Family Night by Tim Miller

here.”
         Yeah, you sure keep to yourself all right.
         “Ok, well thank you for your help.” Johnson said.
         “Did he shoot her? Stab her maybe?”
         “Have a good day Mr. Castro,” Johnson said before climbing in his car. He decided his next stop would be Castillo’s place, and find out what she is up to. He’d need her help on this one.
    Chapter 23
     
         The Mask woke from his nap. It was still early in the morning. Even though he wasn’t wearing his mask, he was still The Mask. Eddie was dead, he died with Margie and her lover. He didn’t waste time hiding their bodies. Sure, the authorities would figure out he killed them. He figured it would take them awhile to find him out here. Even if they did, it was no matter. The Mask feared no one.
         Jeffrey was still sleeping on the loveseat. The farmhouse didn’t have any beds, just some couches and some beanbags he’d brought. Brandi wasn’t on her couch though. He looked in the kitchen and checked the other rooms, but nothing. Looking out the window, he saw her, in her mask and everything walking back from the warehouse. She was carrying something in her hand. What…the…hell? He ran outside and met her halfway across the yard.
         “What did you do?” He asked.
         She pulled off her mask, looked up and smiled at him.
         “Look what I got!” She said, holding up the scalp.
         “What did I tell you about going in there? You don’t go in alone!”
         “Why? They’re so messed up, they can’t do anything. The one just sat there while I scalped the other one. She screamed like crazy, both of them did, it was pretty cool.”
         Looking at the scalp, he could tell it was Julie’s by the dark hair.
         “Is she still alive?” He asked.
         “Oh yeah. A lot of pain maybe, but she’s alive. Won’t need a haircut for a while.”
         His anger began to subside. As much as he wanted to be angry with her for disobeying him, his pride in her overcame it. Here was his little girl, coming into her own. She took the initiative, went out there and did what she had to do, all on her own.
         “Well, I am proud of you pumpkin. Though I would prefer you’d have waited for me.”
         “I know. I just…I wanted to see if they’d fear me as much by myself. You know?”
         “Yes, yes I do. Did they?”
         “This one was passed out until I started cutting on her. The blonde kept trying to reason with me. She was trying to get me to help her escape.”
         “Yes, I told you they would.”
         “Yeah. It was weird. She seemed to think you were hurting me too.”
         “Never sweetie.”
         “What about mom?”
         He hadn’t told the kids what he’d done. They were sound asleep when he killed Margie. He had cleaned up and took them back here when they woke up.
         “Mom’s gone sweetie. She won’t be coming back. I told you, she wasn’t really like us. She never loved any of us.”
         Brandi hung her head.
         “Yeah, I guess not.”
         “Besides, look at the fun we’re having. We have everything we need here. No school, no mom, no ar guing. Just us as a nice family,” He pointed to the warehouse. “With plenty to eat.”
         “How come mom never did this with us? She never ate like we do?”
         “She never realized the strength and power you can obtain from eating this way. She chose to be like the rest of the walking corpses out in the world. Flesh is the true strength. I wish I had started on it when I was younger. You and your brother are off to a good start.”
         “Yeah, plus it’s fun. School is stupid. Everyone there thinks I’m weird. They make fun of me and I can’t do anything about it. Here, I can do something.” She said.
         “That’s exactly right. Let’s get back to the house; your brother will be awake