Post by lucafont90 on Aug 13, 2006 15:26:16 GMT -5
I am posting a short story that I wrote for my English class last year. I have lengthened it quite a bit and added a little more story line. Hope that you all enjoy.
Respectfully,
Lucafont90
I shall give this piece an R rating for gore and language.
I
Rope in hand, Artemis stepped slowly onto the large porch that stood in front of a magnificent Victorian house. In his hand he held a gritty old rope that looked almost like a venomous snake skin. It felt coarse in his young unblemished hands that smelled of roses. The rope was twisted into three strands of aged horse hair. Holding the rope in his hand, Artemis remembered that he was there for one reason and one reason only.. His mind was set on one goal and one goal only.
Looking at his right arm, Artemis saw a black and white tattoo blistered upon his skin. It depicted what seemed to be Hell. Demons, skeletons, Satan, monsters, and boatmen. Uncontrollable thoughts could be imagined about the tattoo that was embedded upon his right arm. It looked almost threatened and swollen.
Looking around his surroundings, Artemis knew what he had to do. He had a chore that was given to him. His chore was to stop. To stop something horrible from happening. Putting the rope into his coat pocket, he was reminded of his tattoo. Looking at his tattooed arm, Artemis was flung into the memory of when he received the grim tattoo…
The trees shifted uneasily as the wind howled through the cold and dirty city of Verisimilitude. The small cottages that lined the streets seemed to stay as straight as an iron pol. Around midnight rain began to pour like tears from a small baby. The clouds overhead looked angry, as did the thunder as it sounded like cymbals. It was like an orchestra performing one of Mozart’s more vigorous pieces.
Walking in the beating rain, Artemis held a large umbrella overhead. The bleating rain in sheets of a million tiny raindrops that sting when it falls fast upon the bare skin. The rain drops were so small that you could hardly see them, but if they fell on your bare skin you could feel the cold sting of liquid splash on and off your skin.
Fighting the rain, Artemis tried his hardest not to let it win. In his mind he knew what he was supposed to do, but in his heart, in his heart, he felt unsure. Unsure of continuing on his journey. Stopping at a tall ancient building, Artemis looked around his surroundings. Not a single soul was around.
Looking up, he saw a sign positioned above two oak doors that read: THE MOST HOLY CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER, THE APOSTLE.
Standing in front of the tall and ancient cathedral, Artemis smelled the tepid rain. With some difficulty, Artemis pushed the large oak doors open with all his might to reveal a shabbily furnished narthex. The doors were made of a heavy dense wood. The hinges creaked slowly as though it were in slow motion. On one side of the room stood a tall bookcase furnished with large volumes of Bibles and religious works. Above that was a picture of the Last Supper by some unknown artist of the last few centuries.. On the other side of a large register was positioned a stand used for giving gifts of money. In front of Artemis stood two more arched heavy oak doors. Stepping forward, Artemis pushed the doors open.
A wondrous site hit his eyes. In front of him stood a large cathedral. Pews lined each side of the room, equally spread apart. Every other row a large pillar towered to the roof. And next to each pillar was positioned a glowing candelabra. The candle itself muts have been made of some kind of waxy tallow that gave off a rotted smell. The windows on either side of the room were stained glass. They depicted scenes from the Bible. The Birth of the Lord, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, just to name a few that were among the stained glass windows. At the front of the cathedral, stood a large alter. Right next to the alter stood a thin dark oak door that must have led into some office or basement. A large crucifix hovered above the alter. Next to each side of the crucifix two more stained glass windows gleamed in the dead of the night. Each one depicted the Lord and God. The room smelled musty and damp. Smelling the air, Artemis felt his nostrils burn as he breathed in the damp air.
In front of the alter, a man kneeled. His bald head glistened in the candlelight. This man wore a thick black robe. Hands, his hands shook as he prayed to his God. The figure heard the man mutters word of praise and pray.
“Father Timothy,” Artemis crooned to the night air.
“Do my ears deceive me?” the bald priest turned his head. “Is that the voice of my dear Artemis?”
“Yes sir,” Artemis spoke in a hushed tone.
Father Timothy stood up with some difficulty and appeared to face Artemis. As he stood you could hear his joints pop in and out, in and out. It seemed as though his bones creaked as he turned to face the young man that stood behind him. The old man’s balding head glistened in the candlelight. His face was worn and aged. Wrinkled crevices covered his aged his face like a map. His thick robe appeared like a black grand drape.
Walking toward Artemis, Father Timothy looked into his eyes that were a dark color that reminded him of the deepest pits of Hell.
“Have you come alone?” Father Timothy asked quietly.
“Yes,” Artemis answered, still in a hushed tone of voice. “No one saw me.”
