Natural Born Killer

[Micah]

Now that he’d come to terms with his anger and the resentment that he’d held onto for so long in regards to his mother, Micah realized he had a lot to be sorry for. Just saying the words didn’t mean anything. Words were weapons. They could cut deeper than any knife and he was actually more than a little ashamed of the things that he had said but he couldn’t take them back now. They were out there and if Savannah had chosen to stay with him then she had heard every last poisoned word that fell from his mouth. He hoped that she would understand, and that maybe in time she could come to forgive the hateful things that he had said.

Blaming her for everything was stupid. She couldn’t help that she’d been taken from him way before it was her time. He understood that she had been protecting him but he hadn’t been a child. It stung in a way that he never expected. Maybe when Vel returned he could get the answers that he needed and maybe some insight on what Savannah was feeling. God that was so ******* weird to say. He never expected to be met with this kind of situation. His mother making an appearance after so many years by communicating with his wife? That was the stuff you saw on those fucked up reality TV shows, not here, not now.

The touch of her hand oh his leg had him pulling out of his thoughts. His head lifted and he blinked a few times to clear his vision. “Huh?” He hadn’t heard a word that she had said but he glanced around and finally spied the package that he had requested. As always, she had come through for him. “Is this it?” The killer eyed it for a few minutes before he stretched his legs out in front of him and pulled the package onto his lap. Such innocent little boxes. Meant to do more good than harm but Truman wasn’t going to be treated for anything other than revenge. It wouldn’t help cure him, it would only make him sick. There was no cure for the kind of sickness that Truman displayed and that was fine. He wasn’t going to be around to force his sick and perverted games on another unsuspecting soul. Micah was going to make sure it ended here and now.

Truman started to stir. Good. Micah didn’t want to have to dump water on him again. It might make him too sick and force the killer to end the game too early. “Thank you,” he murmured softly to his wife as he got to his feet, the boxes clutched in his hands. She’d thought of everything which meant he didn’t have to send her out looking again. She’d be able to stick around and witness the festivities that were about to begin. “Truman! Wake the **** up. You ain’t gonna be sleeping at the start of the party.”

Truman’s head shot up and he looked around the room, for the most part looking as if he was hoping to wake from a bad dream. But when his eyes landed on Micah his shoulders slumped and a sense of resignation seemed to overcome him. Curtis didn’t even react when he noticed the words on the boxes in Micah’s hands. Finally, it had sunk in that he wasn’t going to get out of that room with his life intact. His past misdeeds were catching up with him and now he had to pay the price for all of the lives he had ruined.

Pulling out 3 syringes, Micah opened one of the bottles and filled each of them with the medication Vel had gotten for him. He had no idea how to give injections or even where the best place on the body was for this sort of thing but it really didn’t matter did it? It would still get into the bloodstream and the end results would still be the same. He debated for a few minutes but in the end decided to go with the arm. A few minutes later the syringes were empty and Truman hadn’t uttered a single word. It certainly made things easier, not having to listen to the proud doctor run his mouth.

After he had everything packed up to take with him upstairs he turned to Vel. “What does Savannah want to happen to him? You said she wants him destroyed but I imagine she has something in mind. What is it?”He could recall vaguely that she had mentioned Savannah wanted something specific. While he wasn’t all that comfortable extracting his revenge knowing that his mother wanted it to happen, he knew it needed to. He wasn’t the only one that needed the closure. Savannah did too.

[Velveteen]

Whatever it was that was going on here, and Velveteen could easily hazard a pretty educated guess, was still going on it seemed, in his head. He seemed distracted when he did look up though he had managed to pull himself out of it rather quickly. She nodded at his question and watched as he inspected those things she brought. She didn’t move and remained crouched beside him. Balancing on her toes as she sat on her heels. Monochromatic orbs watched as she inspected the contents and she nodded at his thanks. “Of course.” She didn’t need the thanks he offered. The woman would move heaven and hell if she had to to provide anything he asked of her. Her head moved as if to glance over her shoulder at the soft noises that came from behind her though her gaze did not leave his face even as he stood and towered above her. She smoothed her hands over her thighs until slender fingers bent over the round of her knees and she pushed herself upwards. Turning to face the doctor, the vampire sucked in a sharp involuntary breath and her eyes widened in shock.

