The Demon in the Doll

Chapter 9

Hello. My name is Ted Bundy. Yes, the Ted Bundy. The guy who raped and tortured and killed over a hundred girls and women. If the truth be known, I have no idea how I'm part of this story. Nevertheless, I'm being compelled to give my testimony against my will. So here goes.

In January of 1989, I was sitting in my prison cell getting ready to die. I was on my bunk, and my hands were shackled. I had just eaten my last meal. Steak, toast, and hash browns. Well, eat might be too strong a word. As you can imagine, I was filled with adrenaline, and therefore I merely picked at the food.

The warden was with me. He was a tall handsome jovial guy named Tom. I didn't have any beef with Tom even though it was his job to kill me. He was a true professional. I had known him for years, and not once had he ever called me a dirty name. On the contrary. Tom was polite and friendly till the very end. Bully for him.

He looked at me with pity in his eyes. "There's a big crowd outside the prison. They're drinking beer and singing songs. They really want to see you fry."

I nodded. "What can I do? I simply wasn't born to be Mr. Congeniality."

"Don't you feel any remorse?"

I shrugged. "Not really. I loved all my victims in my own strange sort of way. I did the best I could. Hell, I even ate many of them so that we could be together forever."

"That's disgusting. Some of your victims were as young as thirteen."

"I could pretend to cry. Would that make you feel better?"

He gave me a heavy sigh. "Aren't you afraid of hell?"

I shook my head. "Heaven, hell. I never really believed in any of that bullshit. They'll zap my ass and cremate me. Story over."

"Why do you want your ashes to be spread in the Cascade Mountains?"

"Some of the best times of my life were spent enjoying nature in the Cascades."

Tom smiled. "Don't try to bullshit a bullshitter. Just admit it. That's where your most satisfying kills took place."

"Maybe you're right, and maybe you aren't. But I'm paying for my crimes. The state doesn't have a right to control my final resting place."

He lit a cigarette. "Well, I believe in God, and you still have time to repent. Jesus will forgive you. All you have to do is get down on your knees and ask for his mercy."

I chuckled humorlessly. "No thanks. Think I'll pass."

"So you're going to remain arrogant until the last?"

"Arrogance is the least of my sins."

"Well, you certainly don't understand the bible."

I looked into his blue eyes. "Can I get a cig?"

He gave me a Marlboro and lit it for me. I blew the smoke toward the stainless-steel toilet.

Tom told a corny joke. "Be careful. Those things will kill you."

I pretended to laugh. "It's a little too late now. If I had known my future, I would have taken up the habit years ago."

"I invited the priest to come."

I frowned deeply. "Father Angelo?"

"Yes. Father Angelo."

"But I hate that motherfucker."

"He's concerned about your immortal soul."

"Tom, you're not even a Roman Catholic."

"That's true. However, I asked the protestant pastor to come, but he refused. He believes you belong in hell. And even the rabbi thinks you're an asshole. Angelo is the only one who agreed to help you out."