3-Inconvenience

Part 2

Part 1

Utter darkness enveloped Aaron and his mind went blank. Icy tentacles of terror slowly enveloped his body and he felt his limbs grow weak. His body shaking, he backed up and bumped into something. The jolt was enough to awaken some of his senses and he realized that there was screaming. It was the woman, behind the counter, with the baby! Then he heard a scrambling sound near to him and several deep gasps. It was Greg, the fat worker who must be trying to crawl away.

Then the banging began. Directly in front of him, Aaron could hear a distinct slamming against what he deduced to be the convenience store doors.

Bang.

The doors that had stood between him and the disfigured creature right before everything went blank.

Bang!

The very doors that slid open for him automatically.

BANG.

The power! Aaron realized. The doors were powered and the storm must have knocked out the power with the lights and now whatever the hell was out there couldn't get in.

BANG!

A feeling of confidence slowly overtook Aaron's previous terror and he began to think quickly. They had to get out of there before the creature broke through, there must be a back door, they also needed lights, Greg should know. "Greg," Aaron whispered, "Greg," Aaron repeated louder groping around the food isle where he remembered hearing Greg moving. "Greg!" Aaron called, "We need to go out the back and we need some lights." No sooner had he finished his sentence then the lights flickered. Aaron felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle. The lights flickered on and off again, and then back on. Turning around Aaron saw a sight that iced his veins. A blood spattered glass door slid open revealing the equally bloodied monstrosity so intent on entering the store. The creature moved fast and soundlessly towards Aaron.

The Gun! His mind screamed as the thing started to fill his view. He started stepping back and began to raise his arm towards the creature when he felt something under his back foot, which soon became his front foot as he fell backwards. He pulled the trigger and the gun kicked in his hand. Then he hit the floor.

Aaron saw the creature fly over him and slam into the food rack. Spewing candy bars and bags of chips, the food rack and creature fell and skidded across the floor into the counter. Turning over onto his stomach he watched as the creature slowly rose to its feet. The terror returned to his body and he felt his limbs go numb and his thoughts slow to a crawl. Aaron watched as the creature, fully illuminated in all of its grotesqueness, slowly began turning around as if scanning the store. He noticed one of its arms was freely spilling blood onto the assortment of processed snacks at its feet.

The screaming started when the lights flickered out again. A loud crunch sounded from where the creature was standing moments before. The screaming turned into panicked and painful sounding shrieks shortly after and they stopped altogether with what sounded to Aaron like a wet towel slapping against a wall.

Aaron noticed his ears were ringing, possibly from the gunshot or from the hammering of his heart. Then he noticed the loud pattering of rain from the storm outside. Finally a strange sort of squishing sound started from behind the counter. Aaron was thinking about how it sounded an awful lot like somebody was wringing out a soaked washcloth when a flash of lightning jolted him back to motion.

Aaron slowly got to his feet. His legs were weak beneath him but he managed to get up and steady himself. He felt a little light-headed. His stomach was twisted in knots. His breath was quick and sharp. The gun in his hand felt heavy in his shaking hand. His thoughts were jumbled and unclear.

The thing was inside. What was it? What is that noise? The screaming was from the woman. Why did it stop? What happened to the fat man? Baby? That noise. Oh god. What did it do to her? What was it still doing to her? Is she dead? She must be dead. It killed her. I am next. What to do?

Then out of the darkness and uncertainty came one very clear and certain thought. Move.

Aaron turned towards the door and started moving. He was almost there when his foot hit an object that clattered loudly and rolled across the floor in front of him. He heard the wet slurping noise stop behind him and a crunch in the darkness. Run!

Moving quicker Aaron reached out and felt the sliding doors in front of him. Finding the seam he slipped his fingers between the doors and jammed one to the left. A gust of cold wind battered him as he slid out of the convenience store. He heard something hit the unmoved door behind him and grunt. Sprint!

