Fear the Reaper (Chapter 5)

CHAPTER 51

‘And so it begins’2

(Me, today)3

The next day, I spent most of in bed. I had to make sure I was up to full strength for the night. This will be my first night and I don’t mind admitting I was very nervous and a bit freaked out at what I was about to do, but it’s too late to turn back now. I knew that when I got into the swing, everything would be fine. 4

I had my mug of coffee and mixed a gram of speed in with it. I knew when it kicked in, I would be speeding my face off. Full of confidence! After about an hour I started to come through. I was starting to feel very physically athletic, very confident, my throat was parched and I was grinding my teeth. Good gear.5

I started up my new van, and moved all the props up to the location I had chosen. As well as a plentiful supply of rope and a couple of bottles of chloroform. The only problem I had, was working out where to go to find crims. I eventually settled for a rough housing estate up the road, where I used to score my weed. It was also renowned for its criminal element and activity. There’s always something going on up there, whether it is rape, muggings, assault, GBH and the occasional murder (I think you get the picture).6

I walked around trying to look inconspicuous, with my hands in my pockets, desperately waiting for a crime to happen. After a couple of hours of walking circles around the estate, it suddenly dawned on me. I was either going to make myself a victim of crime or there would be no crime, due to me walking around and witnessing everything. So yes, I guess I would be drawing attention to myself. An unknown face up there, walking past the same places every 20 minutes. I need to find a location here. Station myself somewhere. So I checked it out on the next walk around. I found five different gardens with lonely alleyways behind them.7

After spending a certain amount of time in each of the gardens behind their walls well, the first three anyway, I started to realize how amateur and unprofessional my quest really is. I haven’t looked into the facts at all. I’m just hoping for a crime, which is wrong really. For about the fourth time, I had cramp in the back of my legs and pins and needles in my feet, as a result of squatting behind someone’s garden wall for long periods of time. I was just getting ready to come out of my hiding place, to stretch my legs and go home, at the prospect of how futile it all was. Suddenly, I heard the clippety clop of heels walking down the street. My first reaction was ‘sod it’. Wait for her to go past, get up and go home. But something told me to stay, and watch the outcome of this girl clippety clopping home. Suddenly I saw movement in the shadows, further down the alley. At first, I thought it was a trick of the light. Then a heard a soft thud and hurried whispering. Then again, a few more soft thuds that I recognized to be boots or shoes stepping onto concrete. 8

Aha, I wonder how long they’ve been here. Did they see me get behind this wall? 9

The girl began to look around her, starting to panic slightly as she realized she was not alone in this desolate place. Her eyes darted all around her as her pace quickened, and her clippety clop became faster. Then came the clumping of boots as her pursuers left their hiding place and broke into a jogging pace until finally one of them overtook her. One was stocky, the other like a rake. I could take them. The girl was early twenties, blonde, short skirt and nice legs.10

The one, who had overtaken her, barred her way. She ran, colliding with him. He stood there, with his hands on his hips as she bounced off of him.11

‘So where are you going in such a hurry love?’ he asked sneering.12

‘I’m going home’ she stuttered, understandably frightened.13

‘Oh the night is still young, it’s too early to go home yet, when there’s so much fun to be had’ said the second one stood behind her. She jumped.14

‘Please don’t hurt me.’15

‘Oh no, we don’t want to hurt you. We just want to play for a bit.’16

‘Please leave me alone, I’ve got to go home’ she sobbed hysterically as they pushed her from one to the other of them. I couldn’t believe my luck, I mean, it’s a horrible thing to say, but isn’t this what I came out for? Looking for people like these pair of pricks in front of me. I was becoming annoyed, but at the same time, keeping a level, logical train of thought. I couldn’t actually go for them until one of them made a grab for her, when they would become pre-occupied in their deed. Too pre-occupied …, I hope, to notice my approach.17

Suddenly the one behind made a grab for her, grabbing her around the waist, pinning her arms to her side and they both then pulled her to the floor. The one in front ripped her legs apart and tried to tear her knickers off. The one behind her pulled her arms above her head and pinned them to the ground.18

‘We’re gonna fuck you baby. We’re not going to hurt you’ he said laughing. She began to scream and struggle frantically. I reached into my carrier bag of tricks took out the surgical rubber gloves and put them on. I reached again into the bag, pulled out a cloth handkerchief and emptied a small bottle of chloroform into it.19

Now seeing that they were engrossed in what they were trying to do, I leapt the wall with my chloroformed cloth in hand (having used a full bottle). I gradually walked up to the one behind her and put the cloth over his mouth. He dropped down as casually as a man being held by Mr. Spock in a Vulcan nerve pinch. The girl, feeling released from his grip began screaming and punching the one trying to rape her. He tried to grip her hands as he looked up and saw me with the body of his friend at my feet. He quickly got to his feet and tried to run, but fell as he felt the sharp, intense pain of a stiletto heel pierce the back of his thigh, as the girl lashed her leg at him when he tried to get up. He let out a howl of pain, which as it happens was his last for a while. For he saw blackness as I placed the chloroform cloth over his nose and mouth and he fell unconscious. This is so easy. Suddenly, I turned my head as I heard another clomping of boots. A 3rd youth appeared from where the other 2 had been hiding.20

‘Come on guys. Hurry up, I think there’s someone coming’ he half shouted down to us. He then saw we weren’t his friends, and began to run. So I gave chase. Thank God, I took that speed. After a frantic run, I finally took him down with a rugby tackle. Despite his efforts, he went down easily enough when the cloth went over his mouth. Cool, I’ve got 3 of them.21

Oh how the hunter quickly becomes the hunted…22

I then dragged him back to where the girl was with the other 2. She sat on the floor bewildered, wondering what was going on.23

