Butcher Road Read online

  Butcher Road

  Jon Athan

  Copyright © 2016 Jon Athan

  All Rights Reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  For more information on this book or the author, please visit www.jon-athan.com. General inquiries are welcome.

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  Twitter: @Jonny_Athan

  Email: [email protected]

  Cover designed by Sean Lowery: http://highimpactcovers.com/

  Thank you for the support!

  WARNING

  This book contains scenes of intense violence and unpleasant themes. Some parts of this book may be considered violent, cruel, disturbing, or unusual. Certain implications may also trigger strong emotional responses. This book is not intended for those easily offended or appalled. Please enjoy at your own discretion.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter One

  A Long Drive

  “This is Delores Evans with the top news story of the hour. Reports indicate a local graveyard was vandalized and defiled late last night. Like a scene from a horror movie, several graves were desecrated and several bodies were exhumed. Many of the unearthed corpses were left on the premises, abused and ravaged. Deputies also believe some of the recently buried bodies may have been stolen. We are not certain if this has anything to do with the rampant human trafficking problem facing our state, but we will continue to press the Sheriff for more details. As of now, the area has been cordoned off by emergency personnel. Should you be concerned about the status of a loved one buried at the Bright–”

  The grotesque radio broadcast was disrupted by the sound of grating static. The obnoxious racket blared through the speakers, wafting through the interior of the sedan. With the turn of a knob, the white noise ended. Only the sound of the purring engine and whizzing wind dominated the spacious sedan. The simple sounds were tranquil.

  From the passenger seat, Anna Cole asked, “Do you have a CD we can listen to?” She leaned forward and opened the glove department. As she browsed through the sheets of paper and tangled cords, Anna asked, “Do you have one of those... those auxiliary cables so I can at least plug in my phone? I thought you had one in here...”

  Austin Barnes gripped the steering wheel and kept his eyes locked on the narrow road ahead. He watched as the scorching pavement scrolled beneath the black sedan with each passing mile. The view was inexplicably hypnotizing – endless pavement. He preferred silence to sensationalized news and pop music garbage, but he knew Anna would not allow it. She was a persistent young woman with a questionable taste for music.

  Austin said, “Nope. I don't have a CD or a cable. Hardly anyone even listens to CDs these days anyway. You might as well be asking me for a cassette tape. I probably have a cable in the trunk or in my bag, but I don't have one up here.” He glanced at Anna and said, “You're out of luck.”

  Austin smirked as he gazed into his girlfriend's glowing blue eyes – diamonds atop mountains of shimmering snow. Anna stood with a petite shape, five-three with a delicate figure. She had her beach blonde hair tied in a tousled bun, strands dangling every which way. She wore a white tank top, blue jeans, and black boots. She could be childish at times, certainly puckish during others, but Austin adored every bit of her.

  Austin turned towards the straight road and said, “I'll take it out of the trunk the next time we stop. You can listen to your shit music then.”

  Anna chuckled and shook her head. She rolled her eyes and said, “Thanks, sweetie. Now, we wouldn't happen to be stopping any time soon, would we?”

  “Are you kidding me? We're not going to waste time right now. I'll get it when we stop next time. I promise.”

  “Okay, okay. I'm just saying, it might be a boring trip without some music. That's all, that's all...”

  Anna childishly giggled as she rolled her eyes towards her boyfriend. She couldn't contain her joy, she could not suppress her laughter. She loved goading the man – it was part of her flirtatious demeanor. Anna injected a sense of energy and passion into the relationship, keeping the heartbeat thrumming. She gently drummed her fingertips on Austin's forearm, watching him with kittenish eyes. Seduction could work, she thought, or maybe some irritation.

  Austin was tall and strong – lean, muscular, sinewy. He had long dark brown hair with some stubble on his chiseled jawline. His brown eyes were blocked by his voguish sunglasses. He wore a blue-and-white plaid button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up on top of a white t-shirt. His blue jeans and brown boots were fairly standard. He was arguably handsome, but he was not obsessed with his appearance. His ego was dormant most of the time.

  Anna sighed as she leaned back in her seat. As the air conditioning caressed her moist brow, she asked, “You think we'll find a gas station any time soon? I really want that cable...”

  Austin shook his head and said, “I don't know, Anna. I told you to pack everything you needed, remember?”

  “Come on, you gave me less than an hour to get ready...”

  “That's because you weren't supposed to be joining me anyway, remember? I didn't invite you. I told you it was only a business trip and I'd be back in two, maybe three days. Of course, you wanted to tag along like always. Remember, though, I never invited you. Don't blame me for anything, okay? It's all on you this time.”

  Anna crossed her arms, huffing and puffing like a child preparing to throw a tantrum. Yet, she could not keep the facade afloat. She wasn't a trained actress, she had not mastered the steady 'poker face.' She held her hand to her mouth as she burst into a playful guffaw. Austin chuckled and shook his head – my girl.

  Anna said, “I know, I know. I just didn't want you to make this drive alone. I wasn't going to let you drive 500 miles by yourself. You know how I get. It worries me. It's the anxiety. This sort of trip is... dangerous.”

