his head back onto the pillow blissfully.
"Ahhhh….yahtzee," he reached over finger tapped his wife's leg. She stepped off him.
"Much obliged, babe." Chucky stood up as he stretched himself, "yes sir, my spine is only the secondest hardest thing that you have to contend with in the morning."
Glen and Lottie groaned while Ozzy and Shauna snickered. Tiffany just blushed.
"Well then," Glen got Ozzy and Shauna's attention, "Can I interest you two in a hot beverage; coffee or tea to start your day?" Ozzy took a mug he was offered.
"Is this earl grey?"
"I had you figured as tea person," Glen smiled, "Coffee, Shauna?"
"Please," Shauna accepted the one with creamer in it. The couple sipped their beverages as Glen gave his dad the only black coffee had made. Chucky drinks his coffee black, who would've thought?
"So, Chucky, any reason for the early rising?" asked Ozzy. Chucky spoke as he set his coffee aside and began redressing his upper body, taking his shirt off the heater and fidgeting with his overall straps.
"Well, Ozzy. I need you awake right now because I have just planned our next move-"
At this moment, the bathroom door suddenly swung open. Glenda angrily stopped out, clad in a bath towel and a wet shower cap. In her hand, she held a bar of soap.
"Which one of you boobs took the loofah!?"
Internally, Glen and Lottie seemed to facepalm whilst the two couples looked on with confusion. Glenda angrily shot glares at everybody in the room. However, the demeanor she fabricated just for this situation broke down when she saw Ozzy (of course), looking down on her.
"Oh," Glenda's voice died down into what she thought could pass as a seductive purr, "Hello there, Dreadie. I didn't think you'd be up this early," she leaned against the wall as she lightly tugged on her towel.
"Yeah...good morning to you too, Glenda." Ozzy didn't know what else to say.
"It seems that you caught me just getting out of the shower...if you hadn't noticed. But that's ok. With you here...I'm always up for another. One for two, perhaps?" Glenda then noticed the clear disdain on Shauna's scowl directed at her.
"You," Glenda pointed harshly at her, "can wait the fuck outside."
"Dear sister," her twin spoke up on Shauna's behalf, "Perhaps I can get you in a cup of tea?" he held up a mug of such, "You do seem quite thirsty, wouldn't you say?"
Glenda blinked and in that amount of time she put together the double meaning. "Why you little-"
"Glenda!" her father scolded, "If that towel slips so much as a millimeter, so help me! Now, get back in there and get dressed! What do you think this is? American Psycho?" Glenda sighed, defeated, and retired back to the bathroom.
"And then I get to kill my brother?" she evilly asked from behind the door.
"And then you get to kill your brother," nodded Chucky.
"I'd like to see her try," Glen commented. Humor such as this was commonplace for the Ray family; one of the many things Glen had adapted to. Honestly, you'd be surprised on how dark his humor gets at times. 'Fred Flintstone writes a suicide note to his family, what does it say? Forgive me for what I must yabba dabba do,' he once told his seventh grade English class as assigned 'joker of the week'. The substitute teacher had given him extra credit.
"Hey Glen," Shauna whispered to him, "When all this is over, can I rip off Glenda's head, then punt it? Please?"
"Haha, get in line," laughed Glen. Shauna shortly followed and the two clinked mugs in salute.
"Charming," Ozzy sipped his earl grey tea, "What's our next move, Chucky?"
"Well, while you were sleeping in, we took the liberty of making some travel arrangements," Chucky explained.
"Can't we drive?"
Chucky laughed. "If you want to drive from here all the way to the Windy City, then sure. I know I got all the time in the world and you do too, right?" Ozzy blinked.
"Chicago? You can't be serious, what's in Chicago?"
"There's two things we still need, Ozzy. The other piece to the Heart of Damballa," he pulled out the other half he had with him as a reminder, "And a second amulet...the Soul of Damballa. The exact double of the Heart, except I think it has a Sapphire and not a Ruby. Without the Heart and Soul there can be no body, meaning the Acolyte ritual can't be performed."