“Good,” Father Timothy said as he looked at the large oak doors. “Follow me.”
Father Timothy took a hold of Artemis’s hands and led to the door that stood next to the alter. Cautiously, Father Timothy pushed the door open and descended down a flight of stone steps. Leading Artemis, Father Timothy continued to descend into a dark spiraling staircase of nothingness. Finally reaching a long hallway, Father Timothy looked around himself. The hall was dimly lit by a few hanging candles that were encased a small silver lamp like structure.
“Be quiet and follow my lead,” Father Timothy said as he slowly began to walk down the dimly lit hallway. Stopping at a door that looked almost corpulent, Father Timothy softly pushed the door open to reveal a large dome like room with tables and lit candelabras scattered about. Soft voices erupted in a solitary moment of silence.
“Follow me,” Father Timothy spoke as he walked into the room.
Following Father Timothy, Artemis rubbed his eyes as he walked into the dome like room that seemed to smell of smoke. Looking into the room, Artemis saw twelve men of all shapes and sized standing in a formed circled. They wore brown baggy robes that look almost like human waste.
Holding out a brown robe, Father Timothy said, “Put this on.”
Artemis slipped the robe over his head. It didn’t fit, but that didn’t really matter. Walking to Father Timothy, Artemis asked, “Now, what do I do?”
“Follow my instructions,” Father Timothy barked softly. “Now, go stand in the middle of the circle and we will begin the ceremony.”
Artemis walked into the middle of the circle and stood. With the dim light, he strained to see the face of the people around him. Tall men and small men stood around him in a formed circle. Some were large and some were small. They all stood still as Father Timothy cried out in a monstrous voice, “Let this ceremony begin!”
The men around Artemis erupted into a circular chorus of humming and moaning.
Father Timothy walked into the middle of the circle with Artemis. In his hand he held a strange instrument that looked almost like a poker that someone would use in a fireplace.
“We have come here to tonight to accept another brother into are holy brotherhood of cohorts,” Father Timothy spoke in a soft crisp voice. “Tonight we are here to accept our brother, Artemis. If anyone has any objections please come forward.”
Not one cloaked figure came forward. They all stood still, humming softly.
“Since there is no objections, let us get on with the ceremony,” Father Timothy’s crisp voice rang into the chamber’s atmosphere. “Artemis, now for your test. Do you agree to commit yourself to the brother. If you answer is yes, you will simply nod your head.”
Artemis slowly nodded his head.
“Do you agree to attend all ceremonies and secret meetings? If your answer is yes, you will simply nod your head.”
Artemis nodded his head in an even slower motion. Father Timothy continued to ask Artemis questions about the brotherhood until the father asked a fairly difficult question. “If anyone betrays the brotherhood, do you agree to track them down and kill them?”
Artemis didn’t know whether to nod or not. He wanted to be in the brotherhood, but he really didn’t want to kill. Deciding on what to do, Artemis nodded his solemn head. Father Timothy grinned a toothless grin that looked almost like a fall jack-o-lantern.
The questions continued to go on and on until finally Father Timothy asked one last question, “What is the mission of the brotherhood?”
“To ravish the lives of the innocent,” Artemis spoke in a monotonous voice.
“Correct,” Father Timothy laughed. “And now for the final touch. Your tattoo. Show me your right arm.”
Artemis lifted his brown robe sleeve as Father Timothy pressed a strange instrument into the young man’s unblemished skin.
II
Artemis slowly returned to reality as the sun sparkled on the old decaying rooftop of the ancient house. Vines infested the tall home of wonders. Inside would be horror. Unimaginable horror that would rot the brain of cheerful thoughts. Turning on his booted heel, Artemis walked toward the large French doors. The doorknob was stained and gritty. It was made of a dark brass. The paint had corroded away to reveal a dark dull green. The dark gray paint on the door was flaky and easily blown by the hefty wind of the world. As Artemis pulled a key from his coat pocket, he noticed that the sun suddenly disappeared. He turned around and looked toward the sunset. The sun disappeared. Nowhere to be seen. Darkness began to fill the land. Gloominess settled upon the shadow evoked land. Turning back to the door Artemis slid the ancient key into the tight keyhole and turned. Pushing, the door slowly opened to reveal darkness. Pure hateful darkness that could swallow any one up at any time if it wanted to. The room that Artemis was in was musty and damp. Artemis pulled out a long stick match and scratched it upon the door. Flame immediately flickered in the darkness to reveal ancient dust. Flakes of dead skin floated in the air. Moving into the small hall, Artemis held up the match. The light illuminated the room to reveal a small gloomy hall. Small boxes filtered the room. Blood stained the oak floorboards. Hate seemed to fill the solid atmosphere.
