Randy and Walter: Killers (20 page)

RANDY AND WALTER: KILLERS

Chapter 14

“H
appy Valentine’s day.”

Walter looked up from his desk in the middle of the classroom to see who said the overused line. In front of him stood a boy who looked like he deserved to be on the cover of a motorcycle mag
a
zine. He had long black hair, a small goatee with not enough hair in it, and a no-nonsense face. He wore a leather jacket with torn blue jeans and rings on each of his fingers. A pair of cheap, black sunglasses shielded his eyes from a sun that wasn’t there.

Walter recognized the boy as Paul Trulient. He’d seen him around the other high school classes.

Paul was known throughout the school as a bad ass, someone who didn’t take shit from anyone. He was also known as gay. Very gay, in fact. At first that knowledge had posed a problem as the rednecks had picked on him and beat him up.

Paul became a bad ass the day of his sophomore year. No one knew what changed over the course of that summer to make this so. Freshman year
,
Paul was known as a coward. Then he wore taped glasses and his freckles showed. Not to mention the Goos
e
bumps clothes he was so fond of that made everyone make fun of him.

But when sophomore year came around, Paul arrived wearing black leather with sunglasses and long hair pulled into a ponytail. The first thing Paul did was walk into the senior circle and wit
h
drew a wooden baseball bat from under his coat.

Walter remembered watching this; he remembered how silent the st
u
dents had become as they had watched Paul.

Then one of the rednecks had spoken up. “Look, the faggot thinks he’s gonna scare somebody!”

A couple of students laughed, then silence descended as Paul slowly walked over to the boy who’d made the remark.

“What you gonna do, cocksucker?” the redneck asked with a
t
titude.

Paul then showed him what he was gonna do. As if he was up at bat at home plate, Paul swung the bat as hard as he could. It struck the side of the kid’s head, dropping the redneck within the span of a heartbeat. Paul dropped the bat next to his fallen opp
o
nent and looked around at all the stunned faces.

“Remember this the next time one of you wants to talk shit about me. From here on in I will not hesitate to fuck you up!”

Several teachers and the on campus rental cop came running up to Paul and his fallen enemy. They arrested Paul and he was kicked out later
that
year after a full investigation
was conducted
.

Paul had come back the following year, and was now som
e
how a junior. Even though he had been kicked out of school his soph
o
more year, he still passed that year and became a junior. No one understood why this was, including the teachers.

Walter supposed that Paul had somehow frightened the pri
n
cipal into allowing him to pass to the next year.

Walter’s own years had been plagued by boredom. Him and his father had left Burman years ago and traveled until they came across a little town called Ramseur, only an hour away from
Ra
p
shure
,
South Carolina
.

It was an ideal town to live in. The homes were nice, the city was peac
e
ful, and the schools were close. All throughout middle school and most of high school, Walter had kept to himself. He didn’t have any friends, nor did he want any. He just did his schoolwork, his homework, aced his tests and was on the honor roll for a while. Walter never talked to anyone, unless it was a teacher.

More or less, Walter was a kiss ass.

Walter’s father got a good job at the Whiskey Factory. Contrary to popular belief, the Whiskey Factory wasn’t a place that made alcohol or served it. The Whiskey Factory instead was a slaughte
r
house. It derived its name from the owner, Don Whiskey. A
l
though his father came home late at night stinking to high heaven with the scent of a thousand dead animals, he was still happy. His dad worked six days a week making $22.50 an hour which was a great paycheck. Of course, for such a paycheck, he had to kill animals, which he said wasn’t so bad.

“You get used to it,” he told Walter once. “And someone’s gotta do it.”

For years, life went on unscathed and boring; always the same.

That all changed Walter’s senior year on February 14th, Vale
n
tines Day. He had noticed Paul watching him more and more every day like clockwork.

And now, here he was, standing over Walter with a card in his hand and a smile on his lips. At first, Walter was worried about this, even a bit frightened. Then Paul took off his sunglasses and Walter’s fears were washed away.

Paul’s eyes were so blue, so kind, and so mysterious.