"How do you know that it's in Chicago?" asked Shauna.
"I don't," Chucky admitted, "But I think if we'll ever find a lead on where it might be, Chicago is a place. That's where it all began...where I started possessing this body, where I started killing...and I'm coming home. The Soul is lost, but we can find it."
Lost soul! Lost soul! Ozzy suddenly felt his skull tighten again. He recalled that dream he had, minutes before he met Lottie.
"Ok…" he shook it off, "What about the Heart? Where's the other piece of that?"
"Burton probably has it," Chucky's fist clenched at his side again, "He's also in Chicago...two birds one stone."
"You mean...he's never been to California? He was never here at all?" Ozzy was stunned.
"Yep, he's been sending Shadowmen here to do his dirty work…the 'church' he's got going is set up there."
"Is that such a good idea? Going right to his doorstep?"
"We got nowhere else to go. It's the only lead we got to where the Soul might be." Shauna stood up.
"You can forget that, we can't go all the way to Chicago." Chucky would probably have resorted to threatening had Ozzy had spoke up.
"Shauna, we know what happens if we stay here. The Shadowman will eventually catch up to us. If we go to Chicago...we might be able to stop them for good." He wrapped his hands around her arms in a comforting way. Shauna sighed.
"Why do we need these necklaces when we already have Ozzy?" she asked Chucky, "That cult won't be able to do the ritual if they don't have him."
"As much as I hate to think about it, there is the possibility of him killing us and taking you, then the next day sure as hell ain't going to exist. It's better if we have everything away from him." Chucky said. Oh, and I'll get to perform the ritual instead of him….For some reason, he had opted not to say this aloud. Strange.
"I guess…"
"I think we're in good hands, Shauna," Ozzy said, "Right, Lottie?"
"Hmmm, mmmm," the youngest Ray hummed, sipping her own tea.
"Ok...but how are we getting to Chicago if we're not driving?" Shauna asked.
"Before you woke up I booked a last minute flight flying out of an airport a couple of hours from here, right into O'hare. I used the computer in the office…" Tiffany nudged her husband here.
"Ok...fine, maybe I had Tiff do it…." Figures, Tiffany was always more tech savvy than Chucky. After all, she was alive the majority of time when technology was beginning to evolve. She still remembers buying her first smartphone as Jennifer Tilly.
"It used Windows 11...I didn't think there were any of those left," she commented.
"We booked two seats under some bullshit names I found in your drug bag. Rest assured I didn't smoke any of your shit. I don't do the wake and bake unless whiskey is involved." Ozzy and Shauna knew the names of which he spoke of. 'Amanda Johnson' and 'Blake Swackhammer' (Ozzy was ultra ripped and had just watched Space Jam when he came up with his name) were the fake names that were printed on the, well... fakes they had acquired before either was old enough purchase alcohol. They had held onto them because there were some fond memories connected to those cards.
"So, yeah, looks like Amanda and Blake have a 12 o'clock flight into Chicago today," Chucky nodded impressively.
"You...came into our room while we were asleep?" Shauna tilted her head. Tiffany waved him off.
"Shauna, please. We're a family of serial killers, nothing we haven't done before," she said. Something that guilty should not sound that innocent, such is how Tiffany's voice works.
"How did you pay for this?" Ozzy couldn't help but ask as I'm sure the reader would like to know too.
"We used the motel manager's bank account," Chucky said, "And...maybe a little bit of Glen's college fund…"
"I'll never be president…" Glen sighed. Legally speaking, Glen could run for president...he was born in the US after all.
The bathroom door suddenly opened again and a clothed Glenda walked out, still drying her hair and attempting to stop the inevitable frizzing. No worries, she found the loofah, it was under the sink.