‘Thanks’ she said dazed. I helped her to her feet.24

‘It’s okay. Everything is okay, just go home’ I replied.25

‘Who are you’ she asked, confused.26

‘I’m just a concerned citizen that’s all. Don’t worry about these 3. Their playing days are over’ I said, seeing her glance at the 3 on the ground.27

‘Well thanks again’ she was starting to come out of her daze.28

‘No worries, just go home, try taking your heels off and running, and don’t stop till you get there’ I said sternly. She took them off as I’d told her, then turned back to look at me. 29

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ she asked.30

‘Yes there is. Don’t tell anybody about tonight’ I replied.31

She looked at me a bit puzzled. She was still slightly in shock, and really didn’t know what to make of the situation. ‘Okay’ she said finally, and began to walk off. She then looked back to me again. ‘Will I ever see you again?’ she asked, almost like an afterthought.32

‘I don’t know. I guess only time will tell’ I said. I realized inside myself, I would have to hurry because I wasn’t sure how long it would be before these 3 came around again. I could really do without this now, I wanted to get on. ‘I don’t even know you name?’ she persisted.33

‘I think it might be better that way’ I replied.34

‘Now go home’ I added sternly. She then gave me a sad smile and started to run up the road barefoot.35

‘Right, first things first’ I said to myself and ran over to the wall where I had been hiding. I quickly got together the ropes and things I’d put there from the van, and systematically set about tying up their arms and legs. I used the bowman’s knot, they’re easy enough. Just 2 loops overlapping one another, around each wrist, then over both wrists, and repeat for the ankles. 36

They began to groan incessantly37

Shit, they’re coming to. I’d better hurry. 38

I started to drag the first one to the van. As he opened his eyes groggily, he suddenly began to violently puke. I mean, it wasn’t like normal nausea. The force of it pushed both of us to the ground quite violently, and sprayed an area of nearly 30 foot in front of him. I nearly shit myself, it was really frightening. He was convulsing like crazy. 39

Shit, he must be on some drug or other and it’s reacted with the chloroform. I’d better untie them.40

The 2nd and 3rd youths began to convulse and vomit with the same intensity, as they came too. I quickly went around and cut the ropes that held them.41

Fuck, there’s puke everywhere and they’re break dancing like mad.42

I almost felt sorry for them, but pity is not an emotion I care to waste on scum like this. Bollocks, they must all be on the same drug; it’s caused an allergic reaction with the chloroform. Fuck, what am I going to do now? I’ve got to do something. Monique? Yes Monique!!! I hope she’s with Chris. If I give him a ring, yeah..., but what about these 3? 43

I can’t put them in the van like this; the van would be a mess. I’ll have to leave them here and hope they’re here when I get back. And hope no one finds them in the meantime. Mind you, I don’t think they’re going anywhere.44

One of them got to his hands and knees, and got thrown violently backwards as he puked again. 45

Right, let’s go. 46

I then got into the van drove off looking for a phone box. As it happens, it didn’t take long. There was one just up the road. 47

Right, what’s the time? 48

I looked at my watch. ‘Fuck, it’s one in the morning’ I said to myself. ‘How the fuck am I going to ask about chloroform at one in the morning. What do I say? What excuse can I use? I got out of the van, walked up to the phone box, picked up the receiver and dialed Chris’s number. The phone rang for what seemed like ages.49

Come on, answer the phone... answer the phone.50

‘Hello Chris’ I said as the receiver clicked. 51

‘Yeah man. What is it?’ he answered crankily.52

I guess they must have been on the job, because he does’nt sound too happy53

‘Hiya Chris, is Monique about?’54

‘Richie man, its 1 o’clock in the morning.’55

‘Is it? Sorry man, I’ve only just got up’ I answered, as innocently as I could.56

‘Yeah, well what’s the problem, anyway?’57

‘Just a medical query really. I thought …, what with Monique on her nursing course, she may be able to help me.’58

‘Aw, Richie man …’ he groaned.59

‘Is she awake?’60

‘Yeah, she’s awake. I’ll pass you over now’ he said. I stood there tapping a ten pence piece on the telephone book shelf in front of me, as silence followed, well I say silence, I heard him mutter to her, and she muttered back. Then finally!61

‘Hello’ she said into the mouthpiece.62

‘Hiya Monique. It’s Richie. I’m sorry to ring so late. Could you answer a medical query for me?’63

‘Yeah sure, what is it?’ she asked.64

‘What are the effects of chloroform on a human being?’65

‘Chloroform? Why? Whose had chloroform?’ she asked, almost alarmed.66

‘Oh nothing really... Don’t worry about it. It’s just a friend of mine and I have a bit of a bet. I say chloroform would knock someone out for fifteen minutes and he says they would be puking their guts up after 15 minutes. I say they just come around a bit drowsy.’67

‘Then I’m afraid you’re wrong Richie, sorry.’68

‘So puking happens after all then?’69

‘Yep, they puke for an hour and a half. And I’m not talking about normal sickness; we’re taking about projectile vomiting. It’s like something out of the Exorcists. They can puke anything up to about 20 or 30 feet in front or above them. Their bodies would be convulsing uncontrollably. They’ve been known to break limbs before now with the force of it.’70

‘Shit, so it wouldn’t do them any good to be tied up then?’71

‘No, that’s the worst thing you could do to them. Why?’ You’ve got people tied up on chloroform, have you Richie?’ she said jokingly.72

‘No, just my sick sense of humour …, you know me’ I replied nervously. ‘Thanks anyway, Monique. You’ve told me what I need to know. I’ll leave you both in peace now.’73

‘Do you want Chris back?’74

‘No, it’s alright. I’ll speak to you both tomorrow. Sorry about ringing so late. And thanks again.’75