In front of Artemis, towering to the heavens, stood a large rickety staircase. Walking to the large staircase, Artemis stopped and stared about at the room, for caution of being harmed. God knows what’s in this house, Artemis thought to himself. Advancing to the stairs, Artemis began his journey up the stairs. Noticing that the match was about to flicker out, Artemis lit another and continued on his solemn way up the stairs.
Seeming like a lifetime, Artemis finally reached the second floor landing. Even more blood and carnage filtered the room. Bodies lay strewn about. The bloodstained carpet cried upon the air. There was even dried blood on the ceiling. Someone must still be living in the house, Artemis convinced himself. Waking over to a tall thin door, He slowly pushed it open to reveal darkness. Pure darkness of the ages. Darkness filtered the room as Artemis walked to a dresser and lit a kerosene lamp. Immediately afterward, light illuminated the room. Artemis could see the room better. Bodies filtered the floor. Blood stained the floorboards. Glass jars filled with liquid sat about the small room. On a large four poster bed lay a woman’s body. Walking up to the bed, Artemis pulled a handkerchief from his vest pocket and placed it over his pointed nose. Horrific stench filled the air. The stench of decayed flesh. Rotten innards. Hateful acids of the body that caused it to decay. The woman’s frail face stared sadly into the dark abyss. Her skin was amazingly untouched. It wasn’t she who stank. Suddenly realizing that there were jars that were filled with body parts, Artemis gasped. Hearing breathing that wasn’t his own, Artemis realized that someone else was in the room. The breathing grew louder as it filled the room. Artemis quickly turned around and saw terror.
His blood seemed to freeze. Goose pimples rose upon his breathing flesh. In the doorway, swaying to and fro, stood a skinny man in black dress. A black long coat, dark brown vest, long black trousers, white shirt and black tie, black pointy shoes, and a long billowing cape. Upon his balding head sat a large black top hat. His face was solemn and depressed. His eyes were like dancing black cobras. His nose was long and crooked. A slow curling smile formed upon his thin face. Slowly putting his hand into his pocket, the man pulled out a long rigged knife. Gleaming in the match light, Artemis suddenly noticed dried blood.
“Artemis…Artemis…how surprising,” the man crooned. “So the brotherhood sent you to kill me?”
Artemis didn’t answer. He just stood by the bed looking at him. What was left of the brotherhood had appointed Artemis to destroy the evil within the man.
“Edwin??” Artemis gasped, surprised. “You?! I never realized that it would be you! You’re the one that has been killing off the members of the brotherhood.
“Yes, Artemis. So, the brotherhood finally realized that after months of investigating, I was the one who was murdering the members,” Edwin grimaced. “So, now I suppose you are going to kill me? Is that it?”
“I’m sorry, Edwin, but I must do this. It can’t be helped. You betrayed the brotherhood!” Artemis felt fear running through him. “You brought this upon yourself. What were you thinking? You’ve killed most of the brothers, including Father Timothy.”
“What does it matter, brother? Nothing, my friend! It doesn’t matter to me. I hated Father Timothy. I wanted him dead and the other members of the brotherhood too.”
“They didn’t deserve to die.”
“Didn’t they?” Edwin asked as his breath left his body. “Let’s take into account what the brotherhood often did at our little meetings! Take for instance, that once night when Brother Harold raped that small innocent child? Or that night when Father Timothy whipped that pregnant woman to a pulp? Or even that night when you raped and assaulted the mayor’s teenage daughter. Wasn’t that immoral?”
“Yes, I suppose, but that was the purpose of the brotherhood.”
“Purpose? The purpose of the brotherhood was to ravish the lives of the innocent.”
“None of that matters any more, Edwin! I have to kill you! I promised the brotherhood that I would kill anyone who would betray the brotherhood. You were there when I promised. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course, I remember.”
“I said that I am sorry, but I have to do it.”
“You’re scared, Artemis. You won’t do one thing. You’re too scared. Just leave and you forget you ever came here.”
“You have been the cause of too many murders. Look at this house. Look at the dead bodies! Look at the carnage!”
“Silly boy, quiet yourself before I have to stab you..”
Artemis slowly put his hand into his coat pocket and could feel the rough twisted rope in his hands All that he had to do was pull it out and threaten. But on the other hand, a member of the secret brotherhood stood in the door and had a knife.
“So what are you going to do, Artemis? Pull that rope from within your coat pocket? Or fight me like a man?”
“Never!!”
“Fine. Then you leave me no choice but to…!”
Artemis yelled into the dusty atmosphere.
“Edwin, please just let me do it. You betrayed the brotherhood and now you must pay!”