Walter realized years ago that he was attracted to other guys; he just hadn’t been with another guy for it seemed every time he did, something bad happened.

But now was his chance to try again, perhaps here was his chance at love. Walter smiled back at Paul and took the card from him. With the excitability of a small child on Christmas, Walter ripped open the card and his heart skipped a bit.

The card wasn’t your typical Valentine’s Day card. This one was han
d
made which was somehow more important; more feeling had gone into this card.

The card was white, folded construction paper and the front had a dra
w
ing of a heart with the picture of brilliant drawing of Walter in the middle of the heart. He opened it and saw that Paul had transcribed a love letter on the inside of the card. It was written with black ink in the most compelling cursive he had ever seen.

Dear Walter,
             
             
             
             

I’ve been watching you for so long. You are so quiet, so myst
e
rious. Such a beautiful person. Your eyes are mesmerizing, you
r
body intrig
u
ing. I think you
’
re so much like me, so misunde
r
stood just like me. I think, and I hope I’m right, that you
’
re attracted to me, too. I’ve seen you look at me so many times. Not like the rest, you look at me with love, with attraction. I think we understand each other. If you would like to spend Valentine’s night with me I would be so happy. What do you say? This afte
r
noon me and you can take a trip to the Point? It is a Friday, after all.

Two against the world.

                                         
With love,

                                               
Paul Trulient

Walter closed the card and looked up at Paul. Although they were in class in front of everybody and Walter knew just how much he would be ridiculed for such an act, he wanted nothing more. He stood and grabbed Paul around the waist and Paul did the same. They kissed then, and it was such a powerful kiss it was as if no one else was in the world. Even though they heard sounds of disgust coming from around them, neither cared.

Walter pulled away and smiled, his knees shaking from the embrace. “Yes, I’ll go with you.”

That afternoon, Walter found himself in the passenger seat of Paul’s black Thunderbird headed towards the Point. The Point was nothing more than a small cliff that stood fifty feet over
Lake
Hasalbass
. Because of its history, it wasn’t a typical hang out spot for couples. But for Walter and Paul, it was.

It was a place all alone, devoid of all others who would stare at them with hate or disgust. The Point was an ideal spot for the two to be co
m
pletely alone together.

Walter couldn’t help but wonder just why Paul found him a
t
tractive, and in a way, this worried him.

The Thunderbird parked in front of the path leading to the cliff. Paul got out and Walter followed. Paul wasn’t talking; he didn’t even look at Walter.

When they reached the Point itself, Paul was silent as he stood at the edge looking down, his coat flapping around him in the wind. Walter stood behind him with a small feeling of dread creeping up his spine.

He began to realize his stupidity. He realized that
nobody
knew
anything
about Paul. He could very well be a complete psychopath intent on killing him. Walter’s lifeless body could easily fall fifty feet into the lake below and Paul could claim it was an accident and everybody would believe him.

He began to back away, gearing up his legs to run as fast as they could to carry him home. Then Paul turned to Walter with a smile on his face. He extended his right hand as if to ask Walter if he trusted him. Walter found that smile relaxing and took the pro
f
fered hand. Paul pulled him toward his body gently and kissed Walter passionately, then gazed deeply into his eyes. They stood quietly for several minutes, neither speaking; then Paul’s smile faded.

“We’re together now. You and me. Two against the world. And if you ever do anything to fuck it up I’ll kill you. Do you unde
r
stand?” Paul
aske
d coldly, his eyes full of passion.

This took Walter by surprise. It was too hostile, too threate
n
ing. He found himself trying to pull away from Paul. In return, Paul’s grip tightened on Walter’s wrist.

Paul moved closer towards Walter.

“Do you understand?” Paul repeated with a sneer.

Frightened, Walter answered the only way he could.

“Yes. I will never fuck up. I swear!”

The smile on Paul’s face returned, that devious yet sexy smile. Walter could tell that this boy, this man, was filled with some kind of power. A seductive power that only a truly powerful man po
s
sessed. He found himself at Paul’s mercy.