Aaron sprinted out into the storm towards where he had parked his truck. Heavy rain fused with the wind to batter and blind him further in the darkness. Jamming his hand into his pocket he found and pushed the buttons on his key fob. He heard the familiar beep-beep of his truck unlocking behind him and turned to see his tail lights flair. That is when a dark object plowed into his side sending him to the slick pavement. Aaron screamed.

Before Aaron could think his right hand was raised and he pulled the trigger. The gun kicked and flashed. The dark figure standing over him stumbled backwards and gasped. Two more flashes and kicks and the figure went down. A wave of confidence swept over Aaron as he rose to his feet. Moving over to the figure he looked down and heard a light-wheezing coming from it. With one more bullet the wheezing stopped and Aaron felt something warm splash his face.

Relief flooded through Aaron as he moved towards his truck. He had killed it and now he could go and save the baby and the fat man. He would need a flashlight though. Opening the door to his truck Aaron leaned over and started feeling around under the passenger seat. Feeling the cold metal cylinder of his emergency flashlight he pulled it out and clicked it on and off. Lightning flashed and Aaron thought he saw something moving by one of the gas pumps in front of his truck. Reaching up Aaron clicked on his truck’s high beams and froze. The creature was standing there seeped in crimson.

The creature just stood there almost staring at Aaron, who just stared back. Then slowly turning his head Aaron glanced behind his truck towards the figure he killed. Gleaming in the eerie red glow of his tail lights were three reflective objects affixed to the dead mass. Two circular lenses and one rectangular name plate that Aaron knew read Greg.

Turning back around Aaron noticed the creature had disappeared. Mind numb and body shivering Aaron got into his truck, locked the doors and started the engine. He then drove away into the darkness trying to get as far away as possible. And when he got to the highway he turned right. Heading north.

How Convenient 2

PART 2

-dge." Aaron stammered. He stood there for several moments starring at the forearm at his feet. Nausea was growing inside of him his stomach gurgled and his head grew light. He was about to be sick when it started to sprinkle. The rain drops helped to bring him around a little and he started to move towards his truck. Light flashed in his peripheral vision and he started running.

He jumped in the drivers seat and started up his truck. The engine turned over and he put it into gear before flooring the gas. His tires spun gravel behind him before finally catching and lurching him out into the road. He placed the pistol on the passenger seat and turned his whippers and lights on. The sun's last rays were dipping below the horizon and the storm clouds started releasing their load from above. Aaron was wondering if this could possibly get any worse when a he felt his truck kick a little and something splattered over his windshield. The whippers only smeared it around, nearly blocking his view. Aaron turned his brights on and squinted through the shmeck. He was starting to panic, his breath grew quick and his hands started shaking, then he saw a faint light off to his right. He slowed his car and saw the red, white and blue chevron sign out of his side window. Aaron saw that he had passed the off ramp but was able to turn around and head up the on ramp. As he got to the top of the hill he could see that the service station was fully illuminated and a group of cars were scattered around the pumps and mini mart. He could see movement inside the building and headed for it.

Pulling up next to a green slug bug he parked his car and popped open his door. The light-alarm went off making him jump. Quickly flipping the switch off he grabbed the pistol and hopped out. He noticed that there was a cpiece of pale flesh sticking out of his truck's grill and he shivered. He glanced toward the building. The movement in the mini-mart had stopped. Taking a deep breath he moved forward.

Peering through the window near a Bud Light ad he looked around the store. It looked empty. Remembering the uselessness of the pistol he backed up behind the outdoor ice freezer to examine it. He tried to look for a safety but was clueless. Pulling back the slide he could see the brass bullet entering the chamber, then with a sliding of gunmetal and a resounding click he was armed. He thought of firing off a round to test it, but didn't want to waste any. He tried to calm himself as he moved toward the automatic doors. He nearly yelled when his foot bumped into a beer bottle.

