the killer's obsession | the whistling man

Nightmare on Mason Street

The monsters under our beds look just like you and me.

It was late, nearly midnight as your lone car drove down the barren road to the small group of stores.

You wondered who on earth at the arcade would want a pizza this late at night but shrugged it off when you pulled into a parking space.

Turning off the car and taking off your seatbelt, you eyeball the building.

There weren't any lights on.

You swallowed the ball of anxiety in your throat before grabbing the single pizza that had been ordered from the passenger side seat.

You didn't even shut the doors all the way as to not alert whoever too quickly.

But upon walking up and bending over to set the box on the step, the box brushed against the door before it ominously creaked open wider.

It had already been cracked but you hadn't noticed til now due to the lack of light.

Already this far, you huff in defeat, pushing the door open wider so the moonlight could at least illuminate something.

But once you did that, you immediately wished you hadn't.

An involuntary shriek left your mouth making you clasp your hand over your face.

Laying in a pool of his own blood was a body.

Upon hearing you however, he rose with a pained groaned as he looked at you.

He reached out, his arm mangled and grotesque from what looked like slash marks making you wince back in horror.

The bright red was burned into your memory.

You thoughtlessly took some steps forward.

"... Help... me..." He coughed violently before his head is yanked back and something came into the light just above him.

Your eyes trailed up before meeting the sight of a sinister mask, strapped to someone's dark head of hair with a leather belt.

His head tilted up, the black holes where his eyes must be seeing through met your own making you freeze as your blood ran cold.

Then bringing out a shiny blade and bringing it to the man's neck, the masked killer slit his throat before a plead could leave your lips.

You choke on your voice, nearly doubling over as your teary wide eyes met the dead ones of the man you had just saw talking.

When reality set in again and you looked up to see the killer wiping his blood clean with his gloved hand, you hurried to your feet making a run to the front door.

He quickly took pursuit.

It was at this moment you realized you had a pizza in your hand and you launched it in the sharply dressed assailant, halting them as melted cheese got all over his coat.

You hold back a whoop of victory until you get outside to your car. Getting in and slamming the door, you reach up to turn the vehicle back on but...

... your keys are missing.

Panic. Panic was all you could feel as you looked around desperately. Checking the backseat, you could feel your blood go cold in your veins when you heard gentle taps on the window just next to you.

Looking back slowly, you let out a shuddering breath as you looked back and saw the masked killer holding up your keys, waving them tauntingly.

Quickly locking it, you thank the stars for your reflexes when they try opening the door.

You were about to laugh in their face when the other door is swung open and your legs are grabbed.

You screamed, your fist swinging and bashing against the horn blaring it loudly as you were nearly dragged out.

But before the first killer could do anything to you, the doors of the neighboring building swung open and a guy with red flannel pajama pants on came storming out.

"Hey!!" He yelled making the killer look up before disappearing down an alley. The one on the other side of the car was long gone by now too making you jump up and run to your hero.

"We gotta get inside!" You tried demanding but your voice was small from the shock of everything that just occurred.

The man gave you a sympathetic look, his thick eyebrows furrowing in concern.

"Okay, yeah, let's go." He hurried you inside, locking the door behind you both once you were in the lobby.

It appeared to be the radio station and you knew why you recognized him.

You had somewhat become friends with him as a delivery driver, even calling up KFAM when getting lost a few times.

"They— They killed someone," You tried not gagging as you unwillingly recalled the sight of the unfortunate victim. "They cut him up. They're down in the arcade."

Your knees nearly gave out on you making the slightly taller man run to your aid, catching you in his arms.

"We heard. The only cops we have in town got attacked, Officer Matthews was killed." Forrest informed making you cup your hands over your face in shock. "We're taking care of all the 911 calls coming in tonight."

"Man, my boss didn't even warn me. His wacko ass stalks your radio station to see if you'll advertise." You sighed, Forrest taking notice of your hat.

"Ponty's pizza, huh?" He has on a playful grin.

"Yeah... unbelievable." You scoffed, recalling how you nearly just died on the clock and don't even get benefits.

"Here, you want some coffee or anything? It's gonna be a long night 'til the guys at Henderson get here." Forrest asks, turning to head up the stairs.

You shrug your response, following him up anyways.

And with a coffee if you said yes, you're seated on the couch in the lounge outside their adjoined offices.

Forrest kept his door cracked to keep an ear out for you.

Flipping briefly through a boring magazine on the table, you could hear the muffled conversation between Peggy and Forrest as they went on break.

You swallowed nervously again before the on air sign above Forrest's room shuts off and both the doors open.

For radio hosts, these two were undeniably pretty.

"What did the victim look like?" Peggy asks, approaching you and taking a seat in the chair beside you as to not intimidate you.

She was a lot taller than expected, almost six feet to be exact.

"A white button up? From what I could see..." The vivid bright red sight of his brutalized arm flashed through your mind without warning making you grab your glabella as you winced. "...fuck, it was so gross... it looked like they had gone crazy on his arm with a blade."

Peggy looked up at Forrest who rubbed his chin in thought, concern in his features.

"Brad didn't leave long ago, Forrest..." Peggy stressed to her colleague quietly. You could practically see him with a sweat drop bubble over his head.

"It's fine... it's fine, he was an asshole anyways." He says making you look at him with wide eyes of disbelief. "Chances are if they've been out there all night so far, we should probably bar up any entrances they could get through."

"I'll go get the keys. You guys should check out the basement, make sure no one's already here. Be careful." Peggy passed Forrest the keys to said place as he looked over at you.