Scream – Brian And Justin

The school bus pulled up at Deb’s house. Justin got off and walked over to the mailbox. 

He went up to his room, changed and went outside and spoke on the phone to his surrogate mother, Deb.

“So what time do you think you’ll be back?” Justin asked.

“I think we’ll be home for dinner, don’t worry Sunshine.”

“Uh-huh, shall I cook something?”

“Oh, that would be wonderful.”

“Okay, then see you at 7:00?” Justin asked while he went into house.

“Yeah, Sunshine. Later.”

Deb had taken Vic to the hospital, for his weekly check-up.  Justin usually enjoyed being alone in the house, since silence was a rare thing when Deb was around. For some reason ever since Ted’s death, he was uncomfortable being by himself; especially after recalling the last comment Michael made the night of the murder.  

What the fuck am I thinking, Justin thought to himself. The killer must have had a good reason for killing Ted and Blake. This is the safest street in all Pittsburgh. It’s not possible that the killer will decide to hit here; if he does decide to hit at all, that is. Who the hell am I fooling, he thought once again. However, his inner conflicts were interrupted by the phone…

“Hello?” Justin asked answering the phone.

“Hello, Justin.”

“Uh… hi, who is this?”

“You tell me,” a mysterious voice said from the other end of the phone.

“Well, I – I have no idea,” Justin answered, confused.

“Scary night, isn’t it? With all the murders  it’s just like something from a horror movie.”

“Michael, you gave yourself away. I’m glad to hear that after what happened you’re still in the mood to joke.”

“Do you like scary movies, Justin?”

“You know I don’t watch that shit,” Justin said simply.

“Why not? Too scared?” the voice asked sensually. Justin was wondering how could Michael disguise his voice so well.

“No, no, what’s the point they’re all the same. Some stupid killer stalking some big breasted girl that can’t act while she’s running up the steps when she should be going out the front door…it’s insulting.”

“Are you alone in the house?” the voice asked, changing the subject. Unfortunately, he couldn’t play the same game he had played with Ted.

“Michael, that’s so unoriginal. With all the comics you read I’m so disappointed in you.”

“Maybe because I’m not Michael,” the voice said cryptically. Now it was time to do things seriously. He had already wasted time with little games.

“So, who are you?” Justin asked with a puzzled look in his face.

“The question isn’t who am I? The question should be where am I?”

“S- so, where are you?” Justin asked as fear set in.

“Your front porch,” the man said simply. 

 “Why would you be calling from my front porch?” Justin asked walking to the front door.

“That’s the original part.”

“Oh yeah, I call your  bluff.” Justin said unlocking the door and then opening it. He stepped outside and looked around.

“I’m right here,” the voice said as Justin looked around some more.

“Can you see me now?” Justin wondered if he was really there. The idea really scared him.

“Uh-huh.”

“Ahh,” Justin replied and placed his finger on his nose.

“What am I doing, huh? Huh, what am I doing, huh?” Justin challenged. After a pause he said, “Nice try, Michael. Bye now.”

“If you hang up on me you’ll die. Just like Ted and Blake. Do you want to die, Justin? Ted sure didn’t.”

“Fuck you… you cretin!” Justin screamed as he ran into the house and locked the front door. It was too late as he saw a cloaked figure with a ghostly face coming out of the closet and slashing his knife at him. Justin ducked and fell to the floor.

“No!” Justin said dazed, the killer on top of him. The killer lifted his knife and was about to stab him. Justin, however, had others ideas and he shoved the killer off of him. He quickly took the stairs two at a time, ran to his room and locked the door.

“Shit!” Justin took his cell phone and dialed 911. He could hear the killer slashing the door with his knife, trying to open it. 

“Sunshine? Justin? We’re home,” Debbie called out.  Her voice never sounded so comforting.

Justin heaved a sigh of relief when he heard Debbie’s voice.  It was apparent the killer must have left when he couldn’t open the door.  

*************************

Later that night, Justin, Deb, and Vic sat at the kitchen table discussing what had happened earlier that day. They’d been to the police station, where Justin was able to provide them with a sketch of the killer. The officer stated that he was very lucky to have survived, especially since Ted and Blake had died in a horrible way.  

“God Justin, I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”

“It’s not your fault, Sis,” Vic said, trying to comfort his sister.

“Yeah, Vic’s right,” Justin said, but his look indicated that he was still suffering from shock.

“If only I had known,” Debbie remarked.

“Nobody could have known,” Vic reminded reasonably. He hated the idea his sister felt guilty about what had happened.

“Oh my God… what if you… if you… if you ended up like… Ted. I couldn’t bear it if another of you boys were killed; especially you, Sunshine. As the police said, you were lucky.”

“I don’t think so,” Justin said. He saw the puzzled look of Deb and Vic and added, “Whoever the killer is he won’t leave me alone until they’ve caught him. I think that tonight the killer just wanted to scare me.”