CHAPTER 22: THE LAZARUS EFFECT, PART 7

The day goes by for Hillwood; some find excitement, some find trouble, some find joy, some find pain, and some find nothing. There are many lives in this city, each with hopes, dreams, loves, hates, and beliefs as diverse as the components of life itself. Together, the people make up the city as one; one living, breathing organism called Hillwood.

Now, two such members of Hillwood share some bit of love for a while together, spending time in a cafe while reminiscing on the past and discussing the present. They are two beings, each with their own lives, and both as different as can be. They do not know of the inner depths of each others' psyches, and, so, they each have no understanding of each others' goals here.

One of these beings is Arnold Shortman. By night, he is known as the Green Eye; a defender of the people of Hillwood. His goals with the other is to simply remain good friends and renew an old friendship. There is no desire for more than this, his engagement to Helga Pataki sufficient for his needs for love, but there is still a morbid curiosity into the other's mind; sensing a strange emotion he has never encountered before.

The other of these beings is Lila Sawyer. She is the head pastor at the soon-to-be open First Baptist Church of Hillwood. She hides a deep secret in her past, she does not share it with anyone, but she seeks relief from it through the pain of others; those who cannot defend themselves. Her desires with Arnold lay deeper; hoping that perhaps an intimate relationship with him will rid her of this pain once and for all.

Their time together is spent well, and enjoyed by both, but, like always, time eventually runs out. After a few long hours of chat and coffee, the two eventually leave Big Al's Cafe, and, following their temporary goodbyes, they both go on their separate ways and carry out their days.

"Oh, Arnold, one more thing, the church opens this Sunday." Lila said.

"This Sunday... So, that's in 3 days, right?" Arnold asked.

"You got it. I'll see you there?"

"Yeah. You just might."

"Great. I'll see you there. Bye, Arnold."

"Bye, Lila."

As Arnold headed to wherever he desired to be next, Lila continued on her way back to the church, having much to do in the process of completing work to be done for its opening. Atop the thoughts of work to be done, however, there are some other thoughts that lay deep in her heart for herself.

Following the pleasant coffee date with Arnold, Lila felt her heart long for him, hoping that he would be the one who would call himself her husband. She dreams over a life with him in it; thinking over a life at last lived in peace away from her own fears and nightmares, her repressed memories about her father and the abuse she suffered from him.

The thoughts of Arnold as her own, the memories of molestation, and the longing for peace all mixed itself into a strange emotion for Lila; one not easily deciphered or even felt underneath her mind. While she might not have understood the thoughts, she at least knew they were beginning to affect her.

An excitement began to grow in the bottom of her belly, a fiery heat flushing over her without control or yoke. Feeling this sensation wash over her, Lila's hand soon found itself running between her legs, fanning these flames and coaxing the fire to grow stronger and wilder.

Just as soon as her hand began its work, Lila quickly snatched it away, preventing her from acting so lewdly and impurely in public. For now, Lila clenched her thighs together tightly, focusing herself on the mere task of returning to the church, knowing there was a better way to settle this heat.

Following a very anxious walk, Lila made her way back to the church, stepping inside its doors with a facade of a smile put upon her face. Like her last date, the children of the church's members were being held a sermon by Billie, taking Lila's place in her absence, with the sermon came close to its end.

"Oh, look who's back, it's Miss Lila." Billie said.

"Hi, Miss Lila!" The children said.

"Hello, children." Lila said.

"Alright, kids, that's it for now. You go on and play." Billie said.

Right at the end of her sentence, the children all instantly dashed towards the stashed toys at the end of the room, all quickly grabbing at whatever they could out of their boxes. Within seconds, the once-clean floor that was used for a sermon for the youth was littered with cars, action figures, dart guns, building blocks, stuffed animals, and all manners of toys to entertain the children.

As the younglings continued on their play, Billie and Lila shared a friendly chat, the former wishing to know more details about this date.

"Well, I can see this is starting to become a habit now; me taking your place with the kids." Billie said.

"Oh... Well, if you're at all uncomfortable with this, I can-" Lila began to say.

"No, no, don't worry about it. You're putting yourself out there and trying to get yourself a guy. I was hoping this would happen eventually. And if I have to take over the youth group for a whole year before you get your man, then that's what I'll do. Besides, this gives me more time to spend with Joey."

"Oh, well thank you very much. By the way, how is Joey?"

"Well... He's doing mostly okay, but he's been acting a little strange."