Holding the gun in front of him he crept up to the doors that slid open with a slight brush. Stepping in he felt the his neck hairs prickle and stand on end. All he could hear was his heart slamming in his chest and his fast breathing. He was about to turn heel and run when a whimper broke the silence to his right. It came from the cashier counter and sounded stifled. He breathed once and cleared his throat. "Hello?" he asked.

Silence.

"Is anyone there?" Aaron stammered. Someone please be there, he thought. A crumpling sound came from his left and Aaron spun bringing the pistol to bear. He saw a pad of hair and two eyes peer over one of the food isles. He lowered the gun and walked towards the row of assorted snacks. "Hey." He breathed.

A figure stood up in the isle clutching a pole in both hands. It was a man, a rather round stocky man with a pudgy face. He wore a tight blue uniform and a name tag over the breast pocket that read Greg. He also wore a look of horror that was apparent on his face and shaking hands. He coughed a little and managed to stammer out, " W-what do you w-want?"

Aaron breathed a sigh of relief at Greg and lowered his arms. Aaron saw him lower his pole. Aaron was able to manage a little smirk along with "I have absolutely no idea." In response to the question. He wondered if the man had experienced the same thing that he had, and was about to ask when another figure stood up slowly behind the counter.

Aaron glanced over and saw a woman standing near the cash register. She was average height and weight with light brown hair and dark eyes. She was wearing black pants and a red sweater. She also seemed very frightened and looked at Aaron with suspicion. Then she looked at the gun in his hand and tensed up. Aaron slowly raised his free hand and gave what he figured was a innocent smile. "Its OK. I'm not going to hurt anybody." He could see her relax a little, but she still looked at him warily. "I just want to know what happened here. Because something really...really freaky happened just a few miles from here... to a police man, you see... something sort of attacked him... and killed him... and by the looks of this place and you guys, well... did something come here?"

Their fear was slightly replaced by confusion. It was the pudgy man, Greg, who spoke up. "Now listen here." His voice was strangely calm compared to his demeanor. "We were just robbed, not five minutes before you came in here. A man, who was quite mad, ran in here with a shotgun screaming about demons and damnation. He seemed very crazy and very dangerous so I opened the register and got on the floor." Greg stopped to swallow and glanced over at the woman behind the counter.

Aaron followed his glance and saw the woman nodding. Then the woman glanced at her feet then back at Aaron. "Why don't you tell us what happened to you first." She said with cold untrusting eyes.

Nodding, Aaron leaned against the isle divider and scratched his head. "Well I was heading up North to visit my friend when I got pulled over by this cop. I was speeding because I was trying to beat the rain." Aaron wondered why he bothered coming up with an excuse for his driving at a time like this. "Well he was giving me a warning when there was this loud thud from behind his car." Aaron noticed they perked up to this a little. "When he went to check it out there was this... strange sound, like a scream, but stranger and this... thing, some small creature flew at his head and landed in the road. Then he pulled his gun out and tried to shoot it, but it jumped again on... on to his..." Aaron lowered his head and looked at his shoes. He was surprised how difficult talking about this was. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and noticed that Greg had moved next to him.

"So you said that this animal killed the police man. Is that right.?" There was understanding in his eyes. Aaron nodded. Greg nodded. "We should call the police. It is what we were trying to do but that is when you showed up so-"

"Wait there is more!" Aaron interrupted. "The thing didn't just kill the police man, I don't even think that it killed him... well not fully, there was lots of blood... but after the officer stopped... struggling, he fell against his car and I went to see if I could use his radio or something to call for help. My cell phone died. Anyways I got out and picked up his gun that he dropped, I figured I could shoot it if it came after me." Aaron motioned to the gun in his hand. "Well when I got close to his body he stood up, and I thought that he might be alright and all. But then he started coming towards me and raising his arms, which were looking really strange, I backed up into the road and he yelled and I tried to shoot him but the gun didn't go off but before he got to me this semi came barreling down the curve and hit him. I ran to my truck and drove as fast as I could and I think I even hit something that got on my windshield. Then I saw this place and came in here and found you guys and I am really freaked out right now." Aaron was breathing hard and shaking a little.

