On the island …
“Duke, where are we going?” asked Dale.
“Smell that, little bro? Dory brought us a playmate. Ooh, I can’t wait to taste her. She smells so sweet.”
“You mean, like lick her face? Gross.”
“Watch and learn, kid. You’re usually asleep for this part. It’s time you experience the thrill of the chase.”
“What’s that mean, Duke?”
“You’ll get to see how I make you toys.”
“Really? Yay!”
“But first, we need to find them. Dory’s playing hide and seek. Do you think you can find her for me?”
“Oh, yeah. Mom said I’m the best hider.”
“I need you to seek, not hide. On the count of ten, start looking. One … two … three … Are you ready?”
“Shouldn’t you close your eyes? Mom always closed her eyes when she counted.”
“That’s when you were the one hiding, you retard.”
Arms crossed over his chest, Dale pouted. “You don’t need to call me names.”
“Fine. I’ll close my eyes if it’ll make you feel better. Just find them.”
“Well, that’s how the game is played. If you don’t want to do things right, then what’s the point of doing them at all?”
“Stop quoting that bitch. Hate to break it to ya, kid, but Mom didn’t know shit about the world. She talked a good game, sure, but you need to start thinking for yourself.”
Dale gasped. “Our mother gave us life. How can you say that?”
“She also knew her way around a belt.”
Dale crinkled his nose. “And you call me stupid. Of course she knew how to use a belt, silly. She’s the one who taught us.”
“You are trying my patience today, boy.”
“Now you sound like Dad.”
“Don’t you ever compare me to that monster. I’m nothing like him.”
“You kinda are, Duke.”
“No, I’m not. Why do I listen to you? You’ve never even met the prick. By the time you came around, he was long gone.”
“Yeah, but Mom told me about him.”
“Unless you experienced his wrath the way me and Dory did, you shouldn’t even act like you know what you’re talking ‘bout. The bastard’s dead, anyway. Hope he rots in hell.”
“Umm, Duke? Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Go for it.”
“How did Daddy die? Mom wouldn’t tell me.”
“Brutally. And believe me, he deserved what he got and so much more.”
“But, like, how?”
“I chopped the sick fuck into pieces, that’s how. Anymore questions, or can we get back to the game?”
“You killed our father? But … why?”
“To save Dory. She couldn’t stand his hands all over her, not for another second. So, when she summoned me, I put a stop to it once and for all. With every slash of my blade, dear ol’ Dad begged for his life. Blood rained down on Dory. Her Sesame Street sheets and comforter saturated in that prick’s bodily fluids. There was so much blood, Mom had to burn the bedding in the rusted oil drum out back.”
Stunned, not fully grasping the reason behind the murder, Dale froze. Speechless. Gripped. Enraptured.
“Any other questions, or can we get on with it already?”
“Will you count the way you’re supposed to?”
“No more questions, Dale.” Holding his forefinger and thumb an inch apart, he snarled. “I’m this close to losing my cool. I said I’d close my damn eyes, and I will.” Rolling his head, the bones cracked in his neck. “Where was I? Oh, right. Four … five … Better get going. Six … seven …”
Before he reached ten, Dale sprinted toward the cabin in search of the perfect hiding spot.
Duke chased him. “Dale—stop!” When he caught up to him, he grumbled, “What was I thinking, asking you for help? You’re too stupid to understand the simplest instructions.”
Crossing his arms, Dale took a stand. “I’m not playing if you’re gonna be mean to me.”
“For chrissakes! Do you wanna see how I make toys or not? Yes or no?”
A toothy smile spread across his face. “Yes, please.”
“Then go find Dory. That’s all I need. Do you think you can handle it without all this bullshit?”
“Yep.”
“Then do it!”
“Geesh. You don’t gotta yell at me.”
“Dale Bishop Darling.”
The warning tone sent shockwaves through Dale’s system, and he shuddered. Mom used the same tone, but he didn’t dare comment. “All right, all right, I’m going.” Arms swinging by his side, he skipped deeper into the woods. Such a gorgeous day today. The sun couldn’t reach the forest floor through the canopy of oak, maple, and birch leaves, but it didn’t matter. Hide and seek was one of his favorite games.
Cupped hands around his mouth, he called, “Dory, come out, come out, wherever you are.” His voice echoed in the silence.
No voice in response. Where was she?
“You’re a good hider, Dory. I can’t see you anywhere.” He parted the vine-like branches of an unruly blackberry bush, and the brambles pricked his fingers. “Ouch.” Sucking the blood from the wounds, he rotated toward Duke. A moment later, an idea flitted through his mind. “Can I ask Chip and Tom to play, too? They’re right over there at the picnic table.” Dale raised praying hands to his chin. “Pretty please, with sugar on top.”
Shaking his head, Duke’s raven-black eyes shifted to heaven—closed—and he heaved a heavy sigh. “Sure. Why not. The more the merrier.”
“Yay! Thank you, Duke. You’re the best brother in whole wide world.” In seconds flat, Dale raced to the picnic table. Out of breath, he steadied himself on the wooden edge. “Hey, you guys. Duke and me are playing hide and seek. Wanna play? Duke said it’s all right.”
Neither responded. In fact, they remained oddly silent.
“Why are you two so quiet today? Did I do something wrong?”
Duke strolled up beside him, resting his arm across Dale’s shoulders. “What’d they say, buddy?”
“Nothing. They won’t talk to me. I think something’s wrong with them. Maybe they’re broken. The other night they didn’t eat their hotdogs, either.”
“Huh. That’s strange.”
“I know. I made all this food, and no one ate any of it.”
Chuckling, Duke razzed, “Maybe it’s your cooking, little bro.”
“Can’t be. Mom said I’m a good cook.” A crunching diverted his attention, and he whirled toward the noise. Behind a thick cluster of pine trees Dory’s pink visor peeked out from the side. He elbowed Duke, hushed, “Found ‘em.”