Over the Edge

    The sun pierced through the clouds and warmed the town of Davisburg.  Outside of town on Blackwater Road a monster was about to break loose.   

    Mick was an area resident most of his life, except for the time he spent away in the military.  He had grown up a loner, and was teased and tormented all his life.   

    While growing up his friends played many nasty tricks on him.  They would push him in the creek, call him names, and pull his hair.  His father Jared and mother Megan were both factory workers, and they were poor.  Jared use to beat Mick due to stress and psychological problems from the Vietnam war.  His mother was a nice lady, and she loved Mick very much. 

    She felt sorry for Jared after he came home from the war and people treated him the way they did.  He was spit on in the airport, called a baby killer, and a lot of other very nasty things.  People back then didn't understand the war due to a lack of education about combat.  This stopped after a few years and people forgot about the war.  They started to appreciate veterans, and the truth had finally come out about Vietnam as well. 

    This combination of things really affected Mick.  He thought about the stories he had heard his father tell his mother, and part of Mick understood.  Even after all this he still decided to join the military.  While in the military his unit got selected for the desert war.  They had orders to depart in 30 days for training in California.  Afterward they would go on to Saudi Arabia.  He was a tanker and worked on the M1 as a driver.  Some of the things he saw over there would haunt him the rest of his life.   

    After his Honorable Discharge he had come home, but something was very different about him.  He had trouble holding down a job, and most nights he was up with cold sweats, shakes, and nausea.  He went to see the area psychiatrist Dr Hoffner.  He had diagnosed Mick with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and prescribed him various psychotropic drugs.  He also recommended Mick go see a talk therapist. 

    With all of this happening Mick had no choice but to file for disability.  He couldn't be around anyone because of all the years of torment.  He became a loner, and lived mainly isolated from society. 

    As the years past his father got sick, and one day he had a fatal heart-attack.  Not to long after his passing, Mick's mother started to die inside.  Two years later she was diagnosed with cancer, and Mick watched her die a painful and depressing death. 

    He now took over the family house just off Blackwater Road.  He had no neighbors, there were two properties down the road from him, but they were both empty.  The houses sitting on the property were left to rot.  There weren't many jobs around Davisburg, and the town was small.  They only had two convenience stores named Turkey Mountain. 

    When Mick went in the Turkey Mountain store to get his smokes and some of his favorite soda, the store clerk always gave him a hard time.  She knew him for many years, and was aware of his bad temper.  She always carded him for smokes, and this made him very upset.  Even though she knew him and had seen him countless times, she still carded him.  The first couple of times he didn't get mad, but today's trip would be different from any other!   

    He pulled up to Turkey Mountain and there was several old men standing inside drinking coffee.  When he entered they stared at him and started to snicker.  He walked over to the soda case and grabbed a cola; then approached the counter. 

    "Two packs of Reds please."

    The clerk named Katie was a local girl who thought her shit didn't stink.  Mick was a quiet man and never looked for trouble.  He was 34 now and he really just wanted to be left alone in life.  He had no plans to marry, and he didn't want any children. 

    "Can I see some ID please,"  Katie said with a smirk on her face.

    His blood started to boil, and the old men started to chuckle.  He took out his ID and handed it to Katie.  She looked it over and handed it back to him.  He tossed a ten dollar bill on the counter and snatched up his stuff, then he left.   

    He hopped in his old white van, and smoked a cigarette.  He was still furious with Katie.  The more he thought about what had happened, the more furious he became.  He even went as far as planning out in his head the kidnapping of Katie.  Then a horn blew, it was the town Mayor Jim Farrell.  He waved to one of the citizens as he drove by the store.  This startled Mick, and brought him back to reality.  He pulled out and headed up Blackwater Road to his house.  When he got home he started chain smoking, and his hands began to shake.  The sweat poured from his forehead.  He got up and grabbed his pistol, then went out on the back porch.  He started to shoot at the targets in his yard.   

    A little while later while sitting on the back porch, something in his mind snapped!  He got up and went inside, then he opened his cellar door and went down the old wooden steps.  He had been collecting supplies for a while now, when he went into town he would visit the local hardware store called Jimmie's.  The owner of the store was a veteran too, and he treated Mick with great respect.  Mick had been awarded the Bronze Star for valor in the desert. 

    In the root cellar he had started to set things up.  He had some plywood, chains, nails, salt, saws, drills, and many other common hand tools.  The cellar had concrete walls that Mick and his father Jared had put up themselves to stop some of the water from seeping in.  He picked up some heavy eye bolts and his drill.  Then he began to fasten them to the wall.  He grabbed all his hand tools and spread them out on his cellar table.  In his mind he was setting up an operating room.  Several rats dwell down there, and he would feed them on a nightly basis.  He treated them with bones and fat that were left over from his supper. 