"Strange how?"

"Well, he's... Oh, no, don't you worry about it, it's nothing you should be worried about, I can handle this."

"Come on, if there's something wrong, I want to help you. It's the least I can do since you've been helping me."

"Okay, if you insist... Well, he's been spending an awful lot of time by himself lately, and hasn't been eating as much. He's usually almost always spending some time with me, and eats like a locust. He's only 7, is that normal?"

A degree of anxiety fell on Lila, recognizing some of these changes as consequences of her own actions, but hid away these thoughts to stave suspicion.

"Hmm... Not sure what to tell you. Boys can get pretty moody sometimes, maybe he's just going through some growth thing." Lila said.

"Yeah, I figured as much. I guess it's probably nothing; he's around me all the time, maybe he's just finally starting to want some 'him' time." Billie said.

"Right. He should be just fine. You know how boys are, you've started dealing with more than one of them for a couple of days now."

"I can't argue with that. Jack keeps farting on everyone."

The two friends shared a laugh over the antics of the boy, getting caught up in a friendly chuckle. Soon following their laughter came the sound of a whimsical chime throughout the air, a sound that the children all instantly snapped to in excitement, recognizing this sound meaning that somewhere near was...

"ICE CREAM!" The children yelled.

Following this sound in the air, the children all began running outside the church to reach the source of the music, wanting to get a serving of ice cream all to themselves. Knowing that her own son would be approaching soon asking for some ice cream, Billie pulled out a few dollars from her pocket, walking up to Joey as he began running towards her.

"Mom, mom!" Joey said.

"I know, here's $3. Go enjoy yourself." Billie said.

"Thanks, mom!"

Taking his money and running outside, Joey was watched by his mother and Lila as he joined the children all approaching the ice cream truck, all calling out for a serving of ice cream with their payments in hand. Parking the truck in place, the driver made his way to the counter, readying himself for the many awaiting orders.

Though the children cared not for the ice cream man himself, only what he had to offer, Billie and Lila got a sense of discomfort from looking at the scrawny man in the truck; his appearance seeming very unfriendly. The driver gave a glimpse towards the two watching women, making the two's hearts jump with the look given to them.

Willie, the ice cream man, more formally known as the Jolly Olly Man, stared at the two women looking back at him; his eyes growing veiny and bloodshot, his teeth beginning to show signs of bruxism, and his brown skin getting pale and faded. His breaths grew deep, each breath trying to calm him from his anger.

He feels the hunger bite at his mind.

Pushing away this persistent thought that kept eating at his mind, Willie put his focus back on the children, turning his attention to the first one wanting service.

"I want rocky road!" A boy said.

Taking the boy's payment and moving towards the ice cream buckets, Willie scooped out a portion of rocky road, placing it on a cone. With the cone ready to be served, Willie returned to the counter and served the boy his ice cream, leaving 5 more children in his place to be next for their scoop.

He feels the hunger bite at his mind.

As Willie continued on his service, Billie and Lila stepped back inside the church, not wanting to be in the eyesight of the Jolly Olly man any further.

"Jeez. Did you see that guy?" Billie asked.

"Yeah. He's definitely gotten a lot worse over time." Lila said.

"What, you know him?"

"Sort of. He's the same ice cream man I got ice cream from as a kid. I didn't think he'd still be..."

A memory of exhibitionism soon came over Lila, brought back by the sight of Willie's face, but this time over his naked body.

"Oh, god..." Lila said.

"What is it?" Billie asked.

"Oh, excuse me for saying the Lord's name in vain, but... Well, I went to his house to invite him to the opening the other day, and, he... Well... He..."

"He what?"

Not able to answer her question verbally, Lila made a vulgar motion in the air, moving her hand up and down in a disgusted motion.

"...did that in front of me. While naked." Lila said.

"Ugh, and that guy's around children? Hang on a sec, I'm gonna get Joey away from him." Billie said.

"But it really wasn't anything, I'm sure he just didn't want to be bothered-"

"Lila, this isn't about you right now, this is about my son. If he's a creep who does shit like that, then I don't want him near any children at all."

Billie stepped outside the church to her son, catching him just about to hand his money off to the Jolly Olly man. Before he could pay for his ice cream, Joey was picked up by Billie and dragged off back inside the church, set next to Lila. Not having gotten his ice cream, Joey let out his own frustration towards his mother; not understanding the reason for her actions.

