FicWad

The smoke from Gerard’s cigarette spun dizzy circles, a slow, lethargic decline before its grey form spun into the air, disappearing before his observant hazel eyes. The hotel room was stuffy, it made his hair stick to his forehead as he perspired, it was too hot for him to breathe – or at least it felt like it. His once-jet black hair was now a scarlet red, making him look like a misanthropic punk rocker as he scowled into the corner of the room.

He was anxious to move, but he was trying to plan his next move so that he wouldn’t end up back in a cell by the end of the night. Six years had passed since he had escaped from prison, and he had evaded them by changing his hair, ducking out and living rough in cheap motels and sleeping in the backs of alleys. He’d travelled from state to state, awaiting his capture, but only finding the same pattern of night and day.
He stood up from the bed, deciding that visiting Mikey’s home during the day was a good idea. He remembered the last time he had seen Mikey – when they had carted him off once Gerard had pumped a bullet into his shoulder. Truth was, he hadn’t killed as much whilst travelling – he hadn’t wanted to attract more attention to himself than was necessary. A few prostitutes, homeless men – when the bloodlust had taken over, Gerard had felt the urge to kill and he had dealt with it. After being locked up in prison, the outside world was a buffet of drugs, sex and murder; but he had held himself back from the slaughter, but indulged in the others whenever the need had struck.

Need was a funny thing. He was thinking that as he drove silently towards Mikey’s home – he had also learnt to drive during his six years of freedom, using his selected friends to teach him.He had checked that his brother still lived in the house that was too big for any single man, and found that Mikey had stayed. He was also still a doctor; no doubt the best Maryland had to offer. He needed to see Mikey and tell him what he hadn’t been able to tell him six years before, after he had killed the man who had killed the boy inside of him, and killed any chance of his being normal in later life.

He got out of the car, closing the door softly, as to not announce his presence more than he already had. He walked up to the perfect white of the door. It was new, he noticed – a few things had changed on the outside of the home. Like the little red roses that clambered the perfect emerald shrubbery that surrounded the property. He frowned at the homely touches – had Mikey reconciled with his ex-wife?

Gerard decided that knocking on the door wouldn’t be such a good idea – but then again, sneaking in through the back wasn’t the best idea, either. He decided to go for the back door, instead, crossing the grass, glancing at the children’s toys littering the back yard – Mikey must’ve taken custody of his kids. Gerard frowned again at this; he hadn’t liked Mikey’s children; the spoilt little boy with circular glasses and blonde hair, and little girl with bright blonde hair and blue eyes – Mikey had doted on her, and she had also become the most spoilt child on earth, throwing more tantrums than she threw smiles.

Gerard skulked up to the glass double doors that led out into the garden, and tried one of the doors, pulling the handle downwards, and finding that it wasn’t locked. He smirked, opening the door fully and walking inside of a cool kitchen. He could hear laughter from somewhere, a girl’s – and stood still. What if Mikey had really moved? The kitchen even looked different – the red fixtures heated in his curious eyes, catching the afternoon sun.
‘’Hello? ’’ He called boldly, deciding that he didn’t care if he was caught anymore. The laughter stopped, and he walked out into the lounge, then into the front room, where the stairs led up to the second floor. A hushed voice, and then a woman appeared; Lauren. She stared down at him, and then began walking slowly down, step by step. Then she stopped on the second to last step, her eyes taking him in – and he was reminded of the first time he saw her; afraid and crouching on the diner floor. She wasn’t the eighteen year old waitress anymore, though, her black fitted dress and white pearls strung around her neck gave her a different look, a different sense of heightened age and elegance.
‘’Gerard…’’ she breathed, her eyes wide, scared eyes that studied him before asking; ‘’what are you doing here?’’ she frowned a little, and Gerard gave her a leisurely smile.
‘’I’m just here to say hi and check up on a few things… How have you been, Sugar?’’ he asked,
‘’I’m fine, how are you?’’ she stepped down completely, so that she was standing on the same floor as Gerard – she was a little taller, but Gerard knew that that was a consequence of the black high heels she had on.
‘’Never better… where’s Mikey?’’ he enquired,
‘’He’s at work…’’ Lauren answered a little nervously, biting her lip.
‘’I can wait – I want to see him.’’ Gerard explained.
‘’Gerard…that might not be the best idea…’’ her eyes darted about, and this made Gerard frown;
‘’Why not? ’’ His voice softened.
‘’My daughter is upstairs, I don’t… you’re a killer, Gerard.’’ She folded her arms.
‘’Daughter? Since when did you have a fuckin’ daughter? ‘’ Gerard snapped,
‘’Since three years ago, Mikey and I got married – and then a year later I had Dahlia.’’ Lauren narrowed her eyes and little, and Gerard couldn’t help but laugh at her defensive tone.
‘’Just thought you were a little young, Sugar… last time we met you were…what…eighteen?’’ Gerard tried to remember, and Lauren gave a curt nod at his statement.
‘’You can wait downstairs, okay? I’ll be back down soon, so just stay there for now.’’ She held up a hand, as if to stop him – but he knew that if he wanted to, he could kill her right then and there – but if he had wanted her dead, he would’ve done it six years before.
‘’You don’t want me to meet my niece?’’ Gerard asked, Lauren stopped, turning on the step she had been about to mount.
‘’Fine – but no talking about any sick, twisted shit – or you’re out of here. I mean it, Gerard, I’m not playing around.’’ She snapped, her hands resting on her hips as she stared down at him.
‘’Don’t worry, Sugar, I come in peace.’’ Gerard held up his hands, and Lauren nodded, climbing the rest of the stairs. Here he was, a cold-blooded killer, being ordered around by his little brother’s wife. Lauren Way, indeed, he snorted at the thought, rolling his hazel eyes as he walked back into the kitchen. It was cool, and it eased the heat’s itch upon his slightly tanned skin. He had been in California for three weeks before he had come back, and he judged that he probably looked a whole lot different to what he looked like six years ago.