“Just leave, Artemis! You don’t know what you’re getting into! This is just going to cause you pain, damn it! I don’t want to hurt
you!”
“Well, I don‘t either, but you betrayed us!”
“So you’d hurt your own brother? Flesh and blood? Family?!”
“Yes.”
“So be it.”
At this remark, Edwin charged toward his brother. Artemis quickly moved aside as Edwin collided with the wall next to the large four poster bed.
“That is it, Artemis! You die failing to fulfill the brotherhood’s task!”
Regaining his balance from hitting the wall, Edwin ran toward Artemis with his knife poised in a position to stab. Moving out of Edwin’s path, Artemis pulled the rope over his brother’s skinny head.
“Edwin! Don‘t be a fool!”
Tightening his grip, Artemis cried aloud. Edwin took his knife and cut the solemn rope.
“I am not a fool,” Edwin began laughing. “Who has the knife?”
Artemis didn’t want to do it, but he had to. Pulling a long thin revolver from his pocket, Artemis pointed it at his brother. A grim frown slowly appeared on Edwin’s thin face. Pulling an object from his coat pocket, Edwin brought it to his mouth and started to nibble on it. Horrified, Artemis suddenly realized that it was a finger.
“Actually, I believe that this finger belonged to Father Timothy,” Edwin laughed grimly.
The room around Artemis started to twirl slowly in a circular motion. Artemis felt limp. He couldn’t feel his legs. His body went limp. Falling to the ground, Artemis fainted. Cautiously, Edwin came toward Artemis with a murderous smile upon his sly face.
Artemis awoke to the sight of Edwin greasing down gleaming metal meat hooks that hung from the ceiling with petroleum jelly. Horrified, Artemis turned his blurred gaze to a strange hand crank machine that stood next to him. It was a sinister meat grinder. Blobs of red ground meat were poking out through the small holes of the grinder. Turning on his heel, Edwin turned around to face his brother who now lay on the counter of the dimly lit kitchen. The room was a regular square room with a stove and cabinets. Dried crimson blood spattered everything and anything that was in the room. Starting to sharpen a rusty and corroded axe, Edwin said in a soft voice, “Staying for dinner, Artemis?”
“Crazy fool!” Artemis tried screaming to the air as he looked at it brother‘s face. “You’re going to get caught! The brotherhood will find you and punish you for your betrayal.
“Never!” Edwin roared. “Never, do you hear me little brother?! Never! As long as I stay in hiding I’ll continue to kill.”
“I’m going to die,” Artemis realized as he felt the room around him start to twirl in circular motion.
“Probably, but don’t fret. Your body will go to good use. Good use indeed, my younger brother!”
“What do you mean by that?!” Artemis mumbled as though he were drunk.
“When your dead, I’m going to eat you.”
“Edwin! Why do you do this? I just don’t understand!” Artemis mumbled softly.
“Why? I’ll tell you why,” Edwin spoke in muffled voice. “It all began when I accidentally killed our mother.”
“You killed mother!” Artemis spat a drop of spit into the musty air.
“Why, yes,” Edwin crooned. “Didn’t you notice her on the bed upstairs. I treated her body so that it wouldn’t rot. I guess that you could say that I mummified her. I, of course, removed all her internal organs. I cooked then all up in a succulent stew and then ate them. They tasted marvelous, my dear brother. I hope that you taste just as good.”
“You are deranged, Edwin!” Artemis tried screaming.
“I may be deranged, but who’s tied down to a table?”
“Oh my god!” Artemis cried out loud.
“And now to finish you off, Artemis.” Edwin laughed. “Don’t
wiggle. It will just make things harder for me and even harder for you!”
Laughing, Edwin held the axe to the light. It gleamed beautifully. Raising it over his head, Edwin brought the blade roughly down upon the table as blood sprayed the room like a downpour of tepid rain. Leaning over Artemis’s body, Edwin grabbed a hold of a head of hair and brought it to his eye level.
“You were a fool, brother,” Edwin whispered at the head that he held in his hands. Blood slowly dripped from where the neck had been.
Edwin slowly cut Artemis’s shirt from his cold and limp body. Bringing the blade down on the skin, Edwin began to saw into Artemis’s muscular arm. Blood sprayed into the musty air as Edwin brought the knife deeper into the skin. Hitting bone, Edwin sawed roughly until the limp arm fell to the floor with a great thump as it hit the floor . The smell of flesh and pure blood filled the air. Tendons upon tendons, muscles upon muscles, and bones and bones showed themselves in the gleaming light of the room. Edwin’s eyes seemed to turn red. His smile turned into madness.
Leaning down, Edwin picked up the dead arm that had a grim tattoo embedded into it. Smelling it with desirable lust, Edwin laughed to the air that smelled of flesh and blood...