    After finishing up he walked upstairs and sat down in his chair.  He lit a cigarette and started to think.  Katie walked home after work because she didn't drive, and the store closed at 8 p.m.  It was early yet and he watched the nightly news.  He loved the news and dreamed one day of being on the air.  Would Mick finally get his wish? 

    "9 more soldiers were killed today in a road side bomb attack on their convoy," the TV spit out.   

    He got really depressed and started crying.  Did Mick actually have empathy in his heart?  Apparently so, but only when it dealt with soldiers.  His respect for men and women in uniform was immense.  He lived with the after-effect of a war torn soldier.  His father had psychological damage from Vietnam.  Mick also had his own complications due to war.  The tears stopped and all the inner pain turned to anger.  He couldn't think straight, and the sweat poured profusely.  His hands began shaking, and it was almost time for his trip into town. 

    He opened a new pack of cigarettes after smoking an entire pack since he had got home.  Then he grabbed his bowie knife and went out on the front porch.  He sat there smoking, and staring at his van.  He pictured the word: 'CORONER' on the side, and started to laugh hysterically.  It was now dusk outside as the sun dropped behind the near by mountain.  He checked his watch and it read 7:40 p.m.  It was time to take a ride into Davisburg and wait on Katie to close up.   

    When he arrived in town he drove slowly past the store, and noticed there was no one inside but Katie.  So he headed around the block and parked.  He could see the front of the store, and he sat in wait.  The radio pumped out bluegrass music and filled the van with harmony. 

    At 8 p.m. Katie was leaving the store.  He started up his van and crept down the dead street behind her.  It was dark outside now and there was no one in sight.  It started to rain and Katie put her hood up walking faster towards her house.  She only had 6 blocks to go.  Would these be the last 6 blocks Katie would ever walk again?

    She was a known cat-lover, and she had 3 of her own.  Mick heard her speak of them in the store many times.  This is what he will use to lure Katie towards the van.  He pulled up next to her and he stopped.  She looked at him motioning to her.  He wanted her to come over to the drivers side door.  The rain fell softly in the night air. 

    Katie walked over and said, "What do you want Mick?" 

    He replied, "I wanted to ask you earlier but I forgot.  I am planning on getting a kitten for company, and I was wondering where a good place would be to purchase one?" 

      Katie smiled in relief, she thought that Mick was going to harass her or something of this nature.  She started to speak and was interrupted...

    "Would you like a ride home?  I would really love to see one of your cats." Mick said. 

    "No thanks, you know I only live right up the street Mick." Katie replied.   

    "Okay, but I bought a kitten.  I have food and a litter box in the back and I was wondering if I got the right kind?" He asked.  "Will you please have a look and make sure?"   

    She agreed, "Alright Mick but quickly, it's raining and dark, plus I have to get home to my babies." 

    He hopped out and opened the back van door, then scanned the area.  There was no one in sight and the street only had a half dozen houses.  When she looked in the van it was too dark to see anything.  Mick took out his lighter and struck a flame.  While she was looking he reached into his jacket and pulled out a hammer.  He hit her in the back of the head, and she fell into the van.  She was half in the van and half out.  Mick quickly picked her up and pushed her in.  He slammed the door shut and ran around to get out of there.  He quickly drove to the alley behind her house.  Then he stopped and placed the van in park.  He climbed back and tied her up.  He also placed duct tape over her mouth, she was out cold.  He got back in the front and slowly backed out of the alley.  The rain picked up and the wind whipped, blowing the leaves around. His heart pounded with excitement, and he couldn't think of anything besides getting home and hauling Katie down to the root cellar. 

      He pulled up his driveway and spun the van around facing the front porch.  He hopped out and walked around the back.  Katie lie motionless as he picked her up carrying her in the house.  He hauled her directly to the root cellar.  The house was very old but the basement had been remodeled to slow the drain water.  There was still some water in the basement, and an old drain in the middle of the floor. 

    The rats began to come out and Mick chuckled.  "All in due time my little friends, all in due time." 

    He placed Katie on the floor next to where he set up the chains on the wall, and then he started to piss on her.  She awoke and immediately started to scream. 

    Mick laughed and reached in his pocket and pulled out his ID, "Here ya go bitch!  Do you want to see my ID now." 

    He chucked it at her and laughed in a psychotic manner.  He reached down and grabbed her.  She started kicking him so he planted his iron fist in her face; knocking out some of her teeth.  Then he grabbed her again, but this time she didn't move.  He pulled out his knife and cut the rope from around her wrists, and proceeded to chain her up to the wall.     

