The Devil's Reject - 1. Part I:

Part 1

Life was normal.

Sure, it had an ounce of teenage angst, but it was normal. The grass was brighter, greener, prettier on the other side; but there was hope and thoughtful optimism to balance it out.

All in all, normal.

But life changed when I met the new kid, Connor. Before that, I was a self-respecting individual. My mom paid our taxes, I got a good score on my driving test, I even took out the trash without being asked. But when I met Connor, all that changed. He was evil.

So fucking evil.

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Phone rings, early morning. It’s the first day of junior year and the phone is ringing far too fucking early.

“Hello?”

“SUP BITTTCCHHHHH.” A high-pitched voice blasted my ears.

“Hannah?”

“Let’s go, I’ll be at your house soon.” She hung up. I growled and got ready. I tried to put on something nice, sufficing with a cardigan a nice shirt and jeans. I looked like I should be on a polo field. Christ. I pitied my sense of style; it usually afforded me names I did not wish to be called.

Hannah was my “best” friend, meaning we hung out a lot. She was a free spirit, wild, smoked cigarettes. Her vagina was quite loose, at least I assumed this. At parties, if I got invited to any, or she dragged me along, she would hook up with at least one guy. I was jealous, kind of. She got ass, and I just plain didn’t. Except like redtube.com.

I waited outside in the chill, so cold that I could see my breath. Where I lived was pretty rural. Forests, at least a fleeting forest. We lived on a kind of ranch, horses and all. There was a huge oak tree in the front lawn. Granted, our front lawn was really huge, with a gravel path lead toward the main road. My dad and I had lined that a summer ago, right before he died.

Hannah came soaring up the gravel path in her dad’s Impala. Skidding to a halt, the red head hailed me into her chariot. I snatched up my book bag and slid in. She peeled out of the driveway and headed for the main road.

“There’s a back to school party at my house tonight, you’re obviously coming.” Hannah instructed.

“What else am I going to do?”

“Nothing, so all the more reason.” She began to blast Muse, or some band I didn’t know much about. Maybe Radiohead. They were washed up, like the rest of those old bands that kids pretend to like. We drove in silence, but I know Hannah was plotting. She had gotten in the habit of seducing freshmen and sometimes I thought to myself, ‘why hasn’t she tickled my dick yet?’ I guess it wasn’t in the stars.

Sometimes I wished there was something to push me along. I remember one night; I stared really hard at the moon and wished for something to help me out in high school. Something, whatever, heard me? Nothing happened, obviously. I remember that night though, how still the air was and how cold it got. But That was months ago, so it really didn’t matter.

We tore down one of the side streets to the school. Our town was small enough to have somewhat of a private life, but usually people found out anyway. We had two grocery stores, one theatre. One high school and a private school in the woods, but nobody went there. We never met anybody from there, actually.

It was kind of creepy.

Arriving at school, Hannah scampered off and informed me where we would be eating lunch. She was weird. Sometimes I only felt she had friends “in the moment”. Kind of like you meet people somewhere and they are friends there, but outside of that, they don’t really talk and they’re usually lonely. Hannah was that, I thought, but I was her go-to. I hated being a go-to. And so school began. Several long months of doing homework I hated, sitting next to people who smelled funny and being bored.

So. Fucking. Bored.

I maneuvered through the new freshman, who by the way astounded me. Somehow, the amount of freshman tripled each year. Where did they come from? I got my scheduled. Math first thing, great. Chemistry after lunch was alright. I had signed up for an art elective because over the summer I found myself drawing more.

I had stopped when my dad died, but had recently started again. After that night with the moon actually, I just drew better. I drew my dreams, which had been so vivid lately. I even bought a dream book but nothing ever made sense.

One reoccurring one had me in bed with somebody, but I could never see who. It was cold, windy, candles and flicking sheets. It felt so good and I’d usually would wake up creaming out my sheets. Which, as great as that sounds, is really awkward. Especially now that I’ve told you. I had constant wet dreams, it was heaven usually. I didn’t mind, you know. My mom did actually, after a time, but I kept making stuff up.

She soon stopped asking, thank god.

Sometimes, I’d really want that dream. I’d go without days getting off and the dream was so intense, I’d wake up sweating, breathing hard, gripping my sheets like I’d just had the best first time ever. Maybe it was my active imagination.

When I first noticed Connor, it was midst of a sea of students. I was going with the waves as they trudged through the halls and he was walking against the current. I didn’t “notice” him, that word was far too vivid. I just noticed his proximity. You know when you sense people looking, or know they are close; it’s that natural human trait.