Respectfully,
Lucafont90
I shall give this piece an R rating for gore and language.
Flesh and Blood
I
Rope in hand, Artemis stepped slowly onto the large porch that stood in front of a magnificent Victorian house. In his hand he held a gritty old rope that looked almost like a venomous snake skin. It felt coarse in his young unblemished hands that smelled of roses. The rope was twisted into three strands of aged horse hair. Holding the rope in his hand, Artemis remembered that he was there for one reason and one reason only.. His mind was set on one goal and one goal only.
Looking at his right arm, Artemis saw a black and white tattoo blistered upon his skin. It depicted what seemed to be Hell. Demons, skeletons, Satan, monsters, and boatmen. Uncontrollable thoughts could be imagined about the tattoo that was embedded upon his right arm. It looked almost threatened and swollen.
Looking around his surroundings, Artemis knew what he had to do. He had a chore that was given to him. His chore was to stop. To stop something horrible from happening. Putting the rope into his coat pocket, he was reminded of his tattoo. Looking at his tattooed arm, Artemis was flung into the memory of when he received the grim tattoo…
The trees shifted uneasily as the wind howled through the cold and dirty city of Verisimilitude. The small cottages that lined the streets seemed to stay as straight as an iron pol. Around midnight rain began to pour like tears from a small baby. The clouds overhead looked angry, as did the thunder as it sounded like cymbals. It was like an orchestra performing one of Mozart’s more vigorous pieces.
Walking in the beating rain, Artemis held a large umbrella overhead. The bleating rain in sheets of a million tiny raindrops that sting when it falls fast upon the bare skin. The rain drops were so small that you could hardly see them, but if they fell on your bare skin you could feel the cold sting of liquid splash on and off your skin.
Fighting the rain, Artemis tried his hardest not to let it win. In his mind he knew what he was supposed to do, but in his heart, in his heart, he felt unsure. Unsure of continuing on his journey. Stopping at a tall ancient building, Artemis looked around his surroundings. Not a single soul was around.
Looking up, he saw a sign positioned above two oak doors that read: THE MOST HOLY CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER, THE APOSTLE.
Standing in front of the tall and ancient cathedral, Artemis smelled the tepid rain. With some difficulty, Artemis pushed the large oak doors open with all his might to reveal a shabbily furnished narthex. The doors were made of a heavy dense wood. The hinges creaked slowly as though it were in slow motion. On one side of the room stood a tall bookcase furnished with large volumes of Bibles and religious works. Above that was a picture of the Last Supper by some unknown artist of the last few centuries.. On the other side of a large register was positioned a stand used for giving gifts of money. In front of Artemis stood two more arched heavy oak doors. Stepping forward, Artemis pushed the doors open.
A wondrous site hit his eyes. In front of him stood a large cathedral. Pews lined each side of the room, equally spread apart. Every other row a large pillar towered to the roof. And next to each pillar was positioned a glowing candelabra. The candle itself muts have been made of some kind of waxy tallow that gave off a rotted smell. The windows on either side of the room were stained glass. They depicted scenes from the Bible. The Birth of the Lord, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, just to name a few that were among the stained glass windows. At the front of the cathedral, stood a large alter. Right next to the alter stood a thin dark oak door that must have led into some office or basement. A large crucifix hovered above the alter. Next to each side of the crucifix two more stained glass windows gleamed in the dead of the night. Each one depicted the Lord and God. The room smelled musty and damp. Smelling the air, Artemis felt his nostrils burn as he breathed in the damp air.
In front of the alter, a man kneeled. His bald head glistened in the candlelight. This man wore a thick black robe. Hands, his hands shook as he prayed to his God. The figure heard the man mutters word of praise and pray.
“Father Timothy,” Artemis crooned to the night air.
“Do my ears deceive me?” the bald priest turned his head. “Is that the voice of my dear Artemis?”
“Yes sir,” Artemis spoke in a hushed tone.
Father Timothy stood up with some difficulty and appeared to face Artemis. As he stood you could hear his joints pop in and out, in and out. It seemed as though his bones creaked as he turned to face the young man that stood behind him. The old man’s balding head glistened in the candlelight. His face was worn and aged. Wrinkled crevices covered his aged his face like a map. His thick robe appeared like a black grand drape.
Walking toward Artemis, Father Timothy looked into his eyes that were a dark color that reminded him of the deepest pits of Hell.
“Have you come alone?” Father Timothy asked quietly.
“Yes,” Artemis answered, still in a hushed tone of voice. “No one saw me.”
“Good,” Father Timothy said as he looked at the large oak doors. “Follow me.”
