In the Heat of the Moment

9


The beautiful thing about being an only child is that with both parents gone, I’ve got the whole house to myself. It’s just me and Coquette, and that therapeutic silence comforting like a big thick blanket, abbreviated by Coquette’s occasional hiss. I can actually be myself for once and think ; think and meditate on whatever the fuck I want to. For once I don’t feel so drained all the time – no parents bitching at me, making me feel worthless; angrier; depressed and even making me into more of a monster than I already am.

The thing is though, there is no turning back from that dark thing that my parents, my uncles and my abusive grandfather helped create – my shallow minded mother whose only interest was her money and looks, my abusive grandfather who taught me how to hate, my two uncles who felt it was their duty to take my virginity from me when I was only four, and my father, who even though he saw everything and looked at me with all the pity in the world, never raised a finger to protect me even once. Every summer and winter my mother sent me to that wretched place that was my grandfather’s mansion and he never even made an attempt to protest.

The wonderful thing however is that I can control this monster that I am. Don’t get me wrong though, since it’s not because I care very much, but self control can be the difference between whether or not someone catches me in the act or finds my body farm, and that, my friend, can mean some VERY deep shit.

Keeping t under control is what has caused me to clean up all the remnants of splattered blood, bone, and pulp left on the floor from my little rendezvous with the escort I hired last night; and let me tell you a little joke: it’s right where these guys are standing too. I can’t help but clench my fist and narrow my eyes as I think back to that previous night.

I chose him because he looked exactly like my lovely Espen, or at least would have if only that blond hair and those hazel eyes hadn’t kept giving him away, and that accent – that drawling southern accent that grated on my nerves wasn’t there. It was all that and the fact that the bitch was having problems faking a Norwegian accent that got on my last nerve and made me ravage him when he complained that his hour was up, and he wanted his money; thrusting and pummeling into him so deep, so fast and hard that I’d never been so grateful for those thick walls that would have drowned out his screams from the outside – his voice, that was nowhere as beautiful as the voice of my Espen. Yes, control, that is what I have. That is what makes me a master.

I will my mind back to the present, and focus on what is laid out before me – my plans, and a bunch of idiots who are actually going to help me to get there. By now they’ve seated themselves on a couch, right after I’ve finished explaining to the newbie for at least the fifth time why Coquette won’t poison him, which I’m actually not exactly sure about. Jason looks suspicious and seems to be trying to read me (I guess to take his mind off my huge bulge) and Garrison, of course, has that drugged out dreamy hippy look on his face as usual. I sigh in irritation, put Coquette down, who immediately heads for one of her hiding places, and tell them that I’m going to put on some clothes.

“Hey, you say its name is Coquette, right?” asks newbie, who even though he looks a little more relaxed now, still looks at my little coral snake with some degree of caution as she hurriedly slithers away.

“Yes,” I reply. “That is her name.”

“That’s interesting. Why’d you name her that?” he asked; and I silently remind myself why he’s here in my house in the first place. I give him a threatening look.

“Would you like me to get her so you can figure that out?”

He pales and immediately shuts up, so I take it as my cue to continue heading up the stairs. One of the things I absolutely loathe (and yes, I loathe a lot of things), is pointless conversation when there is limited time to get work done. Before they’re out of my sight I take one last quick glance at all three of them and think that they couldn’t be more different. We’ve all known each other since high school yes, but Garrison mostly hung out with the vegetarian, no deodorant wearing, fazed out hippy types, Jason and I were jocks, even though I mostly stayed to myself, and the newbie was one of the biggest nerds I’ve ever met; so I’m sure that even though Garrison and Jason especially are best friends, none of that would prepare all three guys for spending a whole week together.

“And one more thing,” I say to them in a low menacing voice. “Touch or break anything and I will kill you.” I hear the newbie’s small nervous laugh. Weird. Did he think I was joking?





Tobias Stronghold is one of the most disgusting looking guys I’ve ever had the chance to meet, and I’m not exaggerating either. Just the sight of him makes me sick and I wonder how his retired supermodel mother and handsome retired pro-footballer part time actor father could even have managed to create the likes of him.