"Here, Lila. I need you to watch Joey for a few minutes." Billie said.

"Mom, what are you doing? I didn't get my ice cream yet." Joey said.

"Sorry, honey, but we can't get ice cream from him. For now, I need you to stay with Miss Lila while I sort some things out. I'll get you a whole tub of ice cream from the store later, and you can get any flavor you want, okay?"

"Oh. Okay, I guess."

Billie went back outside to handle the offending ice cream man, leaving Joey in the care of Lila as she sought to rid the church of the Jolly Olly man before he could do any damage to the children. Lila felt a strange sense of confusion over Billie's actions regarding her urgency on this issue...

...but, that sense of heat that still stayed with her had at last found its outlet, which was more than enough for Lila to accept her friend's actions. Taking advantage of the situation, Lila kneeled down to Joey and smiled warmly to him, gently rubbing his shoulders.

"Hey, Joey, I think your mom's gonna be a while. Would you like to play our secret game while she's busy?" Lila asked.

Joey felt a mixture of emotions come over his mind; none of them having any place in his underage mind nor having any of the mental capacity to sort them out. He remembers the pleasure from their past 'play', and felt a desire to feel it again, but also a sense of shame and guilt for having these same thoughts, and wishing for them to be gone.

"Uh... I don't know, Miss Lila. My mom could be back at any minute. I'd rather not be a bother." Joey said.

"It's alright, Joey, you can feel safe with me. You felt good the first time, didn't you?" Lila asked.

"Well... it kinda did..."

"I promise it'll feel good again. I want to make you feel good."

Lila's hands began running across Joey's body, each taking a different erogenous zone on his body. One ran under his shirt, lightly running across his chest and gingerly pinching at a nipple. The other ran down his pants, caressing the organs held within and awakening them for her own purposes.

Joey felt the desire for the pleasure once again, and felt it too strong to fight back against. While nearly every part of his mind wished for this to end, there was still one part of him that ignored the guilt and the pain, driving him to finally give into the temptation and lead with a regretful...

"Okay. I guess so." Joey mumbled.

"Good. Let's go into the bathroom so nobody can bother us."

As Lila and Joey retreated to the restroom, Billie marched her way to Willie, coming to voice her complaints with the ice cream man. Not immediately understanding her need to take away his previous customer, Willie brought to his end of the conversation a sense of confusion.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Willie asked.

"I should ask you that same question. My friend told me that you went and... masturbated in front of her when she came to your door." Billie said.

"Huh?"

"Don't try to play coy. You know what I'm talking about."

Willie thought over the woman's accusation, trying to place what this instance she was referring to could have been. Soon, through the haze of beer and fatigue that he had accumulated that day, the memory started to return to him; now fully understanding the context of the accusation.

"...The red-haired girl? Asking me about a church?" Willie asked.

"Correct." Billie said.

"Oh. That."

"Yes. That. What kind of business does a creep like you have dealing with kids?"

"Hey, that was my own place, on my own time, and there wasn't a kid in sight. I don't like kids at all, and they've got no place in my life, but the last thing you'll see me do is beat off in front of them. I don't play like that. Your friend was bothering me, and I wanted to be left alone. I just sent her the message in a different way."

"If you hate kids, then why are you working around them?"

"Because I can't get a job anywhere else and it puts beer in my fridge, and the only reason I have this job is because my dad gave it to me."

"Oh, your dad's your boss, huh? I want to speak with him right now."

"What? No! Lady, will you listen-"

"No, you listen. Either you put me on the phone with your manager, or I call the cops. You exposed yourself in front of my friend, and, now, you're around a bunch of kids. Think your chances with the cops will be better?"

Regretfully so, Willie slowly pulled out his cell phone, dialed up his father, and handed it to Billie.

Inside the church, Lila led Joey into a bathroom stall, ensuring to lock it behind them. Wasting no time to fulfill her own desires, Lila began stripping all her clothes off, soon leaving her naked before Joey. Becoming even more frightened now alone and with Lila nude in front of him, Joey felt his breath quiver and his heart race; his body's own senses not knowing what to do.

"M-Miss Lila, why are you taking your clothes off? You didn't do that before." Joey said.

"This is another way to play, Joey. I promise you'll love it. Now, I've taken off my clothes, why don't you do the same?" Lila asked.

Again forcing himself through an act he did not wish to continue, Joey began removing his clothing as well, soon losing all articles of clothing. All that remained was his underwear, which he still left on out of sheer nervousness, leaving him unable to continue.