If there were any blood to drain from her face it would have done so, though the fact that the woman already look like death it was impossible to discern the look on her face as she was faced with a room full of not so happy spirits. Each standing by their respective bodies with expressions of stone and dead glares of accusation that seemed to hone in on her. For now she didn’t say anything and spent a moment watching her husband as he moved through one of the spirits who stood in his path. He made no indication as to being aware of their presence. On the other side of the room she could also see Savannah. She offered Vel an apologetic shrug as if accepting the responsibility for the sudden overcrowding though Velveteen knew it wasn’t all her fault….she was certainly guilty of bringing on the inevitable long before the Necromancer was ready. That was something Vel was going to hang to until she was ready to let it go.

Velveteen spent the next however long studying both her feet and the ceiling. Her line of sight being focussing anywhere that was not currently occupied by a dead person. She watched her husband administer the the doctor’s….medications with an unnecessary intensity. She could feel their presence. Their dead eyes on her and the anger that radiated from them. Their silence was unnerving though she was thankful for it. It might be a little harder to hide were she covering her ears and screaming at them to shut up. That too was only a matter of a time.

The woman began to fidget as her levels of agitation increased and she was relieved to note that Micah finished what he was doing. Perhaps they could head upstairs and get out of her for a little bit. She was doing her best to not be obvious. What was going on was just another unexpected complication and she didn’t need to dump that on her husband’s shoulders along with everything else right now. “Yes she she does.” And a whole lot more though she didn’t voice that yet. It seemed there was a lot to talk about. “Come on. We can talk upstairs.” A parting glance was cast at Truman who was looking a rather odd shade of green before he was cast aside for what she felt were far more important matters. For now the doctor’s wife had been completely forgotten.

There was no argument and she could hear the footsteps behind as he followed her upstairs. She remained silent until they reached the privacy of their room though their privacy wasn’t necessarily as private as she would have liked. Savannah was already there waiting, standing by the fire as if she had all the time in the world, which technically….she had nothing but.

“So.” She started, looking around to make sure they had no other uninvited guests lurking in the shadows. “Your mother wants all the evidence and everything we have found released to the pressed. I am thinking perhaps just leaving that safety deposit box where I found that other stuff might not be enough. She would like full exposure. I….don’t know how we are going to do that or who to get to do it but I imagine she believes it will make big news. We will have to get a tv down there for his viewing pleasure. Once this goes public there will be criminal investigations. His assets will be frozen...especially with Mrs Truman also missing. His kids will lose their legacy and their father will be exposed for the thief and murderer that he is. Apparently, your home and Savanaah’s things weren’t the only things he acquired by such means. She want’s those other things returned to their rightful owners. The families of his other victims. She wants him to die broken and destroyed and a person that people will be trying to forget. Not this wonderful man that many think he is today.”

She sat on the edge of the bed and waited for some sort of response after getting everything out in as fine a detail as it was given to her. The tip of her tongue traced the sharp edges of her teeth as she nervously glanced between mother and son, finally rolling her eyes and sighing as she nodded to no one. “She also wants you to know that she does know how hard it was for you. That she was there and that your pain was her pain. She knows that you are...were angry and doesn’t blame you at all. She says that maybe she could have done things differently but she was scared. For you. She also didn’t believe that he would go through with his threats until it was too late.” Until now the vampire had been speaking to her hands that lay in her lap and she lifted her head, not sure that was ready to see whatever she might find in her husband’s eyes.

Her pale lips pressed together while she wrestled inwardly. How much was too much? How much was not enough? Her sterling gaze was averted momentarily and she scowled as Savannah urged her to keep going. “Do you really think his is a good idea. Can’t you give him just a few minutes to process and breathe….?” Velveteen had never imagined that she would ever be talking to her mother-in -law let alone in such an obviously irritated way but truth be told...she felt like she had been pushed into a corner on this and she wasn’t quite ready to be happy about it. She sighed and continued…

“What she really wants you to know and remember, no matter what, is that she loves you. She says yes. The question you asked about her being there when you were….you know.” Velveteen waved her hand as if that would fill in the blanks. “She was but she says that you need to quit with the shame because you are everything she knew you would be, now. You are the man she raised you to be and you need to remember that.” When she had finished she couldn’t help that she had in part started mimicking Savannah’s accent. It wasn’t intentional...it just tended to happen at times. Velveteen grinned a little bit and wrinkled the side of her nose as her eyes danced over her husband’s face, wondering what was going through his head right now. “She is as every bit as stubborn as you have said in the past….but she does have a pretty accent.”