The thing is, even though Tobias managed to be born to these two beautiful people, he somehow ended up inheriting all their…worst features. He’s got his mother’s height, which is six feet and three inches (190.5cm), is freakishly skinny, almost anorexic looking like his mother, and has managed to inherit his father’s red hair, except that his, looks like dried blood. His lips are too thin, way too thin for someone who has such a large face. His nose is even larger; but to make things worse, there’s his pasty, almost sickly looking white skin, and dull, tiny black eyes hidden behind glasses with the thickest lenses I had ever seen.

Yes, Tobias Stronghold might not be one of the most attractive looking people in the world, but he certainly had a gift, a gift so amazing that it had several major universities pawning over him to attend one of them; and me wondering right now what the hell I’m going to do if he suddenly decides to abandon this thing right now. You see, I wasn’t joking when I called him a nerd, or to use a better fitting word, a fucking genius – one thing I’m almost sure he didn’t inherit from his parents.

I remember when I was a kid and first moved to this place, he and his family were getting a lot of publicity for software he created that Microsoft supposedly wanted to buy from him. We were eight then. Then, I remember throughout the years when we were growing up him inventing a bunch of stuff that he sold to MIT and NASSA. Ninety point nine nine nine percent of the time he was either on his laptop working, in his room working on his latest inventions, or at some university somewhere doing goodness knows what.

When he did come out to try to socialise with the rest of us kids though he didn’t make much of an impression and usually got beat up. His extreme shyness, which I was later to learn through my extensive love of books and reading was actually a severe case of social anxiety disorder, made most of us kids think that for a supposed genius, he seemed as dumb as a rock. As you can imagine, not many young people here in our picture perfect suburb even knew he existed…but me of course…I’m not many young people and I am very observant.

When I first saw him hunched and clicking away on the keyboard of his computer through his room window that first week, I knew he would be a perfect choice to help with the organisation of my big event. His social anxiety disorder made him vulnerable to me since I can be a slithering predator when I wanted to. All he needed was someone to lead the way, someone to get into his good graces and share his innermost thoughts with.

I’m so good that in two days following my grand revelation I was able to start chatting with him on his favourite chat room and have him drone on and on to me about Alecia Stanislovsky whose mother taught ballet to little children. By day three I had managed to persuade him to help me with the kidnapping and I would make sure Alecia was head over heels with him. The naïve shit actually bought it.

“I saw her yesterday afternoon when I looked out my window.” He smiled and those tiny black eyes seemed to cloud over into a daydream. “The sun had kissed her hair and I mistook her for an unearthly being in that white summer dress.”

It was everything I could do not to snort in disgust, but I made my eyes smile anyway, forced my face to morph into an expression that was worth trusting, and comforting, not cold and contorted in hate.

“I didn’t know you were a poet.” I said appearing as if I was trying to make a joke.

“No way! Not me. ” He laughed.

Automatically I laughed with him, silently willing my eyes not to reveal me.

“Talk to her and tell her how you feel. You’re a great guy. I’m sure Alecia would love you once you got to meet her.”

I was lying through my teeth. I didn’t think any girl in her right mind would go for an ugly salivating mess like Tobias.

“Really?” he asked, tiny black eyes open the widest they could go with hope.

“Absolutely,” I sneered. I guess those dimples I have must have made me look so cute and trusting. Society and its stereotypes…

He pulled me into a tight embrace and I fought the urge to gag as I realised the stench like foul tepid water that I had been smelling from earlier in our conversation was actually his breath. I pulled away quickly from him, drawing my senses together and wiping the disgusted look off my face.

“It’s a pity we weren’t closer in high school. You and I are more alike than you’ll ever know.”

“How so?” he asks.

“Well,” I started, trying out my best impression of the lovesick fool. “You know of the lead singer of that famous metal band that’s supposed to be performing here soon?”
I sighed “dreamily” and Tobias’ microscopic eyes widened again in wonder.

