"October's Horror"




Chapter Four

October sighed as she sat in her car driving toward her apartment. It was only six fifteen and yet she was tired. Sometimes she felt as though she was getting old. Surely she knew that a twenty-eight year old woman shouldn’t be half asleep at six fifteen. Of course she also knew that she was over worked and had yet another long day. Thinking about it she also reminded herself how she hadn’t had anything to eat in about six hours. This one fact could get to a person.

As she turned the corner more thoughts ran threw her head. She thought about what Gabi had shared with her. Gabi had told her that she spoke with her teacher and completely broke it off. She said that the man took it well and agreed on what she had said about how the age difference just wouldn’t work out. In the long run Gabi was happier. This story sounded a bit odd.

October knew first hand how hard relationships were. What she also knew even more was that they were ten times harder to handle when you were fifteen. The story Gabi told her about just seemed too easy. What also intrigued October was the fact that Gabi only seemed torn up about her cat being lost which was odd. How could Gabi be torn up four days before to the point she shed tears all over the place then not care now that she ended it? Of course maybe October was completely wrong. Maybe Gabi was just truly done with the relationship.

Thinking so much about Gabi she almost missed her turn into her building area. Quickly she signaled her blinker and turned. Pulling into a spot she jumped out of her car. Normally she would have parked in the lot but this spot was right in front of the building and she just didn’t want to miss the opportunity. Standing by her car she waited as Kristian got out of his car and walked toward her.

Kristian had dropped Gabi of at her parents home then came with October to her home to pick up the letter. October worried about being alone with him. Not that she thought she couldn’t handle it she just didn’t feel she could properly speak with him completely focused on her and no one else in the room to divert her.

Kristian finally met him and they both stood there for two awkward moments till October turned and entered her building knowing Kristian would be following. They quickly rode the elevator up and entered her apartment. Slowing down her paste she stared at her kitchen table. Still there was the letter.

“Well, there it is.” She said to Kristian pointing at the letter.

Kristian nodded his head and headed for the table. Following him she entered her kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator. Opening it she turned her back at Kristian and ignored the fact that she knew he was reading a letter meant for her in the worse ways. “So,” she said “Would you like anything to drink? How about iced tea?”

“Sure that would be great.” He said. October nodded and got right to it. Soon enough they were sitting at her table with drinks at hand and complete silence.

Finally Kristian spoke “So, this is all you got? In the mail I mean. Just so I know this is all. I think that this might be a prank. The heart part is a little sick but other then that I think you should be able to brush it off.”

“Yeah, I would only hope so…” her words drifted off as she thought back to the mail. Finally it hit her that she had never opened the box. “Well, I got this box. I haven’t opened it.” Smiling she added “At least we know it isn’t a bomb.”

Kristian smiled back and she got up and walked to the counter where she had left the box. Picking up the box she made a face as the she realized box felt moist. Shaking her head she set the box down at the table and retrieved a knife to cut open the box. Quickly she slid the knife on the box breaking through the tape. She flapped the box sides open and screamed in horror.

Dropping the knife she stared down at the box as Gabi’s words ran through her mind. Her heart beat fast and her lungs stopped working. Tears blurred her vision and she felt her stomach rumble. The room twisted and turned as she stared at the dissembled body of a poor cat.

Through instincts she quickly ran to the bathroom and collapsed on the floor. Surely enough vomit flowed out of her mouth and into the toilet as the images of the cat’s body flashed threw her mind like a movie set on replay. Who could have done that to such an innocent animal?

Angry now she slammed her hand on the floor demanding that she stop the vomiting and bring herself together. That all the tears stopped and she would be able to help get the person who would do this to the cat. Who ever had sent her that letter must have obviously sent the cat as a warning... this fact scared her.

Suddenly a strong hand landed on her back and rubbed it. Knowing it was Kristian she turned to him and wrapped her arms around him. Hugging him tight and closely she shut her eyes and hoped if she wished hard enough maybe it would all end. Maybe time would rewind and this would all go away.

Sighing and feeling a bit better she released Kristian and stood. She rinsed her mouth away with mouth wash and flushed the toilet. Heading to the kitchen she swallowed long and hard hoping her actions wouldn’t also be on replay. This was going to be a long and hard night.

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Seven thirty and John Farland was settled into the couch watching another episode of law and order. John was thirty-six and worked as a construction worker. Today and everyday was tiring and everyday after all was done he sat on the couch and relaxed. Today fortunately had ended early and the only thing left to do was take out the trash which he intended to do right when the show was over.

Just as the show began to return from its commercial break John heard the phone ring. Frustrated he scratched the hair on his chin and waited two seconds hoping some one would answer it. Knowing well enough neither his daughter nor his wife would answer the phone he got up and retrieved the phone greeting the person on the other end with a half mumble of “hello”

“John, hey, man this is crazy stuff. I need you to come over and check out this cat I got here. I think it’s your cat man” Kristian Debra’s younger brother uttered over the phone.

