Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales (28 page)

"I would like to know what happened after you carried Victoria from the house,” she said firmly.

Henry's facial muscles twitched under Rebecca's hard stare, but after a pause he complied with a stuttering start.

"Th ... they were ta ... taunting me as I carried her through the cemetery,” he said. “But I didn't want anything to interfere with our meeting with Mama, so I continued on, ignoring the voices. That terrible chill followed me from the house, and I could feel Victoria shivering in my arms. I pulled her close to keep her warm.

"
Killer!
came a screech from behind me, followed by a stinging slap across the back.

"I stumbled forward into the crypt that led to the chapel, nearly dropping my beautiful Victoria. Recovering my balance, I laid her on the heavy slab of my ancestor's tomb and the satin sheet slipped away, exposing her naked body. It was time to wake her so she could meet Mama. As she lay unconscious, I traced the dark circle of her erect nipples and the smooth curve of her belly with my blade.

"I stroked her silky black hair, trying to wake her. ‘Victoria,’ I called. ‘Victoria?’ But she didn't move. Touching her face, I allowed my hand to move slowly down across her soft skin, feeling the tiny hairs rising at my touch. Her hands were still bound, and without thinking I raised them up above her head and tethered them to a metal loop at the end of the slab. With her back arched and her head turned to the side, her lips parted—teasing me. I felt her body's silent desire and my erection stiffened painfully. As if in a trance, I climbed on top and slipped her legs apart with my knees. I could no longer deny the call of her body, so I thrust and penetrated, enjoying her complete submission until my passion rose to a peak. I moaned in ecstasy, and in perfect timing Victoria began to move beneath me. I came with mind-numbing pleasure as she opened her beautiful blue eyes, screaming and bucking.

"Exhausted and satisfied, I collapsed on top of her. She began to cry, her tears wetting my cheek as I lay against her.

"'Don't worry, darlin',’ I whispered into her soft hair. ‘Mama doesn't have to know what you've done. This will be our little secret. I just didn't want you to have to wait any longer, my love.’ I lifted my head and looked into her eyes, but she turned away and continued to sob. I grabbed my buck knife and trailed the blade from her neck to her navel. ‘Pull yourself together,’ I said. ‘That's no way to behave before meeting Mama. Besides, I have another surprise for you.'

"I cut her loose, releasing her hands, and lifted her down from the slab. She was still a little tired from our love-making, so I wrapped my arm around her waist and guided her across the cool stones of the floor. On top of the twin slab sat my black leather bag. I opened it for Victoria to see, exposing my prized collection.

"'These are my mementos, Victoria—special memories from all my past relationships. But for you, my love, I'll retire my bag, and together we can bury it in the family cemetery. We'll make it part of our wedding ceremony, our promise of fidelity to one another.'

"Victoria looked very pale and suddenly doubled over, vomiting and heaving. It must have been nerves, and the blood loss. When she finally finished her retching, the tears started again.

"'I know you're moved by my devotion, darlin', but no need to cry. And besides, it's time to meet Mama. She wouldn't be happy to see you all teary-eyed and snotty.'

"A muffled sound came from behind the door leading to the chapel. ‘Just like I promised, your mama's here waiting for you. But if you want to see her, you have to stop crying.’ Buck knife in hand, I chuffed her chin and smiled.

"Victoria sniffed back her tears, still looking pale and a bit disheveled, but there was no more time to delay. With my arm around her waist, we entered the Rutt Family Chapel, naked as the day we were born. I carried my blade proudly—a gift from my daddy. I would at least have him with me in spirit on this important occasion.

"In the candlelight, the crumbling sanctuary still looked charming. With a gentle nudge, I guided my bride up the aisle toward the altar where our mothers were waiting. Mama was looking quite pretty with her hair combed up. I had done my best to apply her makeup, including the old lady red lipstick, which made me gag.

"Earlier in the day, after picking up Missus Lystner, I had placed Mama on the altar next to the cross, balancing her on the rotting stump of her neck. I used the Bible stand to keep her from rolling off onto the floor, and I tried covering the stench of her with a little of her rose oil, but Victoria would just have to get used to it.

"Next to the altar, Missus Lystner sat secured in the pastor's chair. She had become rather chatty, so I taped her mouth. The tears streaming down her bruised cheeks were evidence that she was happy to see us. I nodded to her, and Victoria sagged at the knees. I held her tight.