Walter actually considered pushing Paul off the cliff but the problem with that would be simple, no one would believe him. No one knew Walter; no one respected him like they respected Paul…or feared him.

So he was at the mercy of this man. Paul kissed him again and Walter wanted nothing more than to bite his tongue off. He wished he was powe
r
ful, wished he was dangerous. He wished that he was a killer.

But he wasn’t, he was a coward.

It was two weeks later and Paul never left his side. Wherever Walter went Paul was there. He would sneak into Walter’s be
d
room late at night and show him things that he could do with his mouth. One of the nights Paul had snuck in and exclaimed his love for Walter, he said he wanted to show him what true men do.

Walter, unsure, had replied with a yes. Almost immediately Paul grabbed Walter and turned him over. Walter felt his shorts pulled down and began to get scared, not understanding.

He’d never in his life felt pain as he felt that night as Paul bas
i
cally raped him. He tried to scream out but Paul wouldn’t allow it. He placed a hand on top of Walter’s head and pushed his face into the pillow so Walter couldn’t cry out.

He was unable to breathe as he felt himself being pounded from behind.

Then as soon as it had begun, it was over.

That night Paul didn’t stay over. He left right away, leaving Walter cr
y
ing and bleeding on his bed.

He wasn’t able to walk or sit right for days after that.

Above everything else, Walter now found himself scared to death. He found himself wishing that someone would come along and help him, or at least someone he could be close to.

Then
she
came and nothing would ever be the same.

157

RANDY AND WALTER: KILLERS

Chapter 15

“L
adies and gentlemen, this is Jordan Cruester. She just a
r
rived from
New York
so please make her feel welcome.” 

Walter looked up from his desk to see a girl wearing tight blue jeans, a stained white t-shirt and golden hair that cascaded down her back. She wore framed glasses that somehow fit her perfectly.

To an untrained eye she was an ugly mess. But to Walter she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He found himself instantly intrigued. For the first time ever he was attracted to a girl.

When she spoke, her voice came off as angelic with an uptown tone. The teacher sat her down a few desks away from Walter.

A hand came down on Walter’s shoulder. He didn’t have to look back to know whose hand it was. In his ear Paul whispered, “I saw that look. Don’t you even think about it. You’re with me.”

He took his hand away, but for the first time in several weeks Walter didn’t shudder. He was no longer afraid. His eyes fell on the new girl’s back and he felt a smile cross his face. There was som
e
thing about the girl, something amazingly different. Walter felt as though he had finally found someone to truly be with. He wanted to talk with her then, but Paul was around. He would have to wait until later.

That afternoon Walter stood outside the front of the high school alone. Paul had left a little earlier for God only knows why. It made Walter a bit happy to be left alone. A lot of the students had already gone home but Walter was waiting for his dad to pick him up. He hadn’t gotten his license and he didn’t have a car, unlike many of the other seniors. He thought he may have been the only senior with this problem.

That thought changed when he saw her standing not far away from him. She hadn’t been there a minute ago so she must have walked up just then. Walter found himself staring at her with growing fascination. She turned her head and returned the look. She smiled at Walter and he quickly turned his head away, emba
r
rassed.

As he stared off into the sky, he heard her distant footsteps quickly a
p
proaching. Then she was at his side.

“You’re Walter, right?”

He looked at her and replied, “Yes, how did you know?”

“Are you kidding? You and your boyfriend Paul are the talk of the school. Everyone knows your name. Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“That Paul is such an asshole? I hear he’s got you by the balls.”

“No...no,” he lied but then took it back quickly. “Yes, I’m afraid of him.”

“Then why don’t you get away from him?”

“He’s...dangerous.” He looked down at a crack in the cement beneath his feet, something to take his worry away.

“You know, back in the city I had a boyfriend. He was a dick, too. He threatened my life on more than one occasion. That’s why I’m here now.”

“Did he ever...” he stopped his sentence and looked at her. Somehow he already knew the answer to his question. She nodded as if she already knew what he was going to ask.

They stood together in silence until she spoke again.

“I have a confession to make,” she said.

“What’s that?”

