Stan The Man by Benjamin Soto

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There was a note clear as day on my kitchen table, and the back door was left wide open. He told me to be somewhere and to make sure that I was there soon. I had no choice but to go, and so I went. I had a really bad feeling, and the headaches were getting worse. The blackout happened again that night, and I couldn't remember a single thing after it. But I did exactly what the note said. I had to. Kara was just too important to me.

The sonuvabitch led me to some apartment somewhere I've never been before. It was a real nasty place that seemed abandoned from the looks of it. Garbage was tossed about like every spot was a dump, rats were running around like they were training for the Olympics, and even the homeless degenerate bums seemed too good to call this place home; even for a single night. It smelled a lot like urine and shit when I walked closer to the building that marked X on the map he gave me. The stench was even stronger when I stepped inside. It made me feel so sick. As I walked into one of the far rooms as directed, I could smell something else entirely. Something so strong that I knew I would never forget it, and it is a smell that is now as natural to me as breathing.

I felt strange. Scared. I knew something bad was coming my way. I knew that as soon as I walked into that room I would cross a line and my life would be changed forever. My instincts told me to turn and run, but I fought it. A part of me needed to know that Kara was okay. When I turned that there corner I found her. Kara was naked and strung up like some thing on display. Her body was just there right in front of you, and it had been there for a while. She looked so pale and so afraid. You could tell that her last thoughts were of wanting to stay alive. Those deep blues eyes of hers could never hide how she felt.

I should have called the police right away and told them about the note, but I didn't. Something inside of me held me back. Someone was watching me. Someone had killed someone I knew and wanted me to know about it so he could get his sick jollies off. I left her there. I was too afraid to get any closer. I'm sorry Kara had to stay that way. I have no idea how long it took for someone to find her either. I just left, and kept on going. I didn't look back. I just wanted to leave it all behind me. But my luck just wouldn't hold up.

It happened again just as I was starting to get comfortable. It happens every time I get comfortable. And it wasn't until Paul died that I realized the truth. Paul was a guy I worked with at my last job. He was a real friend. Probably the only one I've ever had. He was nice, you know, the kind of nice you pray for when you're down on your luck. He had a decent place, and trained me in the new building I was at.

We went out for a few drinks one night after our shift was over. There was a little corner bar he liked to go to. He was regular, and they all knew him pretty good. They treated me like I was one of them for a change. For once I felt like I belonged. He hadn't shown up. I thought I finally lost him. Things were going real good, so I let my guard down.