  Austin smiled smugly and said, “Well, I really don't see what your presence is going to do, sweetheart. You can't fight, you're not very athletic, and you can't even change a tire. It's probably more dangerous with you around.”

  “Yeah, but I can use a phone and I can call for help. And, when you're too damn stubborn to ask for directions, you can let me do it. So, yeah, I can be helpful when you need it. I'm much more helpful than one of those bimbos in a horror movie, that's for sure.”

  Austin shook his head and smirked, scoffing at Anna's definition of help. Anna simply turned in her seat and gazed out the window. The pair cruised in silence, soaking in the tranquility. There was a mountainous region to the right, barely visible from afar. To the left, the land was flat and dry. The desolate road was surrounded by dry shrubs and swathes of desert. The bushes rustled with the wind and the dirt majestically danced with each gust. The couple only spotted an oncoming driver every few minutes. The route was lonely, practically abandoned by humanity.

  Anna shuffled in her seat, looking for the most comfortable position possible. She was fidgety and restless, bothered by the sheer boredom. She sought a form of entertainment, any variety of amusement to sweep her away. She glanced at the digital clock on the radio – 4:35 PM. Time see
med to move slower during the most monotonous trips. Anna sighed loudly, blatantly trying to grab Austin's attention.

  She said, “I'm sorry. This is just too boring, Austin. Why couldn't you just buy a plane ticket? Hmm? Why couldn't we do this the easy way? I mean, a five-hour road trip? Really? Who drives for that long nowadays?”

  Austin rebutted, “And, where do you think I would get the money for a plane ticket? Were you going to pay for it?” Anna did not respond, biting her tongue and looking away. Austin nodded and said, “Yeah, I thought so.”

  Anna sighed again – each sigh grew louder with the swelling boredom. She kicked her feet up on the dashboard and leaned back in her seat, shielding herself from the blistering sun with the car's shadows. With her nonchalant pose, she painted a portrait of tedium. She was not trying to be disrespectful, she simply could not stand the boredom. Her mind wandered between thoughts: What can we talk about? What games can we play? There weren't many options on the table. Oh, look at that cactus. Maybe we can get water from it.

  As she stared at the passing rocks and cacti, Anna asked, “So, do you know any shortcuts?”

  Austin responded, “What kind of shortcuts do you expect to find out here? It's a straight road, leading directly to our destination. Nothing more, nothing less. There's not going to be some sort of magical route that will make this go by any faster.”

  “Yeah, you're right. Don't bother taking any scenic routes, either. It's just going to be a waste of time. I mean, what are we going to look at? Rocks and dirt?”

  Austin nodded and said, “I wouldn't have even considered it. Shortcuts, scenic routes... You're just asking for trouble. I'm not going through some back-road to get eaten by some inbred cannibals in the hills. No, I'm not taking those chances.”

  Anna huffed, then she said, “I think you're taking horror movies a bit too seriously.”

  “No, no. Horror movies, books, fiction... It's all derived from human nature. It's inspired by real events. If it's not, it's at least created by a real person. You understand what I'm saying? Someone sits there and thinks about all of the most terrifying situations that could possibly happen. It's... It's all based on reality. I think the problem is: we don't take horror films seriously enough. Maybe then, kids would stop dying at camps.”

  Anna giggled, then she glanced at Austin. She said, “But, that only happens in movies. When was the last time you heard about some kids getting slaughtered at a camp?”

  Austin opened his mouth to speak, but the words would not flow through his lips. His vocabulary was wiped with Anna's counter. He contemplated, browsing through months of grisly news, but he couldn't find anything of use. He could only grin and nod. His speech sounded perfectly rational and intelligent in his mind.

  Austin said, “Maybe it doesn't happen at camps anymore, but that's because we learned from those movies. We stopped underestimating kids that drowned in lakes. Besides, I'm sure there have been some murders in some cabins recently. Hell, I'm sure someone's getting killed in a cabin right now. I'm willing to bet on it.”

  “Okay, so what are you betting?”

  Austin glanced at Anna, then he said, “Never mind.”

  Anna and Austin shared a genuine chuckle, laughing with sincere joy. Anna gently slapped Austin's lean forearm and said, “You can be a real idiot sometimes, Austin, but I love you for it...”

  Chapter Two

  An Accident

  The luxurious sedan cruised down the narrow road, racing against the falling sun. The blinding sun doused the desert area with a scorching heat. The hot spell was mesmerizing, enough to make a sane man hallucinate. The interior of the vehicle, fortunately, benefited from the air conditioning. The cold breeze could not trump the power of the sun, but it offered some comfort.

  As a cherry-red pickup truck hurtled down the oncoming lane, Austin whispered, “First car in thirty minutes... Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

  Staring at the ceiling of the car, Anna said, “We should be driving faster, too. I want to get into a hotel with real air conditioning, hop into the pool, sip a martini, relax...” She grunted and groaned as she turned towards Austin. Pouting with glimmering eyes, Anna said, “You'll hate me for asking this, but... Are we there yet?”

  Austin yawned, then he said, “Nope. And, I hate you for asking.”