"Take off the underwear, too." Lila said.

Still extremely uncomfortable with the action, Joey removed his underwear as well, now leaving him totally naked and exposed to Lila. Though he had no more manner of clothing, Joey still covered his vulnerables with his hands, looking away from Lila in shame.

"Don't cover it, Joey. There's no need to hide something nice and pretty like that." Lila said.

Complying with the request, Joey's hands slowly lowered from his crotch; his hands shaking violently under the stress he was under. He still faced away from Lila, trying to put his mind and consciousness elsewhere, but found little reward in his efforts in escapism, with tears running down his eyes.

Kneeling down to the crying Joey, Lila gently held his head and put his face towards hers, having the two make eye contact.

"What's the matter, Joey?" Lila asked.

"M-M-Miss Lila, I don't like this game anymore. I want to stop. I want my mommy." Joey said.

"Shh, shh, no, it's okay, you're doing okay. You don't have to cry."

"But I don't like this. I feel so strange."

"Where does it feel strange?"

"My... My private parts."

"It's okay, sweetie, that's how you're supposed to feel. God made you for a woman, and this is how he made you. You can trust God, can't you?"

"Well... I guess so."

"Good. Now, don't worry. Just relax and enjoy this..."

A content smile came to Lila's lips, with her tongue running across them in eagerness.

"...Arnold." Lila whispered.

Back outside the church, following a lengthy conversation between Billie and Willie's father/manager, the talk began to reach its end, with a mutual understanding reached with the two. Nodding her head along with his responses, Billie concluded the conversation at last.

"Mmm-hmm. Okay. Thank you, sir, I appreciate everything. I'll put you back on with your son now." Billie said.

Billie handed the phone back to Willie, who nervously awaited a response from his father on the other end.

"Dad?" Willie asked.

There was no response on the other end, only silence.

"Dad?" Willie repeated.

Still no response came, leaving Willie growing more nervous by the second.

"Dad?!" Willie repeated.

Finally, a flat and deadpan response came from the line.

"Get back now. We need to talk." His father said.

The sound of a beep and silence came from his phone, showing that his father ended the conversation. Staring at the blank screen of his phone for a good minute, Willie let the horrific implications of his father's response sink into his mind, making him fear what sort of punishment he would face.

Meanwhile, Billie led the remainder of the children back inside the church, not wanting them to face any troubles from Willie. Though none were happy at the missed opportunity for ice cream, the children still shared a trust in Billie regarding her judgement, and thus returned to the toys.

As the children returned to the toys, Lila returned from the restroom with Joey; Lila appearing more lively than usual, and Joey seeming to be more exhausted and/or depressed. Billie merely assumed the former of her son's emotional state, and greeted both with a wave and a smile.

"Oh, there you guys are, just wondering where you went. Bathroom break?" Billie asked.

"Yep. He was also pretty upset about that ice cream, so I had to try to cheer him up, too." Lila said.

"Aw, looks like he's still a little upset. Hey, big guy, ready to go get that ice cream now?"

"Actually, mom, I'm not really that hungry for ice cream anymore." Joey said.

The unexpected answer got a look of surprise from Billie, raising her eyebrow in suspicion towards her son's answer.

"Really? A minute ago, you were really wanting one. What changed?" Billie asked.

"Uh... I don't know. I guess I just really wanted that ice cream." Joey said.

"Oh, I know, sweetie, I'm sorry you didn't get any, but it's for the best. That man wasn't a good person, and I wanted you far away from him. I know you don't understand, but I want you to trust me on this, okay?"

"Okay, sure."

"There's my big boy. We can always get ice cream another time, you just let me know when you want some."

Billie picked her son up into her arms, carrying him over her shoulder.

"Well, guess it's time for me to take him back and get some sleep now. Same time tomorrow for the youth group?" Billie asked.

"Uh, I don't know yet. I think I want to give him time for a while before I do anything else. I'll let you know when I book the next one." Lila said.

"Right, don't wanna look desperate or anything. In any case, you just call me when you set the next date up. Bye now."

"Bye-bye."

Billie began carrying the exhausted Joey back to her car, preparing to bring him home to get some much-needed sleep. Joey's grip on his mother grew tighter on her than usual, something that did not go very noticed by Billie; merely shrugging it off as nothing.

