The Lemon Meringue Boy

Part 19

I finally found a place where I could hide Bill without him being too far from the shack. When we stopped I pulled the leash out of my pocket and started tying it around the trunk of a tree. Bill looked over my shoulder curiously.

"What are you doing?" I stayed silent. I didn't want him bolting before I could finish. 

"Pine Tree. Pine Tree. Pine Tree. Pine Tree. What are you doing?" he whined, trying to annoy me into submission. I wasn't about to crack under the influence of a preschool technique, even though it was pretty tempting considering his shrill voice. 

"You know back when I said I know lots of things? I don't know this thing, and in that sense I am becoming exceedingly uncomfortable and in ten seconds I will go rabid and possibly tear off large portions of your flesh. Just so you're aware." I wasn't falling for it.

"How polite of you to enlighten me." I finished the knot and turned to face him. "Can I ask you a question?" Bill looked confused and a little annoyed.

"Ask away but I'm gonna let you know that I'll be walking far away from you as you do. Start talking." He turned and started to stroll away. Ah, the illusion of control.

"We're not friends surely?" Bill stopped walking and turned to face me.

"What gave it away? The fact I tried to kill you or the fact you tried to kill me?" he seemed appalled that I even spoke the words. I choked back laughter and grinned at him. A bit sinister on my part. I could tell Bill was confused... and uncomfortable.

"Then don't go thinking I trust you..." Bill cocked his eyebrow questioningly. I could almost hear the gears turning in his brain. Once he figured it out, it was too late.

"No! Don't you freaking DARE Pine Tree! Back off!" 

He turned to run but I grabbed him by the elbow and within the span of two seconds his ankle was trapped and secured in the metal leash clip. I dropped him face first in the grass, splattering mud across my ankles. 

He snarled and leapt at me, arms outstretched. The leash pulled tight around the tree and he fell to the ground. He got up and clawed at the dirt in a vain attempt to charge me, his feet constantly slipping on the dewy grass. He glared at me with pure hatred, his pupil thin and white and his eye glowing red.

 "I AM A GOD!!!!! I AM KING OF THE NIGHTMARE REALM!!! I WILL NOT BE BOUND BY MORTAL RESRAINTS!!!" He was becoming more and more tangled in his fit, and I was loving every second of it. Finally, he gave up and collapsed in the mud.

 "Can't... move." He moaned groggily. He slowly lifted a shaking arm to point at me accusingly. "What did you do to me, meatsack? Poison? Did you remove my spine? Answer me!"

"Chill. You're just tired. I'm gonna go and sleep. Try not to kill yourself." He attempted to glare at me, but his eyelid was drooping. I turned to walk away, but stopped. I looked over my shoulder. It had to be said.

"And Bill?" I snapped my fingers and pointed to the ground like I was calling a dog. "Stay." 

Although I couldn't see his face (it was buried in grass), he weakly lifted his arm and made a gesture that would've gotten him a slap on the knuckles if he were at school. I snorted and headed back towards the shack as the sun started to light the sky with its watery rays.