The Immolation of Casper Cross

#735868

October 5, 2011 at 5:15pm

Day One : First Meeting word count: 1197 Casper only smokes when he drinks and he only drinks when he’s with Kostya. On his own he doesn’t much like either of those things. Liquor makes people sloppy and stupid and those are both things he tries to avoid being. The sensation of smoke in his lungs isn’t one he’s particularly fond of either. Yet somehow whenever he’s with his Russian friend he ends up with a glass in front of him and a cigarette betwee... [Read more]

#736013

October 6, 2011 at 2:13pm

Day Two : Character/Reputation word count: 2050 “We are the hollow men, we are the stuffed men.” The words are from a poem by T. S. Eliot. Casper’s not big on poetry as a general rule, because it’s not the kind of thing that fits into his life. Poetry, art shows, noir film festivals, those are all things reserved for nicer and less violent souls. This one is different. This one is what he is, where the Hollow Men’s name came from, and he finds himsel... [Read more]

#736149

October 7, 2011 at 9:48pm

Day Three : Family Ties word count: 1543 The bar is located in the southern part of the city, near enough the docks that he can smell and taste saltwater and hear the blaring horns of the boats coming into harbor. Casper pays the ten dollar cover charge at the door and when he walks in he can already hear the band wailing away on stage. He finds himself a seat at the bar and orders whatever the draft is tonight. It’s not for him anyway. He didn’t ask Kostya to come. S... [Read more]

#736220

October 8, 2011 at 1:50pm

Fight 357 words Casper doesn’t expect the attack. The man hits him hard and hits him fast and he’s already taking a shot to the jaw before he’s fully aware what’s happening. His first instinct is to go for his gun and he’s just got it drawn when a hand wraps around his wrist and forces it back against the bricks. His hand cracks off the wall as a knee hits him in the gut and all the air leaves his lungs in a rush. Brutal fingers are digging into his f... [Read more]

#736309

October 9, 2011 at 12:43pm

Smile 956 words Casper wakes when the sunlight strikes his face. His eyes don’t want to open at first, because they’re gritty and the lids are heavy. He blinks slowly in the dawning light, watching fingers of gold spread across the pale sheets next to him. There are different colors dancing across the fabric thanks to the stained glass wind chimes that hang in the window. He can hear them tinkling quietly against each other and the more distant sound of someone singin... [Read more]

#736514

October 10, 2011 at 4:53pm

Weakness wordcount: 3620 “Love is a dog from Hell.” – Charles Bukowski .one. It’s one of the few times Casper’s been glad to carry out an execution order. The Apostle’s name is Jason Bennington. He lives in an apartment building in the lower east side of the city. It’s been four days, but Casper still has a healing gash on the side of his head and bruises that are turning a sickening shade of yellow. He doesn’t like weakn... [Read more]

#736588

October 11, 2011 at 3:23am

.The Heart is a Muscle Worth Living For. wordcount: 1323 “Get up,” Casper says. The man doesn’t move fast enough so he kicks him in the ribcage. The man slumps over on his side and his hands press weakly against the cement floor. There’s blood dripping off the end of his nose because Casper already broke it. Kostya stands by the door. He’s got the holster with Casper’s guns in it hanging from one hand so that he doesn’t lose his cool a... [Read more]

#736737

October 12, 2011 at 3:43pm

.Crossroads. wordcount: 1306 Casper gets as far as the intersection before he stops. He’s not a fan of poetry but there’s a line he keeps thinking of from a Robert Frost poem and it won’t get out of his head. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and all that bullshit. He runs a hand over his jaw and he’s thinking about those two roads as he stares at the red light. Cars fly by next to him in streaks of light and color and he just watches them go. The engine... [Read more]

#736843

October 13, 2011 at 5:59pm

.Deliver Us From Evil. wordcount: 2472 So now I hope you see I'm nothing more than human Making plans for enemies But here we go again Deliver us from evil Crawling back to insanity When darkness turns to light When darkness turns to light Can someone wake me from this nightmare? - {x-link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH8cIp3ON7s}Deliver Us From Evil{/x-link} by Bullet for My Valentine .one. There’s a click as Casper jams the clip home, pulling t... [Read more]

#736953

October 14, 2011 at 11:50pm

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#737002

October 15, 2011 at 6:28pm

.Antagonist, Thy Name Is. wordcount: 1670 “Byron Harrison.” Casper says the name again. “Tell me about him.” The hospital chair is uncomfortable, with only a thin layer of padding in between him and the plastic backing. He doesn’t care. It’s still better than the hospital bed. There’s pain splintering its way up his spine and radiating and pulsating from the left side of his body. It’s his constant companion now, just like the stead... [Read more]

#737083

October 16, 2011 at 5:59pm

.Introspection. wordcount: 1679 Nine weeks. That’s how long Casper spends in the hospital. That’s how long until he gets to go home. When he is released, it’s Kostya that drives him there. He’s not allowed to drive himself because half his body is a wreck and he can’t see the normal world through his left eye. He’s still got bandages and pressure garments trying to hold him together, but the rest of the healing process can be done through outpa... [Read more]

#737167

October 17, 2011 at 5:20pm

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#737288

October 18, 2011 at 4:05pm

.Divinity. wordcount: 1835 Casper hates this place. He hates the sterilized smell of it, the quiet sound of a beeping heart monitor, and the sight of a white hospital bed. This one’s at least got a patchwork quilt thrown over the end of it. There’s a wooden crucifix hanging over the bed and portraits of angels and Jesus hanging on the wall on either side of the room. It makes him dislike the place even more. Reeve sits in the hospital chair closest to the bed, his ... [Read more]

#737395

October 19, 2011 at 5:28pm

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#737480

October 20, 2011 at 4:07pm

.Money. wordcount: 1515 The apartment is dark, the only light coming in through the window across the room. Kostya doesn’t even notice, letting himself into Casper’s place and sauntering over towards the kitchen. “So,” he says. He yanks the door open and pulls a beer out, snapping the lid off on the edge of the counter. “Tomorrow we got make some more social calls, da ?” He grins and waggles his eyebrows. “Are you pleased with yourself?... [Read more]

#737599

October 21, 2011 at 11:59pm

.Loss of Control. wordcount: 2613 Casper sits out by the fire escape, a cigarette in his fingers. He’s not smoking it. It’s not a habit he’s ever particularly cared for, but now it’s one he can barely stand. He doesn’t need to feel smoke in his lungs, because that sensation burned itself into his memory. He leans against the railing and he just holds it loosely in his hand, watching the bright red cherry as it reduces the thing to burned bits of pape... [Read more]

#737638

October 22, 2011 at 3:38pm

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#737717

October 23, 2011 at 11:27pm

.Trigger. wordcount: 2904 Sonya’s not in her apartment. They go in quiet and sneaky but it doesn’t matter. The girl isn’t there and neither is Harrison. There’s just the wreckage left behind, her couch overturned and papers fluttering across the room from the open window. There’s a message written on the wall in blood. It’s just an address, but it’s one that Casper recognizes. His gaze lingers on it for a long time. Kostya snorts and s... [Read more]

#737765

October 24, 2011 at 3:36pm

.Last Words. wordcount: 2039 Kostya’s got a sling around his arm and a bandage on his shoulder. He scratches idly at it, making a face at the immobilization of his right arm. There are bruises and burns on his face, but it could be worse. He had his back to the hex circle when it went off. If he’d been facing it, he’d probably be dead. He’d probably have the skin melted off his bones and Casper doesn’t like to think of what might have been. He doesnR... [Read more]