‘That’s alright, no worries.’76

‘Oh well. I’m a tenner down, but never mind. I’ll catch you later, okay.’77

‘Okay then, bye.’78

‘See ya’ I answered and put down the receiver on the phone. ‘Shit, I’d better get back to them’ I said aloud to myself. I got back into the van and made my way back. 79

Shit, I hope I don’t have to face any broken limbs. That would just about be the icing on the tombstone.80

When I got back to the alleyway a strong pungent, shitty smell hit me like a smack in the face. 81

What the hell is going on there? 82

I tried my best to breathe as little as possible. Then, suppressing a deep urge to puke everywhere, I bent down to look them over. They convulsed all the more, accompanied by projectile vomiting. 83

Shit, it’s 1.00 a.m. now. I’ve given them half an hour; another hour will take us up to 2.00 a.m. Then they finish puking and go into a four hour sleep which takes us up to 6.00 a.m., and it starts getting light at 8.00 a.m. Bugger, I’ll just have to make the most of the two hours between 6 and 8.84

After I’d finished with them, I felt around their arms and legs, and as luck would have it, I found no broken bones. This was further confirmed by an unsteady effort to climb to their hands and knees. They looked like death warmed up. 85

Shit, they don’t tell you fuck all about this sort of thing in the movies, do they? In films, the hero is knocked out by the chloroform and comes around after feeling slightly groggy, but ready for action.86

Next time, I’m going to have to go out earlier in the nights with prey in mind and plan of action, to bring forth justice. As for this fucking lot, I will bring justice to them for they are a proverbial dress rehearsal. I can then recall their reactions to judge if it is a worthwhile venture to endeavor further. 87

I waited around for another ¾ of an hour until they were all unconscious, when I was fully satisfied that the vomiting was over, I dragged them to the van and bundled them inside.88

As it happened, nobody had passed through the alley in all the time I was there. So everything was going remarkably well (I’ve been fucking lucky so far). It’s lucky I took a gram of speed as I can see it’s going to be very long night.89

When we reached the destination, I pulled them out of the van and undressed them. I then tied them naked to the trees by their wrists and ankles with legs and arms apart.90

I slipped 4 acid tabs under each of their tongues (12 tabs in total), after opening their mouths.91

Now let me see, it took ½ hour driving to this place, about an hour and half undressing them, and tying them into a standing position between the trees. 92

I then started setting up my props. I used masking tape to strap their fists into balls and taped on the fake hands from the joke shop.93

Then walking around the semi-circle of trees in front of these sinners I strategically hammered a few large stakes in the ground, tying petrol covered rags to the top of them (to light later for effect). I then set up my cardboard reaper dwarfs. 94

Right, taking into account how much they puked up earlier I estimate the acid will go into their systems a bit faster. Yes, on empty stomachs they should come through in no time. Happy then, that everything was set up, I went back to the van, had a spliff, and changed into the reaper costume. I looked at the mask, it looks pretty good since the flour and water dried, it looks effectively like bone.95

Suddenly, I remembered I haven’t taped their dicks to the arses. So I quickly went around behind each of them and pulled their dicks between their legs and taped them to their buttocks. Then with a groan, the first of them started to stir into consciousness. So I quickly whipped around and lit all the stakes, it was great, they looked like blazing torches. 96

Right, it’s 4.45 a.m. and they’re starting to come to. It’s about an hour or so ahead of what I expected, but I can’t really complain, I mean, everything is ready to go.97

I went back to the van and finished my spliff as I watched them try to take in their surroundings.98

I stamped out the butt of my spliff, put on my reaper mask and pulled up the hood. And so it begins.99

I walked up to the fist of the three, very pale he was. I gripped his jaw and turned his face around to look at me. 100

And yes, his pupils were fucking huge. He’s tripping his face off. 101

His eyes widened in horror as he took in the scull face and reaper costume and he screamed almost shrilly. I smirked to myself behind the mask. I then stepped back for him to take in the full horror of isolation and vulnerability of his surroundings. I could see the fear in his face as he looked down to see his nudity and the helplessness of his captive form. Then his eyes focused on me. I could see a certain retentive sadness in his eyes, melding with his fear.102

‘It has come to pass that you have been found guilty of your sins against humanity. All that you are and have been deserves no less than death. Your day of judgment is here. You have been taken from your place in the living world, as a chance to repent the sins you have done in life. Have you anything to say before judgment is passed’ I said boldly.103

It’s not real. It can’t be real’ he cried pitifully. I slapped him hard across the face. His face straightened in fear.104

‘Does that satisfy your sense of reality’ I said coldly.105

‘Please don’t hurt me’ he begged and whimpered.106

‘Would you have me show you the same mercy, you have shown to others? You will be made to pay for the sins you have done.’107

‘Please don’t kill me’ he begged defeatedly.108

‘Then will you not repent the evil that you have done?’ I asked of him as I watched the flames of my torches dance in reflection of his large pupils.109

‘Yes, just please don’t hurt me.’110

‘Then relive it in your mind. Confess every hurt you have made another living soul endure, at the cost of your own desire. For if we see repentance and regret of your actions, then we may let you live, but only if we truly see a chance of change. That you may follow in the work of God.’111

‘Okay, okay’ he panicked. ‘What do you want me to say?’112

‘The words must be of your own choosing. But allow me to help you remember. How much evil have these hands done?’ I asked, holding his wrist. I then took out a large blade and a bottle of red food colouring, from my pockets beneath my shroud. And cut the fake hand from his taped fist and pouring the food colouring down the length of his arm as the rubber hand hit the floor in front of him. He almost screamed the place down, at seeing the hand and the discomfort of his taped fist, believing it to be a bloody stump.113

As I looked into his eyes I could see he was believing everything he was seeing and it made me feel good. Good that I was bringing justice to such scum as this. I then did the same to his other hand as he sobbed and blubbered; now getting over the shock of his severed hands.114

