The Thorns Under Pedals

Chapter 13:

After my first encounter with the demon Johnathan whose real name was just way too difficult for me to pronounce I came to the cafe more after school. At least once if not twice a week with Isabella who insisted that I was not going to meet the sexiest man alive without her. Those being her words not mine. So here we were again back in our normal spot by the door a month later. Jonathan greeted us like usual and went through to get our orders. The only difference from last time is that his smile was forced around me. His eyes narrowed, not pleased I was back to bothering him some more. Of course he growled in my head to leave him alone so that he could feed in peace but as I was stubborn with wanting to know more about demons I stayed. Finally after a month of coming in I got what I wanted under my napkin with the words Leave me the f**k alone virgin in his hand writing I assume.

Isabella and I went over the class study guides and gossip from our school as we ate our food and finished our coffee beverages. With a sad longing gaze at Johnathan Isabella followed me out the door after we left the money on the table. I waved bye to Isabella as we got to the intersection that would be splitting up to go home. The night breeze was cool against my forehead helping cool down the warmth feeling Johnathan’s presence set my body in. The walk home was short and I opened the door quickly. I was excited to look over the note he left me but I made sure to secure the lock on all the entrances before I walked to the room I used to plan my next moves in.

The light flickered on and made me squint until the pain eased at the bright light. Once my eyesight was back I pulled the note out of my pocket and laid it on the desk by the light. 6669 S. Westwood Road was scribbled above his message for me. I frown as I turned to my computer and typed it in google maps. Static shifted over my screen before it turned completely black. I tried to restart the computer but it did nothing but stay completely black. I began cursing Johnathan all the names I could think of as I hit the side of the desktop. Finally a response of life came to my computer screen but it was not on google maps any longer. No it still was black but in the center of the screen was much of the mark that branded my arm and on the bottom was blinking for a code to type in.

“What the f**k?” I threw my hands in the air annoyed. What the hell was I supposed to type in now? Stupid demons. I started to pace as my anger started to cool and my mind was trying to solve the code. My carpet was going to be ruined with the stain of dirt along the path at the amount of times I walked back and forth before I thought of an idea. With a sigh I lifted my shirt sleeve and went up to a mirror to look at the signature. Sure enough under the mark was a set of six numbers that were clear but tiny. Once I memorized the numbers I went to my computer and typed them in. I breathed a sigh of relief as my screen flickered back to google maps to show me where the address was from me.

I clicked on it and found that it was an address to an abandoned meat factory. My head tilted to the side with curiosity as I scrolled through the information about the place. The place closed down fifteen years ago and was believed to be haunted by workers that died by accidents the company couldn’t explain. Some claims from ex employees reported seeing figures of the Devil’s horns or wolves roaming the halls.

“Hm.” I whispered as I scrolled through more. As the information settled in I began to feel like I needed to go there. A strong urge to explore consumed me and I was not sure I would be able to sleep even a little without checking the place out myself. However, the place was surrounded by the forest and I could very easily get lost if I was not careful. I would visit the area after getting more acquainted with the area first in daylight. For now I would distract myself by listening to the taps that were recorded from Carlos’s now fixed truck. His truck had a bug letting me in on everything that was going on in the truck through audio and video.

Thankfully my brother wanted to be a detective and so he experimented with a lot of equipment that they would use in the police force to solve cases. Which meant that I now could use it to gain more information on my enemies to find their weaknesses. Then turn their fears into reality. Though it would be difficult and the equipment had been a struggle to figure out so I could actually use it. I sat back and played from the very first recording.

Click. The sound of the truck unlocking and then the driver's door was pulled open. Carlos swung into his seat and looked around his truck. He took in every detail as if aliasing each section to make sure nothing was damaged. Carlos’s features relaxed with a deep sigh as he rested his head against the steering wheel with his eyes closed. “Fuck.” He muttered to himself as emotion washed over him, letting the tension leave his body. “Once we find out who did this I’ll make them pay for that.”