Greg and the woman looked at him with wide eyes. They looked at each other for a second and Aaron saw the woman shudder. Then she took a deep breath and started talking. "I was driving home from my parents house when I stopped here for some coffee and diapers for Joe." She bent down and picked up a baby car seat that until now Aaron had no idea was at her feet. Placing it on the counter a little baby with a green blanket and a orange beanie could be seen looking around while sucking a pacifier.

"Anyway," she continued, "I was paying when the man came in here yelling. Now I... we-" she nodded at Greg, "thought he was crazy because he was ranting about bright lights and... demons... little demons eating peoples heads and leading them to the gates of hell." She paused to brush a strand of hair off of her face and continued after clearing her throat. "Then he saw Joe here and muttered stuff about babies not being allowed into hell and he tried to... tried to take Joe from me." She lowered her voice, and Aaron could see how she held back her emotions. "Well I held on tight and cried for him to stop and then he pointed his gun at both of us and I thought the worst was going to happen. Then a bright flash of light, that I thought might have been his gun but it wasn't, flashed. He started screaming that they were here and would be coming for him. Thats when he ran outside into the rain. I was so relieved. Greg here asked me to call the police while he went to lock the doors. That is when we saw your headlights and I ducked behind the counter here. It was just awful to see you with a gun, but I guess we are all on the same side. Huh?" She gave a weak smile.

"Yeah, I guess so." responded Aaron with an equally pathetic smirk. "Well I guess we should call the cops and let them know what is happening. And Greg should probably lock the doors. I know I would feel a lot better if-"

The woman screamed.

Greg gasped.

Aaron followed their gaze right over his shoulder and to the door. Standing right outside in the pouring rain was a figure. It was clearly illuminated by the convenience store lights. The limbs were swollen and disfigured. The clothing was seeped in red. The head was a featureless mass of flesh. The legs slowly started moving the creature closer. The lights flickered. The lights blinked out.

To Be Continued

Ode to HBO

Oh my Honey Bunches of Oats!

How I love your sweet, crunchy goodness.

Every morning you await patiently while I sleep.

Every afternoon you are there for me when I awake.

You turn my surly, groggy demeanor into one of bright sunshine.

Your rustle and crackle when being poured into a large bowl makes me smile.

The sloshing gurgle of the 2% as it flows around and over you makes my heart race.

As I mix you slightly with my spoon, I know that our courtship will be over momentarily.

I take a deep breath lift the first glorious spoonful to my mouth and then...heaven.

The delicious flakes and bunches of oats explode in a scrumptious honey blast.

My eyes flutter closed in ecstasy and every other sense fades away.

Almonds, strawberries, peaches or honey roasted.

No matter what you will always be delicious.

Oh, I love your sweet crunchy goodness!

Never go away, my sweet love.

Oh and unlike oatmeal and cheerios, you are good all day long.

Your Hard Thinking is Wrong

I am in love with somebody for a reason that is way beyond my understanding. Every time I sit down and just think logically about this person, I can find no reason at all as to why I would like this girl. I can evaluate every angle and reason, only to come to the same conclusion each time. The conclusion that she might as well be the precise antithesis of my ideal girl and there is no reason I should like her. Right? I mean come on. You could probably agree with me, that it just shouldn't be so.

But dammit I cant help myself. Sure when I am away from her for a good period of time, I can use logic to coax myself out of these strange feelings. But whenever I am near her my reasoning seems to go straight out the window. Butterflies fill my stomach and my thoughts get all jumbled. I find myself being drawn to her. I always want to be near her and have her talking to me. Oh and then when she does talk to me, nay, have any sort of interaction with me I just about loose control. My heart starts to race so fast I think it might explode. Blood rushes to my head, my vision starts to cloud, my ears either ring or pound, and I feel like I could pass out. If it wasn't for the gallons of adrenaline coursing through my veins and making my limbs tingle, I think I might have. Thank God that it passes after a few minutes and is less severe when the time between our interactions is short. This can't be normal. Can it?

