Horror Movie - 2. Horror Movie 2

Jake Tyler pulled away from Kevin and stood up. “No, this is wrong.”

“What’s wrong?” Kevin asked. Things weren’t going the way he had expected.

Since Dave’s “disappearance” two and a half months earlier, the creature currently known as Kevin Landers had been working to seduce Jake. It had been easy at first; Jake had been more than willing to comfort Kevin after the loss of his friend.

Kevin found Jake to be an honourable guy and considered him to be an excellent candidate to be his next victim. Kevin had already established enough of a relationship that he felt comfortable with “taking” Jake whenever he liked, but he wanted to give Jake a good final year before he acted.

Unfortunately, the seduction wasn’t proceeding to plan. Kevin had wondered why Jake wasn’t taking things to the next level, so he had decided to be the initiator. He had invited him back to his apartment one Saturday for dinner and a chat. They were on the couch and Kevin had just slipped his hand across Jake’s shoulders and had tried to gently pull the blond guy into a kiss, when Jake stopped him.

Jake walked over to the door without looking back. “It’s just wrong. We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Wait, please. Don’t go. I don’t understand.”

Jake paused and then glanced over his shoulder. “I like you, Kevin. Maybe even love you, but sleeping with you wouldn’t be right. You’re not thinking straight, even after all this time.”

Kevin’s lips quirked into a wry grin. “Did you consider the possibility that I’m not thinking straight, because I’m not?”

Jake snorted as a smile crept onto his face. “I’ve wondered, but that’s not it.” The smile disappeared as Jake shook his head. “I’m sorry, Kevin, I really am, but I’ve got to go.”

Kevin frowned as Jake closed the door behind him. He had the impression that Jake was feeling guilty. He had established early on that Jake was single, and he thought he had made it clear that he wanted Jake, so he was puzzled.

A smile appeared as Kevin stood and stretched. He saw a challenge in front of him and the first step would be to solve the mystery of Jake’s reaction. It was things like that that made life interesting for the shapechanging bodysnatcher.

* * *

“Wait up, Jake!”

Kevin was pleased when Jake paused before entering the lift. The other guy hadn’t answered his phone over the rest of the weekend and Kevin wasn’t sure how Jake would react at the office on the Monday. Their initial interaction had been strictly professional, but Kevin had caught Jake as he was heading out for lunch.

Kevin gave Jake a smile of thanks as the two entered the lift. Jake nodded, but his expression remained one of stiff neutrality. Kevin stayed silent. He wanted Jake to know that he was there, but he was letting Jake take the initial lead.

Nothing was said on the way down, though Kevin saw Jake give him several glances. He smiled reassuringly in response, but Jake was quick to look away.

Kevin hung back as they exited the building, letting Jake direct where they were going. While Jake didn’t appear keen for Kevin to be following him, he also didn’t give any indication that Kevin was unwelcome.

A few minutes later they were ordering meals at a nearby food court. Kevin let Jake find a table and sit down first. He then moved over and stood there. “Can I join you?”

Jake sighed and gave a single nod.

“Thanks.”

They ate in silence. Jake finished first.

“Do you really want to know what’s going on?” Jake asked, startling Kevin who had been expecting the silence to continue.

“Yes. I thought something good was happening, but now I’m confused.” Kevin was quite pleased with the plaintive tone he achieved.

Jake looked away. “Yeah, it was good, but while I’ve said I’m single, I’m not. Not really.”

Kevin blinked. “You’ve got a boyfriend? Why haven’t you mentioned him before?”

“Because he’s tried to break things up. I just won’t let him.”

Kevin reached across the table and put a hand on Jake’s forearm. Jake turned to stare at Kevin at the unexpected contact.

“I’m sorry, Jake, but it takes two to have a relationship. If, whoever he is...”

“Ethan.”

“If Ethan doesn’t want to keep things going, then maybe you should move on?”

Jake shook his head. “Ethan’s reasons are wrong. That’s why I won’t let go. He...” Jake pulled a face. “Maybe if you met him, you’d understand.”

* * *

Kevin stiffened. “This is St. Vincent’s Hospital!”

“This is where he’s living,” Jake said as he drove into the car park.

“How long has he been here?”

“Just over six months.”

Kevin made a guess. “He’s positive?”

Jake nodded. “He has been for a long time, but he’s gone downhill over the last year. We’ve got a place in Byron Bay, but we moved here when he became so sick he had to be hospitalised. We rent out our place to the tourists now, and that covers some of our bills. The only reason I’m working is to make sure we don’t go into debt, but I’d rather spend my time looking after him.”

Kevin heard the truth, and pain, in Jake’s voice and knew that Jake was still very much in love.

It didn’t take Jake long to navigate his way through the maze of hospital passages. Kevin raised an eyebrow when he was led through into the private hospital, not the public. He knew that a stay of several months there wouldn’t be cheap, even with health insurance.

They paused outside a nondescript door. Jake grasped the handle and then glanced at Kevin. “I’ll go in first and introduce you. He’s very weak, so we can’t stay long.”

