Damned for Eternity Read online

  The day had finally come for Zedbediah Ware to be executed. Every news station imaginable was at the execution site. There were people cheering, holding up signs encouraging the execution.

  "I hope he burns in hell!"

  "Fry the bastard!"

  "Kill that devil worshiper!" the people in the crowd yelled.

  Phillip and the Governor were among the witnesses for the execution. Zedbediah sweated profusely. His chest rose and fell heavily. He sat strapped tightly to a wooden chair with numerous electrical wires. The top of his hair was cut bald, and his scalp was moistened by a wet sponge. A mouth guard was placed inside his mouth.

  "Please don't do this. I'm innocent!" he yelled.

  In the back of Phillip’s mind, all he could think of was the threat made by Zedbediah's son.

  "Dad, I have a bad feeling about this."

  "I do too son, but it has to be done."

  The pastor read him a few scriptures. After the pastor finished his readings, an officer was signaled by the warden to administer the shock. Zedbediah's body jerked and tensed up as the electricity traveled throughout his body. His teeth clenched the mouth guard hard, causing his mouth to bleed. His screams were muffled.

  "Ok that's enough. Dr., check his vitals," the warden said.

  The doctor moved his stethoscope around his chest.

  "The prisoner is still alive," the Doctor informed him.

  "Continue with the shock," the warden instructed.

  Zedbediah was shocked again, his hand firmly gripping the arms of the chair. He foamed at the mouth as the electricity was left on for a longer period the second time around. His distorted face made many in the audience squeamish.

  "Alright, that should be enough," the warden said.

  The doctor checked his vital signs again. This time he was certain that Zedbediah was dead.

  "The prisoner has passed," the doctor said.

  Suddenly, the lights began to flicker.

  "What's going on Dad?" Phillip asked.

  "There's probably something up with the wiring in this place. This building is old. The execution probably caused a short in something."

  The lights went completely out. The audience of the execution started to panic. The lights came back on. Black smoke started to seep out of Zedbediah's body. A cold chill was felt in the room, and the observation glass that separated the audience from the execution, shattered into tiny pieces.

  Later on, at Angie’s pad, she strapped Phillip’s wrist to the bedposts. Her hands raked through his coarse hair. Phillip just went through the motions. His mind kept thinking about the execution.

  She mounted him and started to ride. In his mind, he saw the switch being pulled. His body jerked as the prisoner’s did as if the shock was passing through him.

  Angie soon grew heavy of breath as an orgasm built inside of her.

  She suddenly glanced down disappointed.

  “No fucking way,” she said to herself.

  “What?” asked Phil snapping out of it.

  He too looked down at his dick, completely flaccid at this point.

  “I wanted some of that chocolate stick. The tootsie roll’s not going to do.”

  She collapsed beside him disappointed. “What’s wrong?” she asked him, rubbing his chest. “You're not still thinking about that creepy old man? Phillip, he deserved to die.”

  “How can you say some shit like that? Especially after….”

  “His son saved you?” she arched her fingers for emphasis. “He probably knew who you were that day. Just his luck, he might be next.”

  He glared at her for the very first time as something more than just a fuck.

  “You're a real heartless bitch, you know that? Who else would do this kind of shit?”

  She guffawed at him. “You mean cheat? Hold up, brutha. It takes two. And you’re not just a cheater either. You’re also a shitty ass best friend, so don’t be pointing fingers at me.”

  She loosened the straps.

  “Get out of here. I don’t feel like spending the night with you. Come over when your dick gets hard. Or better yet, when you grow some balls.”

  Phillip dressed and stormed out, noticing that his lights were on.

  “Shit!” he cried, rushing inside. “Please please, just start up.”

  He smiled when the engine cranked.

  “Good, just a few more miles.”

  Upon approaching his first stop sign, the entire dash went completely dark.

  “No!” he said as he turned the switch, but all the engine did was cough. “Fuck,” he cried hitting the horn. “Shit can’t get any worse than this.”

  He first tried dialing Angie’s number, and when his name flashed across the screen, she was very quick to ignore the call and turned the ringer off.

  “Damn!” he screamed, hanging up then clicked over to call up Sam.

  He picked up on the second ring.

  “Hey bro, it’s late,” he said all groggy.

  “I know,” he told him, releasing a breath. “But I really need you bad right now. My car just quit in the middle of the street and I need you to come and give me a boost.”

  “Where you at?” he asked reluctant.

  “On the corner of Mills and 22nd.”

  “Angie lives right over that way. Why didn’t you call and get her up?”

