Wild Man Bob

“What was that sound?” Colin asked.

“The remnants of your sanity, along with my patience, screaming away.” Max snapped, a night walk in the woods had been fun, for an hour or two, now it was old. She stopped.

“I hear it too.” Alec said, hiding a smile that Max had stopped.

A faint scream emanated from what had once been Wild man Bob's home.

The scream sounded again.

“What is it? Wild man Bob's last victim?” Colin asked.

“After twenty years? Please.” Max said.

“Could be wind?” Alec offered.

“One way to find out,” Max said, striding forth into the shack. She forced her fear down, she'd known all along that this was a game, a gamble. She had made plans for it too, she looked to make a tidy profit after all was said and done.

The tape recorder was just beginning another scream as she turned it off. The heartfelt scream was cut off.

Max swore. Trust Tommy to be early for once. She rushed out, determined not to miss their fear as the tables were turned.

Wild man Bob, complete with bloodied axe and mask, stood before her.

“You're early,Tommy, Max said, “fun's fun but to hell with nonsense.”

The axe came down.

**** ***** *****

“So this is a prank gone wrong?” The officer asked, looking at the bodies.

“They wanted to scare Max, she asked that I help... I was late.. I killed them because I was late...”

“No one blames you son. I'll have an officer take you home.”

“Thanks.” Tommy said, though all he could think of was how angry Max had been, even as he had sliced off her head, he'd lost the damned bet anyway.


(word count 299 )