chaosorc

She knocked the door and he answered. She froze because he looked directly in her eyes like he knew what she was. She glanced around the room behind him and there were outlines and reflections that made it look like people were standing behind him, but when she focused she didn't see anyone else in there with him.

Yes

She wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement.

I'm looking for Jere.

You found him.

The shapes behind him shifted, she couldn't bring herself to move any closer to him. His body was draped in some kind of shroud, she initially mistook it for a night gown and now she looked down and studied it, a hooded flannel shirt and sweatpants.

What do you want

It was a statement of wonder, he was still looking directly at her face, studying it and trying to figure out what she was.

I need your help, Jere

I gathered that

Let me in

I don't think so

He smirked, he hadn't moved at all in the time he stood there. She had let her arms fall casually after knocking, her purse pushed behind her back on a long strap.

He studied her for a moment, looking her up and down. She wore a black cocktail dress and black flats with pointed toes. Her hair was tousled and dirty like she slept outdoors, her fingers were caked with dark earth and fingernails splintered, nail polish chipped, but she had taken the time to touch up the makeup on her face.

She looked him in the eye and commanded, but you do think so.

He raised his eyebrows like he felt sorry for her.

But I don't think so.

He began to close the door.

Wait

What

I need your help

You said that

They're going to kill me, Jere

He looked in her eyes and real emotion had crept through, she looked frightened.

Come in

•

She immediately grabbed him and kissed his mouth, he kissed her back and they wobbled back to the couch, she straddled him and held his face and he caressed her shoulders and ran his fingers through her hair, pulling free grass and small roots, insects and earthworms.

She stopped and looked in his eyes, tell me what you are. Another forceful command.

He raised his eyebrows again, wrinkles spread across his forehead and around his eyes.

I don't know what you mean.

She paused and looked at his face, his mouth stained by her makeup, his smudged grandpa glasses, her foundation in his beard.

I'm Kendra, she put her hand awkwardly between them.

He took it in his hand and twisted it, kissing the top of it and his beard tickled her.

Nice to meet you, Kendra.

She could feel his body pulsing with life, the warmth of him, he had a strong scent of patchouli and leather, a hint of an extinguished candle and paper.

A knock at the door startled them, five in total, something large pounding it, the pictures and mirror on the wall rattling.

•

He sighed and looked at her, his hands on her hips. Take a shower, he gently maneuvered her and she stepped backwards off his lap. She looked worried, put a dirty finger in her mouth.

Don't fret, go

She walked back to the hallway and stopped, looking back.

Shower, he pointed and she finally relented.

He waited until he heard the shower turn on and then he opened the door.

Hi there

Three men stood there wearing black pillow cases on their heads. He laughed, wonderful.

One of them reached for him and he stepped back and slammed the door on his arm. The other two rushed in and pushed the door open.

Jere stepped back and picked up a long knife from the end table and threw the sheath on the floor.

The three men stepped into the room and spread out, Jere kept the couch between him and one of them, then lunged forward, three of one man's fingers fell to the floor.

Ready, he asked.

The man looked down and realized they were his fingers and screamed, globs of blood hit the floor.

The second man tried to move behind him but Jere stepped backwards and lifted an end table with the palm of one hand and hurled it, clobbering the man and sending him to the floor.

The remaining man had lunged and Jere stepped sideways to the spot where the end table had been and used the knife to push him into the kitchen island, glass and fruit hit the floor.

Ready to die, Jere asked the man still standing.

Lets go

He backed sideways out of the apartment, one man picked up his fingers, the other stood up and rushed Jere but his momentum was stopped when Jere kicked his knee and stabbed him behind the shoulder blade, twisting him onto the floor. The table and some chairs in the kitchen skidded when his body hit it.

Jere turned to face him and watched the other two retreat from the apartment.

Goodbye, Joseph.

The man looked at him from the floor terrified behind the black sack on his head, a tear in his eye, groaning. A look of disbelief.

How?

The question gurgling as blood entered the lungs, his chest cavity.

Jere stabbed him in the eye and Joseph twitched for a moment then went limp, air leaving his lungs, the smell of waste.

Jere used his free shoulder to pin the man while he worked the knife out of his head and stood up. The other two men were gone, the shower still running.

•

She emerged wearing a towel on her head and one around her body, walked barefoot and damp down the hall.

Jere

She heard the front door close and he stood looking a little sweaty. She could smell pine cleaner and the trash can was open, a vacuum cleaner next to it.

Hi Kendra, I was just cleaning up.

She looked at the room and other than the missing bowl and the pile of fruit on the kitchen island everything looked like it did when she entered the apartment.

You move fast, she shot him a predatory look, clearly impressed.

Come here, baby