"'Mama,’ I said, ‘I would like to present my beloved, Victoria Ann Lystner. And with your blessing, I will make her my wife.’ Tears welled in my eyes as I gazed at my beautiful bride. Then my worst fears came true. Mama looked down at us with a sour expression.

"'You will not marry that whore, Henry Rutt!'

"'But why, Mama?'

"Mama spoke without moving her twisted mouth. ‘She seduced you into beddin’ her. We could hear your disgusting carnal grunts through the door of the chapel. She's a filthy whore, and she's soiled you, Henry.’ She paused, looking stern with her hazy sunken eyes. ‘You know what must be done now.'

"'No, Mama! Please!'

"A chill wind blew past me and the chapel door slammed closed like thunder. I jumped at the noise, but I was too busy pleading with Mama to notice what had caused it. Wind blustered through the old stone hall and the candles flickered and guttered around us. Victoria slipped from my grasp as I fell to my knees before the altar."

Rebecca kept a cautious eye on Henry while he gripped the clay knife and pleaded with the sculpture on the table before him. He continued to rave:

"Mama, I can't do it!” he said to the clay head. “I love her. Please, don't make me."

"'You'll do it now, Henry, you piece of worthless shit!'

"I plunged my blade into the floor beside me, defying Mama's demand. ‘I will not!’ I screamed, and buried my face in my hands.

"Even as I spoke the words, I knew that I couldn't defy Mama—I simply couldn't. As I cried into my hands, I was struck from behind. Stunned, I rolled onto my back. Through the fog of pain, I could see Victoria standing over me, gripping a heavy candle stand. She stood there, frozen in place, staring down at me. I heard Missus Lystner's muffled cries and Victoria's spell was broken. She dropped the stand beside me and ran to her mother. I struggled to sit up, shaking my head and trying to clear my vision.

"Laughter echoed off the stone walls of the chapel, and its shrill familiar sound rattled around in my aching head.
Hen-ry
, I heard a windy whisper in my ear.
I know a secret
. I ignored the teasing voice.

"Freed from the tape on her mouth, Missus Lystner was screaming for Victoria to untie her hands. I looked over at the two women as my vision cleared. Something about their frantic fear excited me. I grabbed my knife and climbed to my feet, starting up the steps toward them. Victoria's back blocked their view as I came up from behind and grabbed hold of her thick black hair. She struggled, but her strength was fading. I could see dark blood flowing again from the wound in her side. Missus Lystner shrieked as I dragged her daughter toward the altar.

"The cackling in the hall grew louder, boring into my brain.
Henry
, the voice teased.
Wanna know my secret?
Something sharp raked across my back. I flinched at the pain, losing my grip on Victoria. She crawled like a wild animal toward her mother. I felt warm blood trickling down my back.

"'Bitch!’ I screamed into the room.

"
Murderer!
the voice boomed back. A shadowy figure flew at my face and something hard struck me in the chest, knocking me off my feet. My black bag lay empty beside me. I scrambled to stand, then stalked toward Victoria. I could see her hands trembling as she loosened the last of her mother's bindings.

"'This is all your fault, you bitch,’ I bellowed at Victoria, wielding my knife in front of her. My penis was flaccid now, but I knew a million ways to make that bitch pay for ruining my plans.

"
Henry!
the cackling voice shouted.
What about that secret?

"Something struck the back of my legs and I fell forward onto my hands and knees. Before I could climb to my feet, disembodied hands with stitched-on fingers held Mama right in front of my face.

"
She's dead, Henry!
the voice chided.
In fact, she's just a rotting head, you stupid prick. But that's not the secret.
"

Rebecca watched Henry blink and shake his head. With a blind stare, he examined the clay face, his body shuddering, tears wetting his cheeks. As if in another world, he continued to speak.

"Mama's eyes were a cloudy blue—like the eyes of a dead fish. My stomach lurched when I saw maggots slithering from the corner of her mouth. ‘That's not my mama!’ I screamed. Lashing out with my knife, I stabbed the hideous head, feeling the blade penetrate the rotting flesh with a thud. ‘She's not dead,’ I whimpered.

"'It's okay, Henry,’ said the head. ‘It don't hurt much.’ I screamed and scrambled backward dropping my knife.

"'Mama!'

