Fook (36 page)

Derek remained motionless.

“Jason, what are you doing?”

“I’m taking control.”

“Control of what?”

“Life.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh don’t play naive with me. You know
exactly what I’m talking about. You yourself said that I should
lighten up and let loose a bit. Well, I’m here to tell you that I
took your advice and, whoo! I’ve never been better.”

“Jason, I didn’t tell you to do this.”

“Maybe not this exactly, but I have to say,
once I realized my full potential, I knew exactly what had to be
done.”

“Full potential?”

“Oh, yeah. I guess I should explain how it
is that I’m standing here right now. It took nearly two years for
me to perfect it but...”

Suddenly Jason vanished.

More stunned than relieved by her
assailant’s mysterious disappearance, Mrs. Tillmore remained ridged
and motionless as Derek rushed to her side.

“Ah ah ah.”

Startled, Derek turned to see Jason standing
in the very spot from which he’d just run. Beside him, her arm held
firmly in his grasp, the hunting knife pressed against her side,
was an equally stunned and frightened Sarah.

“What the—”

“—Neat trick, huh,” Jason grinned.

“It’s going to be alright,” Derek attempted
to comfort Jason’s new captive.

“Is it Derek?,” Jason pressed the tip of the
blade against Sarah’s side as she fought the urge to break down.
“How do you expect her to believe anything you say when it’s clear
by the confusion on your face that you have no idea what’s going to
happen next?”

“How did you—?”

“—Jump? I know, it's not a very unique term
but it really is the best way to put it.”

“Where’s the brie—”

“—The briefcase,” Jason interrupted again.
“Oh...I don’t need that anymore.”

“But that’s impossible. The power source.
You need a power source.”

“No, I never said I needed a power source. I
simply needed a way to trick my body, or I should say my blood,
into thinking my life was in danger. A high voltage shock seemed
like the most efficient and controllable method at the time; at
least when the blood was inside the machine that is. When it’s in
me however...well...mind over matter my friend. Mind over
matter.”

“But—”

“—Now don’t get me wrong it did take me
quite some time and a bit of testing to finally figure that out,”
Jason added, holding up his wrist to reveal a series of cuts. “The
razor would never get quite deep enough to do any real damage
before my body would take over and remove me from the situation.
However, I found that such brutal and real threats made controlling
the jump nearly impossible. Just like the time I tried to hang
myself. I was gone even before the rope pulled tight. Eventually I
realized that it wasn’t strictly the blood that was triggering the
reaction. It was the adrenaline. Fear. My body’s natural fight or
flight reaction could be used to initiate a jump and that’s when I
learned how to control it. Once I managed to harness my fear, all
that was left was fine tuning the control, so now...”

Again, Jason vanished but only momentarily
as he almost instantly reappeared behind Mrs. Tillmore, the hunting
knife once again across her throat.

Stumbling backward in disbelief, Derek stood
beside Sarah.

“No neat little gadgets. No complicated
programs. Just good old fashion brain power,” he pointed at his
head.

“That still doesn’t explain what you’re
doing,” Derek defiantly refused to act impressed.

“Let’s face it Derek. I’ve spent my entire
life being bullied by...well...just about everyone...including
you.”

“I—”

“—You’re honestly going to tell me that you
never thought yourself better than me. That we didn’t always do
what Derek wanted to do. That the whole fucking world didn’t
revolve around dear old Derek and his conquests.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Her,” Jason nodded in Sarah’s
direction.

“Me?” Sarah asked shocked.

“Not just you. Every one of you.”

Sarah seemed confused.

Turning his attention back to Derek, “No
matter the situation, you somehow always manage to come out on top.
Everyone loves the outgoing and unpredictable Derek. No one ever
wants the quiet and boring Jason. Well, all of that’s going to
change, starting here, tonight.”

“Jason, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to right all of the wrongs, all
of the things in my life, all of those people who made me the
pathetic little twerp that I was. I’m going to eliminate them
all.”

“But why now? Why here?” Motioning to the
woman at the end of Jason’s knife, “She has nothing to do with
this.”