It was hard to explain, but you had to look. It wasn’t just me, somebody else would glance. Anyone. I even saw a teacher look. The way he walked, how everybody flowed around him, keeping distance? Did he stink of something foul? He was shorter than I was and dressed like me. But better. Some Ivy League vest, a nice tie, slacks. His hair was messy enough to look remotely good. A perfect poster child for some congressman. I had to look and think, “What the hell?” That was why, or maybe because he was new. New people around here were like artifacts. Which makes no sense because artifacts are old. But Connor was sure an artifact.

At this point I had never officially met him and when we passed I really thought nothing of it. I sometimes revert back to that memory, the first time those lucid green eyes flicked toward me. Twinkling, stirring, something deep. His perfect soft brown hair. Ugh, people like that existed? He even had a smooth face. How was this normal? Nobody in high school had a smooth face. It was either covered in pimples, scars or some acne cream.

Anyways, after that point I thought nothing of it. School sufficed to nothing but a drag. Getting ready for the party was not much of an ordeal, at least for me. I figured most guys don’t really go through ordeals anyways when it come to getting ready. But we finally went.

I had a chance to get at the keg, which I was certain her sister got, and eventually started making out with some girl named Lauren. I think she was a sophomore. I think I was drunk too, because I remembered she was kind of chubby. I remember when she was eating my face, I glanced away to breathe and I saw him! That Connor guy! Making out with a girl on the other couch, but our eyes met. It was horribly weird. I tried to focus on Lauren but always glanced back. I hated it. At one point I was just so used to staring at this green, green eyes making out just became a cognitive event for more for the next twenty minutes.

I was able to tear my eyes away and when I looked back, he was gone. The girl was still there, biting her lip, licking her fingers as if she had been bathed in chocolate. Was he that great? He already got a cheerleader and he hadn’t been here more than 48 hours.

That was beside the point. That night, I had the dream again. It was clearer this time, but the person I was with was not. It felt great as usual, better actually.

I did not see him for another few weeks. And eventually I had forgotten of that boy I had seen. I had yet to know his name, yet at least. Not his real name though. That was later on in the story. I felt myself, however thinking of where he could be, or what hall he was walking down. It usually occurred when nothing else occupied my mind, as if he was waiting to jump in at the right time.

It was late December; it usually snowed and was rainy. It was cold the day we met, I remember it perfectly. It was one of those moments, imprinted, and blasted into my memory like a branding iron. I could feel the cold wind, but it was comforting. The sun was out just enough to bathe everything in a warmth that was accommodating. The snow on the ground was not thick or slushy, it was just right. I was leaving school; I walked sometimes, if it was nice out.

I was heading down the main road from the school when he startled me, coming from literally out of nowhere.

“Travis?” The voice, his voice, was accented. It was foreign, but not foreign enough for anybody to really care. It was nice; the kind of voice you wanted somebody to read you a story in. It was smooth, like cold winter.

“Uh…yeah?” He stood mere inches from me, gazing at me with those deep green eyes. His cheeks did not flush in the cold. “Aren’t you cold?”

“Heavens no,” he said, pulling at his coat, “Heavens no.”

“Oh, alright…” I was horrible at socializing. I had a social disorder, I think. I hated being around people. Well, no, I hated having to converse with a bunch of people. I was quiet, and one on one was worse. It was probably why I didn’t get past like, first or maybe halfway to second base. I glanced at him once before walking a bit more. He fell into step with me.

“My name is Connor,” he offered me his gloved hand. I took it reluctantly and squeezed. He squeezed mine harder. It hurt.

“Good to meet you.” I kept going.

“I’ve seen you around the campus.” Who called high school a campus?

“Cool, yeah… I uh…” aA car trudged by and broke my train of thought.

“Sorry?” Connor ventured, we had stopped again and I was just looking at him.

“What?” I asked. He just stood there, staring at me with a devilish smirk on his face. I wanted to move closer and eventually I did, I looked at his whole entire face. I took it in like I took in an object to paint. A loud horn forced me to slip backward. Connor’s face became livid as we turned to face the source of the honk.

It was a truck, filled with four guys, football guys. One of them was Dan, a douche bag who sat next to me in Chemistry.

“Hey faggot!” He called, the car shifted into park and they all got out. I gulped. “New boyfriend?”

“No.” I muttered, as they lumbered over. Man they were tall.

“Yeah, I bet. Look at this one.” One of Dan’s cronies shoved Connor. He fumbled slightly and stared blankly at the four, “Straight from a Brooksbrothers magazine.”

