Here's Jefferrrrrrrrrrrrry!

Cary looked through her living room window in horror, as she watched police cars with blaring sirens and flashing red lights that surrounded the house next door. Helicopter beams flooded the grounds where SWAT teams swarmed like ants. Everybody on the block stood outside looking on, as the police brought two black body bags outside. They all turned away gagging from a putrid smell that permeated the air.

Cary, a petite, dark- haired, eighteen year old anxiously pushed her way through the crowd. She screamed and cried, as she tried to find out what had happened. Mary, her best friend lived in the house with her twin brother Rob and their Mother, who was visiting her sister. The cops had just put the crime tape down the side of the house and were issuing orders to control the people.

"Everybody stay behind the yellow line and clear the driveway so the ambulance can get out!" the cop shouted with his hand covering his nose.

"Who were they, and what happened?" Cary asked as she approached the officer in tears.

"Look miss, we have no positive identification right now. I can't tell you who they were. One thing I can tell you is they have not been able to locate the twins that lived there. So, it's very likely it was the two teens."

"You mean my friends have been murdered?" Cary screamed hysterically.

Cary turned away weeping and ran into the crowd. She bumped into a blonde, middle- aged man, in a Raiders football jacket wearing wire rimmed eyeglasses, who tried to console her.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to almost knock you down. I didn't catch your name. Mine's Jeff. I don't know what happened here, but I just lost my brother last week. So, I know what you're going through. Here take my handkerchief and wipe your eyes," the man said as he reached in his pocket.

"Thank you. My name is Cary and the two people who I think were murdered, I went to school with and have known each other ever since we were children. Tomorrow was Mary's birthday and I was planning a surprise party for her. Oh! I can’t talk about it. I’m sorry, I have to go.”

"Cary, you seem very distressed. Can you talk to your mom or dad about this?"

"No, I can't. My father is a doctor; he and my mother are at a convention. They won't be back for a week. Right now I'm by myself, but I'll call my older sister and have her pick me up when I get home, so I can stay with her for awhile."

"Come on Cary, there is a coffee shop right across the street. Let's get a soda and we can talk. But first, let me see if I have any money on me."

As the man reached for his wallet, he dropped it on the ground”? Cary quickly picked it up, looking at it strangely as she handed it back to him.

"That's a very unusual- looking leather. Where did you get it from?" she said, examining the billfold.

"Oh, that's from a couple of teenagers I work with." he grinned.

"Hey, Jeff, thanks for the offer. It looks like all the police have left and things are settling down. I'm going to go home. My mom and dad are probably trying to get a hold of me. But, before I go home, I'm going to stop by the chapel and visit with my pastor."

"Are you sure you don't want to get a drink before you go? I'm a great listener. I've worked as a youth counselor for years." Jeff said, as he held out his hand. 

"No, I want to go the chapel before the pastor leaves for his rounds at the hospital."

"Okay then Cary, I'm sure I'll see you some other time. Take care," he smiled at her.

She handed the hankie back to Jeff and headed for the chapel. She broke down and cried, as she talked to the minister about the probability of her friends being murdered. As they both bowed their heads and prayed together, she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. It felt like someone was standing behind her, but when she turned around no one was there. So, she finished praying and left the chapel to go home. Then, she called her sister and went to stay with her.

During the week Cary and her sister went shopping, and out for lunch. She spent time talking about the murder with her other friends and it helped ease her grief. One night, Cary borrowed her sister's car to go out with a friend. She had just turned the corner on her way home, when someone had ran a red light and was coming straight towards her. Cary looked up and froze. "Oh, God I'm going to die. HELP ME!" It was blinding her with its headlights. She closed her eyes when suddenly, she felt the steering wheel turn on its own. Her vehicle swerved to the right and the oncoming car missed her by a hairs breadth. She sat there shaking and wondering what had just happened. Cary knew she didn't turn the wheel. So, how did it turn on its own? She thought about the mysterious touch that she felt on her shoulder, and then the steering wheel moving by itself, diverting the mishap. "Did that really happen?" She thought.