  “Man, you know how girls are. Most don’t really know shit about cars. Look, are you on your way or what? Otherwise, I’ll have to call my dad.”

  “Chill bro. I’m headed there. Give me ten minutes, I’m leaving now.”

  “Great,” he smiled. “Thanks dude. Man, I really owe you one.”

  After Phillip had ended the call, he leaned back and closed his eyes. He had just gotten comfortable against the headrest when all of a sudden they popped back open.

  He thought that he had heard footsteps but summed it up to imagination.

  Still, he checked his side view mirror and saw a darkened figure approach.

  It was covered in a black hooded robe.

  “Hell no!” he whispered low.

  He frantically started to crank his engine, praying that it would come to life.

  After flooding it, he was elated as it purred for a couple of seconds. As quickly as it had happened though, all the lights went out again.

  He checked his side view mirror once more. He didn’t see nor hear a thing.

  “Must just be imagining things.”

  He started to breathe a sigh of relief.

  The car then started to shake, like something was crawling on top of the roof. Finger nails scratched the back windows and someone jumped on top of the hood.

  Phillip’s heart began to beat fast, he screamed out.

  “Somebody help me!”

  But all of the words fell on deaf ears. It was only heard by his attackers.

  Another figure rolled off the roof and landed on the passenger’s side. The other rose by his door, lurking there with evil intent.

  The one in front, snaking towards him, crawling close with predator eyes, finally chose to remove his hood—the same guy from his father's office!

  As the man got closer to front windshield, his warm breath fogged it up. “You hurt us to make yourself look good, but earned yourself a ticket to hell!”

  The guy then raised his hand, and Phil was sure he’d burst the glass. Instead he placed an index finger on the fog that his breath had made. He wrote a bunch of weird symbols and chanted unintelligible words.

  After, he grinned back at Phillip. “Now we’ll see who needs who.”

  Phillip’s gaze was fixed on the writing. It was almost like he was under a spell. Suddenly, Phillip’s eyes got heavy. He passed out a moment later.

  When he came to, he saw a light, coming from another vehicle.

  Sam was gently tapping the window. “Hey, Phil, you alright in there?”

  Phil jerked awake and glanced around. There was no sign of anyone else.

  Phil slowly opened the doo
r.

  “What’s with you man?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing, just a bad ass dream.”

  “Well, I was having a really good dream. A really good wet dream at that. Let’s go ahead and do this boost. So I can try and get back to it.”

  He accepted the cables Sam passed over.

  Phil came home feeling distraught. Every sound made him jump and left him feeling edgy. He decided to put an end to this fucked up day and just go to bed. He stared at the ceiling, but he couldn't fall asleep. Shadows around his bedroom started to look like they were changing into things. From out of the shadows Zedbediah emerged. Blood dripped from his eyes like flowing tears as he reached out for Phillip. Phillip screamed and jumped out of the bed. Zedbediah's hand reached out for him. Phillip was trapped in the corner next to his entertainment center.

  "Please! It wasn't me. I had nothing to do with this shit," Phillip yelled in a panic.

  Zedbediah reached for him, grabbing his arm. Phillip felt surges of electricity flowing throughout his body. He screamed from the pain, waking up and realized it was a nightmare. He looked around the room and all the shadows were back to normal. He looked at his arm and saw that he had burn marks where Zedbediah had grabbed him. Phillip laid there trembling. He pulled his blue comforter up to his face, and instantly he found himself under water. He struggled to get to the top, but no matter how much he fought, he felt something holding him down. He looked down and saw the murky image of a hooded man. He woke up choking on water.

  Phillip couldn't take this shit anymore. He knew he couldn't tell anyone about what was happening because they would think he was either lying or going crazy. He quickly put on his clothes and went back to Angie's house. Phillip frantically rang the doorbell. The look of complete terror was on his face.

  "Have you fucking lost your mind? What do you want? Why are you here?" Angie asked.

  "Please let me in," Phillip begged, checking behind him.

  Angie noticed his paranoia, and cracked the door open.

  "Why are you so jumpy? Is your dick going limp making you paranoid?

  "I don't have time for this shit. Let me in please."

  Angie went to close the door, but Phillip stopped it with his foot and forced himself in.

  "Get out! Get the fuck out! What's wrong with you?"

  "Those guys are after me."

  "What guys? You sound fucking nuts right now."

  "The hooded guys from the fucking boat on the water. One of them was that guy Zedbediah's son."

  "The guy who got executed, son?"

  "Yeah, his son was the guy that saved me, and he threatened that if his father died I would never have peace...I think they're after me."

  "And of all places, you come here? What if you put my life in danger? I don't want to be a part of this shit show. I'm sorry, but you have to go."