“You said it yourself Derek. We’re friends.
I wouldn’t want you to miss out on this monumental occasion.
Besides, I want you to know what’s coming. Because, when I’m done
here, I’m going to take care of your little girlfriend’s baby
sister.”

“What?” Sarah snapped.

“What does this have to do with her
sister?”

“You really should learn their last names
Derek.”

Derek turned to Sarah with a look of
confusion before turning back to Jason.

“Bishop,” Jason added.

“Bishop?” Derek repeated in shock as he
turned back to Sarah. “Your last name is Bishop?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Is your sister’s name Katherine
Bishop?”

“Katie, yeah why?”

“And she’s pregnant,” Jason added with a
grin.

“How do you know that?” Sarah turned to
Jason, more confused than ever.

“Your sister’s in danger,” Derek returned
Sarah’s attention to him.

“Danger? Why? What does she have to do with
any of this?”

“Not her,” Jason playfully interjected.

“Her daughter,” Derek added.

“Her daughter? What are you talking
about?”

“Just like the little slut currently growing
inside of Mrs. Tillmore here, your sister is going to give birth to
the biggest cunt of them all.”

“Fuck you!” Sarah snapped back at Jason.
“What is he talking about Derek?”

“I’ll explain later but now we need to deal
with this situation,” Derek whispered.

“If you two are done,” Jason
interrupted.

“Jason, put the knife down. You don’t have
to do this. There’s a better way. You’re better than this.”

“That’s right. I am better than this. I’m a
fucking god.”

“You’re a fucking psychopath,” Sarah
mumbled.

“You know, I wasn’t planning on it, but
given your sister’s ability to spawn the seed of Satan, I should
probably do your future husband a favor and take care of you as
well.”

“Jason,” Derek pleaded.

“What? You never know. Maybe it’s you. I
could be doing you a favor,” Jason grinned. “But first...”

Removing the knife from Tabitha’s throat,
Jason buried the blade in her back as she let out a gasp and stood
frozen in shock.

“No!” Derek lunged forward.

“Oh god,” Sarah turned away in horror.

“See you at the dance.” And with that, Jason
vanished as the wounded woman fell into Derek’s arms.

Lowering her to the floor, “You’re going to
be okay. The police are on their way,” Derek turned to confirm
Sarah’s call.

Reluctant to let the woman see her response,
Sarah offered only a slight shake of her head from side to side as
Derek shot her a ‘why not’ look.

“The line was dead and then...,” Sarah
whispered.

Turning back to the woman in his arms, Derek
pulled his hand out from beneath her to find that it was covered in
blood.

Mrs. Tillmore just stared up at the ceiling
overhead, her only sound a slight gurgling as her lungs filled with
blood.

“It’s going to be alright. You’re going to
be alright,” Derek continued to lie.

Slowly the woman’s eyes wondered from the
ceiling overhead, pausing briefly on Derek’s tear filled eyes
before coming to rest on her stomach. Unable to speak, she slid her
hand onto her stomach, comforting her unborn daughter as they both
passed.

THIRTY-SEVEN

“Katie, can you get the door?!” Phil yelled down the
stairs, receiving no answer from his daughter who he’d last seen
sitting at the kitchen table, shoveling down her second bowl of
frosted flakes.

The girl’s cereal addiction had gotten worse
since being pregnant. At age six she’d gone through a phase where
she had refused to eat anything but cereal for nearly two months
before they’d finally convinced her to try something that didn’t
come from a box. She’d nibbled on two strips of bacon before
extending her Kelloggs run another month.

The doorbell rang again.

“Katie!”

Again, no answer.

Struggling to get his belt through the final
loop, he fastened the buckle and almost forgetting, zipped his fly
before poking his head out of the upstairs master bedroom to issue
one last, “Katie, door!”

Silence, then another bell.

Sighing, Phil shuffled down the stairs,
unlatching the deadbolt as he reached the last step and pulled open
the door to reveal his oldest daughter and some boy he’d never
met.

“Sarah!” he exclaimed, struggling with the
stubborn latch on the screen door before finally striking it with
an open palm.

“Whoa!,” Sarah laughed as she caught the
violently opened door.