But this is just the beginning. Once my little panic attack subsides my outlook on things seems to change completely. She becomes, obviously, the center of my attention. Anything that held my interest before seems not all that important. Even other people become less interesting. Lets take for example this other girl I have liked for several years now. Lets call her the ideal girl. Somebody who I have thought about and have definitely approved of. I like spending time with her a lot and enjoy her personality greatly. Well lets just say that when the both of them are together and I am also there all the feelings I have for the ideal girl leave me. It doesn't make any sense. Is as if my world is turned upside down and at that moment I don't really care all that much. Because for that moment everything feels great.

Then of course the interaction between us stops by her either leaving or moving on to somebody else and my upside down little world falls right on its head. And it hurts. I get an incredibly hollow feeling inside of me that lasts relative to how long our interaction was and what was said or done during that time. During this time of hollowness I usually reflect on the time of interaction and scrutinize every detail. I beat myself up for stupid things I said or clever things I didn't say. Then it is finally over and i feel right as rain after... yeah right, I wish. I actually have really random withdrawals that could hit at any time. I find myself really wanting to be with her when she is not there and feel almost sick when I know I cant see her.

Now if you know me you may be thinking something along the lines of; this is a load of bull he doesn't act this way towards anybody. And you would be right. I don't act that way towards anybody because I am incredibly good at hiding it. If you were to watch me around this person, I would look and act the same had it been somebody else. I found that this person may have my insides ass backwards but my demeanor is much harder to crack. I am incredibly happy for this otherwise things would be really awkward and creepy between us. Although the scary thing is that I think the more time I spend with this person the more of an effect they have on me. The last time I saw her I almost spilled the bean sack wide open. It was one of the hardest things ever to say goodbye and not whisper the three little words that I was screaming on the inside.

I am sitting here contemplating whether I should just come right out and say who it is. But I know that I wont. I did however leave a clue somewhere in this post and or blog that she might, just might catch. Unlikely though which is why I allowed myself to put it there. I am surprised I even wrote this. I am also surprised that you cared to read all of it. If you are still reading, feel free to comment with any guesses, advice, or thoughts. Who knows it might even be you who this post is about.

NORTH 1

A wash of static came over the radio. Aaron grunted as he went to fiddle with the dial. This wasn't the first time he wished that his truck had more than just the am/fm. He debated scanning on AM, but sometimes silence was better than the Spanish stations. He pushed the power and took a long sigh settling his eyes back onto the road. The desert plane was fading into desert hills and he could see a mountain range looming by the horizon. He had been driving for a couple hours and he had a couple more to go. The sun was setting to his left and its fading rays cast reddish hues on some ominous storm clouds to his right. Aaron hoped he could beat the clouds. He hated driving in the rain.

He was zoning out. His mind wandered along random paths in his brain trying to fill the constant dullness of driving. The thoughts soon found their way to her. He smiled. He hadn't seen her in a year but all of the old feelings still coursed through his system when his mind came to her. He hoped, after much word searching, that this weekend would be life-changing. He didn't want to end up going back to the same life he had been living. He wanted a change, he wanted a fresh start, he wanted to start a new chapter in his life and he hoped it would all start with her. Her smile filled his thoughts.

Red and blue lights flashed in his mirrors. Was he speeding? Yes he was going 82 mph. Damn. The one car he sees for miles is a black and white. Maybe his new chapter would have to start with a cop and it was probably going to take a while. He pulled his truck over onto the shoulder and turned his engine off. He rolled down his window and pulled out his ID/registration. A few minutes later he heard the cop's door pop open and the officer get out. A man of average height approached his window with the unmistakeable kaki uniform of the Highway patrol man. He walked up peered inside the truck and cleared his throat, "Going a little fast back there weren't we?" he asked with an almost humorous disposition.

Aaron nodded his head sighing, "Yep."

"Can I see your license and registration?"