      She was bleeding from the mouth and in tremendous pain.  He walked over to the table that was covered with the white sheet and yanked it off, exposing his operating tools.  She started to scream as the duct tape broke loose.  He didn't fix the tape, nor did he put more tape on.  He wanted to hear her scream aloud. 

    He stopped and went upstairs, then the sound of bluegrass could be heard.  The music filled the house and blended in with Katie's screams.  He walked halfway down the old cellar steps, and sat down to smoke a cigarette. 

    "Hey bitch, there's my ID on the floor.  Don't you want to check it."  He said with a smile ear to ear. 

    "Fuck you, you sick fuck, I hope you choke on that cigarette!"  she shouted.   

    Mick laughed to himself and inhaled deeply.  Then after finishing his smoke he stood up and smiled.  He headed back down towards her and then stopped.  He gazed at his operating table and locked his eyes on the rusty hacksaw.  His adrenaline flowed through his veins, and his heart raced.  He snatched the saw up and approached Katie. 

    He clutched her leg and started sawing, showing no empathy.  The blood sprayed his face, and he was now covered in red.  The rats were watching as well, and he swung her leg in the air tossing it to the rats.  They began feasting on their bloody supper.  Katie was on the verge of passing out.  Mick went to his operating table for some salt. 

    He was aware that pouring salt on the wound would stop the bleeding, and cure the meat.  This would allow Mick the time he deemed necessary to get out all the years of hurt.  She just happened to be the person that put him over the edge.  He began the salt treatment and she screamed trying to break loose.  It was no use, he had the root cellar set up like Satan's Workshop! 

    "One more session yet and then I need a smoke.  Oh and there is my ID too bitch." he said with a smile. 

      She knew he wasn't done yet as she cried.  He grabbed the alcohol from the table and his long knife.  He clutched her right arm and sliced off the two fingers she used to hold his ID.  Again she screamed out to no avail.  He poured the alcohol on her mutilated hand and she fainted.  She was hanging there bleeding profusely from the hand, and a little from the salt coated leg.  He finally stopped and walked halfway up the steps to sit down again for a smoke. 

    Laughter could be heard across the room as Mick looked down at his sinister work.  The rats were even laughing in their own little way as they chewed the fingers and leg.  He noticed his ID card on the floor, it was now covered in blood.  The sound of Blue Grass music rolled on.  Mick wondered, "Would Katie ever card another person if I were to let her go?" 

    He was really starting to become delusional.  He watched the rats as they chewed the leg bone, and he thought the rats were watching him too.  He thought they were waiting for him to get up and give them more meat.  In his evil eyes Katie was an object not a person.  He tortured her to release all the years of his own mental anguish. 

    He stood up and walked down the stairs heading for his operating table; he grabbed the shears and started cutting off her long black hair.  When he finished the floor was tainted with blood and hair.  It stuck to his boots, and he looked down spotting his ID on the floor.  He bent over to pick up the hairy blood covered ID. 

    Katie started to moan as she came to.  Mick showed her the ID as soon as she opened her eyes.  This time he said nothing at all, he just smiled with a sinister look.  Next to the table was his hunting rifle.  The 30-06 was a pure killer, having killed dozens of animals in the near by state park.  He thought this would be too easy for all his years of suffering.  All of the yelling his father Jared did over the years.  His childhood friends who had teased him and tortured him; plus what happened in the store on a weekly basis. 

    He picked up the hammer and pushed her head against the wall.  He smashed her throat crushing her windpipe, as she gasped for air he dropped the hammer.  He reached in his pocket and pulled out a utility knife.  He cut an opening in her throat and shoved in an old straw from his evil table.  He laughed extraordinarily, and the rats were now all over the hammer licking the blood from it.

    "Hey little buddies, want some more to drink," Mick said smiling at the rodents.   

    Then he sliced Katie's stomach open and her insides began to fall out on the floor.  She tried to moan, but nothing came out.  Most of her was now rat bait, and Mick was finally satisfied.  He walked up the stairs turning off the light.   

    He sat down in the living room covered in blood.  He turned on the TV now that the record player was silent.  The news was on again.  He was down there in his evil workshop for a little over two hours as the clock read: 11:13 p.m. 

    "Man that seemed like a life time to me," he thought.  "Time to relax now and have a smoke." He soon fell asleep in his chair.   

    The next morning around 6 a.m. at the Turkey Mountain store the trucks and cars began to line up.  One man said, "I can't understand this, Katie has never been late to the store in over 10 years..."

                                                                        THE END