"Goddamit! I look like the teacher from Magic School Bus!" she complained.
"Wait, but how are you supposed to get on the plane?" Ozzy asked, "Are we just supposed to lug you all around the airport." Chucky looked at him quizzically.
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
"Wouldn't it just look kind of strange? Shauna and I just carrying not one but five dolls around in public. I mean...we'd look like the people featured on 'My Strange Obsession'. And if what you said about yourself is true, it would be even more sketch if we were seen with a doll linked to murders and crime scenes…." Ozzy shrugged, "But I'm just saying…" Chucky thought for a moment.
"You know what, Ozzy, you have a point," he said, "Alright, instead of flying coach, we'll just be your luggage. Get us a box or anything we can fit in and we'll handle the rest. But just to be sure you don't flake on us, I'll have someone fly with you."
"Oh! Oh! I volunteer!" Glenda pumped her hand up and down, "I got our flight all planned out, Dreadie! First we read Skymall, then inflight movie and pressing the call button at inappropriate moments, then finally we snuggle!" Ozzy was beginning to give Glenda less uncomfortable looks, this was becoming the norm with her.
"Ok…" Chucky said, giving Glenda the odd look she deserved, "Anyone else? Preferably someone who isn't Glenda?"
"What the shit, dad!?" Glenda cried.
"Glenda, you know and I know that you are the absolute fucking worst when it comes to keeping a low profile." This is true. Glenda Ray was never the sneaky assassin type and when it came to 'barbie mode', as her dad calls it, she just couldn't hold herself together. Plus, she was always a pain to take places before she was even a doll. One couldn't help but think that maybe the world isn't what we think it is. It's all Glenda's world, we just live in it.
"C'mon, Chucky you don't need to babysit me. You know I'd wouldn't leave you hanging. After all, you're the only one who knows the way around Chicago."
"I guess," considered Chucky, "But just for insurance." Remember who is the hostage here.
"I'll go, dad," Lottie spoke up as she finished her tea. Glenda then glared at her sister with shock, the look that says 'what the fuck are you trying to do?'
"Ok then, it's settled," Chucky clapped his hands, "Lottie, you get to ride coach with our favorite couple here. We leave in a few! Get anything you might need! We're going home!" He directed everyone towards the door.
Ozzy shrugged and headed out to his car, Shauna followed him. Chucky, after stealing a couple of cushions (they would come into play later), joined them along with his wife. Lottie sipped what remained of her tea then turned in the empty mug to her brother.
"Fantastic tea, Glen," she said kindly, Thank you."
"Anything for my little sister," he said as he got to cleaning the cups his family had used. You know, so the maids (assuming the motel has them) don't have to. Because Glen is just that nice.
Glenda had finished a coffee as well. Rather angrily, she just guzzled the whole thing down, quickly and loudly. She let out a contend 'aah' after the liquid cooled in her throat then chucked the mug at the wall. It shattered on impact, what did you expect? The eldest Ray daughter then threw herself in front of Lottie, preventing her from leaving the room.
"Good morning Glenda, did you end up finding the loofah, after all?" she asked innocently.
"Hey!" Glenda pointed, "I know what you're trying to do! I see it!" Lottie raised an eyebrow.
"You know something? That's new!" Glen jeered from the sideline, cleaning out a mug with a wet cloth.
"What is that you think I'm trying to do?" Lottie put her hands behind her back and looked up at her in amusement.
"You're trying to steal my Dreadie from me!" Glenda screamed.
"...Excuse me?"
"Yeah! I was supposed to go with him on the plane! You totally jacked that from me!" Lottie quivered her lip as she silence a laugh that would've caused Glenda to maybe attack her all together.
"Yes, Glenda. That's exactly what's going on. I'm trying to steal Osbourne from you...I, a ten year old girl, has a romantic fascination with the significantly older man with a girlfriend...that's why dad gave me the 'ok'. It must be that reason and not the fact that I am the much more responsible choice."