Father Timothy took a hold of Artemis’s hands and led to the door that stood next to the alter. Cautiously, Father Timothy pushed the door open and descended down a flight of stone steps. Leading Artemis, Father Timothy continued to descend into a dark spiraling staircase of nothingness. Finally reaching a long hallway, Father Timothy looked around himself. The hall was dimly lit by a few hanging candles that were encased a small silver lamp like structure.
“Be quiet and follow my lead,” Father Timothy said as he slowly began to walk down the dimly lit hallway. Stopping at a door that looked almost corpulent, Father Timothy softly pushed the door open to reveal a large dome like room with tables and lit candelabras scattered about. Soft voices erupted in a solitary moment of silence.
“Follow me,” Father Timothy spoke as he walked into the room.
Following Father Timothy, Artemis rubbed his eyes as he walked into the dome like room that seemed to smell of smoke. Looking into the room, Artemis saw twelve men of all shapes and sized standing in a formed circled. They wore brown baggy robes that look almost like human waste.
Holding out a brown robe, Father Timothy said, “Put this on.”
Artemis slipped the robe over his head. It didn’t fit, but that didn’t really matter. Walking to Father Timothy, Artemis asked, “Now, what do I do?”
“Follow my instructions,” Father Timothy barked softly. “Now, go stand in the middle of the circle and we will begin the ceremony.”
Artemis walked into the middle of the circle and stood. With the dim light, he strained to see the face of the people around him. Tall men and small men stood around him in a formed circle. Some were large and some were small. They all stood still as Father Timothy cried out in a monstrous voice, “Let this ceremony begin!”
The men around Artemis erupted into a circular chorus of humming and moaning.
Father Timothy walked into the middle of the circle with Artemis. In his hand he held a strange instrument that looked almost like a poker that someone would use in a fireplace.
“We have come here to tonight to accept another brother into are holy brotherhood of cohorts,” Father Timothy spoke in a soft crisp voice. “Tonight we are here to accept our brother, Artemis. If anyone has any objections please come forward.”
Not one cloaked figure came forward. They all stood still, humming softly.
“Since there is no objections, let us get on with the ceremony,” Father Timothy’s crisp voice rang into the chamber’s atmosphere. “Artemis, now for your test. Do you agree to commit yourself to the brother. If you answer is yes, you will simply nod your head.”
Artemis slowly nodded his head.
“Do you agree to attend all ceremonies and secret meetings? If your answer is yes, you will simply nod your head.”
Artemis nodded his head in an even slower motion. Father Timothy continued to ask Artemis questions about the brotherhood until the father asked a fairly difficult question. “If anyone betrays the brotherhood, do you agree to track them down and kill them?”
Artemis didn’t know whether to nod or not. He wanted to be in the brotherhood, but he really didn’t want to kill. Deciding on what to do, Artemis nodded his solemn head. Father Timothy grinned a toothless grin that looked almost like a fall jack-o-lantern.
The questions continued to go on and on until finally Father Timothy asked one last question, “What is the mission of the brotherhood?”
“To ravish the lives of the innocent,” Artemis spoke in a monotonous voice.
“Correct,” Father Timothy laughed. “And now for the final touch. Your tattoo. Show me your right arm.”
Artemis lifted his brown robe sleeve as Father Timothy pressed a strange instrument into the young man’s unblemished skin.
II
Artemis slowly returned to reality as the sun sparkled on the old decaying rooftop of the ancient house. Vines infested the tall home of wonders. Inside would be horror. Unimaginable horror that would rot the brain of cheerful thoughts. Turning on his booted heel, Artemis walked toward the large French doors. The doorknob was stained and gritty. It was made of a dark brass. The paint had corroded away to reveal a dark dull green. The dark gray paint on the door was flaky and easily blown by the hefty wind of the world. As Artemis pulled a key from his coat pocket, he noticed that the sun suddenly disappeared. He turned around and looked toward the sunset. The sun disappeared. Nowhere to be seen. Darkness began to fill the land. Gloominess settled upon the shadow evoked land. Turning back to the door Artemis slid the ancient key into the tight keyhole and turned. Pushing, the door slowly opened to reveal darkness. Pure hateful darkness that could swallow any one up at any time if it wanted to. The room that Artemis was in was musty and damp. Artemis pulled out a long stick match and scratched it upon the door. Flame immediately flickered in the darkness to reveal ancient dust. Flakes of dead skin floated in the air. Moving into the small hall, Artemis held up the match. The light illuminated the room to reveal a small gloomy hall. Small boxes filtered the room. Blood stained the oak floorboards. Hate seemed to fill the solid atmosphere.