[Micah]

He had no problem following her upstairs after ensuring that the door was locked and bolted securely. Bunny had her tome. She could leave at any time and the wife sure as hell wasn’t going anywhere. She was secured to that wheel and there wasn’t a chance in hell she was going to be able to get down, nor would she be able to convince Bunny to free her. Sure, she could try but it would only result in an *** whipping from the small blonde thrall.

There was so much going through his head that he wasn’t sure it wasn’t going to explode from the overload of information. He wasn’t sure how he felt knowing that she’d been watching him throughout the years. That she had been witness to everything that he’d done in order to forget about the things that she had taught him made him want to cringe regardless if she forgave him for it or not. Just because she said he needed to let go of the shame he had within it was easier said than done. It wasn’t that simple. He’d held onto that for so long that letting it go with a snap of his fingers was going to be impossible. However, knowing that she loved him despite everything he’d said and done helped to calm the maelstrom unleashing it’s fury inside of him.

Sure, she could have done things differently. She could have told him what Truman was doing but the risk of him going through with his threats wasn’t a risk Savannah had been willing to take. Had Micah been in her shoes, and had it been Zoey in the position that he was currently in he couldn’t say he wouldn’t have reacted in the same way. It’s what parents did. They put the needs of their child over their own. Yeah, he was still angry and he did still harbor some resentment for the path that Savannah had taken but when it came down to it, he couldn’t hate her or say he didn’t understand.

His thoughts turned to what Savannah wanted. Growing up, his mother had been a sweet, soft spoken woman who hadn’t had a mean bone in her body. Apparently being murdered had changed all of that and replaced that kind soul with a vindictive spirit. He approved of that. Savannah had been wronged in so many ways that it was only natural that she would want some sort of revenge. The killer figured she had never expected that it would come in the way that it was currently but it was fitting. Maybe she could rest easier knowing that her son and his wife had been the ones to give Truman the ending that he so truly deserved.

“I know how we can do this but first, I need to make sure that anything and everything regarding my mother is wiped from his computer and taken from the documents. I don’t want anything traced back to her because that in turn could cause them to come looking for me and the last thing we need right now is for the police to be sniffing around us.” He already had the blood of several humans on his hands that most likely had families out there that would be demanding justice. It wasn’t like he cared but what he did care about the attention it could bring them. “Once thats done I can just...do that thing you don’t like and manipulate my body so I don’t look like myself. Kind of like how I did when I was following Curtis. I can take all the evidence and drop it off at the local new station. Once they see what is contained in those files that story will blow up and explode like an atomic bomb hit the city. That will open investigations and the police will become involved.”

He leaned against the wall and frowned a bit thoughtfully. “I don’t know how we can return everything to the rightful owners but I imagine once the investigations are underway, the police and the correct authorities will be able to do that for us.” He could sympathize with those families. It was only right that the things that were rightly theirs be returned to them. Hopefully, in time that would happen. That really only left one last thing to discuss.

“What are we going to do with the bodies?”

[Velveteen]

Velveteen pulled her legs up and sat cross legged on the bed as she waited for his reactions. At least when he spoke she didn’t have to play go between. Savannah could hear him just fine. He took it all surprisingly well and in the silence that followed she could almost hear the inner workings of his mind as he digested everything that had been shared. She had half expected that he would be angry at her but instead the things he learned seemed to bring him some peace. In her experience it usually took time and she figured there would be more questions later when he had time to process it all but for now he was just quiet. Resolving his past and his present that had collided so dramatically recently.

Her shoulder straightened and she perked up when he did start to speak. She had expected something else when he did speak but wasn’t disappointed in the least. The idea of discussing something real and putting a plan in motion was something she could totally get on board with. Velveteen had her own demons and dilemmas to deal with with regarding recent events but there would be time for that later. This wasn’t about her. It was about her husband, his mother, others that had fallen victim to Dr. Truman. It was about Truman himself and his family. It seemed like an eye for an eye type of justice. More innocents suffering for the crimes against innocents but….the eternal hell that would forever be Truman’s to suffer seemed rather fitting.