She leaned into Walter’s ear and whispered, “I’ve got a car here. I just wanted to talk with you.”

“You mean you’re not waiting to get picked up by your mom or dad?”

“Dad?” she took her eyes off of Walter and looked away. “I got a dad. Barely. He’s...a drinker. My mom was killed a few years ago.”

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean...”

“No, don’t be. I’m not sorry. She was a bitch, anyways. But my dad, though, he was even more of a bitch. He killed her.”
             

“God, I didn’t...”

“No, don’t worry ‘bout it. He went to prison but he got out. All they could get him for is manslaughter. I live with him but I don’t like it. I’ve...wanted to tell somebody this for so long.”

“Why’d you pick me to tell?” Walter asked.

“You...seem like me. I feel like I can talk to you. In a way, we’re kinda the same. I’ve known that all day since I saw you earlier in class.”

“Really?” he asked, surprised.

She stared into Walter’s eyes as she replied, “Yes. Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”

Walter felt himself smile as she took his hand and led him t
o
wards the school parking lot. He saw he was being led to a small, two-door Ford something or other. Then he was sitting in the passenger seat. She handed him a cell phone and said, “Here, call your dad. Tell him you got a ride.”

He took the small pink cell phone in hand and dialed his father’s nu
m
ber. Within a minute he told his father he had a ride home and hung up the phone by pressing one of the buttons after she showed him how. Then the car was steadily cruising along the road and leaving the school behind.

They had decided to go to
Jordan
’s house instead of Walter’s. He wanted to spend time with her and he didn’t want to see Paul, so it seemed the best place to go. He knew that Paul would be there at his house soon enough.

It was a dangerous decision but he knew that Paul would fi
g
ure out who he was with one way or another. He knew that Paul meant what he said. But at the time, Walter just didn’t care. He just wanted an escape.

So now, here they were, sitting in the living room of
Jordan
’s quiet house on a brown quilted couch. They were watching some reality show about some wife swappers. But they weren’t really watching it. More or less, they were stealing glances at each other. Over the course of an hour, Walter found himself in love with this girl. He found what he wanted and it was her. Nothing but her. Everything else in his life seemed like an illusion. As if nothing had ever happened.

Then she was pulling him closer and he found himself kissing her with such fierceness and fiery passion he thought he was going insane. He ran his hands along her body and found it allu
r
ing.

Her hands were running along his arms and then going into his shirt to caress his chest. He followed suit on her, and for the first time in his young life, he felt the softness of a breast and the warm body of a woman. In a way, while it seemed alien to him, he liked it. Her skin was smooth, except for a scar that ran along her back. The scar didn’t horrify Walter, and he actually found it to be even more attractive.

Surely by now she had felt his own scar on his back that had been placed there by Paul during one of their sex sessions. And then she did and she pulled away slightly, smiling at Walter as she put her hands along his face as if to say she understood. They soon began kissing again. She fell back on the couch, pulling Walter with her. She ripped his shirt off and he pulled hers off as well.

For the first time, Walter lost his virginity to a woman. When he was inside of her he felt as though he never wanted to be away from her. He wanted it to go on, to continue forever. Time had seemed to stop all around them and the world outside of their embrace seemed to fade away. All troubles washed away and for a time they were both truly happy.

Afterwards, they didn’t sit awkwardly like the usual young couple who feel they shouldn’t have gone so far. They were co
m
plete as if they had always meant to be together. The two lay together on the couch and fell asleep holding each other.

Walter awoke to the sound of a door being kicked in. He sat up quickly and heard Paul’s voice angrily cursing and coming through the house towards the living room. He’d entered through the back door which was an even worse sign.

The sky outside was dark; it was night.
Jordan
was up and pul
l
ing on her clothes along with Walter. He’d been putting on his shirt and exiting the door when Paul entered the room, baseball bat in hand.

Walter looked at Paul who was now running at him.
Jordan
tried to i
n
tervene but was pushed aside. She fell to the ground and struck the floor with a loud smack that seemed to fill the house. Although scared, he was also angry. Walter stood his ground and looked at Paul with hatred in his eyes. Once Paul reached him, Walter grabbed his boyfriend by the collar of his shirt and punched him in the face.

