The Man With The Electric Axe

How It Happened

I'm Cade. And I'm about to tell you a little story. This happened to me. It could have been prevented, but only with the proper care. Don't let it happen to you.

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I'm sitting with my girlfriend Kathleen in her living room. We're still in high school, so technically it's her moms' living room. We're cuddling on her love seat couch. She is between my legs resting her back on my chest, while I have my back resting against the arm of the couch. I have my arms circled around her waist while she is holding her phone up and scrolling through some app that I'm not paying any attention to.

I lean forward and place a small kiss on her neck, remembering the first time I asked her out. I thought almost for sure that she was going to say no, but she actually said yes.

I can also remember the times before that night. While we were still friends and she was dating someone else. Almost every time I would see here there would be a sad smile on her face. Like she was faking the smile and didn't know how to be happy anymore. I could also remember those bruises I found on her. On her arms, legs, all the black eyes, the broken bones, and the bruised ribs. She kept insisting that she was just clumsy, but I'd never known her to be so.Eventually she opened up to me. Told me he was beating her. Almost everyday, another punch, or another kick. And we are close to certain the he is in a gang.

I helped her get out of the situation. I helped her brake up with him then go into hiding long enough for him to switch his focus. She still managed to continue in school, so she never fell behind. Once she was back and out of hiding, that's when I asked her out. We had an amazing time that night and decided to make it official.

I'm brought back to the present by her voice and some movement. She gets up and bends down to kiss the top of my head.

"I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back." She walked away and placed her phone on the half wall that separates the living room and hallway.

The second the I hear the door close her phone goes off with a notification.

Then another.

And another.

I get up and walk over to the half wall and pick up her phone. She has three text messages from a random number. I unlock her phone using her code. It took me a while to figure it out since she never told me. 2... 3... 5... 4...

I read the three messages.

"Hey babe, when do you want to meet up this week?"

"I'm free tonight if you are."

"Babe. Answer me."

There are no previous messages from him so I decide to reply.

"Who is this?"

"What do you mean 'who is this' its your boyfriend."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm Kathleens' partner."

"I don't know who you are, but you better watch yourself. I'm her real boyfriend, Brad."

She walked out of the bathroom at that point. I looked directly at her.

"Why the hell is Brad texting you?! I thought you were safe from him! Why does he think he's your boyfriend?! Why didn't you tell me?" My voice showed more and more hurt as I went on.

"Wait, what?" There was about a second before she saw her phone in my hand. "Why the hell do you have my phone! How do you even know the code?! Give me that!" She stomped over to me and grabbed her phone out of my hand. "Get out!"

"Gladly! Because apparently you'd rather be with the asshole that put you into the hospital on more than one occasion, then be with someone who actually gives a fuck about you!" I quickly make my way to the door and throw on my jacket and boots. I open the door and practically slam it on my way out.

I walk the 30 minutes to my place and go straight into my room. I throw my jacket and boots onto the floor and walk over to my dresser. I change into my more feminine clothes so I can follow her. I put on my hat, my scarf, my second jacket and my brown boots.

While I was on my way home I came up with a plan to see whats going on. He said that she wanted to meet up with him tonight, so I'm going to follow her in the persona she's never seen. I'll make sure she's safe. Even if it means she goes back to him and brakes up with me.

I leave my house and wait in a cafe about a block away from her house. No matter where she goes she's going to have pass by this cafe.

About an hour later she passes by the cafe and I stand up to leave. I follow behind her but not too closely. She walks in the direction of the train station and buys a one way ticket, so I do the same.This is one of the common trains, no need to buy a ticket for a specific destination, you just get off when you need to.

I walk onto the train with her right in front of me but the train is crowded so I end up standing behind her the entire time. While behind her I see Brads' most recent text.

"Meet me in the bus yard at Willibroad station."

So that's where they're meeting.

I follow her off of the train. She takes the direct route to the bus yard through the building, so I decide to leave through the main door and walk the 30 seconds around the building. However, while exiting through the front door I run into my best friend and Kathleens' best friend. What are they doing here?! Oh well, maybe if I ignore them they'll ignore me.

"Cade? Hey, Cade! Over here!" Damn Adam, why does he have to be able to recognize me? Curse him.

"Can't talk right now." I walk right out of the building, it's already dark outside.Both of them decide to follow me.

"Look, if you're gonna follow keep your mouth shut." I whisper yell to them.

I reach the edge of the building and I can see Brad and Kathleen talking. They are facing each other and the street light is shining on them. I can see Brad is wearing a dark hoodie and has a wooden baseball bat in his right hand.

As soon as I notice the bat, he starts hitting her with it. First blow is directly to the head. He hits her multiple times before switching over to kicking her. I look away with tears in my eyes. As I turn my head I notice another man. This one is maybe in his 20's.

He is holding an axe over his shoulder. Every once in a while a spark shoots from the axe. Barbed wire. I know it. He's wrapped the axe with barbed wire, and it actually has electricity shooting through it. There's no way someone can live through a hit of that.

I try to contain any noise that I might make. I have to get back inside. I have to call the police. I signal to the two best friends to go back inside. The quietly turn around and quickly walk back towards the doors, me following shortly after.

The second we walk inside a tear escapes from my eye. I walk over to the phone when a chill goes through my spine telling me to turn around.

I listen to it. Right behind me, is Brads friend. He smiles a Chelsea smile, like the jokers.

Right before everything goes black.

THE END