the long and short of it

A Vicious Heart

The country road ran through villages and peaceful wheat fields. That swayed in the breeze and shone like golden blankets in the morning sun. The lush green verges were overgrown and uneven, which had made for hard walking. Sam stumbled along all the same, his determination driving him forward.

Even though the morning dew soaked his feet and the warm morning air made him sweat, along with the nettles and brambles that stung and tore at his legs he grew increasingly uncomfortable. But none of this bothered him, he was just relieved that he had managed to sleep.

He was finally close, so close that he could taste that familiar air once again. He knew then it would be time. All he needed was one more and then nothing could stop him.

His opportunity arrived later that morning as he sat in a café. He had been walking most of the morning, and when hunger had set in he had been Lucky enough to have found the Greasy Spoon.

It was an uncharacteristically bright and airy place. Which was all the bigger a surprise considering the décor, which must have sat in situ for at least 30 years. It was emblazoned with the typical humorous signs, that said things like 'you don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps' and 'I'm only nice to one person a day, and today is not your day and tomorrow isn't looking good either.' For some reason things like that had always put him at ease in new places. Laughter is the best medicine after all he thought.

He sat at a table for a while, scanning the café. He had to find his last victim and fast he thought, He eventually found his focus drifted to the couple who sat in the café. They sat in silence the woman's eyes were a raw ruby colour, it was obvious why. For sat across from her, was her partner; his fist clenched tight resting on the table, his eyes fixated on her, the look of malice undeniably evident on his face. He brought his fist down hard on the table making her flinch. He rose out of his seat and loomed over her. The satisfaction of her terror evident on the grimace that spread like a disease across his face.

"You don't deserve me bitch." He snarled, the spit visibly spewing from his mouth, like lava from a volcano ready to erupt. With that it did, slapping her hard across the face, she cowered back into her chair. Tears streamed down her face as she convulsed in silent sobs. No one said anything.

"Pay bitch. I'm going for a fag, then we are leaving." She nodded submissively and he walked out.

Sam thought his luck may just be changing, he was the one. Sam followed him out and in a vain attempt to strike up a conversation began patting his pockets.

"Oh crap, can I crash one of them mate," Sam asked in the friendliest way he could muster.

"Ye sure, did you see that stupid bitch in there." He said grinning. "Deserved it though, should have hit her harder," the man said with his ever-expanding proud grin. It stretched and twisted his ugly face. Sam nodded in agreement, he couldn't bring himself to verbally agree with this arsehole.

"Hay don't suppose you could give me a hand, I came to pick something up. its round the back but I didn't expect it to be so heavy." Sam said, his ruse hopefully working and it did.

"Sure mate," the man responded.

They made their way around the back of the café, Sam following the man cautiously.

"So, where is it," The man turned to ask Sam, who had by then buried his hand in his pocket.

The man was half the size of Sam, but he was twice the width. He had to be quick, he swiftly removed the silver heart from his pocket, and in one rapid movement, thrust it into the man's chest.

The man's fist flew towards Sam in response, but the sting, the pain, it never came. His fist had stopped just short of his face, the man stood there suspended in a freeze-frame. The silver trinket glowed, surrounding him in an Aurora; a bright, burning, white-hot light. Silencing his screams of agony as the heart tore away at his flesh, burying its self, deep into his chest. Soon the heart had completely disappeared. The man dropped to the floor, his lifeless body jerked and twitched before his chest erupted. The heart flew into the air, landing squarely in Sam's hand. He covered the body and returned to his seat in the café. Calmly he ate his food, and then paid his bill deciding then to pay women's bill as well.

"You should leave now miss, because that arsehole, he ain't coming back." Sam told her, just before a high shriek emanated from the back of the cafe.

Sam knew it was time for him to leave, he knew it was time to go to church.