“What? Dammit, don’t tell me you found the cat dead?!” he said yelling at first then glancing around hoping to dear god none of the women heard it.

“Fine, I won’t tell you. I just need you over here.” Kristian said his voice followed by the click of the other end going dead.

Sighing John completely felt disappointment come over him. John himself didn’t very much like the cat but his daughter and wife adored it. The cat had been missing for a bout a whole day and John could already see the worry in his wife’s eyes. Eyes he couldn’t bare look into and tell that the cat was dead. Sighing once more he put the phone down and retrieved his jacket.

Walking out of the door he remembered the garbage and went back into the home. He quickly and quietly went to the back of the house to get the garbage. Finally reaching it John picked up the two bags of garbage only to find a man’s shirt lying underneath the garbage.

The man shirt wasn’t his because he didn’t recognize it. Shaking his head he picked up the shirt. Carrying it into the house the light revealed that the shirt had multiple blood stains on it. Grinding his teeth he knew exactly what to do with the shirt.

Exiting the house he threw the garbage to the curb and went for his car. How much he would love to just kill this cat for the trouble he knew it would cause.

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Kristian sat on the couch with October staring straight ahead. He wondered what went through her mind at this time. Tonight she had actually watched the crew remove the cat from inside the box and bag the body and the box. She had watched as they examined what kind of box was used and labeled it for future use.

Tonight they had learned that the box wasn’t actually mailed and that some one must have personally dropped it off. Unfortunately October’s building didn’t have cameras to catch the person dropping it off and the day time person who watched the door broke his leg the previous week and the replacement was still being looked for. This left them with just the brand maker of the box, the stamps used to make it look like it was mailed, a bloody shirt that John had brought and a letter with heart and a smiley face.

This wasn’t any normal kind of stalking he’d ever been involved with. This was sick mind boggling games set up to hurt and scare. Now he wondered how far the killer would go. This person had killed a harmless cat. Had cut it into pieces and shoved it into a box. The killer had even gone so far as to decorate the letter sent to her. This was crazy.

What continued to bother Kristian was the fact that it was his sister’s cat that was taken. The more he thought about it the more it came down to this simple one worded question. Why? Why would some one take that cat? Of course maybe it was bad luck and that was just something random that happened. Likely hood of that he doubted but it was all ways an option.

Maybe it had to do with Gabi. Gabi seemed to be the only link to October. Gabi seemed to be the only one who truly would have told October any secrets. Only he wondered what young Gabi could have possibly known that some one would dare to threaten October. Scratching his head he turned to October.

The apartment was finally silent and it was now 11 23. Every one had packed up and gone and even John had left. It was now just Kristian and October. October looked tired and over whelmed. This wasn’t surprising dealing with what she had dealt with. To him it hurt to watch... he could only imagine the pain she went through.

“October,” he began, resting his hand on her knee.” What did Gabi tell you that some body doesn’t want you to know?”

October blinked twice and stared at the hand that he had settled on her knee. Surprisingly she pulled her hand on top of it and held it. Her hands were cold and clammy. They were small and seemed extremely fragile. Even her hands seemed tired.

“I don’t think I could tell you Kristian. It’s between Gabi and I. Besides… I give you my word that the minute I think you should know... I’ll tell you.” Her words were soft but assuring. He knew that she meant every part of it and decided it probably was best to let it go. Thinking now he decided to change the topic.

“I forgot to tell you.” He said smile on his face “For the barbeque, you should bring a bathing suit. Debra has a pool we all decided to add into the barbeque.”

October laughed and let out a soft “oye..” shaking her head she smiled even more. He loved her smile. Watching October smile as much as she was this moment brought him to peace. It made him feel warm and everything settled when he knew she was happy.

“Well Kristian I for got to tell you something myself.” She said giving it a long pause and making him squirm wanting to know what it was. “I’m bringing my sister and she’s bringing a date. She kind of... hassled me into it. “She said adding a chuckle. Her eyes glistened and he couldn’t help but join her.

“That’s fine. Like I said, the door is open to all.”

“Cool stuff.” She said.

Unexpectedly his hormones took over and Kristian found himself heading straight for October’s lips. It was like some force had taken him over and he was attracted to October uncontrollably. His lips caressed hers and heat arose in his body. Finally October pulled away and looked at him. Still in tune with the kiss and its effects Kristian stood staring at her his mouth just inches away from hers.

In reaction October kissed his lips once more quickly but leaving a great mark. Pulling away from him she smiled a large smile and pointed at the door. She got up from the couch and walked to her bed room. She waved at him still smiling and closed her bedroom door. Hearing the lock on her bedroom door Kristian chuckled at October’s tease. He got up from the couch and headed for her door shaking his head at the woman he was so hypnotized by.