Sshh, Be Quiet

Both men side-stepped in either direction and then jumped up from their hiding place, shocked at the sight in front of them. Matt was hunched over Johnny’s body, his back to them. They didn’t know what Matt was doing, nor did they really want to know.

“Matt!” Zack shouted, getting the possessed singer’s attention.

Matt stood and turned to the two of them. Still with the same satanic grin, and darkened eyes.

“Zacky, go,” Brian said, not taking his eyes off of Matt.

Without another word, Zack bolted past Matt, running up the stairs two at a time. As if he was confused, Matt watched him go up the stairs, then looked back at Brian. The look wasn’t intimidating to Brian, it was the fact that Matt wouldn’t speak, he just grinned.

“Not going to follow him?” Brian asked.

Still hiding in the corner, both Stephanie and Lisa were shaking in fear, listening to everything that was going on. Brian stood a safe distance from the singer, not knowing what his intentions were. They stared at each other for almost a full five minutes before Zack shouted from upstairs.

“Matt, why don’t you fucking come get me!”

Matt turned to the stairs, and with slow, heavy steps, he climbed them. Brian ran back to the hiding place.

“Stay here, don’t make a sound. We’ll come back for you.”

Both girls nodded, and listened to Brian take off up the stairs. They covered their ears, not wanting to hear what was going on.

Zack waited in the living room, listening to each solid footstep as Matt climbed the stairs and entered. Zack had found his pocket knife and now held it, ready to strike at anytime.

“Matt if you’re still in there, you need to listen to me. You need to fight this. Fight it with all you can, so we can have you back,” Zack said.

“Matt’s gone forever,” the demonic sounding voice rose from Matt’s throat. “He won’t win against us.”

The voice raised every hair on Zack’s body as he shivered in fear. “If you won’t give us our friend back, then we’ll have to kill you.”

“Give me your best shot,” the voice said, challenging.

Zack didn’t want to make the first move, but by the looks of Matt’s stature, he hadn’t much of a choice. He slowly walked towards Matt, maintaining eye contact. Matt remained still, not moving a single muscle while Zack slowly stepped towards him. He was afraid to get within an arm’s length after what had happened earlier. Over Matt’s shoulder, the dim light revealed Brian standing there, observing, planning his next move. A few moments later, Brian ran up behind Matt and jumped on his back.

“Zacky, now!” Brian shouted.

With the singer momentarily distracted, Zack, without thinking, sunk the blade into Matt’s gut. He winced in pain, but didn’t give up the struggle. Brian was trying to get a grip on Matt’s arms to hold him as Zack twisted the blade.

“Go for his neck,” Brian said, holding Matt in an arm lock.

The moment Zack pulled the blade from Matt’s stomach, the singer, with no effort at all, got a grip on Brian and flung the guitarist over his head. Brian landed with a grunt behind Zack. At the same instant, Matt grabbed a distracted Zack, once again gripping him by the throat. Before Brian could react to save his friend, the singer had him in a choke hold, and the slightest twist would break his neck.

“Matt, let him go!” Brian shouted as he stood up. He dropped his voice to talk in a calm tone, hoping it would have a better effect than shouting. “I know you’re still in there. You just have to fight it. I know you can.”

“He can’t fight me,” the voice said, as the man still held a flailing Zack, trying to wiggle free.

“Yes he can. The Matt I know wouldn’t let anything get to him.”

“Take a look around, clearly he did, and you all are going to pay.”

“Pay for what? We didn’t do anything.”

“You’ll pay just for walking onto our grounds.”

“Just let the rest of us out, and we’ll make sure nobody comes back here,” Brian said, desperately trying to reason with the person inside of Matt. Zack’s struggles subsided a bit as his efforts to escape the grip failed.

“You’re all paying for this, with your lives.” The voice raised suddenly, putting emphasis on the last part.

“No!” Brian shouted at the same instant the singer jerked his arm, filling the room with a sickening crunch.

Zack’s body fell limp to the floor, crumpled in a heap. An instant sadness filled Brian as he saw another one of his best friends get murdered. That sadness fueled the anger.

“I’ll make you a deal,” the voice said. “Give me the two girls, and I’ll let you live.” He held up the gun. “Kill them, and I’ll spare your life.”

Brian glanced at the gun, and the sudden relief that he could live. He didn’t want to live under these circumstances though. He continued to stare at the gun, mentally debating his new dilemma.

Notes