"
She ain't your mama,
said a voice in my ear.
She's a maggot factory, JUST ... LIKE ... ME
’ A decaying corpse flew toward me, dropping maggots on me like cluster bombs.
It's me, Henry! Keiko. Or can't you tell BECAUSE MY BROWN ‘ALMOND EYES’ HAVE ROTTED OUT OF MY HEAD?"

With a violent thrust, Henry stabbed the clay sculpture and shoved himself away from the table. Rebecca watched with caution as he smacked at the air with empty hands, his vacant eyes sweeping blindly back and forth above his head. His voice sounded strangely like a woman's as he spoke.

"
Remember me, Henry?
said another corpse as it flew at my face.
And me?
said another, followed by a string of others. Through the chaos, I saw that Victoria's mother was free and rushing for the knife on the floor. I climbed to my feet and lunged for it. She reached the knife first, but I grabbed her wrist, wrestling the knife from her grip. She lashed out and her fingernails scratched my face. She shrieked at me like a rabid animal. ‘I'll kill you for hurting my baby, you psychotic bastard!'

"In the struggle to keep her from gouging out my eyes, I stabbed her over and over with my blade. She staggered and fell at my feet. Silent for a moment, she looked around frantically for her daughter. A gurgling sound escaped as she called out Victoria's name.

"Beside Missus Lystner's body, I saw Mama's head looking up at me with her maggot-filled grin. ‘She shouldn't have tangled with you, huh, Henry?’ said the head. ‘After all, there's really only room for one woman in your life. That's right—you're a mama's boy, aren't you?'

"'Shut up, Mama!’ I shouted.

"I felt dazed. My world was falling apart, my plans for the future destroyed, and it was all Victoria's fault! Enraged, I ran down the aisle of the chapel, looking for her between the pews. ‘Where are you, bitch?’ I bellowed, slicing the air with my knife. ‘You'll pay for this.’ I stalked up to the altar and pounded my fist. ‘You'll ALL pay!'

"Wind whipped around me, and I looked back to see a line of corpses filing in through the chapel door. I squeezed my eyes shut, but when I looked again they were still there. The billowing wind blew remnants of their tattered clothing; the stink of their decay filled the hall. I pointed my buck knife at the long line of corpses.

"'Fuck you! Fuck all of you!’ I screamed.

"I ran behind the altar and nearly stumbled over Victoria, who was huddled on the floor, her arms hugging her knees. As the corpses advanced, I raised my blade above Victoria's head and laughed hysterically into the wind.

"'Too late, bitches! She's dead, too!’ Just as I was ready to plunge my knife, Victoria rose up in one swift movement, revealing something hidden in her lap. In a powerful arc, she swung the heavy brass altar cross, striking me on the side of the head. Light exploded in my vision, and I fell to the ground, paralyzed. Victoria loomed over me with the cross in her hands, and in a long, slow movement she lifted it above her head and slammed it down into my face. Unable to move, I felt the sharp edges slice into my skin, crushing my bones. For a long time she continued to beat me. Exhausted, she finally stopped and stared down at me with blank eyes, tossing the bloodied cross at my feet.

"As she walked away, bone-cold fingers lifted my limp body and dumped me in the pastor's chair. Blinking my eyes was the only movement I could make, but I could feel every excruciating inch of my broken body.

"A tall male corpse in a police uniform appeared in the corner of my vision. He removed his jacket and placed it around the shoulders of the naked Victoria. He leaned down and picked up Missus Lystner's body. Walking slowly past the parade of corpses, the man escorted Victoria up the aisle as he carried her mother in his arms."

Sensing the end of her work was finally near, Rebecca sat forward, rapt. Henry gasped. He pulled his knees up under his chin. Wrapping his arms tightly around his legs, he began to rock back and forth in his seat. A strange female voice came forward as Henry's story unfolded.

"
Recognize him, Henry?
the cackler shouted at me.

"
You ought to
, said another.
YOU KILLED HIM!

"
Now, Keiko, you've gone and spoiled the secret.

"The shrieking laughter that followed ripped through my head like a hot blade. My mind spun with dizzying images, like watching a jumbled movie swirling into focus. The sounds of the chapel faded, and I was thirteen years old again in my daddy's car.

"'I saw it with my own eyes,’ said my daddy. ‘I came home early and the two of you were so busy fucking, you didn't hear me come in. I saw my own wife on top of you, boy! My own wife, Henry!’ He slammed his fist against the dashboard.