  Anna frowned and said, “I know.”

  “It's such a stupid question. I mean, you can see we're not there yet, so what's the point of asking? It doesn't make sense.”

  “Yeah, it makes about as much sense as being afraid of 'cannibals in the hills.' But, hey, I'm not the type to judge.”

  Austin chuckled, then he said, “Yeah, yeah, I get it...”

  Austin and Anna were flung forward in their seats as the car skidded to an abrupt stop. The sound of screeching wheels echoed through the desolate environment, howling like wolves to the moon. The startled pair were solely kept seated by the tight seat belts. The couple sat in absolute silence, astonished for different reasons. With his foot firmly planted on the brake pedal, Austin glanced over his shoulder, peering through the back window.

  With her palms planted on the dashboard, Anna said, “I almost smashed my head, Austin. I... I could have died right now. Why the hell did you do that?” Austin did not respond. His fearful eyes were locked on the rear window. Anna loudly swallowed, then she asked, “What's wrong with you? What's going on?”

  Austin pointed back and said, “There's... There's a wagon back there. Off the road.”

  “A wagon?”

  “Yeah, a wagon. A–A station wagon... Off the road on your side. It looks like there was some sort of accident.”

  Anna rolled her window down. She protruded her head from the opening and stared at the side of the road. Like Austin explained, there was a clove-brown station wagon off the side of the road a few dozen meters back. The vehicle appeared to have rolled to a stop at the bottom of a ditch. Billowing white fumes spewed from the engine, but there was no sign of a fire.

  Anna returned to her seat and said, “Okay, so... there was an accident. Why the hell did you stop so suddenly? You could have ended up like them. We could have seriously hurt our necks. You know, whiplash, right? Shit...” Anna sniffled as she wiped the sweat from her glistening forehead. She shook her head and said, “They were probably taken to a hospital. Someone will probably come out for the car later. No big deal.”

  Without taking his eyes off the vehicle, Austin explained, “I... I think I saw someone in that wagon, Anna. There was... I could have swore I caught a glimpse of some blood on their windows, too. It was red. The whole interior of that car was red. I swear, I saw it.”

  Anna stared at her boyfriend, trying her best to decipher his intentions. Yet, she found herself baffled by Austin's behavior. She was the devious rascal, always trying to inject some fun into the relationship. Austin's humor did not often meander into morbid territory. From the horrified look in his eyes, she could see he was bewildered.

  Anna asked, “Are you serious?”

  Austin turned towards his girlfriend. He gazed into her glimmering eyes and said, “There was blood everywhere. I know what I saw.”

  Anna ran her fingers through her hair, perturbed by Austin's honesty. She protruded her head from the opening and glanced back at the wagon. She could see the wrecked vehicle, but she could not see the blood. Yet, she refused to take a chance. She grabbed her cell phone from the dashboard, then she swiped her finger across the touchscreen.

  Austin asked, “You're calling the police?”

  Anna said, “I don't have any reception out here, but we should still have emergency services. I can still call the police, right?”

  Austin did not have a definitive answer to share. Anna tapped the screen, then she held the phone to her ear. To her utter dismay, the call did not connect. The couple had stumbled into a dead zone, incapable of receiving radio messages or calling for help.

  As Anna softly whimpered, Austin leaned forward and said, “
Listen, I'm going to go out there and see if I can help.”

  Teary-eyed, Anna asked, “Are you kidding me, Austin? Are you serious?”

  “I'm serious. Like you said, this isn't a horror movie and those people may need help. Every second matters in a situation like this. I'll go down there as fast as possible. If I see any signs of danger or anything like that, I'll come running back and we'll drive out of here. Okay? I want you to walk around right here and try to find some service. That sound good to you?”

  Anna wiped the tears from her blushed cheeks and nodded. As she despondently stared at her lap, she said, “Okay...”

  ***

  Austin slowly exited the vehicle. He stood on his tiptoes and stared down the narrow road. He could see the heat waves dancing above the sweltering pavement. He had hoped the discovery was nothing but a mirage. To his disappointment, there were no other cars in sight. The cavalry was not arriving with emergency aid – reinforcements were nonexistent.

  Anna exited the vehicle, carefully closing the door behind her – like if the car would crumble with too much force. She glanced at her boyfriend with nervous eyes, then she walked towards the side of the road. She watched each step, ensuring she didn't tumble down the hill. The feisty young woman held her cellphone up and hoped for a bar of reception.

  Austin whispered, “Okay, I'm coming...”

  The young man sauntered down the side of the road, approaching the wagon with caution. With each calculated step, he found himself with a better view of the accident. He bit his bottom lip and shook his head as he caught a glimpse of the blood. The door windows were either cracked or shattered, but the blood remained consistent across the glass. The windshield was also smeared with blood, but it seemed intact. No one was ejected from the vehicle.

  A person was slumped back in the driver's seat and another person was slumped forward in the passenger seat. The bloodied people did not move – not a squirm or twitch. From afar, the pair were unidentifiable. With some simple logical contemplation, Austin figured there was a man and a woman in the wagon – much like himself and Anna. He was not interested in pondering the more sinister possibilities.