Relentless

chapter 2

*******WARNING! CANNIBALISM IS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER!*******

"Alright. So this is it. I'll leave you to get situated and comfortable. Jeff's in charge of dinner tonight." Liu spoke as he sat my briefcase on the bed and then approached the door.
"My room is down the hall on the left and Jeff's is on the right across from mine. The bathroom is passed the stairs on the right."
"Thank you Liu for the help. I'll see you at dinner"
"Yeah probably not" he exclaimed, closing the door.
I took a seat on the bed; amazed that dust didn't fly up. Looking around the room, all that consisted of furniture was the bed, a dresser across from it, a recliner in the right corner facing catty-cornered to the window, and a bedside table with a small lamp. The ceiling light fixture, not only was it empty of a light bulb, but didn't have any parts to it at all. It seemed like it had been ripped out; wires hanging out with cobwebs entangling them. With all the dirt and dust the green walls appeared to be more of a gray moldy color. It definitely has the ambiance of a creepy house.
I started unpacking and filling the dresser, grateful that they were letting me stay. It's definitely easier this way than trying to find a motel, and it allows us to bond and actually get to know each other. While closing the final drawer I noticed the closet to my left, I guess I looked passed it when coming in. The door was a gray tone painted over wood making it look so much older. I put my suitcases together like Russian nesting dolls and wheeled them over to the closet, I jiggled and twisted the doorknob and pulled but couldn't get it open.
"You gotta pick up on it. That door has always been sticky" I nearly jumped out of my skin hearing Jeff speak but took the advice and the door popped open and drug across the floor as I pulled it open wide.
"Thanks for the heart attack. And the advice. Also, do you not believe in privacy? I could've had my dick in hand for all you know."
“Somehow I don't see you being that comfortable yet. By the way, dinners ready, Liu already checked out for the night." Jeff responded through chuckles.
"I am not eating that shit you call food. I'll fuckin starve first." I could hear Liu yelling from his room, I assumed his door was open.
"Your cooking isn't that bad is it?"
"No he's just being dramatic."
"Give it time Vince, you'll be begging me to cook instead."
Jeff and I made our way down stairs and into the kitchen still laughing. Spread across the small round table was what looked like soup, steak, and some bread. It wasn't much but it did look good. And honestly smelled even better. Which left me struggling even more to understand why Liu was so against Jeff's cooking; it looked incredible. we sit down and I'm the first to speak.
"This looks really good and smells incredible. Why won't Liu eat when you cook?"
"Let's just say…he and I have very different tastes when it comes to meat."
I quirk an eyebrow at him and look at him while at the same time grabbing a spoonful of soup. Without breaking eye contact I speak again;
"Why do you strike me as the type to have cannibalistic tendencies?"
Jeff starts laughing harder and pointing towards me.
"Dude, are you always this perceptive?" Jeff was drawing in breaths in between words and laughter as he attempted to speak.
“I'm gonna look down and find a finger aren't I?" Looking down, my spoon was looking up at me. A dark blue eyeball with the nerves and vessels still attached. I pluck it off by the tail to get a better look; "perceptive, yes. Cannibal, been curious about it but I've never been hard up enough to have an excuse to try it." I answer, popping the eyeball in my mouth. It popped like an actual bubble on my tongue as I chewed. It had a meaty gelatinous flavor and texture to it, reminding me of lamb.
"So the steak I'm looking at, back? Stomach? Thigh even?" I say in between chewing.
"From a guys back. I watched a lot of interviews with Jeffrey Dahmer." He answers as he starts cutting into it and placing it on a plate. He passed over to me and I set it beside my bowl; it smelled so good and I couldn't wait to dig in. Picking up my steak knife and fork, I start on the steak. It was so tender, it cut like butter; releasing the aromas of ginger, garlic, and Cajun spices. I took a bite and was overwhelmed by the juices and tenderness. It was perfectly cooked.
"I am impressed big brother. Apparently those interviews served you well. This is exquisite!"
"I'm amazed you like it. But I'm glad you do. I'm not a bad cook. He just hasn't brought himself to eat like it's the apocalypse. " Jeff spoke with a mixed look of shock, and appreciation.
“Well, one day the day might come that he'll have to swallow his pride and do so if he wants to survive. So, tell me. How do the three of you counting Sully get along without either of them trying to string you up?”
“Honestly I just do my own thing and if I think Sully's gonna make an appearance, I avoid the house. But I'm confused; how do you know about us, let alone Sully?”
“Y'all haven't been on the Internet in a while have you?”
“No…what's that got to do with anything?”
“You guys are considered ‘creepypastas’; a collection of weird, morbid, and scary stories. Some argue that they're all just that, stories. Others argue that they're based around myths and legends.” I explain the concept in between bites. Jeff's face was a combination between disbelief, confusion, and maybe some excitement. Regardless, he hadn't had a single bite since I began my explanation.
“So people think we're just scary stories? They don't fear us?”
“Well...some don't fear you because they think you're imaginary, some don't fear you because they simp for you. Others don't fear you because they're high on their own testosterone and think they could take either if not both of you on and come out on top. I'll admit, even I had the thought cross my mind on if I could take you two on if things went south.”
“Simp? What the fuck does that mean? And you were gonna fight us?”
“Simp basically means that they want you to fuck them like a dirty little fangirl. And I was only gonna fight if you or Liu attacked first. Clearly that wasn't necessary considering you guys took it so well. I'm just sayin’ I was prepared to fight if need be not that I wanted to.”
Jeff placed his elbows on the table and his hands under his chin, fingers entwined with each other. He stared at me attentively; there was silence before he finally grabbed his fork and knife but his stare didn't waiver.
“Is it something I said?.... Jeff? You're a fuckin strange one.”
“I was just imagining you trying to fight me. You are awfully small….I think I could pin you easily. Hell, Liu is small too but I think even he could overpower you without breaking a sweat.”
“Is that so? I may be small but I am rather fast so that makes up for it.” I smile as I chew and lean closer to the table, I could almost swear we were thinking the same thing.
“What do you say to a sparring match? Not tonight of course, I am getting rather tired but tomorrow maybe? Say…after breakfast?”
Jeff leaned back in his chair, his left arm draped half way off the back. He looked between me and the floor clearly contemplating my offer.
“Alright you're on. Winner gets what?”
“Nothing but boasting rights. To claim the title of strongest of the Woods boys. We go until first blood.”
“You fuckin devil!” Jeff stood up and walked the length of the table until he was face to face with me. “You're gonna need all the sleep you can get.” Using his own steak knife, he stabbed the slab of meat that was still on my plate before making his way through the living room. “Goodnight Vincent.  I'll kick your ass in the morning”
“Not until I've had my morning coffee you won't.” I yell back. I couldn't help but smile; tonight's meeting went rather well. I half expected the brothers to instantly become hostile towards me and rightfully so. It's not everyday you have a random stranger show up claiming to be a long lost sibling.