“I-I don’t listen to heavy metal, or watch TV much, but I think I might know who you mean.”

“Well I love him Tobias, just like how you love Alecia.”

“A-Are you sure?”

“Yeah…”I trailed off trying not to lose interest in the conversation. “I’d love to tell him how much I love him too, but I can’t. It’s just not possible with all those bodyguards, security systems…”

“We should help each other, “he said looking at me.

“You’ll help me Tobias?” I said trying to look surprised and relieved.

“Yeah,” he said smiling. “You’re the best and only friend I’ve ever had.”




The first thing I hear when I walk back down the stairs is laughter from all three of them, and the bits and pieces of their conversation that I hear informs me that they're talking about high school. What the three of them could possibly have to share I have no idea, but it still is comforting to know that I won't necessarily have to break up fights every minute when we're working together or in the week we'll be spending with my lovely little metal star.
They're not sweating or fanning themselves since by some mysterious feat the air conditioning seemed to tap in last night; but I slip past them anyway to the kitchen to get us all, not beer but bottled water. I'm still not old enough in the United States to buy alcohol, so there's no beer in the fridge; and I have no idea still where my mother used to keep her stuff.
When I approach them again with the bottled water, the conversation dies down a bit, but I can still smell the chemistry among them. I toss them all a bottle of water and smile.
"I take it we're all ready then?" I ask.
Garrison smiles dopily, that foolish smile only a retard or a drug addict can smile and I suddenly feel the urge to hurt him; but I can't because I need him as bait to keep Jason here. His sand nigger mother must have done some hard drugs when she was pregnant.
"Yeah," says Jason.
"Good," I reply. "And of course we all know why we're here - a certain young metal star who has managed to capture the hearts of all of us."
I sneered at Tobia knowingly.
"I don't get it. Why can't we just try for a backstage pass so we can meet him?" asked Tobias.
I gritted my teeth in annoyance. Surely that idiot did not ask such a foolish question. However, I took a small breath and answered him calmly.
"That's because of two simple reasons my friend. It is well known that the lead singer of the death metal band Infant Altar does not...fraternize a lot with fans and heads somewhere else after concerts. Hence why there are no interviews with him and we know almost nothing about him."
"My little sister thinks it's because he's a vampire," Garrison grinned.
I narrowed my eyes.
"How...Anne Rice," I spat.
"Your parents let Nicki listen to death metal?" asked Jason shocked.
I cleared my throat loudly and they were silenced.
"And the second reason," I gave them all a threatning look, daring any one of them to interrupt me. "Is that even if there were backstage passes to see Espen, nearly the whole population of metal heads, self mutilating emo bastards, gothic weirdos, misfits, adrenaline junkies, journalists and television reporters from all around the globe will be here on that fateful night; and it doesn't take half a brain to figure out that we'll be competingagainst all those assholes in the US alone for let's say...three backstage passes."
"Wow," muttered Tobias. "That blows."
I raised an eyebrow quizically wondering where Tobias learned that expression from.
"Are you sure about this whole thing man?" asked Garrison. "When we last spoke you went on this whole rant about his kidnapping and some terrorism shit. I'm going to assume you meant because of his fame right now."
I gave him a secret smile.
"Nowhere near that; but don't you worry about all that. Just do what I tell you, keep your mouth shut and leave all the worrying to me."
Tobias began gulping down his water. Such a sick annoying sound that made me want to swat him like a fly, but of course I can't and I smiled at him...
"Okay," said Jason taking a sip of his water. "Okay, say you really do have these impeccable plans that allow us to spend a week with a heavy metal superstar based on what you just described to Tobias and what I already know, security is going to be beefed up. How are we going to get past security?"
I sat back in my father's old comfortable leather chair , took a swig of my water and sighed.
"No need to worry about that at all. He'll come to us."
"How are you going to do that?" asked Tobias.
I sneered and looked at him.
"You're not the only genius here my friend. Just let that lie."
Garrison wore another confused dopey look on his face and Tobias, after taking another upsetting gulp of water scratches his head contemplatively.
"So tell me again why you chose us?" asks Jason. I smile.
"Very very very easy. A couple years ago an employee named Karas Ringwald from a small security company called Minotaur managed to develop what was given reviews for almost five years as the most powerful gate security and alarm system ever created. Once the gates were locked, invisible, electric coded walls rose making it impossible for anything, living or non living that was not air to penetrate it. It worked a lot like a semi permeable membrane, which only the owner and the security system could take down or disable."
"I remember that," said Tobias. "The man was a genius. They were even thinking of awarding him a Nobel Prize for his invention."
I smiled at Tobias genuinely for the first time.
"You're absolutely correct about that Tobias. This security system, which up until a month ago sold to only the wealthiest customers, became plagued with complaints because a bunch of ordinary punks figured out a way to penetrate the security system and conduct a series of burglaries.”
“And when they were finally caught two weeks ago, they took their secret with them to prison; but the company tried to keep the publicity to a minimum for fear that the failure that they had invested nearly every cent in would put them into bankruptcy,” Tobias continued.