Right, now it’s time to bring in the next strategy.115

I reached into the shroud for a pork and beef sausage hanging from my belt on my jeans. I then prodded the said sausage hard into his groin. He looked down eyes wide, thinking I had gripped his knob. He screamed as I brought the blade up in my other hand, fully believing I had cut his dick off as I let more food colouring splash and run down his legs.116

This is brilliant; he fully believes everything he thinks he’s seeing. 117

‘Please don’t hurt me anymore’ he whimpered pathetically. I put the knife back in my belt beneath the shroud.118

‘Then I will leave you in silence, to consider the actions of your sins’ I said, still holding the sausage up for him to see, as more food colouring dripped from it. He cried some more. I then threw the sausage to the ground, and took earplugs from my jeans pocket and inserted them into his ears, to allow him to consider his thoughts in silence. While tripping his face off, Haaaa!119

You’re fine while you’re tripping if you’ve got something to concentrate your mind on. I.e. Playstation, video, music etc... But if you should start thinking of your life or what the future might hold then it’s like you step outside of yourself and vividly see every memory that causes you the discomfort of pain in perfect clarity as if it had only just happened. Then you see them again and again and each time will trigger another memory of similar instance that triggers yet more memories of comparative discomfort. And over time of this reliving ill deeds, a voice within you chants ‘That’s you, that’s who you are’ and with each chant and memory comes a feeling of despair, falling deeper and deeper into a void of familiar faces of those you’ve hurt, whose only crime to you were trust, understanding, and trying to help. Then you blow like a geyser of self loathing. Each tear telling a thousand tales of regret and remorse, as they fall by the wayside. Hours feel like days, minutes feel like hours, and still you sink deeper and deeper. So considering the plight of the first of the 3 of them, I think he’s holding out remarkably well. We’ll have to see what he is like in about 4 hours.120

I moved on to the second of the three.121

‘Are you ready to receive the judgment of your sins?’ I asked him, having let him witness the full horror of his friend’s plight. The colour drained from his face.122

‘No, nooo!’ he screamed hysterically. 123

He’s panicking!124

‘Silence’ I bellowed at him suddenly and he stopped in shock, as he looked into my scull mask. His face was the proverbial ‘mask of fear’.125

‘Are you ready to receive the judgment of your sins?’ I asked of him again. He began to cry and whimper. The third one of the three began to howl and scream as he witnessed the judgment of his second friend. 126

I guess he’s realized he’s next. 127

He screamed and struggled frantically and I honestly thought he was going to bring the branch down at one stage. So I walked over to him. He was the one who received the stiletto heel in the back of his thigh when he tried to rape the girl and get way. I slapped him hard across the face with the back of my hand. ‘Silence fool’ I said to him, as one of the fake hands dropped down behind him in his struggling. As he calmed down, I went behind him, picked up the hand, took out the blade from beneath the shroud, and run the food colouring down his arm as I held his wrist and faked the severing. He then went into shock as his lip wobbled and he started sobbing.128

There, that should shut him up for a while.129

‘For every sound I hear from you until your judgment, I will sever a limb’ I said to him sternly. Eyes, alive with fear and tears, he nodded his understanding. So I walked back to the second one and stood before him.130

‘I ask you again. Are you ready to accept the judgment of your sins?’ I bellowed. He looked at me in terror, realizing the same fate was to befall him as had his two friends. He began to cry again.131

‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry’ he whimpered.132

‘How much evil have these hands done?’ I said gripping his wrists. His bottom lip wobbled as he realized what was coming next. In another time or place it could be considered cute or sweet, but here and now it is considered repentant and regretful. 133

Me thinks it is worthwhile and satisfactory. I’m starting to enjoy this. I almost feel like Luke Skywalker trying to bring Darth Vader back from the dark side of the force.134

Come now, Richie, focus on what you’re doing. This is no time to let your mind wander.135

I then rose the blade up before him and sliced into the tape, as I ran food colouring down his arm. You could see the frustration build up on his face as he tried to unclench the fist he thought he didn’t have. As the fake hand hit the floor, he looked on resignedly as I moved on to the other hand and repeated the procedure. Then as before I pressed a sausage into his groinal area and brought the blade up as the food colour ran down his legs. Then I held up the sausage for him to see and threw it to the ground. ‘Arrrghhhh’ he screamed as he began to lose it, so I gave him a hard back hander, and he soon shut up. 136

Yes, I can see he’s deep in thought now. 137

His pallid complexion was pale and exhausted.138

‘Look at your life from an outsiders point of view and see yourself for the scum you are’ I said coldly.139

‘I don’t deserve to live’ he pitifully whimpered.140

‘I shall leave you alone with your thoughts’ I replied, and took out earplugs and inserted them into his ears. 141

Silence is golden, isn’t it? 142

I then walked to the third one, who already believes he has a severed hand, as he watched me theatrically mutilate his friends. Oh yeah, he was pretty scared. I mean, obviously he would be the cocky one of the three. The one who would go one step further than anyone else, the influence for the three, the one whose landed them all here now. The ring leader if you will.143

‘Are you ready to face judgment for your sins against humanity? Will you truly repent the evil you have bestowed upon others?’144

‘No, leave me alone. You’re not real. Leave me alone’ he cried out. He began to struggle again. I gripped his jaw and looked him straight in the eyes.145

‘There is no escape. You’ll pay for the evil you have done’ I said coldly. And as he looked me in the face, I could see the third mask of fear. I felt good,146

‘Okay, okay’ he said wearily between sobs and tears.147

‘How much evil have these hands done’ I said reaching up for his wrist with the remaining fake hand. I squeezed his wrist as I cut through the tape and left the blood run down his arm as the hand dropped to the floor. His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as he saw what he believed to be his hands before him on the floor. Then pressing the sausage hard into his groin I brought up the blade. I then held up the sausage before him and the same shocked, dazed expression crossed his face as with the other two as I threw it to the floor like a discarded tissue.148