A week later, Cary asked her sister to take her home because her mom and dad were due back that evening. As she stepped up to the door, something moved in the bushes. She had just put the key in the door, when a police car pulled up to the curb. The officer got out and approached her on the step. He told her to make sure that she locked the windows and doors tightly, because they had not caught the killer yet. 

"Its so gruesome, I can hardly talk about it. That hideous, sick monster is just terrible. It's another Jeffrey Dahmer style 'Copycat Killer'. We have no idea how the murderer got in or out. All the windows and doors were locked and undisturbed. Hey, are you by yourself? Where is your mom and dad? Oh, yeah, I forgot about the note that was found in the house and addressed to you. It was cleared in the evidence department because it was written by Rob. He was writing to tell you that he and his counselor Jeff, were planning to get the decorations for Mary's birthday party. Since it was addressed to you, and the police had already talked to Jeff and dismissed him as a suspect. They said I could tell you what it said, but they still wanted to keep it in the file."

"Yeah, I am alone, but my mom and dad will be home this evening. I'll be alright. I'll make sure everything is shut securely. But that's strange, I just met a guy named Jeff last week, who said he was a counselor. Oh, well, I guess it's a coincidence."   
 
"Okay, I'm not trying to scare you. I just wanted to make sure you know what kind of fiend we're dealing with. I figured you're old enough to understand what's going on. I just thought I would come by and warn you. Well, I'm gonna take off and I'll be cruising the neighborhood all night."

Cary walked in the door and noticed there was a message on the answering machine. She pressed the play button, thinking it must be a message from her mom and dad. There was only laughter and no message. She waited, still nothing. The recording went on for a few seconds, but there was no message. Cary felt nervous and filled with fear. Her lips trembled as she turned off the machine.

Later that night, Cary was watching television and she heard clinking and shuffling noises in the basement. She felt fearful, so she started to talk to herself quietly.

"Oh, that's just probably the wind making all that racket. You're just a nervous wreck. Take a deep breath and let it out. Now grab your Bible and go to bed. Mom and dad will be home in a few more hours. Oh, please protect me Lord." Cary murmured. 

Cary had just gotten into bed and reached for her Bible when the lights went out. She sat there petrified. Terrible thoughts raced through her mind.A few minutes went by as she sat in the dark and then, as if by some divine intervention, they came back on. She got up, and crept down the hallway, and they went off again. As she stood there, a breeze brushed against her arm, and a voice whispered in her ear.

"Don't be afraid Cary. I'll protect you."

It must be my imagination. I'm hearing voices. I wonder what's going on. First the touch on my shoulder and then, the wheel turning by itself. Now I'm hearing voices. I must be over tired. she thought shaking her head.

Cary blinked when the electricity came on again, trying to adjust her eyes to the bright hall light, as she stood there in shock. Standing in front of her was Jeff, with a wild look in his eyes, as he extended his hand towards her yelling,"Here's Jefferrrrrrry!"

"What are you doing here? How did you get in? The windows and doors are locked with security devices." she said, trembling.

"Stupid girl, I've been watching the house and waiting for you," he said grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back. "You gave me all the information I needed to get to you, especially that you were by yourself. Do you think your doors and windows would keep me out? My father was the contractor who built these houses. When I was younger, he showed me the hidden window that he installed. It's in the basement. Now that he's dead, no one except me knows the opening exists. The only way in and out is through the basement."

"What do you want? You're hurting my arm! Let go of me! Oh, no! Did you kill my friends? I should have known, when you said your name was Jeff! Jeffrey Dahmer! You're the 'Copycat Killer'? The note.The wallet. The laughter on the answering machine. It was you! There is a cop cruising the neighborhood. You'll never get away with it. My parents will be home soon." Cary cried with a blood curdling scream.

"You mean Jack that I just had coffee with? He thinks I'm a choirboy. Yell all you want, because nobody can  hear you. Unfortunately, your parent's plane is delayed because of the weather. Do you think I'm an idiot? I checked the airport schedule before I came over here."

Cary kicked Jeff in the groin and started running down the stairs. As she struggled to open the door, he caught her by her arm.