“You know about a clothing line?” Dan asked harshly.

“Oh uh… no dude, my dad, he wears…suits man…” The cronies looked to the snowy road. I was unsure if I should have just taken off from there, but I stayed. Or rather, a truck chasing me was not my ideal ending of a day.

“Is there an issue?” Connor asked, stepping before the four football players.

“An issue?” Dan laughed, the others followed in unison, “Yeah, you and your boyfriend here.”

Connor glanced back at me, then to Dan. “What really is the problem, though?” The smooth voice was heavy in the air, it weighed me down. I felt light headed.

“You and your boyfriend!” Dan roared.

“But we are not…” Connor seemed to have issues grasping the word ‘boyfriend’, “This boyfriend?”

“Are you retarded?” Dan growled.

“No, however you might retain such an affliction.” I couldn’t help but snort, I guess the others didn’t get it, “You still have not brought to case the issue at hand.”

“We are going to fuck you up, how about that?”

“Why?” Connor asked and I really felt he did not know why they would beat us up. It was high school hierarchy. They needed to stroke their ego penises, they needed to feel good and this kid didn’t know a thing.

“Shut up, get that guy,” Dan motioned to me. My eyes went wide; I kind of began to gallop away.

“Oh my…your vehicle.” Connor pointed, Dan’s truck was rolling slowly away and down the snowy incline into a ditch.

“Oh shit!” Dan scrambled after the truck, his companions following. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Connor stood next to me, smiling. “That was awesome,” I breathed, between laughs.

“I am inclined to awesome, yes.” A black car roared along the road and came to a halt before us. It drove as if the ice was not even there. It was some luxury vehicle, with dark windows. The door opened, Connor moved toward it.

“Cheerio.” He slid in. The door shut and the car sped off along the road. I could hear Dan swearing. Connor didn’t even offer me a ride. I laughed to myself and walked home.

I did not dream that night, much to my chagrin.

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The next day was a Saturday. Hannah and I planned to hang out because I had really just been neglecting her for the past few weeks. I usually mulled around at home bored, thinking and brooding over my poor-looking future.

She had called me that morning, as usual, waking me up.

“Um heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,” her voice drawled over the phone, “I think Claudia is having some sort of rager tonight at her place by the lake, wanna go?”

“S-sure…” I was still stretching and not even considering waking up yet, “When?”

“Like…tonight duh. What are you doing now, let’s go to the mall.”

“Now?”

“Yeah now,” she sounded as if she was right outside, waiting.

“Where are you?”

“Outside your house.” I groaned.

“Give me five minutes.” I slid from bed and got ready, reluctantly. I just threw a t-shirt on, jeans and found one of my jackets; I wasn’t even sure how cold it was. Sliding down the stairs, I managed to avoid my mom; she was crossword puzzling in the kitchen.

Hannah was outside in the Impala. The moment I got in she peeled away from my house, or rather, slid along the iced road. Soon, some rock band began to blare in her car, but she still managed to keep conversation.

“You know Kyle…like…what’s his last name?” She looked to me for an answer.

“I know two.” I replied.

“Well, its Kyle… Redford or something.”

“Yeah I know him,” I stared out at the sparse forest, sliding past along the road. “He’s quiet, in my English class.”

“Yeah apparently he deals coke!” Hannah seemed excited.

“Okay?” I yawned, trying to grip the morning better. I was still rather tired, drained actually; like something had drained me completely.

“Might get some for tonight,” she beamed at me. Oh no. “Wanna do it?”

“Not really, I’ll drink though.”

“Oh you’re no fun.” She pouted and drove on. We soon arrived at the mall, which forced us to go two towns over. It was a nice place; two floors, and food court, some designer stores. I shadowed Hannah around like a dog for a bit. She wanted to go into some nice store to find a dress for tonight. Usually when she bought something for an event, it meant she was getting laid. So tonight must apparently be a big deal. I never remembered Claudia being a big deal though.

Hannah did her own thing normally and I just browsed. There was a men’s section, and this place was particular in fitting suits. I made my way around some mannequins and stopped, dead cold. Standing on the display podium, a store employee taking a tape measure to Connor. He had on some gray looking suit.

I quickly checked what I looked like in a nearby mirror. I have no idea why. I needed to impress. It was first and foremost in my thought pattern the moment I saw him. I wanted him to look at me and go, “Alright, even in the morning…” I swear, I really wanted just that. Or, better yet I wanted him to say it to me.