‘I will now leave you in silence to contemplate who you are and what you have become’ I said, as shock set into him big time. So I inserted earplugs tightly into his ears. I then left them crying and screaming of denial and failure and regret and remorse and went back to the van. I rolled a joint, lit it, and began to write a list. I mean, yeah, tonight is going well but it is more of a dress rehearsal than an opening performance.149

1. Cloth bags to go over their heads. It’s going to be much better if they come through to darkness. Come to that, I could use cushion covers. It’s not like they’re going to know any different. And it would be much scarier tripping in darkness, because their minds would have no surrounding vision to focus on. Yes, I can see it now. Their brains would be ticking over, big time.150

2. I’m not sure if using my own voice is such a good idea. Maybe if I could find some sort of voice effect, or even a pre-recorded tape. Yeah, record my voice and slow it down, add lots of screams and moans, the crackling sound of burning, the rattle of chains, and the crack of whips. Yes, it would be much more convincing with primary sounds of suffering.151

I mean yeah, sure it’s going pretty well as it is, but to add a bit more of an edge to it would give me more insight as to what they’re thinking and feeling. I want to feel their fear as if they were transmitting it in waves.152

3. It would be better if I knew them by name and knew of the crimes they have committed to give it that personal touch. 153

I’ve got to find out who the criminal element are. I’ve got to infiltrate, and bring down from within.154

On the whole, I’m glad of tonight though. It’s given me a chance to iron out all the flaws in my plan.155

I opened the van door so I could hear how they’re doing. I could hear cries and screams of fear, regret, frustration and remorse. In fact one of them was positively roaring his head off. ‘I want my Mum’, ‘Why am I such a failure?’ ‘Help me.’ ‘I hate myself.’ I caught from them between tears. Quite a sad display from grown men, but anything less of a reaction and it wouldn’t have been worth it. If I can increase the intensity, then yes, it will be brilliant. ‘Oh well I suppose I’d better get back to them’ I said to myself as I pulled the mask back down over my face, and the hood up to the forehead of the mask. I grabbed my scissors from the glove box and stepped out of the van.156

As I looked up, I could see the first rays of sunlight through the top of the trees. This is a damn good spot, with the amount of trees, it blocks out the light quite nicely. I checked my watch, ‘Fuck, it’s twenty past nine.’157

I quickly closed the van door behind me and scrambled my way through the bushes back to the semi circle. 158

Shit, they’ve been on their own for four and a half hours. It’s amazing how times passes when you’re having fun.159

I walked up to the first of them. He hung dejectedly by his wrists, with his head bowed forlornly into his chest, which shook its own rhythm of vulnerable regret, as he still sobbed. I put my hands to his ears and pulled out the earplugs.160

‘You came back. I didn’t know if you were real’ he cried.161

Obviously he must think he’s been tied up for about ten hours or maybe even a day or two. Instead of four and a half hours he has been.162

‘I must know if you regret the actions of your desire. I must know if you do truly repent your sins’ I bellowed at him.163

‘Yes, I regret everything I am. Please take my life. Kill me’ he replied sadly.164

‘Here, you stand among the dead. Would you have me end your existence?’165

‘Yes, kill me. I do not deserve to live’166

‘That is not your destiny. By that path you will learn nothing. You must go back to the living world and confess your sins to the law givers. You must face your peers and hope they see forgiveness.’167

‘I can’t do that.’168

‘If you do not, then here you will hang for eternity, without sight or sound. The choice is yours.’ 169

‘No’170

‘Then you will confess in the living world.’171

‘Yes.’172

‘Do I have you word?’173

‘Yes.’174

‘Good, but heed mine. For if you should stray from the path of the righteousness, your soul will be mine for eternity.’ I concluded. Tears came streaming down his face. ‘Yes, I will remember.’175

‘You will learn to fear the reaper.’176

I then held up the scissors, and began to cut through the masking tape that bound his hands into fists. First one hand then the other, and ripped the tape from them, I then ripped the tape from his arse and his knob sprang through his legs to its normal dangling position. I then took out my blade and cut him free from the trees, first his ankles and then his wrists. He dropped to his knees like his legs had turned to jelly. ‘Now be gone’ I said sternly. He got unsteadily back to his feet, and took one last look at me. He quickly hobbled off through the bushes, like a scared rabbit with broken legs. 177

Never mind, I’m sure the feeling will come back to his arms and legs soon enough.178

I walked up to the second one of the remaining two. I took out his earplugs. His eyes widened at the sight of me.179

‘Do you repent the evil you have done?’180

‘Yes, I’m so sorry, what have I become?’ he cried pitifully.181

‘Do you truly regret the actions of your desires?’182

‘Yes. Just let me live. I can change, I can be better. Things will be different.’183

‘You must confess your sins in the living world, and face your peers.’184

‘Yes, I must make amends.’185

‘Do I have your word?’186

‘Yes.’187

‘Just remember, if you break your word, I will find you and your soul will be mine for eternity, do you understand?’188

‘Yes’ he replied, head bowed.189

‘Then I shall free you to take your place back among the living.’190

Again I cut the masking tape and ropes and freed him. He dropped to his knees.191

‘Remember. Fear the reaper’ I said sternly as he looked up at me. ‘Now, be gone’ I concluded. He looked at me almost thankfully as he slowly got to his feet and stumbled off. Well, I wasn’t expecting that.192

I walked up to the third one. I smiled to myself beneath the mask; to an extent I believe this one to be my greatest triumph of the three. He cried and struggled before I even reached him. I slapped him hard across the face. The shock seemed to settle him almost instantly. His lip began to wobble as the sobs caught in his throat, and he began to shake. As his eyes flowed with tears, his face a mask of sadness and regret and all the negative emotions that make up who he is.193