"Now you're calling me irresponsible! Well...you're wrong...I'm like, the most responsible person ever." Glenda's attempt at a smart comeback.
"Yes, clearly. We have five neglected puppies in doggy Heaven that can vouch for you," Glen hummed.
"Glen! I will Yoshimitsu slash your face!" Glenda roared at her twin.
"Glenda's really funny when she gets mad," Lottie softly chuckled, "You have nothing to worry about Glenda. The relationship Osborne and I have is a friendship...the first one I've had in awhile."
"It better be!" Glenda hadn't calmed down, "Because Dreadie is mine! MINE!" she then childishly stomped out the door. Probably on her way down to the vending machine by the office. That's usually how Glenda deals with anger when killing is not an immediate option. 'Fury Feasting' her family calls it.
"What are we going to do with her?" Glen shook his head and he finished cleaning the last cup.
"I don't know…but sometimes I think I would've liked it better when she was trapped in your head." Lottie said, coldly.
"You ice queen…" Glen laughed as they both left to join the others, who were probably waiting at the car.
Shauna took the driver's seat yet again as her boyfriend say beside her in the passenger seat. He would navigate their way to the airport just as soon as he was done fumbling around in his bag.
"Shit...thought I had one rolled already," he sighed to himself, "Ah well, time to start from scratch." Chucky took notice from the back seats where he and his family had again claimed for themselves.
"Lose something, Ozzy?"
"I just thought I had a joint rolled for the ride. Thought I smoke up a little bit before. 'Why drink and drive when you can smoke and fly?' I always say." Chucky tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know what it is about you, Wilkes...but you're having a profound effect on my here. I find myself liking you more and more...and frankly, I don't like it." Chucky said this as if something was wrong with him, but Ozzy took it as a compliment nonetheless.
"Here Ozzy, you can have this." Tiffany handed him what appeared to be a joint, but it's thicker girth and distinct Swisher paper set it apart from the normal Raw or Zig Zags. It was a blunt.
"I found a pack of Swishers in the manager's office while I booked the flight," Tiffany explained, "I hope you didn't mind, so I borrowed a bit of your, well, chronic."
Ozzy looked over the blunt...it was perfect. Tiffany had ripped it down the middle quite flawlessly in a straight line then sealed it back up. She had even used part of the Swisher packaging as an improve filter. You honestly, couldn't tell that it had been ripped open it was sealed up so well. It was never narrow in any places, just consistent thickness. Ozzy whistled.
"You rolled this, Tiffany?" The bride of Chucky shrugged with a smile.
"It was no problem. I used to roll these all the time for Chucky back in the day," she said, "It helps my fingers relax. It was also much more easier with these smaller doll hands. Hope you enjoy it."
Ozzy just glanced at Tiffany, then back at the blunt. Sure, he knew how to prepare a blunt, but nothing like this.
"Hey, Chucky?" he asked the Ray patriarch, "Let's just say that if you die...and then if by some crazy circumstance Shauna dies," he earned a dirty glare from his girlfriend here, "Can I have Tiffany?"
"I don't know," Chucky answered ironically, "Can you?" Tiffany chuckled as her husband kissed her cheek.
"What the fuck!?" Glenda, who had been fuming where she sat, cried, "First Lottie, now my own mother!? Fuck! Why is everyone trying to steal Dreadie from me! Why am I not allowed to be happy!? Do you just not want that!?"
"Glenda, sweetie-" her mom attempted to calm her down.
"No! You know what!? Our relationship is over! You're all dead to me! I am never talking to any of you again!" Glenda angrily folded her arms with a huff and pressed her head against the window, completely silent.
Tiffany just sat back in her own seat. She then held up her hand, then counted down quietly on her fingers. Chucky, Glen and Lottie joined her on this too.
5
4
3
2
1
"Hey mom, are we there yet-FUCK!"