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This one is my late LATE ghost story. It's dark and creepy and it made me look over my shoulder more than once while typing it. I don't know what that says when you can scare the shit out of yourself. It stemmed from one of my partner's wonderful pictures. I had originally titled it "Ain't right." but I thought that was too....self descript. ;) Anyway, I hope it gets ya even if just a little.  Thank you as always for stopping by.  I really enjoy your visits.  For those of you who steer clear of my horror works, I have something softer in mind for next time. Please come by again and stay a while.  Let's see each other early next week. Deal?

Jack hated these nights as a cop. He despised driving through the fog around the mazes of forgotten roads thick with underbrush and menacing shadows.  He would be glad when his shift was over and he could head home. With a heavy, bored sigh, he turned down Panther's Lane. It was a township road only in theory.  They recognized it by throwing cinders on it every couple of years. There were no lights or houses anymore; not since the Mardock place was torched. Now all that remained were the shell of the house, a ghost story and a few traces of teenagers; beer cans,  old camp fires, the works. 

The story was told that the Mardock boy was a bad seed.  Anyone who grew up with him back in the 80's knew that.  He was weird from the start; always talking to himself and loving it (even laughing at his private jokes and gestures) Then pets began to go missing in the neighborhood and reappearing dead, mangled or in the case of Kerri Johnson's dog pureed in gallon bags.  The town's stomach churned on that one. So they went to his Mom, Alida. Now she was no pillar of sanity either but she was reasonable and knew right from wrong.  She tried. She tried to help him and when that failed, she tried to get him help. The kid was sick but smart.  He waltzed right through their tests and therapies.  He learned to smile the right way; at the correct time. Swearing he'd been cured and would NEVER hurt anything again, the town opened their hearts and doors. Especially Kerri Johnson. She opened her door.  He defiled her body and laughed all the way to the nuthouse.  Alida begged for mercy, wanting him to be released to her custody, but since Kerri was found in her home (well, what was left of Kerri not to mention a few other missing pets) the town decided to save a little tax money, burning the place with "Lida" in it. He could still remember the sounds of her screaming "This ain't RIGHT!"  and the sweet sickening smell of burning skin.Now her ghost supposedly rummaged through the woods searching for those who did her wrong. A chill raced along the back of his neck.  He shook the memory loose and continued on patrol.

He saw the old Corolla pulled off to the side. Having to make this round twice nightly, he knew right away what it was. Kids.  The windows were fogged and streaked with finger marks. It rocked gently in the night.  He considered bothering them and making them get out of the car; smiling to himself at the thought of naked, embarrassed teenagers. He rolled down the window and tossed his head out to shout a warning.  A smear of flesh thumped heavily, hungrily against the glass.  He heard a soft moan and panting as the car continued to shift gently with their movements.  Then he dragged the spotlight along the ground and up the shape of the car.  There was a startled head that popped into view; a male; young, dark hair. The rocking stopped and things settled.  It was like when you caught little kids in hide and seek. They thought if they closed their eyes you couldn't see them.  He smiled to himself feeling generous and moved along; leaving the couple to do their thing.  Not tonight.  He'd cut 'em a break.

Donnie stomped his heavy boot to the floor and rested his knee on her chest.  He tore at her clothes and ripped her flesh.  Her screams were loud at first. Her arms and legs kicking or punching to free herself from the mess she'd gotten in.  Donnie fixed this with several blows to her head and face.  He broke her nose and laughed at the sound; like a chip bag being crinkled. She was wavering in and out of consciousness, soft cries and moans bubbling from her swelling lips. She wouldn't stop pushing him, yelling at him, calling him names. His knee quieted her but the knife made her silent.  He winced sadly.  He yanked at her shirt to see her perfect, though lifeless, body. He flipped her over and tugged at what he had cut; propping her up so he could finish the task at hand.  He panted excitedly as she limply agreed to his advances and love making.  The only warmth left in her was residual, but he explored her eagerly, wrapping her around him, hugging her. Her gouged naked shoulder whumped against the glass; leaving a n ugly smear.  He moaned against her, kissing her hair and whispering to her how beautiful she was...was.  Then there was the light; brilliant and accusing. SHIT! Someone came up on him.  He pushed her away and scrambled for his clothes, hiking his pants up quickly and zipping part of himself up into his Levis. He bit his lip and growled at the pain.  His eyes darted back to the light.  It traced the outline of the car and seemed to highlight his panicky face.  But then it faded and the cop car pulled away. He was left alone with his girlfriend. Spit dripped from his mouth onto the dead girl beneath him as he giggled. New want surged through him.  He raised her head and kissed her.

Desire fulfilled, Donnie opened the door and stepped out.  The night closed in around him to see what he'd done.  Pulling his shirt back on he reached in and began to drag his girlfriend from the car down into the woods.  She was much heavier now that she was dead. Donnie began to breathe heavily almost tasting the nutty decaying leaves around him.  He kicked them over her to hide her.

The footsteps were soft and slow but unmistakable.  He quickly squatted next to the girl, taking her hand in his. "Don't be afraid. I gotcha" He whispered.  Donnie gripped the knife and flicked his thumb across the blade. He smelled copper and sweat. It  looked like a woman. The robe or coat was long and the frame seemed narrow. Donnie smiled at the prospect of two girlfriends. She wandered slowly down the road. Her breath trailing the night sky in little puffs. 

Donnie stood and stepped into the road.  "Hey Sweetheart. You need help?" his voice was polite and gentle.  Always a good way to start.

The figure stopped and turned slightly to study the new obstacle in the road. The puffs of mist melted into the night. A lifetime of seconds slipped by and for a moment, Donnie's knees went weak. His ass puckered and the hairs on his arms flipped up. His church goin smile drew in to a small "o" as it began to move toward him.  He was no longer certain it was a woman.  Its gate seemed disjointed and stiff.  There was a raspy giggle rushing from the hood as it lined up for the young man.  The sounds became more animal and gruff as it picked up its pace now at a brisk walk. Donnie took the first step back almost tripping himself.  He turned and headed back for his car encouraging himself to jog.  It too rushed forward and before the bend in the road Donnie was at a dead sprint toward the Corolla.  He swiped the handle and yanked.  It ignored him.  "DAMMIT" he yelped as the hooded fiend swooshed closer; its garbled chokes sounding more like hunger and mind numbing torture than the delicate female laughter he'd thought he'd heard.  The car door gave and he slipped in yanking it shut and slamming the lock.  He fumbled for the keys and over cranked the engine. His screams and whacks at the steering wheel joining the rhythm of the engine as it st-st-stumbled to life.

"HA! Bitch!" he shouted triumphantly and he finally glanced at the road. He'd simply drive away.

The road was empty. Donnie's mouth hung open for a second wondering where she'd gone before he realized he'd left the rear door open to drag his girlfriend out.  The shadow pounced. The gurgling and flailing looked less passionate and intimate now.  The movement of the car was abrupt and violent. 

The figure got out and reached in to turn off the engine.  It pulled Donnie out and back down the path next to his girlfriend. Gently, it pulled the muck from the girl's smashed face; studying it. It poked at the wounds made by the dead boy next to her.

"This ain't right" Lida's son said quietly and pulling his own knife from his coat where he proceeded to return Donnie's horrific favor.  Jack Mardock covered them when he was finished exploring and walked slowly back to his patrol car. He'd be glad to head home after work.