I took the earplugs from his ears.194

‘You, can you forgive me?’195

‘No, it is not my right to forgive.’196

‘I hate myself, I hate who I am’ he sobbed.197

‘Could this be the begging of repentance?’198

‘I have many regrets… Too many to count...’199

‘Do you wish to live?’200

‘Yes, I’ve got to start my life again. I’ve got to change.’201

‘Then you must confess your sins to the law giver. You must face your peers and hope they feel forgiveness.’202

‘Yes.’203

‘Then I have your word on this?’204

‘Yes.’205

‘Then remember, if you break your word to me then I will come for you. And you will hang here for eternity in silence and darkness. Do you understand?’206

‘Yes.’207

‘Then remember. Fear the reaper.’208

I cut the tape and unclenched his fists and ripped the tape from his arse. Then I cut the rope and freed his wrists and ankles.209

‘Thank you’ he said looking pitifully at me, as he dropped to his knees. He then got to his feet, and ran into the bushes with a lot more agility than either of the first two. I gave it five minutes for them to get clear, before I gathered my props together and bundled them into the back of the van. When I was happy I’d picked everything up and cleared the area of my presence, I made my way home and moved everything into the house. 210

Tonight has been quite successful in its own way. But I’m really going to have to find out who the criminal elements are and where they dwell.211

I then dropped a zimervane (sleeping tablet), rolled and smoked a joint and hit the sack for a couple of hours. Sleep off the come down of the whiz as it were.212

When I got up later, I pretty much felt like shit. So I had a couple of dabs of whiz and a cup of coffee, to pep me up a bit for the afternoon. I realize now, that as well as looking up old newspapers and records, I’m going to have to mix with the criminal element and find out who’s who and who’s done what. 213

Infiltrate and destroy. Bring the criminal element to its knees.214

Maybe I should inspect the rehabilitation centres as well, hang about outside and see who goes in and out. The main ones I should hit on are the violent offenders, rapists, muggers. Make it so they fear working in my area.215

My head was buzzing with all the excitement of last nights activities. I mean, I know I was lucky to find the three that I did. It gave me a good insight into what needed touching up in the whole scenario.216

I had a bath, got dressed, rolled a joint, had a smoke and decided to take a walk down to my Mums for a bit of dinner and stuff.217

Yeah, the walk will do me good.218

I walked through loads of familiar territory and places I used to play as a kid. The streets are so familiar, and memories flood back like it was only yesterday. All the routes I took to walk to school and hanging out places in the town. And I realized, compared to the rest of the world, this was still quite a quiet place. Were they ready for the reaper? Then again, is anyone ready for the criminal activity that caused his existence? 219

Yes, I guess they are ready. 220

It’s a bit of a shock in the beginning, but things get worse before they get better. This area is still quiet enough to be controlled, before it gets even worse.221

They need a protector, a guardian, a defender to make sure they sleep easy in their beds at night.222

As I walked on, a thought hit me. Before I isolated myself, as a result of my paranoia. I knew a lot of the clichéd wrong people, the ones who felt they were out to prove something. The ones who felt they should project fear into people rather than love.223

Maybe I should go out tonight, check out all the old haunts and hangouts of my youth. See if I can see any old faces, see if I can see any new ones come to that. It seems to me my biggest problem so far, is finding out who the criminal element are. 224

I’ve come into this very naively, haven’t I?225

Shit, where am I? I’ve become so engrossed in my thoughts; I’ve been wandering aimlessly for fucking ages.226

As I looked up, I realized I was in the town’s main shopping area, outside one of the local news agents. Then I saw the billboard, displaying the big headline of the echo (local evening newspaper). ‘Naked 3 in reaper puzzle.’ The billboard blared ‘Ooh, best check this out’ I thought to myself. I walked into the shop to buy a copy. ‘Good afternoon’ said the old gentlemen behind the counter.227

‘Hello’ I replied, as I picked up the said paper, and held it out for him to register for payment.228

‘Funny, business that, isn’t it?’ he queried at me.229

‘What’s that then?’ I asked innocently.230

‘All that reaper business!’231

‘Reaper business? I don’t follow.’232

‘Well it’s made the front page of the local.’233

‘Really? What’s that all about then?’234

He looked up excitedly. He was a sweet old man in his early sixties. I could tell his sort straight away though. The gossipy sort, the sort that delights in tragedy in order to have a good tale to tell. I suppose the secret is, to separate the truth from their own personal speculations.235

‘Well’ he said, theatrically ‘Apparently, they found three blokes totally naked, high on some drug or other.’236

‘What? were they together?’237

‘No, this is where it gets strange. One of them was at the police station, banging hell out of the doors to confess to his crimes.’ The old man chuckled, and then continued. ‘The second one, they found on All Saints Church steps, crying his eyes out, wanting to confess his sins.’ I smiled, and chuckled with the old man. Last night was more successful than I gave it credit for, obviously.238

‘What about the third one?’ I asked.239

‘Oh, they found him in the graveyard, before his mother’s tomb. He was crying about what a failure he had turned out to be.’240

‘Well, well, well’ I said, shaking my head.241

‘And the other weird thing was that all three of them had rope burn around their wrists and ankles.’ He said, trying to sound mysterious.242

‘Really? What’s the story behind that then?’243

‘Oh, they claim they had some ghostly visitation. They claim they were taken by death himself.’244

‘Death?’ I replied, like I was hearing it for the first time.245

‘Yes’, the grim reaper.’246

‘Well, its original I suppose. Makes a change from alien abduction.’247

‘They say they were made to relive every sin they’ve ever committed, and feel the guilt and shame of their actions’ he was on a roll now. He had an audience. 248

