The devil appeared like Jesus through the steam in the street. Showin' me a hand I knew even the cops couldn't beat. I felt his hot breath on
my neck as I dove into the heat
Skylon walked towards Cleat. He knew exactly what to do. His Dad and the others told him how to take care of business here. He wore a slight smile
and couldn’t wait to get started. “Balls! Do I have to go in there and find it?” Cleat said loudly as he realized the dingbat didn’t have
the gas can. Skylon stood five feet from Cleat now and waited.
“Well? You didn’t see any gas can or what?” Cleat asked. “No, no gas can. Just the table and the mirror are all that’s in there.”
Skylon offered as a matter of fact. There was something different about this guy now. It didn’t sound like the same old wing nut that Cleat had
been with all day. It sounded like a different voice altogether actually. Cleat felt a shiver go up his spine.
“Hey, you know what?” Skylon asked. “What?” Cleat asked as he backed into the side of the wood chipper. “This guy had it coming, didn’t
he?” Skylon questioned Cleat as he drew his right foot back and kicked one of the bags containing the dismembered remains. It made a soft thud and
toppled slowly over. “Yeah, of course. I mean the boss told us. Right?” Cleat answered uncertainly. This was definitely not the same simpleton
he had been enduring all day.
“Well, you’re right. He did have it coming and I don’t feel one bit sorry for this hump. You know who I feel sorry for, Bill?” Skylon asked.
This set off alarm bells in Cleat’s mind. He didn’t tell him what his real name was. Even his boss didn’t know that. Cleat swallowed hard as
thoughts raced in his mind. “Who…who do you feel sorry for?” Cleat asked nervously because he was now more afraid than ever.
“That little girl. You know the one. The girl that was playing in her front yard that day when you took her. Do you remember that?” Skylon was
told all about this event. Cleat felt sheer terror. Nobody knew about that. The police had given up looking for her years ago and everyone seemed
to just accept the fact that she was gone, and Cleat had managed to convince himself that it really wasn’t his fault. I mean, this was how he was
made after all. Cleat hadn’t realized it, but he had begun to wet his pants.
“You know what else? I feel sorry for that little boy you offered a ride to when you were just eighteen. Now that kid, I feel sorry for. How
about what you have buried under the crawl space of that house you are in, Bill? Ever feel sorry about that?” Skylon asked nonchalantly as he began
to speak louder. “Shall I go on, Bill? Shall I go on about those things that you do when you think you are all alone? How about that silly
nickname, Bill? How did you get that name? Shall we discuss these things, Bill?” Skylon asked innocently.
Cleat stood in sheer terror. How did this guy know all this stuff? He looked at Skylon, his mouth open, not being able to say a word. To Cleat, the
guy began to take on a different appearance altogether. Cleat was sure that his arms were longer now and he was taller. Suddenly Cleat was aware of
all the evil things that he had done in his lifetime and it all came crashing in on him at once. He began to sob like a baby and it made him even
more ashamed. He was suddenly at the mercy of this guy and all Cleat wanted was for it to just end. He fell to his knees and began telling Skylon
everything that he could never speak about before. It felt good. This guy understood everything Cleat was saying. When he had finished he was still
crying uncontrollably.
“Yes, all very awful things. I mean, why would a human being do such things to another human being? I submit to you that you must not be human
Bill. That is my conclusion. So why would you cling to this reality if you do not belong? Why continue this masquerade Bill? You really don’t
belong here Bill. You belong somewhere else and I can set you free Bill. You don’t have to worry anymore. I’ll set you free.” Skylon soothed
Bill as the wood chipper began to slowly chug to life and it drowned out the sound of Bill’s sobbing. Cleat heard the wood chipper starting, and to
him it sounded wonderful.