Carlos spent some more time relaxing in the seat before he turned his keys, starting the engine which was so loud in her ears that she hissed, turning the volume down a bit. "It's great to have you back." He said while patting the top of the steering wheel. The sound of tires shifting could be heard as he began to move the vehicle in reverse then drive.

I closed my eyes as he drove in silence waiting for any clues. Carlos played some Hispanic music in the background. A few songs he would start to sing bits and pieces off tone but on time with the beat. I found my finger tapping to the beat. As soon as the tires slowed and a click signaled another door opening my eyes opened in time to see another man slide into the passenger seat. My curiosity was satisfied to learn that the other man was Jorge. Jorge seemed to be much more talkative. A smile crossed my face as I could see Carlos tensing with his patience snapping with the Spanish mistakes.

"Enough!" Carlos snapped after about ten minutes of broken Spanish and English.

Jorge smiled apologetically then slouched in his chair. "How long is this security office anyways?" He sounded like a child asking his parents.

"What are you five?" Carlos muttered in response. Clearly annoyed that his silent joy ride was ruined by the guy next to him.

Jorge chuckled. "I'm pretty tall for a five year old." A sound of someone's foot was tapping to the song playing on the radio.

Carlos rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. I shook my head as the two went at each other for most of the ride. Clearly Jorge liked getting reactions out of Carlos to open the man up but he was pretty stubborn holding up the walls. Resting my chin on my palm I shifted in a more comfortable position as the recording continued. A few times I wrote down some details that Jorge pulled out of an angry Carlos. However, most of the recording like most of them to come were filled with bickering between the two.

The night was passing by as I listened to each one in order. I learned much of Jorge in the process. The man had a complex of feeling like he needed to prove himself. In every aspect from his job position to his family roots. His parents expected a great deal of him to succeed and provide for himself. He was the only child from a Hispanic woman and an American male. Though most of the time in the interactions I viewed he tried to be more like the Hispanic side of his heritage. His Spanish was terrible even to someone like me that was at basic level. I gave up trying to understand what he was saying after two minutes. At least this told me that Carlos was patient.

The few details I got about Carlos was typical of the average Hispanic American I've seen. He grew up in New Mexico until he was at the age to go to a better college. He wasn't the only one of his family to move. His younger sister that he sounded close to followed him soon after. Carlos then meets an English only speaking lady in one of his classes that he married later on. Jorge clearly believed the couple were perfect for each other. There were a few hints that the couple had one daughter. Though I could not tell how young.

It was not until I listened to a recording one week ago from the day that caught my full attention. It started much like the others with the door opening and Carlos starting the car. However, instead of picking Jorge up to some location Andrew wished to go party when a little girl was helped into the truck.

"Make sure to put your seatbelt on." Carlos' voice could be heard in a muffled tone outside the truck. As if he was walking to the drivers side as he talked.

"Yes daddy." The little girl's voice came out softly with a big smile that showed a couple teeth missing up front. Her features were very similar to Carlos at least her complexion, eye color, and thin lip shape. She must get her mother's hair color as it was loose onto the girl's shoulders. A wavy mess that probably was tangled.

With Carlos in the car and starting the engine I could see the change start from his eyes. They softened and appeared less guarded from the previous recordings. His voice was gentle as he asked her how school was. Carlos appeared patient as he listened to every detail his daughter spoke. Once she finished her lengthy detailed description of her day Carlos laughed. Laughed. Not a soft chuckle or light hearted grunt but a full on laugh that had his shoulders lowering into relaxation.

"Are you staying home tonight?" She asked in a too hopeful pitch. I could tell she was holding her breath waiting for his answer. Yet she was also trying to keep herself from being disappointed. She was biting her lip to suggest such.

"Not tonight." He sighed as he saw the hope crushed as she couldn't help the fall of her shoulders. "I'll be home next weekend."

"Next weekend?" She hesitantly looked up at him. "The whole weekend?"