"Be afraid," he whispered in her ear. Cary knew at once, he planned to kill her.

“Please don’t harm me. Why are you doing this? Why did you kill my friends?"

He threw her down on the floor and said. "You know why. You know about the wallet and the note. Rob and I were having an affair. Mary found out, and was going to tell her mother. I couldn't let that happen. I would lose my job, because they would run a background search and find out that I'm an escaped convict and I would go back to prison.. So,I drugged both of them and killed them. Then, I  skinned their arms and feet. I chopped them up and put them in the refrigerator. Guess what, you're next because you know too much."

Cary broke free from his hold and started running again. Her heart was beating so hard, that she could hardly breathe. Jeff managed to catch her by the hair, and dragged her into the living room. When someone, or thing touched her on her arm. Again, she heard the voice say, "Don't be afraid. I'm with you." Cary stopped struggling, then, she felt a peace come over her and she knew she was not alone.

Cary saw Jeff walking towards her and she cried out. "You're Insane. What are you going to do with that bottle and rag you're holding?"

"Don't  worry Cary, I brought some ether and you won't feel a thing. Let's just say I'm going to make another wallet."Jeff said, laughing uncontrollably as he uncapped the container.

"Put the bottle down Jeffery and let her go!" A deep voice commanded.

“Where are you? Come out so I can see your face,” Jeff screamed.

“I’m right in front of you. The killing of innocent people is over. I watched your evil, sick ways and how you have preyed on your victims,” the voice said.

“Who are you? I’ll cut you up too!” Jeff yelled, as he whipped out a switchblade whirling around and striking the air. 

“Get down on your knees Jeff and put your head on the floor. I have sent for the molecular prison chamber. Obey me, or I'll disintegrate you now!” 

“Who the hell are you? Come out and show your face, if you dare!" Jeff said moving around the room.

“You puny human! Look upon the warrior angel of the Lord!”

Suddenly, a whirling vortex opened in the air and a tall, robust man of tan, complexion stepped out. He turned his head, revealing a face of sharp features, of carved cheekbones and a merciless mouth, with furious blue eyes, that penetrated Jeff's gaze. His black hair, cascaded down his shoulders as he moved forward. His white robe, blew wildly around him, surrounded by a radiant glow.. As the man swung his jeweled sword, the reflection of the multicolored facets of the stone's light, blinded Jeff''s eyes.

“I am Zealot, warrior angel of the most High God. I have been sent to capture you and remove you from the earth. You are inhabited by demonic spirits of murder. You'll be cleansed and then imprisoned for your terrible deeds, for judgement day.”

“Cary, because of your faith in calling on the Lord. I'll turn back time, to two weeks ago. You'll not remember anything that has happened," Zealot said with compassion

“You have one more chance, Jeff, before I destroy you! Get down on your knees like I told you to. Now!”

Jeff was terrified. He let go of Cary's arm and got down on his knees. When he tried to speak, he realized that the angel had silenced him.  Zealot lifted his blazing sword high above his head and struck the rippling vortex. A magnetic energy box appeared and pulled Jeff into it, imprisoning him with beams of purple transparent chains. They both vanished into thin air.

As soon as they left, a huge, metallic hourglass with sparkling colored sand appeared and engulfed Cary, spinning her around upside down as it whisked her away. Then, when it stopped whirling, Cary awoke to the sound of a beeping alarm clock. She got up, and put on her sweatshirt and jeans and made her way into the kitchen. Then, she sat down at the table just like any other day, opened her diary and began to write down her thoughts.

“What a nightmare! I'm glad it was just a dream! I better get a hold of Rob, so we can make a list of the invitations for Mary’s birthday party. I only have a week or so, to mail them out to everybody.” Cary said, as she pulled the envelopes from the drawer. She sat back down at the table, with the invitations in her hand, when the doorbell rang. She went to the door to answer it, and Mary was standing there, with some cookies that she'd baked  She put her hand behind her back, that was holding the cards and thought "Mary, is going to be shocked, when we all yell, "surprise!”











 



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