Aaron passed it to him glancing at the officers belt. His gun mostly. There was just something about it that made this man more important and powerful than everybody else, at least more than Aaron at that moment.

"So, Aaron, where are you rushing off to today?"

"Um, I am going to visit my friend up north."

"Is that so. Well I am going to guess that this friend is waiting for you and will be happy to see you get there alright."

"Uh, Ya I suppose so." Said Aaron, trying not to give the police officer any reason to change his present mood.

"Well what if you didn't make it safely? Say you were in an accident. How do you think your friend might feel then? Probably not very good, right."

Aaron nodded hoping he was looking respectful.

"What I am trying to say is that when we do things, like driving, we are not only responsible for our own lives we are also responsible other people. For the lives of other drivers and the well being of our friends and families. You should always think of those other people before taking risks like speeding. You get that?"

Aaron nodded again, relieved that this officer seemed to be in more of a preaching mood than a writing mood.

"Now I am going to let you off with a warning and a little advice. You see those clouds? More than likely they will be dumping within the hour and slicking up these roads quite a bit. What most people end up doing, even when going the speed limit, is hydroplaning or skidding right off the side of the road. Especially in these parts. We have had at least 12 fatalities around this very bend in the past five years. So slow down keep your eyes peeled and make your friend happy, alright."

"Alright", Aaron replied with a smile and a great deal of relief. The officer was handing Aaron back his credentials when there was a loud thud. It sounded quite close and a little wet. Then another, followed by a squawking.

"What the hell?" the officer muttered walking back towards his automobile, hand on holster. Aaron glanced in his right side mirror and saw something pale and low to the ground slide behind the black and white's back tire. Turning quickly to look behind he saw the officer reach the back of his car and glance around the trunk.

Another squawk/screech erupted and a ball of yellowish flesh sprung towards the officer. He lurched back and the creature flew over his head and landed in the road. The officer staggered up and was drawing his weapon when the creature spun and sprung again. It sailed right into the officers head and its appendages leeched around his face. The officer started screaming and pulling at the thing now enveloping his head. His scream became piercing and full of pain before his body went rigid and he fell against his car.

Aaron stared in disbelief. What had just happened? His eyes were reporting everything to his brain but there was no response. Like he would react to a movie. Or a dream. Was it a dream. No. He wouldn't be sitting here wondering if it was a dream in a dream. What should he do? He couldn't possibly leave the officer there. He should call 911. Sure. Pulling out his cell phone he stared at a blank screen. Of course he forgot to charge it. Crap. There was probably a radio in the cop car but he didn't want to-. Oh hell he thought moving his body before his mind could talk him out of it.

Opening his door and taking off his seatbelt he placed his feet on the road. His heart hammered in his chest and he felt his mouth getting dry. He swallowed and moved out of his truck. He looked at the officer, well the former officer. The creature sat on his shoulders and seemed locked on pretty tight. Blood was soaking into the officers shirt and his hand seemed to be going pale. "What the freak?" muttered Aaron under his breath. He then noticed the pistol. It lay halfway between him and the body. He figured he could shoot the thing just to be safe while he was bending over to pick it up. The word impulsive was starting to echo in his mind when he saw movement in his peripheral. The body was moving.

Did that mean the officer was still alive? A moan. "Hey" Aaron said. The body started moving towards him rather clumsily. Aaron started backing up into the road. The body kept coming. Aaron raised the pistol at the body and shouted, "Hey!" It approached a little faster and moaned louder. He backpedaled faster. He had almost reached the other side of the pavement and would soon back into the guard rail. Taking a deep breath he pulled the trigger. Click. He pulled it again. Click. The body was within a yard and a half. It raised its arm, let out a blood curdling scream and-BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!! A semi barreled around the bend and slammed into it. Passing inches from Aaron's hands it continued to fly down the road and around a corner. The only thing left was the officers arm from the elbow down. The distorted fingers were touching Aaron's shoe.

"Aw Fu-

to be continued