"Yes." His daughter interrupted with a squeal.

"You're going to come watch me play the princess right?!" She rushed in excitement.

"I wouldn't miss it." He smiled before rubbing her head affectionately while he kept the other hand on the wheel. "I promised I would be there. What do I say about promises?"

"Never make one that you won't keep." She said along with Carlos.

"I can't wait!" She squealed. "I've been practicing for weeks. Mommy even helped me memorize each of my lines everyday after school."

"Did mommy tell you the story of how we met?" Carlos asked before his daughter went into a whole rush story.

She tilted her head a second before shaking her head no. The force of the shake made me concerned that she would break her neck but thankfully she stopped when Carlos continued.

"Your mom was in the drama department where we went to college. The day we met she was practicing her sword play for the part she would play." Carlos paused, making sure she understood each part. I shifted in my chair and crossed my ankles together. If possible Carlos eyes shined with such love I couldn't believe he was the same man that bickered with Jorge. "Your mom would be playing a huge role in the play and needed a lot of practice to keep her spot from other girls taking it. I was walking by with some of my friends near the theater stage. The noise of blades clashing and your mothers loud war roar drew our attention. My friend and I watched as your mom fought off two opponents single handedly."

I could see the daughter memorized by the picture Carlos was creating in her head. He was a very good storyteller in the descriptions of the set and the 1890's outfits the three wore. He paused at times to hold expense in the moments it called for while also the volume of his voice shifting in moments for drama.

"Just as your mother had the two cornered to deliver the finishing blow the lights snapped crashing down to the stage. The lights crushed your mothers leg and the four of us rushed over to save her from further injury. The rest was history." I frowned at the rushed ending, not completely convinced or satisfied with it. I wasn't the only one as his daughter grumbled.

"Was she ok? Was she able to play her part in the play after that?"

Carlos shook his head. "The part was given to one of the other girls. Your mothers leg was put in a cast to heal for months after."

“That’s not fair!” The little girl cried out stressing the a in fair. “She worked so hard for that role.”

Carlos chuckled. “Yes she did but she was lucky that the light fixtures didn’t kill her on impact instead.”

“Is that why mommy is scared of ceiling fans?” She asked softly.

Carlos nodded. “It’s why she looks up at the ceiling whenever she goes to the theatre, making sure that we don’t sit too close to the lights.”

Really? Ceiling fans. Out of all the things to be scared of, that was one that I was surprised by. The lady could fight with fake swords but lights terrified her?

“Are you scared of the lights too, daddy?”

I uncrossed my legs and straightened up in my seat. My muscles tensed waiting for his response. Out of all the recordings none of them were this close to letting me into knowing Carlos. It was as if the little girl knew exactly what information I needed from her dad but of course she was so innocently asking the questions out of curiosity. My breath was held as the seconds ticked by as I waited at the edge of my seat for his response.

“No.” He glanced down at her when the car pulled to a stop. After turning off the ignition he undid both their seatbelts. The little girl shifted making sure to give him enough room to unclip the belt.

“Then what scares you?” She whispered since he was close by.

Carlos looked into her eyes and in a serious tone answered. “Dogs. Your dad was bitten by a dog when I was your age. Ever since then I can’t stand being near one.”

“What about cats?”

A grin broke from his frowning lips. “Are you trying to get a pet out of me?”

The little girl smiled sweetly and I swear her tone was surgery sweet too as she looked up at him with a shine in her eyes. The fluttering of her lashes was a clear sign that he was correct but the girl said, “Please. I promise to take care of it.”

“You’ll have to ask your mom kiddo.” He shook his head as he climbed out of the car. The image of the girl pouting told me that her mother was not an animal person. It seemed that she would not be getting a pet any time soon. Carlos came back to her side and helped her out of her seat to the ground. Before the door was shut I could hear her trying to convince her dad to talk to her mom. There I paused the recordings and sat in silence as I thought over the interaction that would help me set up the stage for my kill.