  "You're really kicking me out right now?"

  "I like you Phil. You know I do, but I can't risk my life for you. I'm sorry."

  Angie opened the door for Phil to leave. He snarled at her in disgust.

  "I should've never fucked with you in the first place you selfish bitch!"

  "Why don't you take your limp dick over to your whack ass girl's house, so you can cower in fear like a little bitch over there!”

  Phil walked out of her house fuming. Angie slammed the door and walked back to her bathroom. She grabbed the home pregnancy test that was on the bathroom sink.

  "Oh fuck!" Angie said.

  The pregnancy test had a plus sign. This was her sixth test that came back positive. Angie was certain that the child had to be Phil's, but she wasn't sure what to do. Between his father's abstinence campaign and the fact that they were both involved with other people, this was tough situation. She sat down on the cold white tiles in her bathroom, and cried, searching for an answer.

  Phillip drove to Kate's house. He prayed that she was just at home sleeping because she didn't answer the phone when he called. He rushed out of his car and banged on her door.

  "Kate, please let me in!"

  She slowly walked to the door to open it.

  "What do you want Phil?"

  "I need to stay with you tonight...What's with the attitude?"

  "I don't know if that's a good idea. In fact, I don't know if we should even see each other anymore."

  Phillip looked saddened, and shocked.

  "Where is this coming from? Why are you saying all of this?"

  "Phil, I know there's something going on with you and Angie. When you kissed me a couple days back, your hands smelled like...They smelled like another woman's pussy," Kate said angrily.

  Phillip look stunned.

  "I can explain..."

  "No. Tell me I'm mistaken. Tell me that you're not fooling around with her. If you can look me in my eyes and swear to me that it's the truth, I'll let you stay here. If you have any decency in you, you'll be honest."

  Phillip sighed. Between everything that was going on, he felt he needed to be honest with her.

  "Look, we have fooled around here and there, but she means nothing to me. It's purely lust. I love you. The only reason why I fucked her was because I couldn't do those things with you. I didn't want to pressure you to break your abstinence promise."

  "Stop. Stop the bullshit. You hurt me and you hurt Sam. Just get out," Kate said.

  "Wait," Phillip said.

  Phillip told Kate everything about the execution, the dreams, and the incidents with them coming after him. Kate felt that he was just being paranoid. While she wanted so badly to kick him out, she saw the fear in his eyes as he spoke to her. She hated that he had cheated on her, but deep down she still loved him.

  "You can stay the night but after this, we're done. I never want to see you again."

  "Kate listen..."

  "Say one more word and I'll change my mind. I'm not kidding, I'll kick you out. You can sleep on the couch."

  "...Thank you."

  "There's no need to thank me, I'm not as heartless as you are. I do what's right."

  She walked back to her room and slammed the door.

  Phillip fluffed up the couch pillow, dressed down to his boxers, and rested on the couch.

  Phillip tossed and turned all night. He kept waking up every two minutes because of nightmares. He gasped for air, stirring from another one, when he saw a hooded figure walk past the window. Phillip ran to the back. He heard the sound of a radio playing and a shower running. Phil knocked quickly.

  Bang, Bang, Bang.

  "Kate, we have to get out of here; they found me."

  "What? I can't hear you."

  "They've found me. The hooded men found me."

  An expression of fear came across Kate's face as she watched the dial of her radio turn the volume all the way up by itself. Kate tried to step out of the shower, but through the shower curtain a figure dressed in a robe shoved her back in. Kate slipped back hitting her head hard on the tub. Her vision was blurry, her head was bleeding. Through squinted eyes, she saw a dark figure throw her radio down into the shower. Kate was electrocuted instantly. Her blood curdling scream resonated throughout her pink bathroom.

  "Kate, what's going on in there?"

  Phillip opened the door, but a force slammed it shut and locked it immediately. Phillip swore he heard the sound of laughter. He rammed into the door several times until he was able to break it down. The steam from the shower was so thick, Phillip could barely see anything. He felt his way to the shower and turned the water off. He looked down to see Kate's lifeless body lying in the shower with her eyes open. He screamed, wishing that his last time with her wasn't a confrontation.

  An hour later, the governor entered with the smell of burnt flesh drifting through the apartment, while Hunt and Caruso, high rank police he trusted to the fullest, searched the residence.

  Phillip had awakened him earlier and began talking frantically into the phone. Being that Phillip hadn’t come home, he was sure it was some kind of a
ccident. Knowing that Phil was able to speak and didn’t appear severely hurt, the governor felt a wave of relief, and was sure he could handle anything else.