In front of Artemis, towering to the heavens, stood a large rickety staircase. Walking to the large staircase, Artemis stopped and stared about at the room, for caution of being harmed. God knows what’s in this house, Artemis thought to himself. Advancing to the stairs, Artemis began his journey up the stairs. Noticing that the match was about to flicker out, Artemis lit another and continued on his solemn way up the stairs.
Seeming like a lifetime, Artemis finally reached the second floor landing. Even more blood and carnage filtered the room. Bodies lay strewn about. The bloodstained carpet cried upon the air. There was even dried blood on the ceiling. Someone must still be living in the house, Artemis convinced himself. Waking over to a tall thin door, He slowly pushed it open to reveal darkness. Pure darkness of the ages. Darkness filtered the room as Artemis walked to a dresser and lit a kerosene lamp. Immediately afterward, light illuminated the room. Artemis could see the room better. Bodies filtered the floor. Blood stained the floorboards. Glass jars filled with liquid sat about the small room. On a large four poster bed lay a woman’s body. Walking up to the bed, Artemis pulled a handkerchief from his vest pocket and placed it over his pointed nose. Horrific stench filled the air. The stench of decayed flesh. Rotten innards. Hateful acids of the body that caused it to decay. The woman’s frail face stared sadly into the dark abyss. Her skin was amazingly untouched. It wasn’t she who stank. Suddenly realizing that there were jars that were filled with body parts, Artemis gasped. Hearing breathing that wasn’t his own, Artemis realized that someone else was in the room. The breathing grew louder as it filled the room. Artemis quickly turned around and saw terror.
His blood seemed to freeze. Goose pimples rose upon his breathing flesh. In the doorway, swaying to and fro, stood a skinny man in black dress. A black long coat, dark brown vest, long black trousers, white shirt and black tie, black pointy shoes, and a long billowing cape. Upon his balding head sat a large black top hat. His face was solemn and depressed. His eyes were like dancing black cobras. His nose was long and crooked. A slow curling smile formed upon his thin face. Slowly putting his hand into his pocket, the man pulled out a long rigged knife. Gleaming in the match light, Artemis suddenly noticed dried blood.
“Artemis…Artemis…how surprising,” the man crooned. “So the brotherhood sent you to kill me?”
Artemis didn’t answer. He just stood by the bed looking at him. What was left of the brotherhood had appointed Artemis to destroy the evil within the man.
“Edwin??” Artemis gasped, surprised. “You?! I never realized that it would be you! You’re the one that has been killing off the members of the brotherhood.
“Yes, Artemis. So, the brotherhood finally realized that after months of investigating, I was the one who was murdering the members,” Edwin grimaced. “So, now I suppose you are going to kill me? Is that it?”
“I’m sorry, Edwin, but I must do this. It can’t be helped. You betrayed the brotherhood!” Artemis felt fear running through him. “You brought this upon yourself. What were you thinking? You’ve killed most of the brothers, including Father Timothy.”
“What does it matter, brother? Nothing, my friend! It doesn’t matter to me. I hated Father Timothy. I wanted him dead and the other members of the brotherhood too.”
“They didn’t deserve to die.”
“Didn’t they?” Edwin asked as his breath left his body. “Let’s take into account what the brotherhood often did at our little meetings! Take for instance, that once night when Brother Harold raped that small innocent child? Or that night when Father Timothy whipped that pregnant woman to a pulp? Or even that night when you raped and assaulted the mayor’s teenage daughter. Wasn’t that immoral?”
“Yes, I suppose, but that was the purpose of the brotherhood.”
“Purpose? The purpose of the brotherhood was to ravish the lives of the innocent.”
“None of that matters any more, Edwin! I have to kill you! I promised the brotherhood that I would kill anyone who would betray the brotherhood. You were there when I promised. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course, I remember.”
“I said that I am sorry, but I have to do it.”
“You’re scared, Artemis. You won’t do one thing. You’re too scared. Just leave and you forget you ever came here.”
“You have been the cause of too many murders. Look at this house. Look at the dead bodies! Look at the carnage!”
“Silly boy, quiet yourself before I have to stab you..”
Artemis slowly put his hand into his coat pocket and could feel the rough twisted rope in his hands All that he had to do was pull it out and threaten. But on the other hand, a member of the secret brotherhood stood in the door and had a knife.
“So what are you going to do, Artemis? Pull that rope from within your coat pocket? Or fight me like a man?”
“Never!!”
“Fine. Then you leave me no choice but to…!”
Artemis yelled into the dusty atmosphere.
“Edwin, please just let me do it. You betrayed the brotherhood and now you must pay!”
“Just leave, Artemis! You don’t know what you’re getting into! This is just going to cause you pain, damn it! I don’t want to hurt
you!”
“Well, I don‘t either, but you betrayed us!”