“Are you just going to watch?” The voice drifted over to me, a vortex nipping at my cheeks. I frowned to myself and shuffled forward.

“Hey, Connor, how’s it going?”

“Well, what are you doing here?” He turned his head to look at me; the store employee wrapped the measuring tape around Connor’s slender waist.

“With my friend…”

“Hannah, yes I know.” Connor was busy observing himself in the mirror once more, I raised an eyebrow.

“You know her?”

“Yes, actually, she is adjacent to me in Calculus.”

“She’s in Calculus?” I questioned, almost impressed.

“I do believe it is her. Red hair, quite voluptuous.” I almost choked. Hannah voluptuous?

“I don’t think voluptuous is the right word.” I almost laughed at the very thought.

“Oh, what do you suggest then?”

“Not that,” I chuckled some.

“I’m sure you’ll agree with me at some point.” I glanced out as he said this and caught sight of Hannah and for some reason, I did agree. She was nice to look at, if that is really all you just did. “You see now?”

“I…er…yeah… so uh…” I tore my eyes from Hannah. The amount of suggestion that hung in the air was tangible. I felt uncomfortable, “Why are you here?”

“I have a business engagement tomorrow, I am attempting to look the part.” I moved closer and he turned, the store employee pulling away so Connor could show off. He looked… smart, I guess.

“Nice.”

“I know…” I watched Connor’s slender hands grip at the collar, adjusting it. Slowly tracing down his sides, smoothing out, pushing out around his hips. I watched the hands travel further down.

“Nice…” I echoed again.

“Travis?” I blinked; Hannah bounced from behind me, several articles of clothing in her hot little hands.

“Oh, hey,” I greeted, glancing back to Connor who was shedding off the blazer and handing it to the store employee.

“Connor, hi!” Hannah gave a wave and trotted off, calling back to me.

“Going to try these on.” I nodded and idly checked my cell phone for the third time. I did that when I felt odd, or nervous rather.

“Does she drag you about like this normally?” Connor asked, walking up next to me. I glanced at him and actually thought out my reply.

“Yeah, sometimes. I don’t mind really because…”

“You mind,” he interrupted.

“What?” I asked. I felt as if I had been verbally tripped.

“You mind that she drags you around.” He smiled, his head turned up to show me a handsome smile.

“Well…I…yeah, kind of. Sometimes when I try to drag her around, she complains and doesn’t like it.”

“Would you want it to stop ever?” Connor asked. I looked out over the store floor then laughed, looking back to him.

“Are you a mafia hit man?” I jested, “Going to take her out?”

“If you’d like.” He beamed at me. I reflected the smile, reluctantly however. Creepy, kind of.

“Ha, not really. She’s alright.”

“Suit yourself.” Connor moved past me, gliding away like a specter. Where did this kid come from?

“Wait…where are you going?”

“I have…homework.” Connor turned and smiled slightly.

“When will I…you know, Claudia is having a party tonight.” I basically just invited him, which wasn’t my intention. I didn’t think it was, but it happened. Something pushed me in that thought process. I think too much, I think. Oops.

“Ah.” He did not seem impressed. I went into overdrive, “I am busy tonight, like I said. Business.”

“Right, okay, see ya then.” He left.

After some time Hannah had decided what she wanted and we left. On the way home I wondered what ‘business’ Connor had to attend to. What could a teenager possibly do that is better than a party, with booze and all sorts of fun things to do? Maybe he had to meet his rich parents for a rich dinner.

After Hannah and I got lunch, she took me home and I actually worked on homework. I figured that before a night of some sort of debauchery, I’d get something done. I wasn’t even sure if there was going to be booze, but I felt I could do myself a service and try to have fun. Maybe one up Hannah or do something that would knock her a peg or two down.

With my homework done, I fell back onto my bed and fell into an afternoon nap. Dreams came to me in spurts, some I did not even remember, a hazy blurry after image of something I could never place. Finally, I reached something tangible and it was rather frightening.

My feet touched on cold marble, I was naked, or partially. My boxers hug snugly to my hips, and I could feel cold. Perhaps the wind. Everything was precise and sharp, was I on some drugs? I could feel it all. The hall I walked down was long, lined with tapestries and statues, something out of a rich estate. I found myself at the doorway of a bedroom. A large bed draped in silks flicking in the wind. White, beautiful silks. Soaring through the air I land on the plush sheets, letting them envelope me, it felt so good.