Her head bobbed as she listened and she grimaced only slightly when he mentioned about that one thing. Though she wouldn’t imagine that it could be any worse than seeing your wife with old man, chicken neck and thinning grey hair. She would survive. “Well I can certainly hack the electronic records and remove that stuff. I...might have to go back for the safety deposit box.” Maybe leaving it there was not such a good idea now. “I am guessing the guard or some other employee probably packed it up and put it back in place, ensuring the safety and privacy of their client. I passed once...should do so again. Will have to do that soon though. I reckon someone is going to notice something by sundown tomorrow. The missing guards? The doctor not showing up for scheduled appearances. We will have to go back tonight.”

Her elbows were rested on her knees and she dropped her chin into her hands. ‘I think you are right...delivering it to the press will certainly ensure that it gets out. Though once I get that information from those other boxes I will have better luck locating the details and electronic files of others he has done the same things too. Might as well deliver everything we can find.”

The raven haired vampire fell into a thoughtful silence. What were they going to do with the bodies. There was more than she was used to and the idea of facing those accusing glares while they did so was not her idea of a good time. “I don’t know. Maybe we could just dig a really big hole and bury them right where they are. They wont ever be found. Or maybe we could just...float one or two every other day. Set up a major boating accident along the river. Or...Oh I know. We will have to dig out any bullets and then give them a viking burial of sorts. Exploding boat accident.” She frowned a little and set to giving it some more thought. “Though we can probably worry about that later. We need to get back into that bank tonight. Before the sun comes up or we will be all kinds of fucked. And not in a good way.”

All she really wanted to do was spend the rest of what was left of the night curled up with her husband. She sighed and flopped backwards on the bed. She remembered all too well how demanding those of the spirit world could be. That had not changed in the slightest. “So..what is the plan. You gonna come and cover my arse at the bank? I can hack his computer later. Plus..I have a heap of flash drives to go through which I am sure will likely have stuff we can use. You can help me with that bit.” A grin twitched at the corner of her mouth as she stared at the ceiling. Micah hated the hacking. She was sure that sifting through files of incriminating evidence was not going to be any more fun and was sure she heard him grumble unhappily at the prospect.

She sat up with a now or never jolt and slide off the side of the bed. “Better get my man clothes back on I guess.”

[Micah]

Three nights later.

Truman slowly woke, the sound of squeaking wheels piercing his subconscious. His head came up and through his hazy vision he saw the small blonde who had been his only company for the last couple of nights. Bambi? Brandy? Bunny! That was it. Bunny. She’d given him the measly food offering that Savannah’s son had promised him, but Truman hadn’t seen him. What was his name? Oh, yes. Micah. Truman knew he’d been there, as there were new puncture wounds on his arms from the injections he’d been promised. Already he was feeling the effects, which was probably what Micah wanted. Not only that, but the wounds on his legs were red around the edges and oozing greenish pus. No treatment for those was forthcoming and Truman knew they were only speeding along his condition. He was sick. Very sick and it was only going to get worse. It didn’t matter. None of it did. Lily was dead, his misdeeds were going to be exposed to the world - what was the point in trying to fight the inevitable? He was dead, it was just a matter of time now.

“Truman.”

Curtis tried to focus and managed to make out the towering form of Savannah’s son. Beside him was the smaller female with the black hair and freaky eyes that could do the freaky ****, like talk to ghosts. Her name escaped him. “.....are you here to kill me finally?” The chuckle that came from the male sent a shiver down Truman’s spine. He should have just kept his mouth shut. Speaking out of turn only brought him another injection and as expected, the pinch from a needle sliding into his arm had him cringing. He could almost feel the poison spreading throughout his body and he just wanted it to be over already.

“I brought you a present Truman.”

Micah gestured to Bunny who was wheeling in a television on a cart. She plugged it in and the killer used a remote to flick it on. “See, we’ve been very busy the past couple of nights. I know, I know - I’m a terrible host but fear not! I managed to have time to give you your shots.” His smile was blinding, oozing with pride. “How you feeling, Curtis? You ain’t looking too hot.” The killer didn’t expect an answer and was almost disappointed when Truman didn’t take the bait. Perhaps he was finally starting to learn that mouthing off brought him extra doses. “Anyways. You’ve made the news Curtis. It’s quite the story after all.”