Paul looked shocked, but then the shock went away and in its place, a
n
ger reared its head. Paul dropped the bat and punched Walter in the sto
m
ach and he immediately dropped to his knees gasping for air.

“I told you what would happen!” Paul screamed in Walter’s face. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? One of my friends saw you leave with her. It wasn’t hard to find out where she lives.” He turned to pick the bat back up and noticed it was gone.

But then Jordan, who had picked it up, struck him in the groin with the bat. Paul scowled and dropped to his knees and the bat struck him in the back of the head. Paul’s head seemed to bounce off the floor. The bat struck again and again and again; and one more time for good measure.

Walter looked up to see
Jordan
holding the bat firmly in her hands. She dropped it as if coming to her senses, realizing what she’d done. Blood was pooling around Paul’s head and the white of shattered skull was clearly visible beneath the bloody scalp.

She fell backwards to the floor and put her head in her hands.

Walter looked at Paul’s corpse and
Jordan
sobbing.

“I know what to do,” he said to
Jordan
as he got to his feet. “Help me get him up.”

It took her a minute but she eventually got to her feet and helped Walter drag the corpse to her car and pick it up and place it in the trunk. The darkness helped, no one from nearby homes was able to see what they were doing.

He went back inside and cleaned up the blood then he dropped the bloody rags into the trunk with Paul. “Let’s go,” he said si
m
ply.

Neither of them talked all the way to the Point. They didn’t even talk when they were parked at the entrance to the path.

The two carried Paul’s heavy body up the path, with
Jordan
holding his legs and Walter
holding
Paul’s shoulders. They finally reached the Point and Walter removed Paul’s shoes and pants, then on a count of three,
they
threw the corpse off the cliff. The bloody rags they burnt and watched as the ashes blew away. He wrote a letter in Paul’s handwriting as best he could and left the suicide note on the edge of the cliff, using a fist-sized rock to prevent it from blowing away. The shoes and pants were left next to the note to show someone had been there. He found it amusing that the love note Paul had given him so many weeks ago was now the template Walter had used to forge Paul’s writing.

“Will we get away with this?”
Jordan
finally asked as the two looked down at the water far below.

With a power he never knew he had within him, Walter r
e
plied, “Yes. Paul committed suicide. It ends here. If anyone asks anything that’s what I’ll say.”

“Will anyone believe you?”

“Yes. They’ll believe me.”

“Why? Why will they believe you?”

“Simple. Paul killed his dad years ago. His mother covered it up. That’s why he changed. He was truly a depressed and tro
u
bled kid. His mother can attest to that and so can I. Nobody in school really knew him but me. His mom won’t ask questions. If anything, she’ll thank me. She was just as scared of him as I was.”

“Are you glad?”
Jordan
asked, looking at Walter. She noticed his voice had changed. Something within those few minutes had changed Walter forever.

“Yes, I am. I regret you had to do it, though. I wish I’d been the one to do it.”

Jordan
’s face was saddened and troubled by his words. She turned away from Walter and walked back to her car. She got in and drove away, leaving Walter staring down at the water below.

Walter watched the receding taillights of her car and then b
e
gan the long walk home. He wasn’t mad at her for leaving him, he understood co
m
pletely.

T
he next day
Jordan
wasn’t at school; she and her father had left town sometime during the night, leaving her house fully fu
r
nished. Walter wasn’t in class either, but he was at school. He was on top of the building, sitting along the side so he could look down at the students below.
They’re all like ants
, he thought to himself while smiling.
I wish I could just step on them all
.

Something had changed in him after he saw Paul’s head crushed like a ripe melon. Despite the blood and gore, he realized that somehow he liked it. When he had carried Paul’s corpse and faked his suicide, he felt more powerful than he ever had in his life. He had also realized that he didn’t care that he had been a part of Paul’s murder. He hadn’t gotten sick afterward, guilt hadn’t tro
u
bled him, as he felt as though Paul deserved what he got.