When she reached her car, Billie laid Joey in the backseat, allowing him to lay down and rest from his day. As she sat in the driver's seat and began making her way home, Joey continued his nap. Billie believed him to be resting peacefully, but his rest was anything but peaceful.

The feelings of pleasure, pain, and guilt all continued to cloud his mind, and tearing away at his psyche and consciousness. He does not understand these feelings, and he wants nothing more than for them to finally be gone. There is an urge to tell his mother about his 'games' with Lila, but his promise to secrecy keeping him from telling.

Now, he still rests without peace, and prays for the hurt to leave him at last.

Elsewhere, at the station holding the Jolly Olly trucks, Willie returns to the building as ordered by his father/boss. Walking into the manager's office, Willie stands before his father in fear, knowing that he would very well be fired, and this meeting only a formality to ensure that fate.

Sitting at his desk, his father took a stern look at him; silently judging his son just before delivering said final judgement.

"Sit down, Willie." His father said.

As ordered, Willie sat down in the chair across from his father's desk, leaving the two face to face. Having his son right in front of him, sitting vulnerably and nervously, his father sat to take in the view, contemplating on just the right way to word his punishing speech.

"I don't understand you, Willie. I really don't. Why the hell can't you do your goddamn job like a normal person?" His father asked.

"I... I don't know, dad, I... I just really hate those children. I'm telling you, they just do something to-" Willie said.

"Of course you hate the children, we all hate the little bastards! But, you know what? We still serve those little rugrats their ice cream with big ol' smiles on our faces, because that's how we get paid. We can actually fake it. Why can't you?"

"I don't know. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"I sure as hell don't, either. You're a total screw-up. You're nothing. Do you even have anything to say about it?"

Willie thought long and hard regarding how to reply to his angry father, but found no words come to his mouth. Ultimately, all that he could muster for a reply was...

"I... I'm sorry." Willie said.

"Oh, you're 'sorry'. You're 'sorry'. You're always 'sorry', but you just keep this shit up to no end! You're pathetic, Willie, you're a loser! You're not sorry, I'm sorry that I made you, let alone hired you. I tried to give you a chance because you're my son, but I apparently shouldn't have bothered with you."

Willie began to hold his head to the ground, running his hands over his hair, letting out light sobs over his father's harsh words.

"Oh, what's this? You're gonna cry now? Right in front of me? Are you a baby? Are you a girl? Are you a little, helpless baby girl? Do you want a bottle? Do I need to change your goddamn diaper?" His father asked.

Gripping his hair with a pair of tight fists, Willie angrily tore out two chunks from the sides of his head, yelling in rage over the abuse he was being put under.

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!" Willie shouted.

Willie's father leaned back in his chair in surprise, not expecting his son to finally let out some volume in his voice.

"Goddamn it, dad, you've always been so horrible! It's bad enough I get this kind of shit from the kids, but I can't take it from you, either! You always tell me that I'm no good, and I'm worthless! I always told you that I needed help, but you never helped me, dad! You're... you're the most terrible father ever!" Willie said.

His father's initial reaction to the sudden shout and tantrum led him back in his chair, watching the spectacle in interest and pure curiosity to see how far he would go. Having tolerated his share of an outburst from his son, his father pulled out a revolver, pointing it straight to Willie's temple, and instantly sending him to a dead silence and shaking in fear.

"No. You're the worst son ever. I gave you plenty of chances to make something of yourself, to try to be a decent man for once in your life, but you're nothing but a stupid child. You're fired. I never want to see you again." His father said.

"D-Dad, you j-just pulled a gun on-" Willie stammered.

"BEAT IT, YOU LITTLE SHITSTAIN, OR I'LL PULL THE GODDAMN TRIGGER!"

Not wanting to see his father fulfill the latter part of his threat, Willie instantly rushed out of the building, seeking refuge anywhere he could that was not here at this moment in time. Eventually, his run led him outside a closed shop; far away from his father and giving him just enough of a refuge to catch his breath.

Now that he was away from the threat of his father, he soon started to understand the threat of being held at gunpoint by the man who helped give him life. Never before had he a threat such as this come to him, and many times he had been threatened with death by his father, but never before today had this occurred in a serious manner.

Alone and without any shelter or job, Willie held himself in a fetal position, trying to force off any more unpleasant feelings that flooded his mind and brought him pain. The feeling of abandonment, the loss of his job, and being left without any support made him all the more miserable, but even this did not compare to the same thought that still continued to persist his mind:

He feels the hunger bite at his mind.