Boy, does this guy like the sound of his own voice, or what?249

‘Well, what do the police reckon to it all?’250

‘Oh, they’re a bit puzzled with it all. But they reckon it’s either the work of some psychotic vigilante or some sort of gangland revenge.’251

Oh well I can’t say I’m overly fond of the description ‘psychotic vigilante, but I suppose I’ve been called worse.252

‘Apparently, they’re looking for some girl’ he continued, my ears pricked up, as you can imagine.253

‘Girl?’ I queried, an edge of panic in my voice.254

‘Yes, apparently they want her for questioning. They think she could identify the man who was involved.’255

‘I don’t’ get it. Where does the girl come into it?’256

‘Well, by all accounts. Two of them claim to have tried to rape the girl, while the other stood watch.’257

‘And this “Death Guy” saved her life, yeah?’258

‘Yes, they’ve offered some kind of reward for her to step forward.’259

‘Well, I can’t see her taking it. Can you? I mean after all, the guy did save her life. Didn’t he?’260

‘Yes, but women can be funny things can’t they?’ he said theatrically rolling his eyes in a mock sigh. I smiled at him and nodded. I nervously looked at my watch.261

‘I suppose I’d best be off then’ I said, happy to have found a moment of merriment into which I could casually make my exit. ‘Leave them smiling’ I think someone once said.262

‘It’s been nice talking to you’ I continued, and shook his hand.263

‘Yes, it’s been nice talking to you as well’ he replied jovially.264

‘Have a nice day’ I said, tucking my paper under my arm.265

‘Yes, goodbye’ he waved.266

Once back out in the fresh air, I began to walk briskly back to my house. I’ll have to give my Mum a ring and make my apologies for not coming. This is the second week I’ve let them down, another burden to my already heavy load. ‘The girl, the girl... Why didn’t I think about the girl’ I said agitatedly to myself. 267

Shit, the old bugger’s right. She could come forward and tell everything she knows. Which isn’t much beyond the fact, I saved her life. She promised though. It’s like I said ‘women can be funny creatures when they want to be.’ Very paranoid, very devious, will jump at the first opportunity for financial gain, and walk all over those who’ve helped them along the way. 268

Shit, where did that come form. Paranoia can be such a funny thing. It plays so many tricks with your mind. 269

Come on Richie, you can’t tell me you don’t like the games we play. 270

As a matter of fact, I don’t. 271

What are we going to do about the girl? She may tell all.272

Don’t worry, calm down.273

How can I calm down? When we could be arrested after the first go. 274

Let’s try to contact the girl. 275

Are you nuts? Talk about putting your testicles in the sleeping lion’s mouth, why don’t you wedge your thumb up his arse while you’re at it? What are you like? There’s got to be another way. 276

Yeah, and that is to find the girl and see where we stand with her, she maybe sympathetic to the cause and may even help.277

What? She’d be Robin to our Batman?278

No, I was thinking more along the lines of using her for bait to attract the criminal element who started all this. 279

You know, I think you could be right. 280

Of course I’m right, she’s an attractive girl and after all, last night was a perfect example of just how helpful she could be. 281

Do you really think she’d agree to it?282

It all depends on our powers of persuasion, doesn’t it? 283

Oh great, I’m home. 284

I put my key in the lock, let myself in and quickly closed it behind me. I dumped my coat on the settee as I came through the living room. I made my way through to the kitchen and put the kettle on to boil.285

What if we can’t persuade her to join us? 286

Then, we’ll have to kill her. 287

No, we can’t do that. 288

It is the only way to preserve our identity.289

I won’t have any part of it, it makes us no better than those that we’re out to stop.290

No, but the mystery of the Reaper must remain, nothing must jeopardize the quest. 291

No, not at the cost of a life. 292

We will see, she must die. 293

You would have me execute this girl because she knows who I am? 294

Yes, but don’t worry, it will be a short painless death.295

There will be no killing.296

The Reaper must personify Death. 297

Get a grip; we impersonate death to bring out the good in evil. 298

One sharp twist of the neck and crack, it is broken, death is inevitable.299

Leave me alone. 300

Wrap a stocking around her neck and pull tightly, watch as the tongue extends, grasping for air. Watch as her eyes widen in regret as she realizes she is going to die. 301

Stop it, leave me alone. 302

See the blade as it glides sharply and effortlessly across her throat, releasing a more than necessary amount of blood and the shock on her face as she tries futilely to breathe and sees death. 303

‘Leave me alone’ I yelled out loud, and made a run for the stairs. 304

Well how about a slower death?305

I ran to the bedroom holding my head.306

The pain. 307

I kneel at my cluttered dressing table, my hands scramble and forage for my Stanley blade. Stab her sharply in the stomach, gyrate the blade back and forth, allowing for potential blood loss. 308

Oh yes, the exquisite pain as she looks death in the face. 309

Death is imminent as she sees her very life blood pumping away. 310

The cold, the numbness, the pins and needles. Oh, it would be so exquisite.311

I quickly took off my tee shirt.312

I unfolded the blade on my knife. ‘Fuck you’ I cry aloud as I use the point of the blade to make a small incision about two inches below my left nipple. I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes as I slowly slide the blade an inch across. My body tensed at the pain of this cold alien object in my flesh. I take a sharp breath as I take the blade away and laugh. Physical pain releases my emotional anguish and the voices slowly fade back into my subconscious. 313

Yes,314

I smiled to myself.315

My demons have succumbed to me. 316

My chest was throbbing like crazy. As I looked down my eyes widened in shock, as I realized I’d cut a more deeply then I’d meant to. So holding my chest, I got to my feet and made my way to the bathroom. I began running a cold bath and chucked a towel. When I was happy the towel was sufficiently soaked, I pulled it out and wrapped it around me,317