“Sorry about that. That damn thing’s been
sticking even worse lately. What are you doing here?” he leaned
down to hug his daughter. “I thought you weren’t coming home until
next week.”

“All of my finals were this week. I just
took the last one yesterday so I figured I’d come home a week
early,” Sarah lied. She had three more finals; one tomorrow and two
more the following Monday morning, none of which she’d come up with
a good excuse for missing yet.

“Well, I’m glad you did,” Phil continued his
excited greeting as he looked up at his daughter’s unknown guest,
making eye contact for the first time. He seemed like a fairly
intelligent guy. Something in his eyes gave him an educated and
well balance look, however with his disheveled clothes, dirty hands
and bruised face, Phil couldn’t help but think trouble. “Who’s your
friend?”

“Daddy, this is Derek.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir,” Derek attempted to
win over the large police officer Sarah affectionately called,
Daddy. He’d intended to add points with a firm handshake but
apparently looking to intimidate his daughter’s new “friend”, Mr.
Bishop clamped down on Derek’s hand like a set of vice grips.

“Likewise,” Phil stared at Derek
suspiciously as he continued crushing his fingers.

“Daddy,” Sarah, whispered loudly for her
father to stop.

Reluctantly, Phil did as she asked.

“Boyfriend?”

“No,” Sarah responded after a short pause to
consider what her father would prefer to hear.

“Shame,” Phil smirked.

“Daddy,” Sarah scolded, taking his attention
off of Derek for the moment.

“Well, come on in,” Phil waved the two into
the living room. Why didn’t you just use your key?”

“My keys are on my other key ring. I grabbed
the wrong set when we left Boston,” she lied, not wanting to share
with her father the events of the previous night or the fact that
her and Derek had spent the rest of the night asleep at a rest stop
along I-90, though not much sleep had been had. They’d spent most
of the night arguing over what they were going to do about Jason,
and the liquor store and Mrs. Tillmore and now her very own sister.
She’d argued for telling her father everything; about Jason and
what had happened and what they feared was next, leaving out the
time travel bit of course. Her father was an intelligent man,
trained to tell when someone was lying, which is why she’d finally
given in to Derek’s wishes to hold off telling anyone anything
until they had had more time to consider their options. Able to
tell that she really believed what she was saying, he’d likely take
her to Cannon Memorial for a psych evaluation before he believed
the farfetched and horrific tale. Then, once he learned that at
least the part about the murders was true, he’d surely arrest Derek
and charge him with the unspeakable crimes. No, for now silence was
their best friend.

“Sarah?” Katie called out surprised as she
exited from the hall bathroom.

“Katie,” Sarah unenthusiastically responded,
drawing a look of confusion from Derek in return.

“What are you doing here?” Katie continued
the uncomfortable welcome.

“School’s out. Thought I’d come home a bit
earlier.”

“Oh. That’s nice.”

Derek’s eyes bounced back and forth as the
sisters exchanged uncomfortably hostile pleasantries before their
father interrupted.

“You two,” Phil scowled. “Quit this
bickering and give each other a hug."

Reluctantly, the two girls embraced.

“See now, isn’t that better?” Phil mediated
the more pleasant greeting.

Katie eyed Derek with the same uncomfortable
glare he’d received from her father only moments earlier.

“Are you alright?” Phil questioned his
youngest daughter as he noticed her hand holding the lower portion
of her stomach.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Katie replied, rubbing at
her belly. “I think I just ate too fast or something.”

“See. That’s why I tell you to slow down.
You need to give your body a chance to catch up with your eyes.
Plus I’m sure all of that sugary cereal doesn’t help.”

Temporarily putting their differences aside
to acknowledge the common, over protective element in both their
lives, the two girls exchanged a look.

Confused and at a loss in this new and
unexpected family element, Derek remained silent.

“Listen, I have to get to work…,” Phil
changed the subject, “…and as you can see, I’m not quite ready
yet.” While he had on the entire uniform, his shirt remained
unbuttoned and his belt, while fastened, obviously required
tightening by a couple notches to eliminate the awkward sag to one
side. “Why don’t you two catch up…,” he took both of his daughter’s
shoulders as he directed them toward the kitchen, “…while I get to
know our friend Derek here a bit better.”