“So you’d hurt your own brother? Flesh and blood? Family?!”
“Yes.”
“So be it.”
At this remark, Edwin charged toward his brother. Artemis quickly moved aside as Edwin collided with the wall next to the large four poster bed.
“That is it, Artemis! You die failing to fulfill the brotherhood’s task!”
Regaining his balance from hitting the wall, Edwin ran toward Artemis with his knife poised in a position to stab. Moving out of Edwin’s path, Artemis pulled the rope over his brother’s skinny head.
“Edwin! Don‘t be a fool!”
Tightening his grip, Artemis cried aloud. Edwin took his knife and cut the solemn rope.
“I am not a fool,” Edwin began laughing. “Who has the knife?”
Artemis didn’t want to do it, but he had to. Pulling a long thin revolver from his pocket, Artemis pointed it at his brother. A grim frown slowly appeared on Edwin’s thin face. Pulling an object from his coat pocket, Edwin brought it to his mouth and started to nibble on it. Horrified, Artemis suddenly realized that it was a finger.
“Actually, I believe that this finger belonged to Father Timothy,” Edwin laughed grimly.
The room around Artemis started to twirl slowly in a circular motion. Artemis felt limp. He couldn’t feel his legs. His body went limp. Falling to the ground, Artemis fainted. Cautiously, Edwin came toward Artemis with a murderous smile upon his sly face.
Artemis awoke to the sight of Edwin greasing down gleaming metal meat hooks that hung from the ceiling with petroleum jelly. Horrified, Artemis turned his blurred gaze to a strange hand crank machine that stood next to him. It was a sinister meat grinder. Blobs of red ground meat were poking out through the small holes of the grinder. Turning on his heel, Edwin turned around to face his brother who now lay on the counter of the dimly lit kitchen. The room was a regular square room with a stove and cabinets. Dried crimson blood spattered everything and anything that was in the room. Starting to sharpen a rusty and corroded axe, Edwin said in a soft voice, “Staying for dinner, Artemis?”
“Crazy fool!” Artemis tried screaming to the air as he looked at it brother‘s face. “You’re going to get caught! The brotherhood will find you and punish you for your betrayal.
“Never!” Edwin roared. “Never, do you hear me little brother?! Never! As long as I stay in hiding I’ll continue to kill.”
“I’m going to die,” Artemis realized as he felt the room around him start to twirl in circular motion.
“Probably, but don’t fret. Your body will go to good use. Good use indeed, my younger brother!”
“What do you mean by that?!” Artemis mumbled as though he were drunk.
“When your dead, I’m going to eat you.”
“Edwin! Why do you do this? I just don’t understand!” Artemis mumbled softly.
“Why? I’ll tell you why,” Edwin spoke in muffled voice. “It all began when I accidentally killed our mother.”
“You killed mother!” Artemis spat a drop of spit into the musty air.
“Why, yes,” Edwin crooned. “Didn’t you notice her on the bed upstairs. I treated her body so that it wouldn’t rot. I guess that you could say that I mummified her. I, of course, removed all her internal organs. I cooked then all up in a succulent stew and then ate them. They tasted marvelous, my dear brother. I hope that you taste just as good.”
“You are deranged, Edwin!” Artemis tried screaming.
“I may be deranged, but who’s tied down to a table?”
“Oh my god!” Artemis cried out loud.
“And now to finish you off, Artemis.” Edwin laughed. “Don’t
wiggle. It will just make things harder for me and even harder for you!”
Laughing, Edwin held the axe to the light. It gleamed beautifully. Raising it over his head, Edwin brought the blade roughly down upon the table as blood sprayed the room like a downpour of tepid rain. Leaning over Artemis’s body, Edwin grabbed a hold of a head of hair and brought it to his eye level.
“You were a fool, brother,” Edwin whispered at the head that he held in his hands. Blood slowly dripped from where the neck had been.
Edwin slowly cut Artemis’s shirt from his cold and limp body. Bringing the blade down on the skin, Edwin began to saw into Artemis’s muscular arm. Blood sprayed into the musty air as Edwin brought the knife deeper into the skin. Hitting bone, Edwin sawed roughly until the limp arm fell to the floor with a great thump as it hit the floor . The smell of flesh and pure blood filled the air. Tendons upon tendons, muscles upon muscles, and bones and bones showed themselves in the gleaming light of the room. Edwin’s eyes seemed to turn red. His smile turned into madness.
Leaning down, Edwin picked up the dead arm that had a grim tattoo embedded into it. Smelling it with desirable lust, Edwin laughed to the air that smelled of flesh and blood...
(P.S i've written a fantasy story called Venolf War. i haven't quite finished yet but can you have a read through and review it when you have time? thanks!)