The killer turned the volume up to an acceptable level just as the news came on. A pair of anchors wearing solemn expressions came into view and up at the corner of the screen was a picture of Truman. He was smiling and waving, his complexion pink and healthy, quite unlike the ashen tone his skin was currently sporting. A glance at the good doctor showed that his attention was fixated on the screen dreading what was coming. “Our top story tonight. World renowned oncologist Dr. Curtis Truman is currently being sought for questioning on numerous charges ranging from fraud, sexual misconduct, and murder.” It was announced by a usually bubbly female who was all seriousness tonight.

The camera angle then shifts and focused on her male counterpart. “Information provided by an anonymous source has uncovered a story so horrific as one man’s rise to fame leaves many families broken and just plain broke. Curtis Truman, who currently seems to be missing or just plain hiding has been taking advantage of his patients for more than two decades to not only further his own career but line his pockets in the process. All of Truman's assets have currently been frozen, including those of his children until investigators are able to unravel the twisted trail of stolen equity.”

Again the blonde appeared as all eyes watched the small screen. “Also wanted for questioning is his wife, Lily Truman, who also, has yet to be located and is believed to be with her husband. Both his children have declined making a statement at this point.” A short silence as a scene flashed on the screen of his daughter. Tight lipped and head hung, making her way through the barrage of reporters to seek refuge in her car. “More details to follow as the story unfolds.”

Silence reigned in the aftermath of the newscast, which had been turned off as soon as the story turned over to the weather. Throughout the entire newscast Micah had watched Truman like a hawk, reveling in the pain that crossed the doctor’s face. The good doctor was well and truly fucked and he knew it. “I told you I was going to ruin you, and now I have. How does it feel Curtis, to be losing everything you worked to achieve? Was it worth it? All the lying, scheming and cheating you did to work your way to the top….its now meaningless. All for nothing.” Truman said nothing and Micah was alright with that. This was what Savannah had wanted - she wanted Truman to hurt, to be left destitute and broken. She’d gotten exactly that, and then some.

[Velveteen]

Everything had gone to plan. From retrieving the lock box to hacking the Doctor’s own personal electronics files. The amount of information they were able to gain would implicate Truman in no less than eight murders that were just the icing on the cake when delving into Truman’s greed and depravity. He had been so careful and had it not been for Savannah the truth may very well have been buried with the man. Either way, The way that Vel seen it was they were doing the world a favour. One less asshole on the planet and while it was but a small recompense perhaps those other families that had suffered at that animal’s neatly manicured hands would be returned what was rightfully theirs.

To say she was looking forward to watching Truman’s face as he watched his world crumble was a mild understatement. She couldn’t think of another person who deserved it more. She was, however, far from being altruistic in the matter. That the world was a better place for his death that was but a an added bonus. The true reward was making him pay for the pain he had caused to the one person that she loved the most. She might not have been there at the time but she had seen every scar left in the wake of those events. The suffering that never truly ended. Yeah...she was not going to miss this for the world.

The sight of Truman when she entered was truly shocking. She had not been down here since the the first time a couple of nights ago and the changes in the man’s appearance and demeanour were dramatic. He looked as though he was suffering and that was exactly the result that had been desired. She stood off to the side beside her husband with her hands tucked into pockets and remained silent. Truman was a truly broken man and even his mind was beginning to fail him as the cancer causing poison ate away at his very soul. She watched him curiously as he took his next injection like a good little patient and grinned when the TV was brought in. She had no idea what was going on media wise. Just the snippet she had caught on the internet earlier telling people to be watching the nightly news for breaking news or some ****. They left out the juicy details though, forcing people to tune in if they wanted to know more and Velveteen was pretty sure that right now their ratings were likely through the roof. Truman was big news.

