Not Like This
The red bicycle lay abandoned at the side of the road, its owner's path clearly marked in the bushes at the edge of the forest. It would only be a matter of time now. The bike would only be red with rust and its owner a mangled corpse.
He tried to run. They all did. The smart ones tried to hide, but they never knew the rules so it didn't help them much. There wasn't even any need to run, the poor bastard would tire himself out, and there was nothing but trees for miles.
He was ahead now, tripping over roots and fallen branches and who knows what, then scrambling back up on his unsteady feet. His girlfriend had screamed at this point, but he still kept quiet, though you could see the terror on his face when he stole glances over his shoulder. He didn't want to look back, but he couldn't not to.
The last thing he saw was a hockey mask chipped at the corner of the mouth and an arm like a gorilla's grab him by the throat, and of course the machete. He was a nice kid, so there was no need for him to suffer. A clean cut, and a chunk of his head came off nice and smooth. Barely had time to scream. Of course his body had to be desecrated, but he was already dead so there was no harm in it, it's just the rules.
*
“Rufus? Did you get the mail?”
Rufus didn't answer, just planted his machete still dripping with blood in the woven rattan umbrella basket by the door. He removed the hockey mask and dropped it on the counter as he rubbed his five o'clock shadow in front of the hall mirror. He had a big and kind face, not the countenance of a man you expected to mangle your earthly remains, but that's what the mask was for. He let out a sigh and crashed down on the living room couch.
“Rufus! What have I told you about the machete? Clean it before you bring it in!”
Rufus remained silent, only rubbed his temples and hoped the voices would go away. They never did.
“Just look at what you've done! It's dripping all over the floor!”
“Curse you, woman!” Rufus shouted. “I have been out slaughtering teens all day to bring bread on the table! Is it too much to ask for a moment's rest when I get home?”
Mrs. Rufus had a lot more to share, but a knock at the door disrupted the family tableau. She threw up her hands and went to answer. A moment later she summoned her husband, for the visitor had come to see him. Rufus let out a louder sigh as he pushed himself up.
As an officious looking gentlemen was just handing out his hat and coat to his wife, Rufus knew his night was about to get a lot worse.
“Good to see you again, Rufus,” the visitor said. “Although I regret the circumstances.”
“What circumstances, Albert?” Rufus said. “Is this official Bureau business?”
“'Fraid so, Rufus,” Albert said. “They've opened a case against you.”
“Rufus!” Mrs. Rufus screamed. “What have you done? Don't you be lying now!”
“Get back in the kitchen, woman!” Rufus yelled. “I ain't done nothing, and even if I had it wouldn't concern you! Go on, shoo!”
After chasing his wife away, Rufus turned back to Albert. “Sorry about that, you know women. But what's this about a case?”
“We've received some alarming reports, about your recent activities.”
“I've been working on the clock, all right and proper, I have.”
“There's been an unlicensed slaughter of teens in Eeksbury forest, and it's your MO, Rufus.”
“Yeah, I killed those kids, but I was just covering for Randall. He had some family business to take care of and was already behind schedule, so asked me to off some kids for him to keep up with his quota. I'm telling you, these quotas are a total killer, there's no way anyone can keep up with them without losing his mind.”
But Albert was no longer listening to Rufus's complaints regarding the schedule, only shaking his head and grabbing Rufus by the shoulders. “Oh Rufus! Do you realize what you've done!”
“Albert, darn it, what are you saying?”
“Those kids weren't meant to be butchered! None of them were even virgins! Randall has been dealing in the black market and owes a lot money to some very shady people. To ease his debt, he has been pulling illegal runs, and now he tricked you to do one for him! We got him in custody now, but we got to you too late!”
Rufus backed away, holding his head. He felt like he could faint. “I, I killed those kids for nothing? But they were on the list.”
“It was a fake one, Rufus. It was really just camping.”
“But, but it wasn't my fault! I couldn't have known! Can't you just sweep this under the rug and blame it on Randall?”
Albert shook his head. “Not this time, Rufus. It goes too deep, and Randall is taking down anyone he can with him.”
Rufus sank on the floor, cradling his head in his huge hands. “Oh god, oh god, what have I done?”
“I'm sorry, Rufus,” Albert said and placed a hand on his shoulder. “But you're going to have to come with us.”
“Us?” Rufus sobbed.
“The boys from the Bureau are outside. I came in alone, hoping there was some mistake. But I see now that it's hopeless.”
“I don't want to go, Albert. Please, don't let them take me. I, I beg you!”
Albert's eyes were tearing up as he looked at Rufus on the floor, but it was clear to both men there was nothing he could do to help now. In their line of work an end was always a-coming at the hands of some hero, but as he now pulled his old friend up for a final embrace and the footsteps approached from the darkness without he knew the gentle giant would not receive an end he was deserving of.
“No, please, don't,” Rufus said when the men who did not display a trace of emotion came to pry him from the tender embrace of his friend.
“No, not like this! Not like this!” Rufus pleaded as he was dragged from his home, and all Albert could do was turn away his face, now in an agonized grimace and flooded with tears. Mrs. Rufus, having been eavesdropping, could no longer listen idly by but ran after her man. Albert caught her at the door.
“No, let him go,” he said, choking on his words.
“But, but Rufus!”
“Forget about Rufus!” Albert spat out with a voice so powerful in its resignation Mrs. Rufus stopped struggling for a moment and looked up at his red eyes, now gazing into the night where his friend had gone, not gently but roughly. "We all have to play by the rules," he said, but the words rang hollow in his mind, and on his tongue they tasted like vinegar.