Kevin waited outside and listened as Jake first said hello and then mentioned he’s brought a friend. Taking that as his cue, Kevin stepped into the room. His gaze was drawn immediately to the skeletal figure propped up in the bed.

“Ethan, this is Kevin. Kevin, this is Ethan.”

Kevin caught the sharp stare he received from Ethan. Kevin realised that even though his body might be failing, Ethan’s mind was still sharp. “G’day, Ethan.”

“Hi, Kevin. Jake’s told me a lot about you, so it’s good to put a face to the name.” Ethan’s voice was thin and Kevin had to strain to make sure he didn’t miss any words.

“Oh? What’s he been saying?” Kevin asked.

“Not much,” Jake said.

Ethan gave a soft snort. “He told me he’s been flirting with you, but got the shock of his life when it looks like he’d caught you.”

“ETHAN!” Jake went bright red and then started to rearrange the blankets on the bed in a feeble attempt to keep Kevin from noticing.

Kevin smiled. “Jake’s someone special.”

“He is. He deserves someone special, too.”

“I’ve got you. I don’t need anyone else,” Jake said before leaning over and kissing Ethan on the cheek.

Ethan rolled his eyes before fixing Kevin with a stare. “He won’t look elsewhere while I’m here, the stupid fool, but will you be there for him when he needs you?”

Kevin nodded. “I’ll be there. You can count on it.”

“Stop it, you two. I don’t need anyone because I’ve got Ethan and he’s going to get over this. I know he will.”

Kevin listened as Jake and Ethan sparred for the next few minutes. He knew that he couldn’t have Jake while Ethan was still around, but that realisation also showed him what he’d have to do next. Kevin kept the smile from his face as he started to make plans. It was going to be a lot work, with some risk, but he knew how to get Jake. The most difficult bit would be working out how to sneak into the hospital room without being seen. He also needed to make sure everyone believed he was a long way away at the time. Kevin liked a challenge.

* * *

Ethan’s voice was weak but his gaze fixed Jake to the spot. “What’s wrong?”

Jake fidgeted for a moment, but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to hide matters for long. Ethan knew him too well. “It’s Kevin. He changed after he came to see you last month – I don’t really know why. He became sullen, like he was frustrated with something, and would lash out at people without reason. It all came to a head three days ago when the boss fired him.” Jake shook his head at the memory. “He stormed out saying he didn’t want to be there anymore, anyway.”

“You like him, don’t you.”

Jake leant over and kissed Ethan on the lips. “It’s you I love.”

“I didn’t say love, I said like. You care about him – maybe even worried for him. Am I right?”

Jake sighed. “I can’t fool you, can I?”

“I know you too well.” A faint smile played on Ethan’s pale lips. “Do you have any reason to worry?”

“Only that he seems to have moved out of his flat already. I went there yesterday and found it empty. He’s gone. When I ring his mobile, it tells me it’s no longer connected. I’m afraid he’s going to do something stupid.”

“Like what?”

Jake went to the window that looked out over the Sydney streets. He watched for a moment as nameless shadows strolled along the footpaths. “I don’t think he ever got over Dave’s disappearance. He might decide it’s time for him to do the same.”

The silence that followed that statement had Jake look back over his shoulder. At the sight of the frown on Ethan’s face, he moved over and grasped his friends boney hand. “What’s wrong?”

The ends of Ethan’s lips twitched upwards. “I was just reflecting about the time to make decisions. I made one today, too.”

Jake waited. In his gut he knew what Ethan was going to say, but he had been dreaming it would never occur.

“The doctors tell me there’s nothing more they can do for me. All they can do is make me comfortable.” Ethan’s eyes pleaded with Jake to understand. “I don’t want to die here. Can you take me back to Byron Bay? I want to spend the rest of my time near the beach. With you, if you’ll have me.”

Jake smiled. He had been afraid that Ethan would try to push him away again. “Have you? Of course I’ll have you! That’s all I’ve ever wanted. When can I take you away from here?”

“The doctors have some paperwork they need done, but we can leave tonight, if you like. Tomorrow, if that’s too soon.”

“Tonight it is. I’ll get everything sorted out and then we can go.” Ethan paused for a moment. “I’d better leave a voicemail for my boss, too, to let him know I won’t be back.”

A couple of minutes later, Jake was heading out the door, whistling quietly to himself.

Ethan smiled as he looked down at the wasted remains of his body. Once they were secluded in Byron Bay, Ethan would have a mysterious recovery and would start to regain his health. It would be twelve months before Jake would find out why. It had been simple in the end: when Kevin had absorbed the DNA and memories of Ethan, there had been no point in taking the HIV virus as well.

It had been a risk since he didn’t really know the guy, but when he had put the offer to the dying man, Ethan had accepted. Kevin had slipped away, stripped off his few clothes and hid them before returning to the room. It had been a smooth transformation and the new Ethan was looking forward to the year with Jake. Meanwhile, with a bit of luck, it would be a long time before anyone declared Kevin a missing person. Long enough that any trail that might have led back to Jake and Ethan would be cold.

One way or another, Ethan knew he was going to make Jake’s last year a memorable one.