Shit, that’s cold. 318

I held the towel in place, with my hand securely over the cut. The area of towel around my hand darkened in deepest red as the blood blotted out the peach colour of it. 319

Ice, I need ice. 320

I quickly ran down the stairs and made my way to the fridge/freezer. If slitting my wrists had taught me anything, it was how to sort out a deep cut.321

Then, one handedly, I took the ice from the freezer, and cracked it out onto the surface top by the drawing board. I then wrapped a load in a tea-towel and laid flat on my back. I put the ice pack on my chest where the wound was.322

After about ten or fifteen minutes it actually stopped bleeding, so I quickly strapped it up with cotton wool and a length of cut off plaster.323

When it was sorted out, I made a quick phone call to my Mum and made my apologies for not making it down the house. How did my excuse go? Something along the lines of sore throat, tummy bug, sickness and the shits. She gave me the usual whirlwind of motherly advice. Wrap up warm, sweat it out, sleep it off.324

I really hate lying to my mother; I really hate deceiving people in general. But sometimes there is a necessary deception to hide a greater truth. 325

Oh don’t come over all X-Files on me, please. 326

What do you want? 327

I’m bored, just carry on rambling, don’t mind me.328

I’ve lost my train of thought, now.329

I really think we should find this girl, you know? 330

Yes, she may well help us. The thing is, we don’t know who she is or where she lives. 331

Well you’d know her if you saw her again. 332

Well yeah. Then have a wander up by the housing estate. She’s bound to come out sooner or later.333

I might get picked up for loitering. 334

How do you figure? 335

They’re bound to have told the police where they tried to rape the girl, and after all, the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. 336

Good point, so what do we do about it?337

How about, we go for a drink? 338

Yeah, right, like a drink is going to sort out all our problems, we’ll just end up getting pissed and accomplish nothing.339

No, hear me out, I suggest we go to some of the pubs in the area and check them out, I mean she did look like an outgoing girl. 340

Yeah, I suppose you could be right. 341

Shall we go then? 342

What? Now? Yeah, it seems as good a time as any. 343

What’s the time then?344

I quickly glanced up at the wall clock. 7.30 p.m. Then as I looked down I saw my blood splattered jeans. 345

I’d best change them. 346

I then saw the trail of blood I’d left through the hallway and followed it upstairs. ‘Fuck, I forgot about that. How fucking long is this going to take now?’ I muttered to myself. It was then that I saw the bloody handprints on the wall and banister, where I’d fumbled down the stairs. ‘See what you drive me to, you fucking wanker’ I said to my empty flat. I quickly got my shit together and did a proud job on cleaning it up.347

I then took a couple of dabs of speed and hit the town. The first pub I got to was the Tutt and Shive. I popped my head around the door, the speed is kicking in and I’m feeling a bit more confident. As I looked around, I saw lots of familiar old faces from school. It’s amazing; when you see people you haven’t seen for years their eyes light up when they see you. But nobody really wants to make the first move in regaining acquaintances of old ties. I suppose it would be nice to catch up, but tonight I’m here on business. So I gave them a polite wave of recognition, my best pearly white smile and made my way to the best place for viewing everyone in the pub. To see who comes in and out and stood there, pint in hand, watching.348

Suddenly, out of the blue, someone squeezed my hips. It certainly broke my train of thought. As I looked down, I saw an incredibly beautiful girl. ‘Hiya Richie’, she said playfully, smiling.349

‘It is Richie, isn’t it? Richard Banbury.’350

‘Yeah’ I replied, dazed and confused for a minute. I tried for the life of me to work out who she was. I recognized the face and the voice, but I can’t put a name to either. Then with a dawn of recognition, I realized she was a girl I used to go to school with. I fancied the hell out of her in school and I think she fancied me. But neither of us ever had the nerve to do anything about it. Oh happy days.351

‘Lisa’ I said with a wave of instant recognition.352

‘You remember me.’353

‘Bloody hell, yeah. You’re still as gorgeous as ever.’354

‘And you’re still as sweet as ever.’355

‘Shit, it must be 10 years since I’ve seen you.’356

‘So what have you been up to?’ she asked, reminiscently. ‘What are you doing these days?’ she continued.357

‘Oh, a couple of jobs here and there. Presently on the dole, one of Blair's army so to speak’ I replied with a smile. Then almost as an after thought I remembered why I was here.358

‘Look Lisa, I don’t mean to be rude. But do you come here often?’359

‘Well occasionally. Why?’360

‘I’d really love to stay and catch up. But I really am in a bit of a hurry at the moment. I’m supposed to be meeting someone. Tell you what, give me your phone number and I’ll give you a ring.’ I babbled. She looked at me in utter confusion, with her mouth open. I quickly swallowed down my pint in one, took a pen from my pocket and wrote down her number on my arm.361

‘Right, I’ve really got to go. So I’ll give you a ring soon, okay?’362

‘Yeah’ she said. ‘Give me a ring, anytime.’363

‘Okay then, I might just take you up on that’ I replied, smiling. I then gave her a hug and kiss and made my way to the exit, satisfied that the girl I was looking for wasn’t in there. Right, what’s the time? 364

9.15 p.m. and I’ve just arrived at the Saint Fabens or more affectionately know by the locals as the Fag (not for the reasons it may suggest).365

I made my way in. Bloody hell, it’s busy tonight, for a week night anyway. I bought half a coke and found a central area in which to stand and study the array of faces. No joy here, bugger. I then had a fag and finished my drink to give it ten or fifteen minutes of further study.366

I then tried the Albion, no joy there either. Then on to the Clive, no joy there. 367

Fuck, this is frustrating. I’m starting to get pissed off now. 368

Around about closing time, I gave up the chase and went home.369

I’ll have to try going out earlier tomorrow night.370