Hi, I’m Brian and I wrote this to tell you about an
experience I had. Three years ago during summer vacation I decided
to bike across Kansas. At the time I felt invincible and it seemed
like fun, so on the first day of summer break I signed up for a
bike-across-the-state event. It went well at first. The other
bikers and I had a great time. We joked, we laughed, and we told
funny stories. About a week later we were half way across Kansas
when I got separated from the rest of the group! I must have not
been paying attention and taken a wrong turn because I was way off
course.

Eventually I made it to a small backwoods town called
Glenndale. Exhausted, I stumbled into the local diner and ordered a
burger. As I was waiting for my food to come I over heard a group
of old men talking about “Reggie.” They said he walked the
backroads of the country killing people with his metal hand and
eating them. They said the only way to get away from him was to get
into a town. Thinking it was a bunch of hodgepodge, I paid the bill
and continued on my way. I had found out that the town two miles
from here was my bike group’s next destination, and if I hurried I
could catch up to them. That evening I set out for the the town on
a dirt road that would take me straight to my destination. I road
fast, not wanting to be caught out in the dark. About half way
there my bike hit something on the road and I flew over the
handles! I crashed to the ground winded and bruised. When I finally
got up I saw what I had crashed into: nails. The road was covered
in nails! I got up and looked around. Who would put nails on the
road? Then I saw it. There was a man in the distance behind me. He
wore a black trench coat and cowboy boots and his hair was long and
stringy. As the wind shifted towards me I could smell a foul odor.
It smelled like dirty socks and decay. Then I noticed his arm. He
wore a brace over his right arm and his hand was covered in a glove
with blades on the end of its fingers. I turned and ran down the
road. I could hear him behind me as I ran. He was faster then me
and was quickly gaining ground! Ahead of me was the city! I kept
running! I was almost safe! I don’t know what happened next, but I
tripped and crashed to the ground. I looked over my shoulder to see
him reaching for me: he was inches away but would not go any
closer. Then I remembered what the old man had said. “He won’t go
into town.” This was the first time I got a truly good look at him.
He was covered in scars and had sharp teeth. He also had tears in
his eyes. As I began to back away he started screaming at me in a
high off tune voice telling me not to go, to step closer. As I
turned and ran I heard him sobbing at the lost of his meal! I still
look over my shoulder sometimes, expecting him to be there ready to
claim his lost prize!

Toby sat in the back of the van and stared out the window. It was Christmas Eve and the streets were crowded with people.

“Hey, Toby. You awake?” asked James from the driver’s seat.

Toby nodded his head. “James, you remember the plan right? Turn yourself in, say I kidnapped you, and you escaped, ok?” James nodded his head.

Toby stepped out of the car, bid James goodbye, and walked into the town square. The news of Toby’s recent actions had led to a lot of fear in the city’s residents. Toby was dressed in a green sweater and a black skull cap with a black backpack. James had insisted that Toby change out of his regular clothes to avoid being recognized by the police. One of James’ friends at the party had identified Toby and the channel twelve news had been broadcasting images of him nonstop.

The town square was occupied by a massive Christmas tree and many people were crowded around the tree admiring it’s lights and the enormous metal star at the top. Toby squinted and looked away. Bright light hurt his eyes and it didn’t help that one of his many diseases made him light sensitive! He looked up and saw the building he was looking for: a 100 floor high rise on the right side of the town square. There was no way for Toby to get in through the front entrance but he had a plan. He turned into an alley and took off his backpack, and took out a black vest, grey hoodie, black bandanna, and goggles. He then clambered up the fire escape of the building next to the high rise and looked around, seeing exactly what he needed: a single brick. Toby hefted the brick, measuring its weight, and then hurled it toward the closest window of the high rise! The brick slammed into the window, cracking it, causing a small sliver of glass to fall to the street below. Toby dropped his pack and leaped through the window, rolling into the lobby as glass rained down around him. He looked around and, convinced no one had seen or heard him, sprinted for the elevator.

“Now if everything goes to plan, she should be asleep, and that will just make my job easier!” Toby said to himself.

The elevator stopped and Toby stepped out, looking at his directions: 4th Floor, Room 423. Toby walked towards the room and tried the door and, to his surprise, it opened. He drew his weapons and entered the room. It was dark and someone was lying in the bed. Toby smirked as he tiptoed over to the bed, raised his weapon, and slammed it down onto the figure’s midsection! The instant Toby’s pick connected with the figure, he new something was wrong: there was no blood. Suddenly a shot rang out and a bullet tore through Toby’s chest.

“Toby, so nice for you to join me. I was wondering when you would pay me a visit.”

Toby fell to his knees, his ears ringing. “W-why Michelle, that was a dirty trick!” Toby wheezed.

Michelle walked around him, looked him in the eyes, and pressed the barrel of a pistol to Toby’s forehead. “My father taught me how to use a gun. After you killed Alex, I borrowed this one from my boyfriend,” she said in a snarky tone. Toby hacked up blood and his vision swam. He pressed his hand against the wound but blood still flowed through his fingers.

“Now Toby, stay right there while I call the police,” Michelle smirked. Toby watched her walk away with the gun and pick up the phone. She dialed an number and started talking, but Toby couldn’t hear her. All he could here were the voices in his head!

“Kill her!” one whispered. “Make her bleed!” screamed another.

He stood up and slowly approached Michelle and silently stood behind her.

“Yes, I’m sure its him! Now get down here!” Mitchell yelled into the phone. Toby whispered into Michelle’s ear, “Kill her.”

Michelle whirled around and tried to raise the gun but Toby was too quick! He smacked the gun from her hand, grabbed her, and threw her over the bed towards the wall! Michelle hit the wall with a sickening crunch and scrambled to get up. By the time she did, Toby had picked up the gun and fired five shots. The first shot pierced Mitchell’s left lung, the second severed her index and middle fingers, shattering the flower pot on the table behind her. The third and forth shots tore through her stomach, and the fifth and final shot destroyed the upper part of her head! Toby looked at Michelle’s broken body as it slid down the wall and flopped onto the floor. he let out a wet raspy chuckle before he collapsed in a pool of his own blood and lost conciseness.

Eight Days Later
James stood by a 56 year old women in front of Toby’s grave as a preacher read a passage from the Bible. He didn’t know why he had come to the funeral, but the women whom he presumed to be Toby’s mother looked grateful that someone other then she had come. After the preacher had concluded his sermon and left, James looked at the woman.

“Hi I’m James. I didn’t get you name.”

The woman looked up. She looked grim and tired. “I’m Connie Rogers.” she said while staring into space.

“Oh, I”m truly sorry for your loss,” replied James.

“If only I could have raised him better,” Connie said softly.

Toby’s mother turned and walked away leaving James alone in front of the grave, James stood there for a few minutes before he heard a sound. It sounded like slow shuffling footsteps, out of the corner of his eye James saw a boy clan in a blue hoodie and black cargo pants. The boy walked with a limp but didn’t seem to be in pain. The boy walked up to the grave and stood next to James. He then took something from his pocket and handed it to James. James stared down at the boys gift, it was a list of names. Toby’s list of names!