Her pale eyes shifted between the screen and Curtis’ face as he watched his legacy being destroyed in front of an audience of millions and that number was sure to skyrocket as word made it’s way around the world. “It look likes yer a hit, Doc. Even your children are stars.” She could barely contain the smugness as noticed movement in her peripheral that drew her attention. Savannah nodded her head and smiled but otherwise remained silent. Velveteen turned to look over her shoulder and noted the others in attendance as well. It was if they understood and instead of the rage that she had felt a couple of nights ago there was a serene sort of acceptance. They didn’t know the type of man they had worked for, but now they did.

Velveteen doubted it would be much longer. Truman didn’t have the strength to fight and soon enough his body was going to start shutting down. The vampire estimated probably a couple more days at most. Her silver orbs rolled toward the spirit that hovered near by. Lily. She glared at the tv screen and then at her killer, though Velveteen paid her little mind at this moment. She was more concerned with how close to death one had to be before they could see the other side. There had been lots of tales of those on the brink of crossing over seeing loved ones and such, she was hoping to be able to witness it for herself and verify the authenticity behind these claims. Well...that and as well as get to watch Truman face the one woman who had been waiting all this time for him. If the son had inherited his temper from the mother then Truman was in for a whole lot of hell.

”They are going to be stepping up the hunt for for him. We might have to start making preparations to get rid of them all.’ She waved a hand toward to the other side of the large room where the bodies were lined up under sheets. The cold winter was making it far easier to keep them providing a natural sort of refrigeration and slowing down the usual processes that would have the place smelling like death in varying degrees of stink. “Oh. “ The sound sudden and unusually loud. “A house fire! Maybe they were staying somewhere after the hotel room had been compromised and all met a rather...unfortunate end when a gas leak erupted while they were all asleep.” Her eyes had lit up some and she was already going through the small pile of wallets on a nearby table. “Nothing like a big ole fire to warm up a cold, winter night.”

[Micah]

“Bunny. Come take away the entertainment please.”

The small blonde skipped into the room and unplugged the television from the wall. She wrapped the cord up and secured it, then pushed the cart out of the room, pulling the sliding door closed behind her. Truman watched her go before averting his eyes to the ground. He was the picture of exhaustion and the scent of death surrounding him was growing by the minute. His time was almost up and the final demon Micah needed to slay for his mother would be put to rest. He felt vindicated and hoped that it was enough for Savannah. In a way he hoped that she still had some kind of unfinished business to deal with and because of that, she’d stick around a bit longer. But that would be asking way too much of Vel and he wasn’t going to do that.

Micah had considered what he was going to do with the bodies but so far he’d come up with nothing. He was sure that these people had families waiting for them at home but he couldn’t bring himself to care. While they hadn’t known what Truman had been capable of, or what kind of man he was underneath the professional persona he wore for the public, they’d still participated. They had protected him. That protection had allowed Truman to continue to walk free and pursue his immoral interests. In the end it hadn’t mattered. Those deeds had finally caught up with him and now he was paying for it. Sure, Micah could have just turned him over to the police and allowed the justice system handle it but that system was so corrupt that the killer didn’t trust that justice would be served in this case. So he took matters into his own hands. He didn’t feel bad about it either. Savannah was being avenged which was the entire purpose for the whole thing.

“A house fire….” The idea was sound. Build the fire to burn so hot that the remains would be almost undetectable. But that wasn’t what Micah wanted. He wanted the whole world to know how Truman had died, and he wanted his remains to be identifiable. Definitely something that could, and would, be done. The pile of wallets lay there taunting him with their secrets. The killer hadn’t looked inside of them. Names would make it personal and it was far from that. They were a means to an end. “Just need to find a place that’s normally empty. Im sure one of them has to have a place that they kept for security reasons. In their line of work, the more safe houses they had access to the better.” Micah frowned thoughtfully, then called for his thrall.

“Bunny!”

When the blonde appeared again he nodded at the wallets. “Take those, research all their names and find out if they have any property available to them. Find the most remote one and get back to me with the location.” The thrall nodded, grabbed the wallets and left to do what she was told to do. Once she was gone, Micah pulled out a chair and sat in front of Truman. “Time’s almost up for you Truman. Any last words?” Silence. Micah chuckled and shook his head. “That’s ok Truman, you don’t have to say anything.” Standing Micah moved past the bound doctor, patting him hard on the shoulder and taking a great deal of satisfaction in the flinch that resulted. Soon, this would all be over. He did so love when a plan came together.