I rest, for only a moment, the wind picks it up. Something joins me on the bed, a figure, but the light around it is dim and I just cannot see it. It lies with me and I feel hands running over my body, I shudder. My hands begin to dive deeper, along my body. My back arcs in pleasure, it is the same night dream, but more vivid. I moan, I enjoy whatever it is. It reaches a peak and everything is perfect for several seconds. I suddenly feel myself drained, devoid of strength. I rustle in the sheets and turn to see a handsome face, it is vaguely familiar. The handsome face smiles at me, his teeth tug at pale lips. They are sharp and beautiful and I love it, every moment. Then I wake, gasping.

I had sweat profusely and my pants were damp, I figured what had happened. Sighing, I went to the bathroom and cleaned up for the party. I knew Hannah would be here early, it was her way. The dream bothered me and I consulted the dream book. It really unveiled nothing except that it was a sexual experience, given the release of DNA all over my pants and the sheets.

Apparently a bed in a dream means sex.

Lovely.

I wore some nice flannel shirt and found some reusable jeans and waited outside for Hannah. As dusk approached, the air became colder and soon my breath was much more that wispy strands exiting my lips. A cold chill assaulted me suddenly, forcing me to huddle for warmth. I heard a car coming and marched down the stairs of the house to the gravel path, but it just rushed by. I sighed and stood, fighting back the cold. I had the brilliant notion to get a jacket when I heard gravel being moved. Somebody was walking.

Looking up, I stared, my breath settling out in a small cloud before vanishing into the air. I breathed slowly, my hands shoved deep into my pockets. It was Connor, wearing something that would certainly let him freeze to death. Some posh vest with a brilliant crimson tie. The same icicle smirk attached to his great looking face. What an asshole.

Wait, why was he here?

He covered a lot of ground, strolling slowly along the path. Reaching me, stopping and swaying on his fancy shoe heels.

“Evening.”

“Hi…” My greeting trailed off in the creeping darkness, for a moment I wanted Hannah to come right away. Acid eyes washed over me and all thoughts of Hannah left, only replaced with the attention Connor needed, since he was here.

“Are you going to that event?”

“Event…er…oh the party?” Who said event?

“Correct.” The voice was cold, but it made me warm. Really warm. I wanted him to whisper things in my ear while I sat on the couch, his lips barely touching my ears, tickling the nerves there.

“Yeah, just waiting on Hannah.”

“Ah, your lady friend?” Connor asked.

“Uh…yeah.” I nodded. He smiled, pulling out what looked like a cigarette. Putting it to his lips, he breathed and the cigarette flared to life. Inhaling, Connor let out a stream of smoke. It smelled like nothing I had experienced before, it was lovely. “Smoking is bad, you know,” I attempted to give him a knowing look. He laughed.

“Indeed. Would you like to come with me to that party?” It hung in the air as a question, but I swore I saw it turn into a suggestion, then finally an order. It forced me, pushed me and I really wanted to just say:

“Hell yes!” But I didn’t. Instead it went something like this.

“S-sure….” We started walking, “Wait, no. I need to wait for Hannah.”

“She can meet with you there, no harm in that?” He took another drag of the cigarette, blowing smoke in all directions.

“I guess not… but it would be mean, maybe I should call her?” I pulled out my phone, Connor noticed and I suddenly had no reception.

“Odd, I usually have reception here, full bars too.” I frowned; he said nothing, merely shrugging those slender shoulders. I suddenly felt tired, my vision swam. Stumbling slightly, I glanced at Connor, who had abandoned his cigarette, now just gazing at me. I felt like mush, melting. I must have gotten sick from something.

“Alright there?” I felt his hand grip my arm. It felt warm, caring. I suddenly felt better.

“Yeah, light headed. Let’s go.” He gestured for me to lead the way. I went first; he fell into step with me perfectly. Our shoes crunching along the gravel. “Are you ever cold?” I asked.

“Sometimes, rarely. Cold is usually something I accept. We shall take my car.” He pulled out a set of keys and clicked some button. Something responded further down, roaring to life. It was rather terrifying. “We can take my car.”

The car itself was some Mercedes Benz. Luxurious. None of that was seen around this town. Sliding into the sleek leather interior, I felt rich for only a few moments. The engine roared and we were off.

As he leaned over to turn up the radio. Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects came on. I knew it well, considering Hannah was a fan, it dawned on me.

As the lyrics started I noticed Connor lips moving, silently singing along.

‘I am the bad one, distant and cruel one… I am the dream that keeps you running down,’ he glanced me, smirking as we sped down the road.

How did he light the cigarette without a lighter?

‘I am the knuckle…bow down and buckle…hold your breath, your world is running down…’