One Shot of Happy (Teaser)
#1 of Anthology Teasers
With Abandoned Places release at MFF, I figured it's time to post a teaser!
Buy it online from Bad Dog Books for 9.95! http://baddogbooks.com/?product=abandoned-places
One Shot of Happy follows a mouse who just can't let go of a grudge. Years of bullying and dejection has made him a hollow, unhappy soul. All he wants is revenge, and he intends to get it by any means possible.
Jonas was quaking with excitement under the twilight glow of passing streetlamps. Houses slowly degraded into a state of disrepair the further away from the cafe he got. He soon found himself in the epicentre of what was once a bustling neighbourhood that now lay in ruins. Potholes in the road swallowed up light like hungry gremlins, allowed to feed and grow from harsh weather and years of neglect. It was doubtful that this area of town had seen foot traffic since Jonas stumbled upon it months ago.
Many now believed that the neighbourhood was haunted, cursed, and had thus been promptly abandoned. News articles told of a deranged serial killer who had cut up his fair share of victims before being convicted and given the death sentence. Jonas had gone so far as to take up residence in the criminal's abode, where no one would dare search for him.
All of the bankruptcies and mortgage defaults had been Jonas' golden moment of opportunity. Five years of waiting had all lead up to this, just when he thought all of his planning would be for naught.
The house shone like a beacon in Jonas's eyes. 821 Charleston Avenue, the house that was legend to Ronnie the Slasher. Jonas liked to believe the house was still haunted by ol' Ronnie. It brought chills to his spine to think about the two of them, him and Ronnie, having one last hurrah together.
"I'm home, Sweetie," Jonas sighed, inhaling the dusty scent of the old hardwood floors and the faint stench of blood that would never truly wash out. The creaking hardwood sang to him, better than the chorus of any angels, and the rotting counters whispered sweet nothings in his ear. This house had called to him, and Jonas had answered with open arms.
His eyes fell to the dingy massage table he'd acquired online. It served as the centrepiece to an otherwise empty living room, save for the bed and side table wedged underneath a window that overlooked the streets. He swept a paw over the cracked and faded cover, admiring its under-stated beauty. He took his time tugging at the restraints he'd installed, making sure each and every one of them was secure.
When he was satisfied, he took a seat next to the window, beside a flickering battery-operated lamp that cast a foreboding shadow to the streets. His tail lashed about with anticipation. It was like the day before Christmas and he couldn't wait to open his presents. After so much waiting for this moment, it was finally here.
The bright flash of headlights permeated his windows and Jonas hurried to unlock the deadbolt. His fur bristled and his tail continued to twitch. He opened the door as nonchalantly as he could, though it still swung open with a bang against the adjacent wall.
Two broad-shouldered tigers stepped out of the car, blocking the way between the mouse and the escort. The felines provided a subtle nuance that predators served as the epitome of protection and security. It stung at Jonas, but he pushed his petty concerns aside.
One of the guards held the lion's limp body. He showed little care for the expensive tux Sean was wearing, as it had become rustled and torn in numerous places and no longer resembled the dry-cleaning status it clearly deserved.
"On the table," Jonas pointed.
The surly felines shoved their way into the house and threw Sean on the table.
"Tie him up," Jonas ordered. "Please," he added as an afterthought. It might still be important to maintain a degree of civility with his current business partners.
They went to work, strapping the leather tight around the lion's broad limbs, leaving as quickly as they had come, shoving past Jonas to get to the car. One of them stood outside, holding the car door open.
Bublygirl21 stood at the door, one hand gingerly wrapped around her opposite elbow. "What do you plan to do with him?"
Jonas was silent.
Her ears slanted to an awkward angle as her tail lashed behind her. "What did he do, exactly," she persisted.
This was where civility and business met an obvious disconnect. "I paid for you not to ask questions. You got your money, now leave me be."
She turned back without another word, stepping back into the car. They drove off, carefully swerving around the treacherous potholes and out of sight.
Jonas closed the door behind him and turned to the operating table.