Lauren eventually emerged in the kitchen, with a little girl held in her arms; ‘’And this is your uncle Gerard, Dahlia....’’ she smiled reassuringly at the child, who was too busy trying to hide behind her mousy brown bobbed hair – which didn’t work, because it was short.
‘’No, I don’t wanna,’’ she announced. Lauren rolled her eyes,
‘’He won’t bite, Dali, he’s your dad’s brother,’’ she tried to convince the irrational girl. Gerard advanced towards the pair, peering at the small girl;
‘’She looks like you,’’ he smiled a little, ‘’but she has Mikey’s eyes,’’ he mentioned, Dahlia eventually stopped trying to hide – studying Gerard with quiet consideration, before reaching out and grabbing his candy-coloured hair.
‘’I like your hair,’’ she giggled, twisting it in-between her tiny fingers. Gerard was slightly scared of the child, to be honest; he had never really been around them. Apart from Mikey’s other kids and he was glad that he didn’t have to be talking to them. Dahlia let go, and Lauren lifted her up, placing her on a stool in the kitchen, and leaning next to the counter.
‘’You look terrified, Gerard,’’ she smirked. Gerard’s face suddenly clouded with anger, and he took Lauren’s arm,
‘’Let’s talk – in the next room,’’ He pressed, tugging her into the lounge. He stopped, laying his hands on her shoulders; ‘’just because I don’t have a gun to you anymore, doesn’t mean I still can’t kill you.’’ Gerard spat, Lauren just stood there, her eyes steady, calm – the calm unsettled Gerard.
‘’I want you to help me do something, Gerard. I need your help,’’,
‘’Oh – so you want me to help you after you patronize me? Forget it, sister, I ain’t gonna take that shit.’’ Gerard narrowed his hazel eyes.
‘’Please,’’ Lauren took a hold of his arm, ‘’you’re the only one who can help me, Gerard.’’ she begged, he could hear her getting ready to promise him anything that he wanted, and he wondered what it must have been to make her act this way – when she was now standing so tall and proud, the little housewife. Gerard almost laughed at that last thought – he could still see the eighteen year old waitress – the one who had helped him to confront his demon.

‘’What is it?’’ Gerard asked,
‘’I need you to help me kill my parents,’’ Lauren said without flinching, or frowning. Just proclaiming what she wanted, and Gerard liked it a lot.
‘’You want me to kill your demons?’’ he drew closer, his dark eyes glinting down at Lauren.
‘’I need your help, Gerard – they want to see Dahlia. Mikey wants them to see her… he says he’ll take her to them if I don’t let them come here. I can’t let that happen, I’ll die myself, first. And I don’t want them around, period.’’ Lauren’s own eyes darkened with bloodlust – Gerard raised his eyebrows;
‘’Want me to kill for you? Want me to stain my skin with their blood?’’ he was so close; she could feel his hot breath against her ear as he leaned in to whisper those words.
‘’Yes, I’ll do whatever you want, Gerard – if you end their lives.’’ Lauren smiled simply, then they were both silent for a few moments when Gerard pulled back – engaged in a staring-match. He wanted her, that’s what he wanted – needed. He wanted the strong, bloodthirsty Lauren who could promise him anything, if only he’d save her from her monsters, just like she’d helped him to save himself six years before. The stares were broke as Dahlia wondered into the room,
‘’Mommy, I’m hungry,’’ she smiled, walking to her mother and wrapping her fingers around the bottom of her back dress – it fell just to her knees.
‘’Ah, lunch, let’s go see what we can find,’’ Lauren picked Dahlia up again, and Gerard was amazed at how she turned from a scheming murder-ess to a doting mother.
‘’Does Uncle Gerard want lunch?’’ Dahlia asked Lauren,
‘’I don’t know...’’ she turned to Gerard, ‘’you want something to eat, Gerard?’’ she raised her eyebrows at him – and he shook his head, dismissing his previous thoughts.
‘’I’d love something to eat,’’ he nodded, ‘’what’ve you got?’’ he asked,
‘’Ice cream!’’ Dahlia cheered,
‘’No, not ice cream, Dahlia, ice cream is desert… how about some soup?’’ Lauren peered at the little girl, and Dahlia nodded,
‘’Soup, soup, soup,’’ she nodded with each word.
‘’Pumpkin soup,’’ Lauren walked back into the kitchen, lowering Dahlia to the floor. Gerard took a seat at a stool – wondering how he could feel so at home, the man who had forced another to eat his own eyes, who had tortured and kidnapped women – how he could feel at home with a plotting housewife and her innocent daughter, also his brother’s daughter.