The Devils Bargain | stuilly | billyxstu | stuxbilly

Chapter 23

Mickey and Stu didn't have to think too hard about what they were going to do with the woman's body. Stu, always the artist, wanted to do something showy, but with no Billy to give direction, he decided just to hang her. There is nothing wrong with a classic hanging, after all.

He explored the concrete building, peeking around ledges and the large open space, until he found cable wire, which was far harder than he would have expected from an abandoned building.

It was thick steel, with rust covering 90% of it, and Stu had to take time breaking and unwinding the coil it was put in before he could even tell if it was even usable.

Once it was done and he confirmed it was good enough, he came back and wrapped the metal around her throat, tying her to a metal rod protruding through a ledge and pushing her off, neck-snapping and body recoiling from the aggressive and sudden stop, the sounds echoing throughout the concrete parking lot.

She was already dead when he did it, but that didn't mean it wasn't satisfying. Stu peeked over the edge, looking down at the woman's hair, her beanie barely hanging on despite the force of the fall.

Mickey, who had practically recorded their entire day, was now sitting in the corner on one of the addict's chairs that he had stolen from their little camp, watching the footage back. He looked ecstatic, his gaze locked on each moving frame, his thumb hovering over the pause button so he could stop and admire the more interesting scenes.

Stu came up behind him, peeking over his shoulder and watching himself stab the needle into the woman's eye, her screams vibrating out of the small speaker.

As Stu watched himself mangle the woman he had just hanged, an unmistakable yearning tugged at his heartstrings. He found himself longing for Billy's company, envisioning how much better the video would have been if Billy was in it. Billy had an unparalleled ability to infuse the atmosphere with infectious energy, igniting a fervour within Stu.

While he enjoyed Mickey's company far more than he would have expected, he would give him that, Stu would trade his company for Billy's in a heartbeat. It may be just a purely emotional attachment, but it felt deep, rooted in his every nerve ending, crawling under his skin. That had always been obvious to him, he'd always jump for Billy's attention over anyone else, even his girlfriends.

Mickey brought levity and amusement, but Billy possessed something that captivated Stu. In the intricate dance between life and death, Billy stood out as the only partner Stu truly desired.

This whole day with Mickey, as fun as it was, was just a reminder of that.

And this whole day had also birthed a pang of guilt, which could be another reason why he wished Billy was here. Killing with someone else made him feel like he cheated, he'd never killed with anyone but Billy before, never thought he'd have the opportunity to. Nevertheless, he resolved to address those inner conflicts in due time. For the present, he remained focused on the task at hand rather than dwelling on some supposed guilt.

Mickey closed his camera screen slowly, looking back up at Stu, his lips curling upwards with a glint in his eyes. "I think this is the perfect spot for the final scene. I think our little decoration will really set the tone."

Stu hummed, rubbing circles into the sides of his head, stepping over and leaning on the wall next to where Mickey was sitting, a headache growing now that his adrenaline was dying off and the sides of his skull felt tight. "As long as we don't have to explore any more buildings, I agree."

Mickey laughed, shaking his head and straightening himself to his feet. Opening his bag, and putting his camera inside, he responded, "That works for me, you have anywhere you need to go before we get back to the Loomis'?"

Stu pondered for a moment before a sudden thought sparked in his mind, and he clicked his tongue. "Actually, yeah. I need to go back to my motel room. I had to leave it fast, and I left my costume there. Might as well go now, right?"