Chapter 18: The Friendly Neighbor
The Gold Bachelors were dwindling in number, and Derrick could feel the fear settling deep in his bones. He hadn't been close to Rowan, but now he was more dependent on him than ever. Rowan’s mansion, once a symbol of invulnerability, had turned into a fortress of dread. Derrick decided to lay low, moving into a discreet suburban house far from the mansion.
The neighborhood seemed perfect. Quiet, peaceful, with well-kept lawns and friendly faces. Derrick hoped he could hide here, away from the terror that had been hunting his friends.
One morning, Derrick was in his kitchen, sipping coffee and staring blankly out the window. His thoughts were plagued by the horrifying deaths of his friends, and the gruesome image of his father's demise at the hands of a malevolent nurse. As he pondered his grim situation, there was a knock on the door.
Startled, Derrick placed his cup on the counter and walked over to the door. He peered through the peephole and saw a pleasant-looking woman standing on the porch, holding a basket.
"Hello?" Derrick called out, his voice wary.
"Hi there!" the woman replied with a cheerful smile.
"I'm Wynona, your neighbor. I thought I'd bring over some welcome goodies."
Derrick hesitated for a moment before unlocking and opening the door. Wynona was middle-aged, with a warm smile and an air of friendliness that put him at ease.
"Uh, thanks," Derrick said, taking the basket. "I'm Derrick."
"Nice to meet you, Derrick," Wynona said, stepping inside as Derrick moved aside.
"I just thought you could use some company. It can get lonely in a new place."
Derrick nodded, appreciating the gesture. "Yeah, it's been a bit quiet. Thanks for this."
Wynona glanced around the modest living room, her eyes lingering on the sparse furniture.
"Looks like you're still settling in."
"Yeah," Derrick said, setting the basket on the coffee table.
"Just moved in a few days ago."
Wynona smiled, her eyes sparkling with a strange intensity.
"Well, if you need anything, feel free to ask. I live just across the street."
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Derrick said, feeling a twinge of relief. Maybe this place wasn't so bad after all.
The day passed uneventfully, and Derrick found himself relaxing a bit. He even unpacked a few more boxes, arranging his things to make the house feel more like home. That evening, as he was cooking dinner, there was another knock at the door.
He opened it to find Wynona standing there again, this time with a casserole dish.
"Thought I'd bring over some dinner," she said with a smile.
"It's my famous lasagna."
Derrick couldn’t help but smile back.
"You're too kind, Wynona. Come in."
They sat in the living room, eating lasagna and chatting about mundane things. Derrick felt the tension in his shoulders ease, grateful for the normalcy Wynona brought.
As the evening wore on, Wynona excused herself to use the bathroom. Derrick sat back, savoring the last bite of lasagna. It was delicious, and he made a mental note to ask Wynona for the recipe.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his stomach. Derrick doubled over, gasping as his vision blurred. He heard footsteps and looked up to see Wynona standing over him, her pleasant smile twisted into something sinister.
"W-what did you do?" Derrick choked out, clutching his stomach.
Wynona's face seemed to shift, the warmth replaced by a ghastly, decayed visage. It was Madison, her eyes filled with vengeful rage.
"You don't recognize me, Derrick?" Madison’s voice was a chilling whisper.
"I thought you'd remember your own victim."
Derrick's heart raced as he tried to crawl away, but Madison grabbed him, her grip like iron.
"You and your friends ruined my life," she hissed, pulling out a kitchen knife.
"Now, I'll ruin yours."
Derrick screamed as Madison plunged the knife into his abdomen, slicing through flesh and muscle with ruthless precision. Blood poured from the wound, pooling on the floor.
"Please," Derrick begged, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry!"
Madison laughed, a horrifying sound that echoed through the house.
"Sorry won't bring me back."
With brutal efficiency, she disemboweled him, pulling out his intestines and organs, the room filling with the metallic scent of blood. Derrick's screams grew weaker until they faded into gurgles and then silence.
Madison stood over his lifeless body, her hands and face smeared with blood. She dragged the body into the kitchen, her movements deliberate and methodical. With a terrifying calm, she began to chop up the body, slicing through flesh and bone with practiced ease.
She placed pieces of Derrick’s body into pots and pans, turning on the stove and filling the air with the sickening smell of cooking flesh. Madison hummed a twisted tune as she worked, her eyes gleaming with madness.
Hours later, the gruesome task was complete. Madison placed the cooked parts on plates, arranging them as if preparing for a dinner party. She laughed, a chilling sound that reverberated through the empty house.
As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Madison slipped out of the house, her form shifting back to Wynona's pleasant appearance. She left the scene of horror behind, blending into the quiet, unsuspecting neighborhood.
The police arrived at the house later that morning, alerted by the concerned neighbor who had noticed the strange behavior. They were greeted by a scene of unimaginable horror, the smell of cooked flesh mingling with the stench of blood.
Detective Abner, the rookie investigator who had been following the case, arrived shortly after. He stood in the doorway, his face pale as he took in the gruesome sight.
"Dear God," he muttered, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
"What kind of monster does this?"
The forensics team worked through the day, piecing together the horrific details of Derrick’s death. Abner’s mind raced with thoughts of Madison, the vengeful spirit whose wrath seemed unstoppable.
As night fell once again, Abner sat in his car, staring at the house. He knew there was no ordinary killer at work. Madison was out there, driven by a fury that transcended death.
He picked up his phone and dialed Naomi's number.
"Naomi, it's Abner. We need to talk. It’s about Madison."
Meanwhile, Madison walked through the quiet streets, her mind fixed on her next target. Derrick had been just one more piece of her revenge, and there were still others who needed to pay for what they had done.
The night was far from over, and Madison’s quest for vengeance was only beginning.