2. Dorian
Dorian
Dorian was looking for a new victim, but he never dreamed it would be so easy. Lanny was perfect. Stupid, sexist, and too young to know better. Dorian spent the rest of the day tracking him down, finding him at a local bar called Stemple’s Bar.
The bar was old, with dust-covered walls and light fixtures that swung like dying limbs from the ceiling.
Dorian blended in with the other country folk.
He kept an eye on Lanny, who was still trying to flex and impress women.
They were largely uninterested. He was drunk, and his persistence was pissing off the customers.
The doormen/security pulled him out, and Dorian had his cue.
Dorian followed him out, making sure that he had no witnesses.
The sun was setting in the distance, casting an eerie glow on the bar parking lot and the flickering outdoor lights.
Lanny staggered to his car, but Dorian caught up to him.
“You shouldn’t drive home in your condition. ”
Lanny spun around. “Fuck you!” Then, he realized who it was. “Oh shit…it's you…my bad man…I don’t want no trouble…”
Dorian offered a practiced smile. “Let me give you a lift home.”
Lanny narrowed his drunken eyes at him. “Why would you help me?”
Dorian’s practiced smile remained. “Though I find you offensive, I don’t want you to hurt anyone. I don’t think you want that on your conscience, do you?”
Lanny thought about it. “...I guess…”
Dorian placed his hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go.” He led Lanny to his truck and they drove off.
Lanny faded in and out of sleep as they drove, but Dorian remained quiet. Focused. Determined. He pulled over to the shoulder. Lanny was knocked out. Dorian looked around. There were no cars, no witnesses. Oddly, not even animals. Perfection.
Dorian slid out of the driver’s seat and grabbed his tools from the bed. Then, he walked to Lanny’s side. He opened the door, making him stir. Lanny’s eyes were heavily glazed over. “We home?”
Dorian nodded. “Yeah. You’re home.”
Lanny slid out, then staggered towards the woods near the shoulder. He paused. “Hey…wait a minute…this isn’t my house…”
Dorian raised his axe. “It’s your home now.”
Lanny blinked. “Wha–” Dorian swung the axe with the blunt side, and it cracked his skull loudly. Lanny crumpled to the ground. Dorian dragged him into the woods. The leaves and sticks crackled beneath his feet and Lanny’s unconscious body.
Dorian knew the woods well. He dragged Lanny through the path and leaned him against a large oak tree. Dorian used his new rope and tied him up. Dorian slung the axe over his shoulder and knelt before him.
After about an hour, Lanny awoke. “What…what the fuck?”
Dorian raised an eyebrow. His practiced smile turned true. Sinister. “Welcome back to the land of the living,” he said. His tone was final, but also teasing.
Lanny struggled. “Come on man…this is bullshit…let me go!”Dorian rose, lowering the axe. “Oh shit…come on man…please…”
Dorian looked down at him. “I was going to kill you just because. But now, I see you’re a disgusting swine. And it’s time for a culling.”
Lanny watched helplessly as Dorian raised the axe. “Don’t!”
Dorian swung the axe down, connecting with Lanny’s chest with a disgusting slurp.
Lanny’s eyes went wide, and blood gargled from his mouth and his chest. Dorian however, wore a satisfied smile.
He pulled the axe back, removing some bone and some sinew.
Then, he swung it again, this time from a different angle.
He did it over and over, making it look like a bear mauling.
Satisfied, he pulled the axe back and untied the corpse. Lanny’s body slumped to the side, falling over, his damaged heart, ribs, and chest were now exposed to the wildlife. Dorian chuckled and took the rope and the axe back to his truck. Then, he drove off. Going back to his home.