I smiled again.

“So what does all this have to do with us?” asked Garrison.

“Believe it or not, it is rumoured that the whole band sometimes resides at a mansion near our beloved suburban community; and it is only one of the many dwellings in that area to have that same security system. Security at the concert will be maximized, yes, but Espen loves his privacy and alone time more than anything else. I’ve… arranged for him to head directly home after the concert. There will be less security there, so that is where and when we will strike.”

“W-We’ll get him when he’s in his house?” asked Tobias wide eyed.

“Yes,” I said. The corners of my mouth turned upward.

“So aren’t you forgetting something? If those guys kept whatever it was a secret how exactly are we going to get in?” asked Jason.

“Let’s just say I know people who were willing to give me half of it for an…unnamed price. That’s where you come in Tobias. Those guys designed a virus that both allowed the alarm to be disabled and the gate to open for only ten seconds. I’ll give the other half to you today, which I expect to be completed no later than the end of this week. Our time is limited.”

I looked at Jason, sneered and continued.

“Our champion swimmer on the other hand has a different role, and that will be to get us in the building itself. Before the band had the gate security system from Minotaur installed, another alarm and security system had been installed around the house which still exists. Our young progeny Tobias,” I grinned. “Will design a worm that interrupts the inner security system for ten seconds like the gate security system. We need more time than that to get inside.”

I took a drink of my water again.

“The only way we’ll be able to gain that is through a lake that stretches under one part of the house. This is where Jason comes in. He will take ten seconds to swim under that small part of the house and the ten seconds that the alarm has been interrupted to cut a small hole in the floor to place the chip.”

“You watch too many movies Colin. How the fuck am I going to do all that in so little time?” asked Jason looking frustrated.

“Practice,” I said in a low voice. “And by the end of the time you’ll be perfect.”

“What do I do?” asked Garrison.

I smiled wickedly.

“You’ll see.”

It was exceedingly difficult for me to sleep once I discovered that he passed here some nights walking trying to clear his head. I could never see him properly, but just the sound of that soft humming, that voice was enough to spark the recognition in me and make me tremble with something akin to that emotion I had felt the first night I dreamt of him. To think that from my hiding place in the foliage I was able to touch him, grasp those long dark ringlets and inhale their scent was a paradise previously undiscovered. How the faint scent of vanilla would linger in my nose for days afterward and I would dream of what was to come! For the first and only time there would be nothing, neither band members nor security to stop me. I could easily have drawn him into the bushes and taken over and over and over right here in this very spot on any of those late night strolls he seemed to love to take; but I am a man of patience and am wise enough to know that a couple hours of sexual gratification is worth sacrificing for a couple days worth. I kiss his hair and sigh quietly as he continues walking again.

“Soon my pretty one,” I whisper.


Thanks for the reviews everyone.


Kryst Sutures: I hope you’re better now and I’m so glad I was able to make your day 

Kolgrim: Thanks so much for reviewing. It means a lot to know that people still find this interesting even though there are not that many slashy parts :P